Chapter 50
While Hong Man-gi and Lee Yu-han were still amazed by the charm of Spicy Cream Jeyuk Rice Bowl, Poming put on a serious expression and began announcing the second dish.
Her tiny eyes sparkled once again.
"All right, Chef! Mr. Lee Yu-han! Don't think you've already heard the most shocking idea just from the name! Poming's second ultimate-dish candidate is a revolutionary dish that will open an entirely new world of flavor! Once again, Black Sesame Teriyaki Pork Belly Braise!"
"Black Sesame Teriyaki Pork Belly Braise?"
Once again, the name was anything but ordinary.
Black sesame.
Teriyaki.
Pork belly.
It sounded as though they might fit together, yet it was difficult to imagine.
"Black sesame? Pork belly braise?"
Hong Man-gi tilted his head.
"That's unfamiliar too. Isn't black sesame usually used in rice cakes or porridge?"
"Exactly, Poming! Does black sesame really work with pork? I feel like it might just taste healthy."
Lee Yu-han also looked doubtful.
Poming smiled confidently at their reactions.
She looked like a general preparing to reveal her hidden weapon.
"Chef, Mr. Lee Yu-han! Don't let your prejudices control you! The core concept of this dish is this, when rich, savory black sesame melts into pork belly, the pork fat no longer becomes greasiness, it becomes an enchanting sweetness! Khaa~ How is it? More poetic this time, right?"
Poming waved her tiny paw elegantly.
The concept had a strange artistic feeling.
"So, how do you actually make it?"
Hong Man-gi asked with a mixture of curiosity and expectation.
"Yes! Hurry and tell us, Poming! I'm really curious what kind of magical food this will become!"
Lee Yu-han's eyes sparkled.
Poming cleared her throat and began enthusiastically explaining the recipe.
"The heart of Black Sesame Teriyaki Pork Belly Braise is the braising base, the sauce! Everyone knows Japanese-style teriyaki soy sauce, right?"
"Of course."
"We mix that sweet and salty addictive sauce with plenty of finely ground black sesame paste!"
[Mix, mix]
Once again, inside their imagination, the dark-brown teriyaki sauce and black sesame paste swirled together like beautiful marble patterns.
Sweet.
Salty.
Nutty.
Deep.
A perfect combination of sweetness, saltiness, and rich sesame flavor.
"Whoa, wait... teriyaki sauce mixed with black sesame? I would never have imagined that combination."
Lee Yu-han exclaimed.
"Right? It doesn't sound bad at all."
Hong Man-gi nodded and waited for the next explanation.
Poming continued.
"Yes! Please keep imagining everything exactly as I explain it."
"Okay!"
"The main character that goes into this magical sauce is thickly sliced pork belly! Pork jowl with enough fat and a pleasantly chewy texture works too! But the important point is, we don't simply throw the meat into the sauce and boil it!"
"Then what do we do?"
"We use a half-braise, half-simmer method! First, sear the surface of the thick pork belly in a pan until golden brown, locking in all the juices, just like searing a steak! Then place that crispy pork belly into the black sesame teriyaki sauce and slowly simmer it! Start over strong heat, then later lower the heat and gently steam it while it braises!"
[Sizzle, sizzle, bubble, bubble]
They imagined thick pork belly turning golden brown inside a hot pan.
The outside crisp.
The inside still full of juicy moisture.
Then the pork sank into glossy black sesame teriyaki sauce, slowly cooking as though relaxing in a hot spring.
As the sauce penetrated deeply into the meat, the pork gradually turned a delicious glossy black.
"Wow... so it isn't exactly a simmered dish or a braised dish... half-braised, half-simmered? This sounds like art."
"Yeah. This one seriously sounds like the best so far."
Hong Man-gi spoke with genuine admiration.
The more he cooked, the more he seemed to realize just how deep and creative Poming's cooking world truly was.
"Ahem! This much is basic!"
Poming proudly continued.
"And the finishing touch of this dish is the side ingredients! We can't just throw meat on the plate by itself, right? There are three friends that pair perfectly with Black Sesame Teriyaki Pork Belly Braise!"
"Three friends?"
Lee Yu-han's eyes sparkled again.
"Yes! First, mustard leaf pickles with a pleasantly bitter and sharp flavor. They cut through the richness of the pork and wake up your appetite!"
"What's second?"
"Second, crispy rainbow carrot strips! They look beautiful, add texture, and even provide nutrition! And the final third one is a lightly acidic yuzu sauce! If you add the refreshing flavor of yuzu to the sweet, salty, and nutty black sesame teriyaki sauce, the balance becomes perfect!"
[Crunch, tangy, sweet]
They imagined the colorful side ingredients arranged beside glossy black pork.
Bitter mustard leaf pickles.
Crispy rainbow carrot strips.
Fresh yuzu sauce.
The colors, flavors, and textures all seemed carefully balanced.
Hong Man-gi and Lee Yu-han unconsciously smacked their lips.
