God-Given Business Genius - Chapter 166

They made it sweeter to suit Song Woo-yeon's taste alone, rather than cooking it as they normally serve to customers?

'Then what's the point of getting a taste evaluation?'

There are previous customers, and future customers to consider.

Such doubts appeared on everyone's faces.

Choi Mi-seon didn't stop there and went even further.

"That's right. I've seen it on TV a few times, she adds sugar by the handful. We don't usually make it this sweet, but we added a bit~ more sugar to suit Song Woo-yeon-ssi's taste."

Do-kyung rolled his eyes, looking bewildered. Im Hye-eun tried to salvage the situation by speaking up.

"Haha. I understand your intention, Owner, but we clearly asked you to make it as you usually do..."

"Oh, that's true. But it's our job to cater to customers' tastes, you know."

Choi Mi-seon showed no signs of backing down. Im Hye-eun glanced at the monitor.

Sure enough, Song Woo-yeon's expression had turned cold.

-Owner.

"Yes?"

-Then come down and cook it again.

"Pardon?"

-You said you made this army stew to suit my taste, right? Then you should make it again as you usually serve it to customers so I can evaluate it accurately.

"You can just think of it as being a bit less sweet. We only added sugar."

-No. How much does sweetness affect the taste of this army stew? It's the most important part, so you need to make it again to be sure.

"......"

As Choi Mi-seon made a displeased expression, Song Woo-yeon continued.

-However, if it's still sweet even after you remake it, contrary to what you're saying, I can't provide a solution for this restaurant.

"What?"

Choi Mi-seon looked dumbfounded.

"No, how can that be?"

-If someone can't admit their mistakes and accept my criticisms, what's the use of a solution? It's meaningless no matter how much I say. I don't want to waste effort like that. It's better to spend that time looking at other restaurants.

"......"

-Owner. Think about what you said again. You made it sweeter because I like sweet things? This isn't a sweetness that comes from adding just a spoon or two of sugar.

Song Woo-yeon took another spoonful of the broth.

-It tastes like tteokbokki, not army stew. When was the last time you tasted this after cooking it yourself? Not tasting it right after making it, but after simmering it for a while like you would serve to customers.

"......"

-You don't remember, do you? If you had tasted it yourself, you couldn't say such things. Who would like army stew this sweet? And this is already overly sweet from the onions and cabbage, even without adding sugar.

After being scolded harshly, Choi Mi-seon's shoulders naturally slumped. Her son, Park Jun-beom, glanced at Choi Mi-seon from beside her.

-If you want to continue with the solution, stop making excuses and accept the problems I'm pointing out. Understand?

"Yes......"

-If you lie again to my questions, I'm really going to leave. Don't do that.

"I'm sorry."

Choi Mi-seon answered in a deflated voice.

-Army stew should be saltier rather than sweet to be delicious. I'll talk about this part later...

Song Woo-yeon stirred the army stew once more. The ladle was filled with square ham and long sliced ham.

Song Woo-yeon picked one and ate it.

-Hmm....... What kind of ham do you use?

"Garlic ham and S*."

-Garlic ham? Why?

"I bought and tried various types of ham, and that one was the most delicious. It has good flavor, and the garlic scent goes well..."

At those words, Song Woo-yeon tilted her head.

-The ham that goes into army stew should absorb the broth flavor well to be delicious. But this garlic ham has such a strong flavor itself that it kills the broth flavor. Moreover, as the garlic flavor from this ham seeps into the broth, it makes the broth taste murky.

Song Woo-yeon picked out another ham and tasted it while speaking.

-S* goes well and is fine. It's not unsalted S*, right? Salty ham adds saltiness to the army stew and brings out a unique rich flavor that enhances the taste.

Song Woo-yeon added that the ham in army stew should therefore be salty. She said unsalted ham is delicious when grilled.

"Oh~ I see. CEO Song, you're knowledgeable about army stew too."

Im Hye-eun felt an exclamation of admiration escape her lips. From her prior research, Song Woo-yeon didn't even own an army stew franchise. How does she know everything so well, like an encyclopedia?

'Of course, I thought she'd have rich cooking experience since she calls herself a culinary researcher...'

This is beyond imagination. For recipes, one could somehow manage by researching diligently or using subordinates.

The filming proceeded without even informing her in advance which restaurant's solution would be carried out. Yet she found problems as soon as she tasted the army stew, and could recite which hams go well with army stew.

'This broadcast might turn out much more interesting than expected?'

The more diverse the topics, the better the broadcast tends to be. Just picking up the words Song Woo-yeon just said, she could see the editing angles.

