Alan was standing below a thick willow. In front of him was placed a table, and on top of it was a plate that was covered by a lid. Every time the wind blew and shook the branches, the sunlight made the shadow appear and disappear over Alan like a current of water. Rather than being romantic, it looked like a video that was playing in a screen with its pixels broken.
“There are seven of you? There are more than I had expected. I thought that you wouldn’t come for not liking me.”
Alan said with a voice you couldn’t know if it was a joke or he was saying it seriously. Jo Minjoon and of course, the participants looked at him with an awkward face. This was the time you could say that a strange distance was felt. Could it be said that his own words was deep, or he was in a 4D? Alan opened his mouth.
“What did you think would be the mission for you to come to me? Hugo. Answer me.”
“Uh…….To copy the signature menu of the chef, or for the chef to treat us to a dish he likes. I think that it will be one of the two.”
“Well, if I have to pick one side, it would be closer to the latter.”
Alan talked like that and looked at them meaningfully. He slowly opened his mouth.
“I will ask you a question before announcing the theme of this mission. I will give you a last chance to go to Joseph. You aren’t going to change?”
The participants just looked between themselves absentmindedly, but there seemed to be no one to have changed their decision. Because, there was no meaning in changing even before you got to know what the mission was. Alan nodded.
“Good. Then, I will tell you the contents of the mission.”
Alan talked like that and opened the lid of the plate. And at that moment, a laugh was heard. And it came from Jo Minjoon. He looked at the contents of the plate hopelessly. It seemed to be made with loyalty to the basics rather than being fancy. He could see the sleek white rice grains and the aroma that was felt was the smell of cheese along with the faint aroma of onion and leek.
Risotto. Koreans tend to think that it’s an italian bokkeumbap, but actually, it was closer porridge than rice. In Italy this dish was treated as primo piatto along with pasta or ravioli. In parties, it was common for it to replace pasta, but normally, it was a dish that was eaten in a normal family meal.
In Italy it was a dish that was as familiar and received as much love as pasta and pizza. Suddenly, Jo Minjoon became dubious. Was Alan italian? Honestly speaking, he didn’t care much about him, so he didn’t know his birthplace. But fortunately, his doubt got resolved immediately. Alan served a spoonful of risotto in the seven dishes and said.
“I was born in Italy. It’s obvious for pasta, and I also ate risotto as an everyday meal. That’s why I can evaluate the flavor more accurately. You have to make a risotto taking into account the normal cooking method, and at the same time, satisfy my mouth. You can use whatever ingredient you want. Just, don’t forget what a risotto is.”