God of Cooking

Chapter 215: Everyone has their own story (1)

Rachel Rose’s Rose Island Venice branch, whose reopening was widely rumored for some time, finally opened. I didn’t know how many times I visited the Venice branch to book a reservation for the past month. I was thrilled with the thought that I could feel the good old taste of the dish that left a strong impression in my mind.

To be honest, the Rose Island that I visited was so different from that in my memory.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that the Venice branch was worse than before. Rose Island’s dishes impressed me like before. Of course, I felt the dishes in my memory seemed to be more delicious, but there is nothing more delicious than the dish added with one’s nostalgic memories. Perhaps, the course I ate this time would have been etched in my memory as an attractive memory that I would surely miss after a few days.

Returning to the main point, if I can pick one thing that the main store has changed clearly from the one in my memory, it is none other than molecular cooking. Actually, they started to make molecular cuisine seriously when the main store was closed. But the molecular cuisine they presented this time was perfect.

I heard that Rafael Yoon, famous for his molecular food truck, has joined the main branch as its sous chef, but can he himself boast of a molecular cuisine like this? Was Rachel Rose in hiding for ten years to work on molecular cuisine? Such speculation is ridiculous, but, funny enough, I’m taking this speculation seriously. What I mean is the molecular dish served on the opening day was superb.

If I could single out the most dramatic of the molecular dishes, I would not hesitate for a moment to pick the potato soup topped with bacon foam. The soup blew away the prejudice of me and my colleagues that that potato soup wouldn’t be a good fit for the menu of a restaurant.

When I put a little bit of foam on the soft potato soup and put it in my mouth, I could not believe my eyes because I thought it was actually bacon, not mushrooms that I was chewing in my mouth. A rich bacon flavor that I could not think of in a regular foam sauce was there in the soup. I just could not believe how only a teaspoon of that foam could create such a flavor? It was just a shock to me. The soup, which satisfied customers’ fun and taste at the same time, was so impressive as to remind me of that good old taste of the dishes in the old Rose Island.

^^^^

When we almost finished the meal, Chef Rachel came out alone, expressed thanks, and chatted with us a bit. Although we didn’t chat for long, I still remember what she said at that time. It’s mainly because she said something from the bottom of her heart, not just paying lip service. Even if I remember what somebody said, it’s just meaningless if I am not touched by what the person says.

In that sense, Rachel has conveyed her clear message to us. She told us about her joy, regret, and love. How she expressed it to us was another matter. After that, Rachel came to our table in person to have a chat with us.

I remember we had this conversation. I told her that my life without Rose Island for the past ten years was like I’ve had no delicious dishes for the past ten years. Rachel replied, “I wish you had been more mature for the past ten years. Why are you so picky about food, Juan?”

She is correct. That’s one reason why I am posting a long article on my blog right now. She hasn’t forgotten my name for the past ten years!

I was so happy that she remembered my name. When I came to know that just as Rose Island was precious to me, her regulars like me were at least memorable and meaningful to her. My heart was full as if I cleared my mother’s misunderstandings after a long time.

Rose Island. Maybe that name will be in my memory for the rest of my life. I just hope that I can live long enough to see how bright a star Rose Island will be again.

“Wow, on every blog we visit on the internet, we see customers’ good and nice postings about Rose Island,” said Garrick, smiling happily.

Maya shrugged as if she was taking it for granted.

“Of course, Rose Island deserves only nice praise. As you know, customers can’t make any complaint about the perfect dishes served on the opening day.”

“Oh, why are you acting like the owner of this restaurant? You know what? Customers will think it’s very weird if they see the demi chefs look conceited.”

“Well, I think Demi Chef Min-joon has the right to be proud of himself. He coaches me very well and makes dishes perfectly. I’ve never seen him pointed out by Chef Rachel until now.”

“Gosh, are you now flattering him because he is your demi chef? You know what? Demi Chef Anderson has rarely been pointed out, either.”

“Don’t you know the difference between ‘rarely’ and ‘never’? Don’t you know the big difference between them?”

Antonio and Maya were engaged in a war of nerves with their eyes wide open.

Fred pulled them apart.

“Stop it. What’s the point of quarreling like this? Chef Anderson and Chef Min-joon are best friends.”

“Well, they don’t look like a good match, but strangely enough, they are very close to each other.”

