Chapter 77
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Grand Chef Korea - Passers and Failures
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"I see."
In response to Chef Han Seojin's words, I slowly curled up the corners of my mouth. It was something I'd already expected, but I couldn't help smiling every time I heard it directly.
"Kang Yerim. Unanimous pass. There's lodging prepared by Grand Chef, so feel free to head there first."
"Can I stay here until the competition ends?"
Chef Kang Taeyeon nodded at my question.
"Fine. But helping anyone is strictly forbidden. If caught, both you and the participant in question will be immediately disqualified."
"Understood."
"Head up to the second floor and watch from there."
"Yes."
It was the moment I grabbed the plate with the omelet and tried to leave.
"Kang Yerim. You can leave the dish. We'll take care of it."
Chef Han Seojin stopped me in a low voice. When I looked up and met her gaze, she quickly averted her eyes.
"...Got it."
I bowed politely and headed to the second floor as Chef Kang Taeyeon had instructed. Looking over the railing, I saw the judges who'd taken my plate examining the omelet again, tasting it.
They were smacking their lips, seemingly in conversation. I was curious about what they were saying, but decided to let it go since I'd catch it on the broadcast later.
'That's not what's important right now.'
I turned my gaze to Yurim. She was still gripping the square pan, remaking the rolled omelet.
Piles of failed attempts cluttered the counter, and eggshells were heaped like a grave in the sink.
Yurim was eating the failures between attempts at the rolled omelet. Her pallor suggested her stomach wasn't faring well.
'Why go to such lengths?'
No other contestants were eating their failures.
Especially the guy in the front row. Spurred by me, perhaps, he was making an omelet too, but dumping every failure straight in the trash.
'He'll run out of eggs like that.'
The eggs in his secret box were nearly gone.
"Argh, damn it..."
The man irritably tossed a failed omelet into the trash. Only one egg remained in the carton. He stared at it for a moment, then shot his hand up.
"Lee Jeongmin. What is it?"
Chef Kang Taeyeon rose and approached the contestant.
"I've got one egg left. Can I get another carton?"
"We gave you one carton. You've used them all?"
"......Yes."
Chef Kang Taeyeon peered into the nearby trash can, then slowly lifted his head, face twisted in disgust.
"Lee Jeongmin. Eggs aren't free. They're life from nature, ingredients born of someone's labor. If you're just going to chuck them in the trash like that, why bother cooking at all?"
The air around the counter grew heavy. A few contestants glanced nervously at the trash.
"Grand Chef isn't just about skill. How you treat ingredients is part of the judging criteria. And."
He fixed the contestant with a sharp glare.
"Anyone who wastes ingredients like that has no business becoming a Grand Chef, skill aside. Lee Jeongmin."
"...Yes."
As if sensing his fate, the man squeezed his eyes shut and bowed his head.
"Remove your hat and leave Grand Chef Korea. Good work."
"......Understood."
He bit his lip hard, flung his hat onto the counter, and exited the venue.
"Let me say it again. Every ingredient above you is the blood and sweat of someone. Use them wisely."
"Yes!"
The contestants tensed even more at Chef Kang Taeyeon's shout.
'Another trap, huh?'
I'd wondered why they gave so many eggs. Guess that was a disqualification factor too.
In that sense, Yurim had made a smart choice. At least she was putting everything she made into her own stomach.
"Fail. Remove your hat and leave Grand Chef Korea."
Several had tried since my pass, but all failed in turn. Maybe I'd set the bar a bit high.
Ding―!
The clock in the judging area had just passed 40 minutes when the bell rung by the red-haired woman echoed through the warehouse.
"Lee Seohwa. If your dish is ready, bring it forward."
At Chef Mun Taeo's words, she stepped forward with her plate. It held something yellow.
'Sanbeojim.'
One of the desserts served at Qing Dynasty imperial banquets. Trickier even than my omelet.
Challenging Sanbeojim without a wok? Gutsy.
"Hm?"
Lee Seohwa, walking forward, turned to look at me. Her gaze held a bold command to watch her.
Rivalry, maybe. Ignoring it would be rude.
"Do your best."
I mouthed the words, tilting my head back with a smile. She bit her lip and faced forward again.
"Lee Seohwa. Briefly explain your dish."
"I've prepared Sanbeojim."
"Sanbeojim. A notoriously difficult dish. Were you inspired by Kang Yerim's omelet?"
She flinched at Chef Kang Taeyeon's question. After a moment of fluster, she took a deep breath and spoke.
"I won't deny it."
