Chapter 271

Special Interest (4)>

If you are reading from a pirate or aggregator site, please read from the translator’s site: yado-inn (dot) com I have to put the link like this or else the bots will remove it, sorry 

“I want to try all the foods in Korea.”

Kaya said to Jo Minjoon as soon as he opened his eyes in the morning. Indicating that it is cold, Jo Minjoon wrapped himself in a blanket and turned the other way. Kaya then proceeded to sit on him and say.

“Wake up. It’s already seven.”

“… Why do you make it sound like seven is late.”

“Whether it is workday or rest day, I’ll tell you when it is early, but today is a rest day. We don’t have a lot of time left in Korea. Hurry and wake up. I am hungry.”

“Weren’t you supposed to make breakfast?”

“Are you going to act like this?”

“Alright. Alright. I got it. …I’ll be up in three. No, four minutes.”

Jo Minjoon murmured back burrowing his face on the pillow. He was tired, both mentally and physically. How long had it been since he came to Korea? He came to Korea to rest, but he seemed to be sick of it already.

Although Jo Minjoon looked tired, Kaya sighed and pulled at his cheek. His cheek used to be plump, but now there was barely any fat. It was to the point where she could barely even grab his skin.

“Do you have anything you want to eat?”

“No.”

“What about something you want to feed me?”

“Water. The water purifier in this house is good.”

“So, you want to get beaten?”

Kaya’s voice sounded cold. Jo Minjoon got up with a giggle. He brushed his messy hair and looked around.

“What do you want to eat?”

“It’s cold. Something warm.”

“Alright. Let’s go.”

Jo Minjoon got out of bed and Kaya looked at him with a confused expression.

“Aren’t you going to wash up?”

“What the worry. We are only going to get breakfast.”

“You washed every day back in the States.”

“That’s because it was not my home. This is.”

“But still. People will try to take photos of you.”

“…Well I suppose.”

Jo Minjoon sighed. Back in the States, especially in Los Angeles, there are so many popular celebrities that people didn’t pay much attention to a rising celebrity like him. So, he didn’t feel uncomfortable walking down the street. But of course, it was a different story with the restaurant where fans came to visit him.

However, things were different in Korea. The internet culture of Korea was on a different level. There were more people who recognized him than he was accustomed to. There were even people who stopped and asked for his autograph or photo.

Eventually, when Jo Minjoon washed and came outside, Jemma or others did not accompany them. It might be because they were tired, but they were also considerate of the couple’s space and time.

“Where are you going to take me?”

“I know a place.”

“It’s not like last time where you took me to the octopus place, right?”

“You said it wasn’t bad.”

“Besides the taste… I really didn’t enjoy it.”

Kaya shook her head, revealing her teeth as if she was tired of thinking about the octopus. She was a bit reluctant to try octopus soup, but when she faced the live octopus, she couldn’t even lift her fork. Kaya looked back at Jo Minjoon with a cold look.

“You are not thinking of eating it again right?”

“It’s better than the penis stew you forced me to eat.”

“Why do you always bring that up? Also, I didn’t force you to eat it. It was the judges. Anyway, where are we going?”

“It’s a soup restaurant. I went there a few times when I was a kid before we moved. I wonder if it’s still opened.”

“You know the way still?”

“Don’t you know I have a good memory? We’ll be there shortly. Don’t worry.”

However, a few minutes turned into an hour as they went around in circles. Jo Minjoon’s gaze became increasingly anxious, so he pulled over in a corner and said.

“…I’m going to turn on the navigation.”

Kaya’s unpleasant gaze didn’t resolve even after entering the restaurant. She sniffed and looked around.

“What is this smell? Pork…No, beef?”

“Yeah. Beef soup. They put all sorts of things into the beef’s head. It’s delicious, I guarantee it.”

Jo Minjoon said to Kaya as he looked around. Compared to Kim Minsuk’s noodle shop there were many regular customers here. Jo Minjoon stared at the stone pot in admiration.

[Beef head soup] Freshness: 97%
Source: (The ingredients have been hidden)
Quality: High
Score: 8/10

‘…eight points. This place.”

He honestly didn’t think the score would be that high since it was a restaurant that he was very familiar with and came many times when he was young.

Although it might be easier to get a higher score by cooking the soup for a longer period of time, this was the first time seeing a soup restaurant with such a high number.

“It will be good.”

