Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Episode 27. Difficulties of the First Broadcast (3)
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Chef Kim Woon-sik's soul-infused cooking unfolded before them.
Kang Han-do snuck a peek at him cooking from beyond the kitchen.
'He's got real presence.'
And flair, too.
He was probably exaggerating his movements on purpose because it was for TV. That's what Kang Han-do figured.
For a first-time appearance, he was holding his own pretty well.
'This should be fine. No worries here.'
Nodding to himself, Kang Han-do headed over to where Jo Min-ha was.
She was standing there blankly, with music playing, unsure what to do next.
"Min-ha, you said you know how to make coffee, right?"
"Yeah, I do. I worked part-time at a café before."
Jo Min-ha had just as much part-time experience as Kang Han-do.
"Then how about serving those two some drinks as a complimentary service before the food comes out?"
"Sure, got it."
While Chef Kim Woon-sik's cooking show played out in the kitchen, Jo Min-ha's coffee show took center stage outside.
They had to show something happening, or it might get edited out.
Kang Han-do wanted to make sure the cameras captured plenty of Chef Kim Woon-sik and Jo Min-ha in the early parts.
Kang Han-do himself was recognizable to most viewers without introduction. But Chef Kim Woon-sik and Jo Min-ha were virtual unknowns.
To keep the show running smoothly over time, all three—Kang Han-do, Chef Kim Woon-sik, and Jo Min-ha—needed balanced screen time. It couldn't turn into a one-man show for Kang Han-do. That's why he was deliberately giving them their moments.
While Chef Kim Woon-sik and Jo Min-ha shone in their respective arenas, Kang Han-do decided to bring out his own specialty: talk.
"You're Fabio, right? What brought you to Korea?"
"I came here first as an exchange student. Then I fell head over heels for the place. Even after my program ended, I kept coming back for trips. Eventually, I landed a job here, and now I've even got this beautiful wife."
"Two years married, you said?"
"Yes."
"Any kids?"
"No, not yet. We want to enjoy our newlywed life just the two of us for now."
"Romantic."
They were so lovey-dovey it was almost enviable.
Fabio's wife still seemed awkward around the camera, her words and actions a bit stiff.
Even so, Chef Kim's kitchen was better than most variety shows in that regard.
There weren't cameras, writers, or PDs blatantly in their faces.
To keep things real, cameras were hidden all around the restaurant. The staff monitored from nearby, without interfering in operations unless there was a major issue.
That applied even to Na Won-cheol PD himself.
If there had been cameras everywhere in plain sight, the couple might not have said a word.
To ease their tension, Kang Han-do started with light topics.
Then he moved on to things like struggles in Korea.
Fabio's wife spoke up first.
"Honestly, my husband was fine at first, but after we got married... around the first year, I guess? That's when he started missing home a lot."
Right on cue. Just as Kang Han-do had predicted.
He could tell from their profiles alone.
Kang Han-do told Fabio it was a good thing.
"You'll get a real taste of home today."
"I'm looking forward to it."
A smile crept across Fabio's face.
The aromas wafting from the kitchen were already building plenty of anticipation.
A moment later.
"Food's up!"
Chef Kim Woon-sik brought out the dishes himself.
Creamy pasta that looked mouthwateringly good. Fabio and his wife's eyes widened.
Satisfied with their reaction, Chef Kim Woon-sik boasted confidently.
"This is my original creation. It'll taste better than authentic Italian pasta from the homeland."
The moment those words landed.
Kang Han-do's expression darkened instantly.
While Jo Min-ha set the table, he whispered to Chef Kim Woon-sik.
"Not Italian-style pasta?"
"I thought about doing Italian, but it felt too ordinary, so I went a different route. Fabio's from Italy, right? He's probably had plenty of Italian pasta. For a TV debut like this, shouldn't we serve something special? So I put some extra effort in."
Too much effort, Kang Han-do thought.
What he'd envisioned was authentic Italian pasta—the kind that evoked homesickness and hometown flavors. But Chef Kim Woon-sik hadn't considered that.
Oblivious, the couple took a bite of Chef Kim's special pasta.
The instant they did.
"......"
"......"
Their faces weren't exactly beaming.
Seeing that, Kang Han-do knew his hunch was spot on.
'I knew it. They wanted real Italian pasta!'
He activated the Happiness Meter. It was below average.
