Chapter 60
"Now, we will begin judging the first course!"
At Producer Gu Sang-hoon's announcement, every gaze in the studio turned toward the judges.
The first dish presented was Edward Kang's Deconstructed Sinseollo.
At the center of a transparent glass bowl stood a pillar of icy broth.
Around it, various ingredients were arranged like a work of modern art.
From appearance alone, it was almost impossible to imagine that this was sinseollo.
It was an extremely unconventional dish.
David Chen carefully picked up his spoon first.
He tasted each ingredient separately.
"Oh... good!"
The sous-vide meatball melted on his tongue.
The mushroom espuma was soft like a cloud.
The pine nut oil delivered an extremely concentrated nutty richness.
Finally, when he took a sip of the chilled broth, its clean yet deep umami cleared his palate.
"Hmm...."
David Chen closed his eyes for a moment and savored the flavors.
"Technically, this is close to perfect. It shows the essence of modern French cooking, pushing the characteristics of every ingredient to their limits. The concept of deconstruction and reconstruction is also very interesting. It feels like putting a work of art into my mouth."
Edward Kang secretly sighed in relief at the evaluation.
But David Chen's next words immediately stiffened his expression again.
"However, Chef Kang. I find it difficult to feel the theme of 'Inheritance' in this dish. This is closer to excellent creation. You borrowed the outer shell of a traditional dish called sinseollo, but the spirit of warmth and harmony inside it has disappeared. What remains is cold technology and calculated technique. The flavor is perfect, but somehow... it feels like a dish without a soul."
It was a sharp criticism.
Master Kang Min-jung nodded in agreement.
"I agree with Judge David."
She calmly continued.
"Sinseollo was originally food meant to be shared from one pot, allowing people to strengthen their harmony while eating together. But this dish feels far too individual and coldly separated. Each ingredient is excellent, but there is no warm story created when they come together. For a theme like inheritance, I feel the vessel itself is simply too cold."
The evaluations of the two judges were harsh.
They acknowledged its technical perfection, but believed it had failed to fully express the theme.
Edward Kang lowered his head with a stiff expression.
Next came Hong Man-gi's Pot Rice with Three Side Dishes.
Appearing after Edward Kang's dazzling creation, Hong Man-gi's meal looked incredibly simple and ordinary.
White rice in a brass bowl.
Three vegetable side dishes.
One bowl of clear soup.
But the moment the meal was placed before the judges, the savory warmth of freshly cooked rice and the fragrant smell of seasoned vegetables gently spread through the studio.
Master Kang Min-jung picked up the rice bowl first.
"Hmm...."
She carefully examined the grains before anything else.
The rice gleamed.
Every grain looked plump and perfectly cooked.
She took a spoonful of rice alone and placed it in her mouth.
At that instant, her eyes trembled.
'Th, this rice...?'
The more she chewed, the more a deep sweetness and savory flavor slowly emerged.
More importantly, warm and vibrant energy spread through her entire body.
It tasted like rice freshly cooked in an old cauldron by a grandmother's hands.
The mysterious power of the mana stones seemed to have breathed life into every grain.
'A, amazing!'
She then tasted the Comforting Perilla Shiitake Salad.
The harmony between soft shiitake mushrooms and rich perilla wrapped around her tongue like a mother's gentle comfort.
Next came the Fighting Spirit Grilled Deodeok.
Its bitterness and spicy flavor brought to mind the hardships of life and the powerful will needed to overcome them.
Finally, the Devotion Bangpung-namul began with slight bitterness before leaving a fragrant finish, reminding her of quiet sacrifice and nobility.
Each of the three vegetable dishes carried a different flavor, fragrance, and story.
Yet when they were eaten with the warm pot rice, they created an amazing synergy.
It looked like an ordinary meal.
But it contained Hong Man-gi's life as an F-rank Hunter, the joy and sorrow of the countless spirits he had met, and the warm comfort that embraced them all.
It was truly a meal filled with stories.
Moisture gathered in Master Kang Min-jung's eyes.
She quietly placed her spoon down and looked at Hong Man-gi.
"How did you create something like this...."
"This is the flavor I've spent my entire life searching for. Not flashy techniques or expensive ingredients, but true homemade flavor that moves a person's heart. And the warm story contained within it."
She steadied her emotions and continued.
"With the most ordinary rice and vegetables, you created the deepest emotion. You brought precious memories from the past into the present and showed us the perfect answer for how they should be delivered to future generations. I believe this is the true meaning of inheritance. Today, I received a truly wonderful meal."
David Chen was also quietly finishing everything on the table.
Instead of his usual sharp criticism, he looked lost in deep thought.
After tasting everything, he quietly wiped his mouth with a napkin and spoke to Hong Man-gi.
"Mr. Hong Man-gi. To be honest, I have spent my entire life searching for new flavors and creative flavors. So when I first saw this ordinary-looking meal, I was disappointed. But now, I am simply ashamed."
