You said that you weren’t familiar to risotto, do you think that you had made it well?”
“Yes. I affirm it more than any time.”
Those confident words made Alan momentarily flinch. Alan raised his head and looked at Jo Minjoon. A voice was heard. Not from Alan, but from Emily.
“Minjoon. Last time you said that you had a scoring system. Was that called cooking score? So, what kind of score would you put to your dish? If you are confident, maybe a 7?”
There were rumours in Grand Chef’s house that Jo Minjoon scored a dish, and that he had said that his best was making a 7 points dish. Looking at Jo Minjoon’s confidence there was nothing wrong to say that his dish was a 7 point. But the weird thing was after that. Jo Minjoon replied while smiling brightly.
“No. 8 points.”
“…….8 points? Didn’t you say that it was difficult with your current strength?”
“I wonder. Maybe the word miracle is used at times like this.”
Jo Minjoon’s words were better than usual, it wasn’t with the meaning to use as broadcast material. The judges, the participants and the casting crew that were looking at him all felt that. Joseph put the risotto in his mouth as if he couldn’t take it more. He closed his eyes trying to feel the grains of rice one by one and soon, the same smile as Jo Minjoon was seen in his face.
“I understand those words.”
The happiness contained in those short words were really dense. Alan and Emily hurried to lift their spoon and ate the risotto. And at that moment, they could understand Joseph’s words.
Pear risotto. Actually, it wasn’t a special recipe. The combination of prosciutto and pear was used by commoners a lot, and using sage leaves wasn’t all that special either. Because it was a herb used frequently in risotto.
However, the depth of the flavor wasn’t ordinary. Because even if it was the same recipe, according to the amount of dedication you put in and invest time and effort, the flavor would get different. Cooking was about that. Cooking didn’t betray the time invested. Luxurious dishes taking a long time to make wasn’t a coincidence either.
And from Jo Minjoon’s pear risotto, that dedication and time was felt clearly. The ingredients were exquisitely harmonious with each other, as if trying to not ruin the flavor even a little, and through the teeth the texture of rice grains that were chewed and the flavor of the gravy and wine were perfect beyond asking.
Alan opened his mouth. It was a voice filled with satisfaction.
“How did you make this kind of risotto? Minjoon. This risotto kind of risotto shouldn’t be able to be made by someone who doesn’t know about risotto. Just say about seasoning, because that’s entirely up to tasting. Someone like you should be able to catch that easily. However, it isn’t for the rice. It shouldn’t be easy to boil down the gravy this exquisitely……”
“I won’t entirely say that it was all because of my skills. I’m thinking that I was really lucky back then.”
But just because of that, it didn’t change the fact that it was a good dish. Even if it was by coincidence, they felt good for having seen his potential. Joseph nodded and said.
“Miracle comes to those who are ready for it. Minjoon. It’s your luck and skills. Congratulations. If it’s 8 points it means that it’s the first time you have climbed your wall. The wall you have climbed once, will be easier to do so the other times.”
“Thank you. I would like it if it’s like that.”
Jo Minjoon smiled and replied. Alan slightly glanced at the other judges. However, there was no need to ask them their opinions. Jo Minjoon had already said that his dish was 8 points. And the judges agreed to that. It was the best this he had made so far. Alan opened his mouth.
“Minjoon. People are focused about your tasting right now. I also was like that. However, an excellent chef is not always an excellent epicurean. Even if you didn’t have that sense of taste of yours, you should have still made an excellent dish. Because you are a person that can pour all of the attention in one risotto. That concentration will become your weapon.”
“I agree fully with Alan. Minjoon. If you place this risotto in any restaurant, it would never get a complaint. You are calling this moment to be a miracle, but if you keep working like this I believe that your everyday will be filled with these kinds of miracles. I ate well.”
Emily continued to say after Alan. She was putting on a really big smile, maybe because of the risotto she had ate. Alan coughed and opened his mouth.
“Go and treat your hand first, Minjoon.”
“…….Did I pass?”
“The answer is on the plate.”
Alan lifted his finger and pointed the plate. Risotto, no, the plate that contained the risotto. It was a really clean one.
< Crossroad (4) > End