He said with confidence. But Kaya looked at Jo Minjoon with a suspicious expression. A young man who looked like a college student approached Jo Minjoon and said.

“Are you… Mr. Jo Minjoon?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Wow! I am … a huge fan. I watched all of the episodes of Grand Chef, Bucket Street, and Rose Island.”

“Haha… Thank you.”

Jo Minjoon laughed as if he was embarrassed. But his gaze was toward the young man’s hand. The young man had a phone in his hand as if he wanted to take a picture but didn’t want to bring it up yet. Eventually, Jo Minjoon suggested taking the photo first and took a photo with the young man. As they finished taking the photo the young man said with an excited voice.

“I went to the noodle place that you recommend. It was good. I wonder why Mr. Lee Namhoon…”

“Haha…”

With an awkward smile, Jo Minjoon gave a dry cough. Only then did the young man realize that it was a sensitive topic and decided to remain silent. As if on cue, the waitress served the dish. As Kaya opened the lid of the rice bowl she spoke.

“What are you going to do with him?”

“What can I do?”

“He said it. If you really want to criticize him, you should do it properly.”

“Well, he is right to a certain extent. To be honest I am not the most knowledgeable about Korean food. I’ll give him that. But he does not have the right, or the ability to judge me. What does he know about me? At this point, he is just being rude. So, I don’t want to associate or have a conversation with a person like him. It’s uncomfortable just talking about it.”

Jo Minjoon grunted and raised his spoon. The irritated look that he had was replaced with a smile after he took a spoonful of the soup. It was the taste that he remembered. It was a taste that brought him back towards his past. The savory rich taste mixed with the salty and light flavor of perilla powder created a healthy taste that couldn’t be described by words.

It was beautiful. The dish contained the chef’s heart and philosophy like a piece of art. Although it couldn’t be compared to a female protagonist with beautiful clothing in a movie. It was like a caring Korean grandmother in her traditional cloth who was sitting under a tent during a light rain. The feeling of care made a deeper impression than the female protagonist ever could.

‘There is beauty in simplicity…’

The taste touches the heart better than an actual beauty could. It might be because he was a Korean, but there were many thoughts racing through Jo Minjoon’s mind.

Thus, Kaya didn’t respond. She knew how important it was and didn’t want to disturb him enjoying the food. That was until she bit onto something that she thought was tofu but tasted like blood.

“What the, what is this?”

“…Oh, that. It’s made from the blood of the cow. It’s similar to blood pudding.”

“I’m awake now. Why is there always one weird thing in these dishes?”

“It’s not weird, it’s just exotic… To be honest, there are some Koreans who dislike it.”

“You must really enjoy teasing me.”

Kaya pricked her lips but didn’t put her spoon down. Although the look and the smell might be exotic, the soup itself was hearty.

“You didn’t say it was good.”

“…I told you I don’t know Korean dishes very well. But tasting it now after a long time, I think I finally understand the taste of Korean dishes…. I think I know how to respond to that person.”

“How to respond?”

“Want to go to the market after this?”

Kaya answered Jo Minjoon. Although she had a confused look, Jo Minjoon didn’t bother her and continued eating. A few moments later, both bowls of soup were finished. Jo Minjoon smiled and said.

“You ate the blood so well.”

“Don’t say it like that. You make me feel like a vampire.”

Jo Minjoon smiled silently. She was curious as to what he was thinking but didn’t pry much more. She knew that when he was like this, he wouldn’t tell her much.

After returning from the market, Jo Minjoon took out the cutting board. He handed his smartphone to Jemma who recently got out of bed.

“Jemma. I’m going to start cooking. Can you take pictures?”

“Why do need the pictures?”

“I’m going to tell people about a simple and common, but good recipe.”

Jemma was puzzled but nodded. So, the cooking began. The things Jo Minjoon made weren’t grand. And there weren’t any special combinations that changed.

He lightly cut the beef sirloin and cooked it on the grill. He made miso soup with miso, soft tofu, and onions. Seasoned radish and seasoned soybean sprout. Seasoned spinach and seasoned chili. Steamed mackerel. There were many dishes, but individually they were common dishes that were easy to make.

However, these dishes can easily be changed since they were basic dishes. That was when Jo Minjoon’s cooking really began. Kaya helped under his command and the cooking proceeded in no time.

