Chapter 48
Steaming seafood pajeon and okonomiyaki sat in front of Producer Gu Sang-hoon.
Behind his thick horn-rimmed glasses, his gaze still carried a mixture of suspicion and expectation.
The confidence he had shown while looking down on simple food cart dishes was already gone.
The rich and salty aroma tickling his nose made him swallow without realizing it.
"Ahem. Well, the smell isn't bad."
"Please try it."
"Ahem."
Producer Gu Sang-hoon cleared his throat once and reached toward the seafood pajeon first.
Instead of taking a piece from the edge, he chose a section from the center packed with seafood and brought it to his mouth.
The moment he chewed, his eyes widened.
'Th, this is...?!'
The outside of the pajeon was perfectly crisp.
The inside was moist and soft.
Fresh seafood released flavor with every bite.
The green onion added its fragrant aroma.
More than anything, the batter carried a gentle sweetness and savory depth that softly wrapped around his tongue.
It was far too deep and diverse to dismiss as ordinary seafood pajeon.
'This goes beyond the concept of simple taste!'
Memories suddenly returned.
His university days, when he had been young and inexperienced.
His pockets had been empty, but his heart had been full.
A shabby food cart in front of the university.
The smell of cheap makgeolli.
The loud laughter of friends.
Skipping classes, gathering one or two thousand won from each person, and ordering a seafood pajeon together.
That exact flavor.
Back then, he had not understood it.
The taste of youth.
Romance.
And fresh friendship.
Those things were coming alive again on his tongue.
'The ingredients are even incredibly fresh. His ability to select ingredients is already above average!'
The squid was springy as though it had been pulled straight from the sea.
The shrimp was sweet.
The oysters carried their slightly bitter, powerful ocean aroma.
Each seafood ingredient kept its own personality while blending perfectly with the others.
'And this batter... it's like the instincts of a housewife with forty years of experience.'
Not too wet.
Not too dry.
Perfect thickness.
The more he chewed, the richer the flavor became.
The gentle fragrance of green onion cut through any greasiness and kept tempting him to take another bite.
"Khaa... this makes me want makgeolli."
Producer Gu Sang-hoon let out a low sound of admiration without realizing it.
His chopsticks kept moving.
His earlier doubt and cynicism were completely gone.
Before long, he was completely absorbed in the food.
He looked almost like someone who had rediscovered a forgotten page of his youth.
His face was filled with distant memories and deep emotion.
"Th, this pajeon... how exactly did you make it?"
He finally put down his chopsticks and asked Hong Man-gi.
His voice carried genuine amazement.
Hong Man-gi simply shrugged.
"There isn't any special secret. I just used fresh ingredients and cooked it carefully."
But Producer Gu Sang-hoon did not believe him.
Flavor at this level could not be created through care alone.
This young cook definitely had something special that belonged only to him.
Unable to suppress his curiosity, he asked,
"Come on. Didn't you study somewhere? Or have a teacher?"
"Ah... well...."
Hong Man-gi thought of Poming.
Then he thought about the Hunters who had given him their abilities before passing into the afterlife.
"I suppose you could say that."
"Then you learned very well."
Producer Gu Sang-hoon calmed his excitement and turned toward the okonomiyaki.
Bonito flakes danced on top of the hot iron plate as though they were alive.
The generous okonomiyaki covered in sauce and mayonnaise carried a completely different charm from the seafood pajeon.
Producer Gu Sang-hoon carefully cut a piece and placed it into his mouth.
'Hmm...?!'
His brow twitched again.
Soft batter.
Crisp cabbage.
Chewy pork.
Springy seafood.
Sweet and salty sauce.
Rich mayonnaise.
The smoky flavor of bonito flakes.
Everything spread through his mouth together.
This was not ordinary okonomiyaki either.
'This flavor...?'
Another memory returned to him.
Shortly after graduating from university and joining a broadcasting company.
His salary had been tiny.
But he had felt like he owned the world because he had finally become the producer he had dreamed of becoming.
His first date with the woman who was now his wife.
Back then, they had still been a young and awkward couple.
On payday, he had gathered his courage and taken her to a small izakaya.
There, they had shared an okonomiyaki.
It was exactly that flavor.
'This really brings back memories....'
Their awkward but exciting conversation.
Drinking together until late at night.
The vague hope and anxiety they had felt about the future.
All those emotions seemed concentrated inside a single piece of okonomiyaki.
Through the tip of his tongue, they became vivid again.
"Haha... this really is something...."
Producer Gu Sang-hoon laughed in disbelief.
He closed his eyes for a moment and became lost in memories of his younger days.
Then he released a deep breath and quietly said,
"This is incredible... truly incredible."
He looked at Hong Man-gi.
There was no longer any suspicion or mockery in his gaze.
Only genuine respect and admiration toward the young cook.