'Moreover, this side is quite excellent too.'

Im Hye-eun glanced at Do-kyung.

It's not new for idols to take a spot on variety shows. In a situation where many idols just fill their spots halfheartedly and leave.

She roughly knew that entertainment companies were big players for broadcasting stations, so they couldn't be too harsh, and she was somewhat aware of the complicated adult stories intertwined like spider webs.

But as a freelance MC who had to struggle to barely get a spot, she had often felt resentful.

Although Do-kyung wasn't making many broadcast-ready comments, probably because it was his first filming and he was very nervous.

He was playing a much more excellent role than that.

'His expressions... you can read his inner thoughts!'

What does that mean? It's like this.

"I've tried over thirty different hams, and that one was the most delicious, I'm telling you?"

When Choi Mi-seon stubbornly spoke once more, Do-kyung's expression clearly changed.

His large eyes seemed to contain his inner thoughts entirely.

'What nonsense are you talking about? ...It's like he's asking with his face.'

It's truly the ginger in the medicine. Without saying anything, he was fulfilling his role sufficiently with his face alone. To the extent that he seemed to be representing the viewers' psychology the most.

While thinking this, Im Hye-eun verbally offered a broadcast comment to smooth things over.

"Ah~ So you tried everything yourself and chose the ham that suited your taste, Owner?"

"Yes. My son and I tasted everything ourselves."

"That's what she's saying, CEO."

As if the message was conveyed, Song Woo-yeon's expression twisted once more.

-You tasted it yourself? Then you especially shouldn't use this.

To this, Choi Mi-seon retorted.

"I'm telling you I tasted it myself. It was the most delicious to my taste."

-...Even if it suits your taste, Owner, I'm explaining what the most popular taste is like. There might be a niche market. But it's not a taste many customers will like.

"Many of our regulars come saying this is delicious."

As Choi Mi-seon continued to stick to her opinion, Song Woo-yeon asked incredulously.

-No, Owner. You applied for a solution because you have few customers and sales aren't increasing, right? But how can you say there's no problem with the food at all? If what you're saying is true, your restaurant should be doing well and not need a solution from me. Isn't that right?

"The location here is a bit... It's hard to do business because not many people pass by."

At those words, Song Woo-yeon's eyes widened and blinked.

-...What are you saying? So you're saying business isn't good here because of the location, and there are no other problems?

"The poor location has a big negative impact, that's what I mean."

-Owner, if that's the case, you should have moved locations instead of doing business here.

"It's hard to do that, that's why we came out here~"

-Pardon?

Song Woo-yeon let out a hollow laugh, then asked with a bitter smile.

-So Owner, you just came here to promote your place? Because business will do well if you just raise awareness?

"It's not good to put it that way."

-What's wrong with that? That's exactly what you mean.

"No, I just thought if our son appears on a show like this, it would help promote the restaurant, and it would be good to hear Song Woo-yeon-ssi's advice too. So when he said we should try appearing..."

"Uh, Mom."

"What? Did I say something wrong? You said we should try it!"

As Choi Mi-seon reacted angrily, Park Jun-beom let out a deep sigh. Seeing this, Im Hye-eun stepped in to mediate.

"Yes~ So Owner, you're saying you decided to appear because you thought it would help your restaurant if you came on our <Alley Secrets>, right?"

"Yes, that's right."

"I see. The purpose of our show is to visit small, struggling restaurants in alleys to provide solutions and promote them~ Owner, why don't you relax a bit and listen more closely to the solution content? That's why you came, isn't it?"

"Right. Yes."

As Choi Mi-seon still gave a lukewarm response, Park Jun-beom anxiously tried to smooth things over.

"We're sorry. We'll work hard!"

But the chilled atmosphere didn't dissipate at all. Song Woo-yeon, with her arms folded, seemed to be pondering something, then spoke up like this.

-Then shall we see? Whether there's really no problem with this restaurant's army stew and only the location is an issue, as Owner says.

"Ah, CEO. Do you have a good idea?"

-PD. You mentioned a tasting panel before, can we recruit one right away? Or the production staff here can participate too.

The sudden proposal caused a stir among the production staff.

"PD. Is it possible?"

"It's difficult to bring in a tasting panel right away, but we can mobilize the production staff. It would take about a week to bring in a tasting panel."

"That's what they're saying, CEO."

-Then I'll ask the production staff.

As the production staff nodded, Song Woo-yeon continued.

-Let's try a blind test.

A brightly smiling face filled the screen.

-Whose army stew is more delicious. Without revealing whose it is, just taste and vote for the more delicious army stew. How about it?