The start was always the sauce. Jo Minjoon put honey, spicy chili pepper, sesame leaves, garlic, ginger, and sake into soy sauce and lightly boiled it. But that was just the beginning. After cooling the soy sauce, he applied it to the beef sirloin. He added soju and vinegar to the soy sauce and applied it to the steamed mackerel.

Jo Minjoon accurately weighed the ratio of all the ingredients while seasoning. It wasn’t because he didn’t trust his taste. He just wanted people to know. In a few years, no, a few months, recipes like this were going to be common among many chefs, but for now, leaving it in the hands of a blogger was the best. He was certain there was someone who was going to need this.

‘…It’s a regular dish, but the taste will not be regular.’

All of Jo Minjoon’s know-how had been gathered. The experience he accumulated over his past life and his brilliant talent of his present life melted together. Although most of the cooking points ranged from six to seven, and only the steamed mackerel was an eight. He knew that the relative ease of making this dish would be the attractive point of these dishes. At the same time, everyone will recognize from the recipe how much he thinks and much he understands Korean food.

Jemma swallowed. When it comes to exotic cuisine, it was common to feel uncomfortable, but Jo Minjoon got used to it after dealing with all sorts of people in Los Angeles. The dishes he made always had the power to transcend borders and stimulate the instincts hidden deep in everyone’s hearts.

“It looks good…”

The smell brought Bruce and Grace, who looked exhausted, into the kitchen. As Jo Minjoon was serving, he asked.

“I bought some tortilla. Would you like rice or tortilla?”

“Since we are in Korea, we should have rice. I will have rice.”

“Good choice.”

Jo Minjoon smiled and lifted the mackerel that was steamed. The mackerel, which was lightly grilled with starch then steamed, was very chewy and soft but didn’t have a fishy taste. He garnished the rest of the dishes with green onions and sesame seeds. Jemma diligently took pictures of all the dishes. Kaya put the rest of the food onto the table and looked at Jemma and Jo Minjoon.

“How does it look; did you take good photos?”

“Yes.”

“Let me see. Oh, you are right. These are good pictures, Jemma.”

Jemma smiled at Jo Minjoon’s praise. Jo Minjoon put his phone away and sat at the table. Although he wanted to upload the photos right away, he didn’t since he knew that the dishes would get cold.

“Thanks for the food.”

Jo Minjoon murmured briefly in Korean and picked up his chopstick. The first dish he reached out for was the mackerel. He put a piece in his mouth wondering how well it had been steamed. He smiled and muttered with a confident voice.

“I could upload the recipe.”

Hearing Jo Minjoon’s words, others reached out for the mackerel with their forks. Jo Minjoon continued.

“…This is the taste of Korean food.”

“It’s really good. Minjoon.”

Bruce and Grace expressed admiration. Jo Minjoon smiled, the only thing he could be pleased was through cooking. Lee Namhoon. He knew that he wouldn’t go anywhere by arguing with someone like him, it would only make him more tired.

He didn’t start cooking because he wanted to hurt someone or to make himself look better than others. He started cooking because he wanted to share his cooking with others and watch them smile. Of course, there will be some people who attack him like Lee Namhoon. But it would be pointless to respond to these kinds of people.

‘A chef talks with his cooking.’

Jo Minjoon lifted his chopstick. The white steaming ball of rice that he picked up looked rather cute. The Korean dishes were like the steaming white rice.

It was not fancy. Although abundant, each individual ingredient was inexpensive. You did not need fancy advanced skills to prepare. All you needed was sincerity. Kim Minsuk showed sincerity, and Jo Minjoon was sincere to the dishes that he cooked. He believed that whoever used his recipe, if they were sincere to it, would be able to make a delicious dish.

It was a simple message. Saying that he understood the sincerity in Korean dishes, and he could taste that sincerity. Just by saying that he was able to subside the anger and trouble in his heart. Jo Minjoon looked at Kaya, Jemma, Grace, and Bruce. Their smiling faces, tight cheeks, and puffy lips looked peaceful.

“I like seeing this.”

Although they were a bit slow, they comprehended Jo Minjoon’s opinion, once they understood what he meant they all looked at Jo Minjoon with a puzzled expression. Jo Minjoon continued with a smile on his face.

“I like a full dining table.”

If you are reading from a pirate or aggregator site, please read from the translator’s site: yado-inn (dot) com I have to put the link like this or else the bots will remove it, sorry 

<Special Interest (4)> End.