"Mr. Hong Man-gi. To be completely honest, I underestimated you at first. I really thought, 'What kind of Cooking King contestant serves food cart dishes?' But after tasting these two dishes, I realize I was completely wrong."
He sincerely praised Hong Man-gi.
"If you can create this kind of depth and emotion from such basic drinking snacks, this clearly isn't ordinary skill. You have enough competitive power, no, more than enough. And you have a strong story too!"
Producer Gu Sang-hoon paused and stared at Hong Man-gi.
Then he asked with great expectation,
"So, Mr. Hong Man-gi. If you appear on Blue and White Cooking King, what kind of signature weapon will you show us? If your basics are already this strong, I'm extremely curious about your ultimate dish."
Hong Man-gi thought.
'An ultimate dish....'
He had not decided on anything specific.
But one particular being immediately appeared in his mind.
The little fairy-like creature beside him who constantly showed strange ideas and SSS-rank cooking ability.
'If it's Poming, she can definitely come up with something special.'
Hong Man-gi gave Producer Gu Sang-hoon a confident smile.
"Yes, Producer Gu. I haven't decided on the exact dish yet, but if I appear on the program, I'll prepare something truly special. You can look forward to it."
"Good! Very good!"
Producer Gu Sang-hoon clapped in satisfaction.
"If we discover a hidden master like you, I can already see this season becoming a huge hit. I'll be waiting for your answer!"
He stood and offered Hong Man-gi another handshake.
His face was filled with excitement at the idea of discovering a new star.
As soon as he left the restaurant, he took out his phone and called someone.
"Hey, Writer Kim? I just found something huge! I found someone who's perfect for the screen!"
His excited voice disappeared down the alley.
Hong Man-gi watched him leave and chuckled.
* * *
The sweet proposal called Blue and White Cooking King brought new energy into Full Moon Restaurant.
That evening, Hong Man-gi closed the restaurant slightly earlier than usual.
Actually, saying he never properly opened might have been more accurate.
It was still early evening and darkness had not fully arrived.
But his heart was already filled with excitement over the coming challenge.
[Click]
Hong Man-gi hung a "Closed Today" sign on the door and stepped inside.
Lee Yu-han and Poming looked at him in confusion.
"Huh? Hunter Hong Man-gi, you're already closing? Customers haven't even started arriving yet...."
"Isn't this also around the time when those Hunters heading to the afterlife might come?"
Lee Yu-han looked worried.
Poming joined in.
"Chef! Are you feeling sick? Should Poming make you special nourishing porridge?"
Poming fussed as she checked Hong Man-gi's face.
Hong Man-gi chuckled at their worried expressions and waved his hands.
"No, nothing like that. We need to have a special strategy meeting today."
"A strategy meeting?"
Lee Yu-han and Poming widened their eyes at the same time.
Hong Man-gi briefly explained his meeting with Producer Gu Sang-hoon and the invitation to appear on Blue and White Cooking King.
When he finished, Lee Yu-han's mouth dropped open.
"Wow! Hunter Hong Man-gi! Is that for real? Is our restaurant about to become famous nationwide?"
Poming could not hide her excitement and flew circles around Hong Man-gi.
"You've decided, Chef! Poming knew it! Chef's cooking deserves to be on television! 'B-rank Hunter Cooking Master Hong Man-gi!' Khaa~ That title alone guarantees ratings!"
Poming raised her tiny paws into a fighting pose.
Hong Man-gi scratched the back of his head awkwardly at their exaggerated reactions.
"My appearance isn't officially confirmed yet... but I think I'll probably do it. And if I do, I need to prepare a special signature dish beforehand. That's why I gathered you two today."
Their expressions immediately became serious.
Blue and White Cooking King was a dream stage where some of the country's best cooks competed.
Lee Yu-han knew well that ordinary dishes would not be enough to survive there.
"A signature dish...."
Lee Yu-han rested his chin on his hand and thought deeply.
After considering it for a while, his eyes suddenly lit up.
"Hunter Hong Man-gi! I think we need something with serious impact! What about Japanese or Western-style dishes that are popular with young people?"
"Japanese or Western food?"
"Yes! For Japanese food, first, how about 'Special Sea Urchin Cream Udon'? Lots of fresh sea urchin inside a creamy sauce full of ocean flavor, with chewy udon noodles. There's no way that could taste bad! Second, 'Straw-Smoked Spanish Mackerel Tataki'! Smoke the mackerel with rice straw, lightly cook the outside, keep the inside moist, then dip it in ponzu sauce. That would be insane! Third, 'Assorted Seafood Pot Rice'! Fill freshly cooked rice with seasonal seafood and mix it with soy sauce seasoning. Game over!"
Lee Yu-han passionately described the Japanese dishes as though he had become a professional chef himself.
His eyes showed the genuine love of someone who truly enjoyed food.