Up until the pasta arrived, the couple's happiness levels had been high. The thrill of being on TV, the anticipation of genuine homemade pasta—it had spiked their meters.
But this result tanked them.
The couple forced smiles.
"I-It's delicious!"
"It's some of the best pasta I've ever had. Top ranks for sure."
No one believed them.
That's when Chef Kim Woon-sik realized.
'I made a huge mistake!'
But it was too late for regrets. He couldn't remake the food now.
* * *
After recording wrapped.
Chef Kim Woon-sik sat motionless in his chair for a while.
He was a top chef. He could read customers instantly.
Kang Han-do approached.
"Chef Kim, you tired?"
"...I think I screwed up big time."
Chef Kim Woon-sik hung his head.
The recording itself had gone smoothly enough. The follow-up talk flowed naturally.
But that was thanks to Kang Han-do. If Chef Kim had served the intended Italian pasta, the vibe would've been even smoother.
Without Kang Han-do, the first episode would've bombed completely. Chef Kim sensed it—faintly at first, then for sure.
Kang Han-do patted his shoulder.
"It's your first TV gig. Bound to happen."
"No. This goes beyond TV. As a chef, I made a fatal error. I failed to grasp what the guests wanted, what they craved. I have no face left to show you, Han-do."
Kang Han-do felt relieved inwardly.
At least Chef Kim recognized his shortfall. If he hadn't, future recordings would've been a nightmare.
Here, Kang Han-do once again marveled at Na Won-cheol PD's eye for talent.
Just as he thought to send Chef Kim off.
Na Won-cheol PD appeared nearby.
"I was gonna give Chef Kim some feedback on today's shoot, but looks like I don't need to."
"He knows exactly what went wrong."
"Probably hit him hard. This was a chef issue before it was a TV one."
Similar to what Chef Kim had said.
But it wasn't solely Chef Kim's burden.
"I messed up too."
Kang Han-do confessed his part.
"I knew they wanted Italian pasta. Saw it in their profiles right away. And I figured it'd draw out deeper stories. My bad for not telling you outright, Chef Kim."
He'd assumed Chef Kim would handle it fine on his own. That was the mistake.
But failure is the mother of success, as they say.
Today, Kang Han-do found a new direction.
"We need regular check-ins, Chef Kim. Communication's key right now."
They'd identified the problem.
Now, just fix it.
* * *
Kang Han-do reviewed the guest info for episode 2 of Chef Kim's Kitchen.
This pair seemed ordinary.
But it was his job to pull out viewer-grabbing stories from the mundane.
He headed straight for Hi Road.
From 3 to 4:30 p.m., they had a break time.
The cast used it for a prep meeting on episode 2.
Jo Min-ha joined right away.
The trio settled in Room 1.
Kang Han-do briefed them on the guests.
"Two of them, both 23, college students at a Seoul university. Hometowns: Iksan and Gunsan. Lived in Jeolla until high school, then moved to Seoul for uni and stayed. Here's the hook I'm eyeing."
Kang Han-do zeroed in on one detail about the girl from Iksan.
"Kim Mi-yeon's mom runs a small restaurant. Korean food joint."
Seeing that, Chef Kim Woon-sik fell deep in thought.
Then he spoke slowly, sharing his idea with Kang Han-do and Jo Min-ha.
"Guess I need to visit the place. See what Kim Mi-yeon's grown up eating, what she misses."
"You busy as it is—sure?"
"The kitchen won't stop without me."
Fair point.
But Kang Han-do didn't want to send him alone.
"I'll tag along."
"Huh? You too, Han-do? Aren't you busier than me?"
"I can squeeze in a day trip to Iksan and back."
He wasn't cooking, but he didn't want to dump everything on Chef Kim.
Shows are a team effort. Cast and staff united—sending Chef Kim solo didn't make sense.
Then Jo Min-ha shot her hand up.
"I'll come too!"
"You sure, Min-ha?"
"Yeah! I'm the idlest here anyway."
Was this what they called 'bittersweet' back in the day?
"Alright, Min-ha coming along's perfect. We'll go as a trio. I'll drive. Tell me pickup spots, and I'll swing by."
"That's a long haul..."
Chef Kim fretted quietly.
But Kang Han-do brushed it off.
"Bought a new car recently, haven't had much chance to take her out. Time for a road trip. She's itching to stretch her legs."
"Hahaha! In that case, no helping it."
Kang Han-do always had a way of making those around him smile.
Laughter—that was his mission.