God-Given Business Genius - Chapter 208

The idea of a menu item designed to grab attention was half-joking, but also half-serious.

'In fact, challenge menus targeting mukbang YouTubers were quite popular at one point.'

Before the regression, this type of handmade burger had been a hot topic.

As time passes, this approach might not be effective anymore, but at least during this period, it worked well.

Sure enough, among the four, Choi Min-hyuk, who was closest to being in the customer's role, was staring at the 10,000 Calorie handmade burger with a dazed expression.

"Wow. This actually tastes good?"

He cut off a corner with a knife and exclaimed in admiration.

"It's fundamentally a handmade burger. Even if it's a bit inconvenient to eat, the taste itself is fine."

"Yeah. I'm not sure if it can be called a handmade burger though."

"It's definitely a handmade burger. Of course, we'll need to refine the details."

Especially controlling the richness was key to the taste. While few people would eat a burger this size alone, it shouldn't be just a 'large quantity handmade burger'.

It needs to be delicious for it to have meaning as a 'signature' item.

"Wait, it hasn't been long since you said you'd provide a solution for our store. Did you come up with this in that short time?"

Choi Min-hyuk looked surprised. Strictly speaking, I hadn't come up with it, but I had indeed researched all the specific recipes.

"It's too early to be surprised."

Baek Jae-ha responded in a somewhat boastful tone, even though I hadn't said anything. Why are you more proud?

I looked at him incredulously, and Baek Jae-ha smiled and replied.

"Although we're called the new menu development team, we don't have many members. It's not an exaggeration to say that almost all the new menus for <The Song> franchise are born under our CEO's hands."

"With you in charge of Song Kitchen."

"But you still do the final check, CEO."

That's true, but.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, I scratched my cheek, and Choi Min-hyuk's gaze changed subtly.

"You really are a genius..."

Judging by his low mutter, he seems to be under some serious misunderstanding.

He probably thinks I'm some unparalleled genius with ideas automatically flowing out.

I felt somewhat awkward since most of it relied on the experience I had accumulated through research before the regression.

I turned to Choi Jun-hyuk, changing the subject.

"So, does it suit your taste?"

"Yes. I enjoyed it."

Unlike Choi Min-hyuk, Choi Jun-hyuk maintained a calm expression.

To a craftsman who had elevated handmade burgers to that level of quality with delicate skills, my handmade burger must seem lacking in completion.

It was as I had expected.

"It seems like a great idea. I had a preconception that a handmade burger should naturally be a size that fits in one hand, but thanks to this, I've learned something new."

Choi Jun-hyuk answered very politely and even bowed his head.

"There's still a lot more to research."

"Yes, that's right. Starting from the thickness of the meat, to the types of cheese and buns... It would be good to reduce the amount of cheese and add things like pickles or grilled onions. If we use different sauces in between to create various flavors..."

Choi Jun-hyuk seemed to have already started analyzing. He appeared to be speaking off the top of his head, but it perfectly matched the points I had been considering, which gave me goosebumps.

'As expected, this person is the real deal.'

He was someone who truly knew how to make a proper handmade burger. His passion seemed extraordinary as well.

Then Baek Jae-ha chimed in, as if not wanting to be outdone.

"It might be good to try mixing other cheeses instead of just cheddar. Cheddar cheese tends to have a strong taste and smell, so it might become tiresome quickly. Also, besides the thickness of the meat, it might be good to try making it with a higher ratio of lean meat."

This guy seems to have been ignited with enthusiasm at the sight of new food. He was speaking quickly and his eyes were sparkling.

"There's more meat in the refrigerator, right? I'll try making one. If we experiment with various ratios..."

"Then I'll try using various cheeses. There should be some leftover cheese we used before in here."

Choi Jun-hyuk and Baek Jae-ha naturally divided roles as if they had planned it beforehand.

After that, everything moved smoothly.

I couldn't just stand there doing nothing, so I rolled up my sleeves and stepped forward.

"Wait a minute. What about me?"

Choi Min-hyuk cried out, left alone as everyone else started bustling about.

To this, I simply assigned him a role.

"You're in charge of tasting."

"Ah, I see."

As Choi Min-hyuk quieted down, this time Choi Jun-hyuk half-exclaimed.

"Um, Chef?"

"Yes?"

"Are we going to fry all of these?"

"That's the plan."

I asked, looking at the approximately 50 patties lined up in a row.

"What's different about them?"

"The meat ratios are slightly different for each."

"How slight are we talking about?"

"This one is 49:51, this one is 48:52, like that."

"......"

"It's an essential process to find the optimal ratio."

Alright. Let me take back what I said. This person isn't just 'the real deal'.

'He's a complete patty maniac!'

Who fries dozens of patties with slightly different ratios just to test them?