“I think Chef Min-joon has an attraction among people like a magnet. People get attracted to him…”

“Is he a Casanova?”

“No way? Are you kidding?” Maya balked strongly, pouting.

Garrick said with a sigh, “Anyway, you’re lucky. Chef Janet is really very scary. If I make any mistake, she just stares at me coldly and keeps asking, ‘What are you doing now?’ ‘You think you did well?’ ‘Then, even though you know it’s wrong, you have done this, right?’ ‘A mistake? Didn’t you concentrate? Were you distracted by something else?’ She is really driving me crazy when she points out like that. I can’t stand it.”

“I didn’t know she was too hard on you.”

“Yeah, she is…”

At that moment, Garrick, who responded inadvertently, slowly turned his head then hardened his face because Demi Chef Janet and Havier were standing in the kitchen.

Glaring at Garrick sharply, Janet opened her mouth.

“Hey, you are chatting freely now because you know exactly when you have to take out the fat from the meat broth, right?”

“Oh, I’m doing it now!”

“Before you go, let’s have a talk. Why are you complaining about me? Let me listen to it, so I can take it into account when I deal with you.”

“Uh… well, what I mean was…”

Garrick’s face turned white as he couldn’t answer anything.

As if he felt sorry for Garrick, Havier patted Janet on the shoulder and opened his mouth.

“Garrick, that’s fine. Go check the meat broth.”

“What the hell are you talking about? Didn’t you hear him complaining about me? He said he’s got lots of complaints about me.”

“Hey. Stop it. You want to make him cry?”

“Tut, tut… How can you be so timid when you want to be a chef?”

Janet stared at Garrick annoyingly, who was fading away.

Then she sighed as if she was sick and tired of him.

“I really wanted a reliable guy as my assistant cook.”

“Don’t be too strict, Janet!”

“If someone watches me, he might really think I am a very strict chef. I’ve just pointed out what I think is right.”

“That’s what I want to tell you, Janet. You can point out softly. Hey, Fred, am I strict like Janet when I scold you?”

“Well, you look embarrassed rather than being strict. As you know, if I make any mistake, you are blamed for it, too.”

“… Hahaha. If somebody has heard you talking about me like that, he could think I’m a very timid guy.”

Havier scratched his head with an embarrassed expression. As if she was making fun of him, Janet turned up her mouth a bit and raised one of her eyebrows.

“Hearing what you say, it seems like you used to be a strong guy with guts.”

“Damn it! You’re right. I’m a timid guy. To be honest, we need timid chefs like me. If everybody here is tough like you, Min-joon or Anderson, don’t you think we are too lacking in individuality?”

“Who cares?”

“Well, I’m not saying …” Havier blurred at the end in a sullen voice.

Janet looked at Maya and Fred.

“Maya, Fred.”

“Yes, Yes!”

“Why are Min-joon and Anderson not coming back?”

“Oh, Chef Anderson is on the way to see the noodle maker.”

“I see. What about Min-joon?”

“I heard he is coming to work a little late today. In fact, it’s Sunday, so he could have some more rest today.”

“What did you say? Min-joon is not the type who comes to work late because he is tired. Doesn’t he have any other reason?” Janet asked, frowning.

A bit scared, Maya replied quietly in a frightened voice, “I don’t know very much why he is late, but I hear someone in his family is sick.”

***

“Yes. Mom, don’t worry. I think her fever broke after she took some medicine.”

“Thank you, Min-joon. I feel relieved a lot since you are always with her.”

“Of course, I should! I’m her boyfriend. Don’t worry and just feel relaxed. She is not that bad.”

“Whew! I have nothing to say to Kaya. She is having a hard time because she has a poor Mom like me…”

Min-joon could feel Grace’s agony over the phone. He felt sorry for her, but he tried not to express Instead he whispered kindly, “Grace, you’re a good mother. You didn’t give up Kaya even in that difficult situation. There are many parents in the world who can’t even do it. So, cheer up! When you are strong, Kaya can recover quickly.”

“I think Kaya has met a really good guy like you. Sure, let me try to be strong. Take care. Don’t be sick. Got it? I’ll let you go then. I think I am holding a busy guy like you too long.”

“No, you’re not. Thanks for calling. I’ll get back to you later.”