If Spicy Cream Jeyuk Rice Bowl had a powerful, exciting charm aimed at younger people, Black Sesame Teriyaki Pork Belly Braise seemed capable of appealing to every generation with a deep, rich, yet sophisticated flavor.
"Wow, Poming. Seriously... I'm realizing it again, but this is perfect."
Hong Man-gi clicked his tongue in admiration.
"Exactly! Poming, I feel like this would become a huge hit even in a proper restaurant!"
Lee Yu-han sincerely agreed.
Happy from their praise, Poming spun her tiny body around like she was dancing.
"Hehe! Poming's cooking ability is limitless! All right, should we go over the attractive points of Black Sesame Teriyaki Pork Belly Braise?"
"Okay, go ahead."
Poming returned to teacher mode.
"First! An incredible nutty richness unlike any normal pork braise! Black sesame completely removes the pork smell, while turning the richness of the fat into an even deeper sweetness! Second! Overwhelming visuals! Pork belly coated in shiny black sauce! The moment it appears on television, it completely takes over the screen! Imagine how delicious it would look under studio lighting! Third! The dramatic contrast of black and white, sweet and salty, rich and nutty! That kind of unexpected contrast will make the judges insanely curious!"
Poming spoke without hesitation.
Just as she said, Black Sesame Teriyaki Pork Belly Braise had flavor, appearance, and storytelling.
It felt like a signature dish almost perfectly designed for Blue and White Cooking King.
"Good, Poming. The second signature-dish candidate is decided too."
Hong Man-gi spoke confidently.
"If Spicy Cream Jeyuk Rice Bowl is a trendy punch aimed at younger people, then Black Sesame Teriyaki Pork Belly Braise could become a heavy punch that appeals to every generation. Both dishes are definitely worth trying."
Hong Man-gi's eyes burned with excitement.
Blue and White Cooking King.
A completely new stage.
And the special dishes he could show there.
Hong Man-gi and Lee Yu-han were already completely absorbed by the two signature candidates, Spicy Cream Jeyuk Rice Bowl and Black Sesame Teriyaki Pork Belly Braise.
But Poming apparently was not finished yet.
After catching her breath, she became even more serious.
Then she announced the third dish.
"All right, Chef! Mr. Lee Yu-han! Now for the grand final ultimate-dish candidate! The previous two dishes were aimed at younger people and all generations, but this one is designed to capture even the hearts and palates of older people. You could call it the essence of Korean fusion cuisine! Its name is, Doenjang Cheese Risotto!"
"Ugh!"
This time, both Hong Man-gi and Lee Yu-han could not help tilting their heads.
Doenjang and cheese.
Compared with Spicy Cream Jeyuk or Black Sesame Teriyaki, the combination sounded even more shocking and difficult to imagine.
If handled incorrectly, it could easily become a bizarre dish with no clear identity.
"Poming. Doenjang and cheese seriously don't sound right together. This time, I can't even imagine how it's supposed to work."
Hong Man-gi carefully asked.
"If the strong fermented smell of doenjang mixes with the heaviness of cheese... ugh, even imagining it feels strange."
"Exactly, Poming! Isn't that too experimental? I can't imagine doenjang inside risotto at all."
Lee Yu-han also looked worried.
But Poming ignored their concerns.
Instead, she gave an even more mysterious smile.
Her tiny eyes seemed to shine like deep wells.
"Chef, Mr. Lee Yu-han! The true world of flavor sometimes exists beyond common sense! The concept of Doenjang Cheese Risotto is this!"
Poming grinned.
"Doenjang warmly gathers everything that has been left behind, and cheese covers it like gentle forgiveness. Khaa! How is that? More philosophical this time, right?"
Once again, Poming spoke like a tiny essayist lost in emotion.
"Forget the philosophy. How do you actually make this thing?"
Hong Man-gi asked, still doubtful.
"Yes! Tell us quickly, Poming! I'm already curious about what kind of twist this one has!"
Lee Yu-han was now completely absorbed in Poming's magical recipe explanations.
Poming briefly pouted before beginning to explain the secret behind her final signature-dish candidate with a calm but passionate voice.
"The core of Doenjang Cheese Risotto is balance and harmony!"
"Balance and harmony are important again?"
"Of course! Two ingredients that seem completely incompatible, doenjang and cheese, meet and cover each other's weaknesses while making their strengths even greater! First, the basic foundation is rice! Normal white rice works, but slightly firm barley rice with grains that pop when you bite them is even better! Then add smooth milk and a small amount of one of today's main ingredients, doenjang! If you add too much, it'll become salty and heavy, so only enough to create a gentle savory aroma!"
[Drip, drip]
In their imagination, white milk gently soaked into warm grains of rice.
A spoonful of deep brown doenjang slowly settled over the top.
Like a simple ink painting being drawn across a white canvas, it seemed to mark the beginning of a humble but deep flavor.
Hong Man-gi and Lee Yu-han silently imagined the taste.