Most people wouldn't be able to properly discern the difference between 49:51 and 48:52. This level of detail is something you'd expect in fine dining.

It was unheard of, but I couldn't dislike it because I could feel his passion so vividly.

Instead, I smiled and said,

"Alright. Let's give it a try."

For the first time in a while, I felt like I was burning up along with them.

How long has it been since I devoted all my body and soul, grinding away time for the pure goal of delicious food?

I felt good with the sense of elation that naturally arose.

"Until we perfect the recipe for the best 10,000 Calorie handmade burger!"

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"Oh ho."

Bong Kang-min looked down at me with his arms crossed and said,

"So that's why you were late?"

"Haha... I'm sorry."

I bowed my head once more.

"I got so absorbed for the first time in a while that I lost track of time. It's not that I forgot about today's appointment, but when I came to my senses, I was already late."

As I made excuses with a sheepish smile, Bong Kang-min grumbled in an exaggerated tone.

"Kids these days are so absorbed! Huh? In my day, if seniors as revered as the heavens were waiting, we'd rush out even in the middle of brushing our teeth, toothbrush in mouth!"

It wasn't entirely sincere, but rather seemed like he was excitedly taking the opportunity to tease me, as I rarely gave him such chances.

I just went along with it, saying things like, "Yes, yes, I'm sorry, sunbae. I have committed a grave sin."

"Chef Bong, why don't you stop now? I'm so embarrassed I can't even look at Woo-yeon."

Jung Ha-neul, unable to watch any longer, stopped Bong Kang-min, Manager. No matter how much of a joke it was, it seemed quite embarrassing to see someone saying "In my day~" to someone so much younger.

"You're one to talk, Chef Bong. Didn't you once stand us up because you came up with a cooking idea?"

"Ahem. Why bring that up now?"

"I'm saying we should stop nagging, especially when we've gathered such busy people."

As Jung Ha-neul spoke firmly, Bong Kang-min clicked his tongue as if disappointed but sat back down.

I secretly gestured to Jung Ha-neul. It was an expression of gratitude.

"Now that everyone has left Cold Cooking, we rarely see each other's faces."

"True. It's something that this gathering is still maintained at all."

Although our first meeting was through Cold Cooking, as chefs changed one by one, now An Derek was the only chef still appearing on Cold Cooking.

Meeting at Jung Ha-neul's restaurant had become an implicit agreement, and no matter how busy we were, we made time to attend the gathering.

"We have to come at least to eat the appetizers that Chef Jung personally prepares. Where else could we get such an opportunity?"

"Oh my, this one. Now it's probably harder to get a taste of your cooking than mine."

As I joked, Jung Ha-neul laughed heartily, seemingly not displeased.

"That's right. Our Song, Chef, you left us behind and started a new program, didn't you? What was it called, Alley Secrets?"

"Yes, that's right."

"That was interesting! The recent episode was about that place, right? The one selling pasta at an exorbitant price."

Bong Kang-min seemed to be watching the live broadcast. I guess Park Man-su's pasta restaurant was recently aired.

"The preview looked intense~. Huh?"

"Haha."

"So how did it turn out? Did they give up on the solution?"

"No spoilers~. If you're curious, please watch the next episode live."

"Ooh. So strict!"

As I was letting Bong Kang-min, Manager's jeers in one ear and out the other,

'Huh?'

I noticed something different from usual.

Glancing at An Derek, who was silently keeping his seat beside us, I casually asked,

"By the way, Chef An, why are you in casual clothes today?"

An Derek often joined us directly after working with Jung Ha-neul, so he was usually wearing his chef's uniform.

But why casual clothes today? Even Chef Jung is in his chef's uniform.

At my question, the atmosphere at the table suddenly cooled.

"?"

What's this? I was puzzled, unable to guess the reason.

"Oh my. Chef An."

Jung Ha-neul nudged An Derek's side. As if giving him some kind of hint.

"What? You didn't tell her?"

Bong Kang-min also chimed in, as if chiding. It seemed everyone except me knew something.

As I stared at An Derek, the protagonist of this commotion, he put down the glass he was drinking from and looked at me.

"...I've become independent."

"Pardon?"

I couldn't help but ask again at this unexpected statement. Independent? What independence? Did he buy his own place nearby?

Has he been living with his parents all this time? I know An Derek is unmarried, but it's hard to imagine.

However, what I heard next completely surpassed my expectations.

"Opening a restaurant with your own name is every chef's dream."

Huh?

Well, that's true. But why suddenly bring that up...

It took me a while to fully understand what An Derek was saying.

"...Whaaat?!"

I stood up abruptly.

"You opened your own restaurant?!"

An Derek calmly nodded at my question.

No, this isn't something to be taken so lightly!