"Understood."
The judges rose and approached her. They tore into the Sanbeojim with chopsticks and tasted it.
'Doesn't look right.'
Sanbeojim—'three not sticky'—doesn't stick to plate, chopsticks, or teeth.
But egg clung to the judges' chopsticks. Lee Seohwa noticed too, her face stiffening.
The judges' expressions hardened. Chef Kang Taeyeon shot her a piercing look before silently returning to his seat.
Moments later, after a brief exchange, Chef Kang Taeyeon spoke again.
"Lee Seohwa."
"Yes."
"You chose Chinese cuisine in the first mission too. Safe to say you have considerable expertise?"
"Yes. Chinese is my specialty."
"Then, as an expert, do you think the Sanbeojim you've made is properly done?"
She bit her lip. Gripping her trembling fists, she answered firmly.
"No. I don't think it turned out right."
"Honest. As you say, it's not complete. It sticks to the chopsticks, plate, and teeth."
She slowly lowered her head.
"However."
Chef Kang Taeyeon's voice dropped low.
"No eggy aftertaste from the yolk, no greasiness from the oil. Flavor-wise, flawless Sanbeojim."
She looked up to meet his eyes.
"Lee Seohwa. Pass."
Her eyes widened hugely at his words. Soon, she was bouncing in place.
"But."
She froze as he continued.
"No next time."
His tone was resolute.
"We saw potential, so you pass this once. Repeat the mistake, and you're done. Clear?"
"Yes! I'll keep it in mind!"
"Good. Grab your things and head to the dorm."
'Lucky break.'
Sanbeojim is rare and tough to make. Probably why they passed her.
'Wonder how Yurim will do.'
She was still silently rolling omelets. Despite steadily eating them, failures still piled up.
'Can she eat all that?'
That was when.
"Um, Kang Yerim?"
A woman's voice from behind made me turn. A staffer met my eyes and caught her breath.
"What is it?"
"Could you head to the dorm now? Lee Seohwa wants to go right away. Better together than alone..."
I glanced at distant Yurim, then nodded.
"Sure."
My watching wouldn't change anything anyway. Her glances my way showed she was aware of me.
'Better leave so she can focus.'
I followed the staffer to the parking lot. Opening the back door, I saw Lee Seohwa already inside.
"Hi! Both of us survived!"
"......Hi."
I greeted lightly and settled quietly beside her. Buckled up and leaned back.
"Then, we're off."
The car glided smoothly onto the road at the staffer's words.
Gazing blankly at the passing scenery, I caught Seol Yurim's reflection in the window—wait, no, Lee Seohwa's eyes. I had to turn.
"......Something you want to say?"
"Yeah! We promised to introduce ourselves if we both made it!"
"Ah."
Right. We'd made that promise. Totally slipped my mind.
"You didn't forget, did you?"
Lee Seohwa narrowed her eyes accusingly.
"...As if."
I smiled lightly in denial.
"I'm Kang Yerim. Nice to meet you. You're Lee Seohwa, right?"
"You know my name?"
"Heard it plenty. Watched your judging just now too."
"Oh, that..."
She scratched her cheek with an awkward laugh.
"Seeing that makes me a bit embarrassed. Truth is, I saw your omelet and thought, 'Hey, why not me?' and went for it. That's how it turned out."
"I see."
"It ended like this today, but next time, no mistakes!"
She clenched her fists and met my eyes.
"Get ready next time! I'm winning!"
I smiled brightly and replied.
"Good luck."
Our conversation ended there.
As the car sped along, my phone rang. Thinking it was my sister, I checked—unexpected name on screen.
『PD Jeong Inseon』
'Why's she calling me?'
She's swamped with filming. What's her angle?
"Not answering?"
"I will."
I stared at the screen, then picked up.
"Hello? Hayul?"
I recognized PD Jeong Inseon's voice instantly. Private chat.
"Yes. What's up?"
"Nothing much. Figured you'd wonder about Seol Yurim's result, so calling to tell you."
"...Why bother calling me directly now?"
Brief silence. A light laugh.
"To ease my guilt a bit? Planning to edit you a tad villainously."
"More conscientious than I thought."
I chuckled.
"A compliment?"
"Probably."
"So... okay if I edit maliciously?"
"Doesn't matter. I don't care much anyway. As long as you don't fabricate stuff..."
"Never!"
PD Jeong Inseon defended hurriedly. I nodded along.
"Then it's fine."
"...Thanks."
"Now spill. What's the result?"
"Ah, Seol Yurim..."