God-Given Business Genius - Chapter 209

I jumped up in surprise, but An Derek merely continued sipping his drink nonchalantly.

As a result, I felt somewhat deflated.

'Well, with An Derek's skills, he should have opened his own restaurant long ago.'

While working under Jung Ha-neul, a master of Chinese cuisine, is great, isn't it natural for all chefs to want to open their own restaurant?

For a chef, cooking is a form of self-expression.

Just as painters convey messages to the world through their works, and dancers showcase themselves to the public with nimble steps.

Chefs speak through their cooking.

Isn't the charm of fine dining that after tasting a meticulously prepared course, one becomes captivated by the chef's unique colors and flavors?

'In other words, there's a limit to making menus decided by others while working under someone else.'

Even under a famous manga artist, an assistant is still just an assistant. In that sense, An Derek's independence was both surprising and unsurprising.

"He originally said he'd leave two years ago. Staying this long means he held out for quite a while."

Jung Ha-neul said with a smile.

An Derek had long since reached the pinnacle of both technique and creativity as a chef. His presence had grown too large to remain under someone else.

Yet, it was indeed puzzling that he continued to work under Jung Ha-neul keeping a low profile.

"I suppose it means there's nothing left for him to leech off me? This cheeky fellow."

"That's not it."

"What do you mean it's not? I guess I'm becoming a backroom old-timer. I should make way for the young rising stars."

"Please don't say that."

As Jung Ha-neul spoke jokingly, An Derek responded seriously.

"Congratulations, Chef An-nim."

I said, half-dazed, trying to hide my bewilderment.

"You should have told us earlier. I could have helped with things like store contracts or selecting interior design companies."

Why do chefs yearn for their own restaurants but hesitate to take the plunge? It's because of this 'business' aspect.

Making good food and maintaining a business are completely different matters.

'While most successful businesses serve delicious food, delicious food doesn't always guarantee business success.'

Just look at the cases of Lee In-cheol and Choi Jun-hyuk.

But if a talented individual like An Derek were to fail due to business difficulties, it would be such a shame.

"I actually mentioned that,"

Bong Kang-min chimed in.

"Chef Jung and I managed to establish ourselves somehow, but we can't be of much help. Competition wasn't as fierce in our time, and it was so long ago that we don't remember much. I told him to get help from Chef Song since that's your specialty."

"And?"

"He said he'd rather die than contact you."

Bong Kang-min clicked his tongue.

'Why on earth?'

I tilted my head in confusion. Well, he might feel uncomfortable receiving my help. Some chefs have beliefs like 'I must build my restaurant from start to finish by myself!'

But even so, with a food industry expert right beside him, to never seek advice?

Puzzled, I looked at An Derek, but he just turned his head to the side without responding.

"Hehe. You really don't know?"

Jung Ha-neul said with a mischievous smile.

"The reason he postponed his independence for two years is right here. How could he accept help?"

"Pardon?"

"Right, Chef An?"

"......"

An Derek remained silent even at Jung Ha-neul's question.

'The reason he postponed his independence for two years... was because of me?'

It seemed to mean that contextually. I couldn't understand at all. Why because of me? What did I do?

'Ah! Could it be.'

It suddenly dawned on me.

'We met on Cold Cooking around that time, right?'

Even so, surely not. It was just a competition, if you could even call it that, set up by the broadcasting station.

'The ingredients were just leftovers from the refrigerator, and the time limit was ridiculously short at 15 minutes.'

Even the judges were the owners of the refrigerator. It's embarrassing to even call it a 'competition'.

Yet, that prevented An Derek's independence and became the reason for two more years of training?

I looked at An Derek with a strange gaze, but he remained silent.

"At that time, Chef An had no rivals among his peers~. Even masters with decades more experience were in awe.”

Bong Kang-min said, leaning back in his chair. Jung Ha-neul added briefly with a subtle smile.

"He was arrogant."

A sharp thorn was visible amidst the gentle voice.

"As Chef Song would know, the food business doesn't leave much profit. It only looks glamorous."

I was well aware that fine dining yields lower profits than one might expect.

'The raw ingredients are so expensive to begin with. The turnover rate is abysmal. No matter how you calculate, it's hard to break even.'

If it were a profitable business, large corporations would have jumped in and turned it into franchises long ago. But in fine dining, out of a 150,000 won course, you're lucky if 10,000 won is left after subtracting ingredient costs, staff wages, and rent.

'Yet, they do it because they love cooking.'

If you want to sit on a pile of money, it's better to open an 8,000 won soup rice restaurant than a fine dining establishment.

"That's why I advised him to appear on broadcasts before becoming independent. When the restaurant struggles someday, he'll need that to sustain it."

There are many who wear the glittering shell of a star chef.

But for Jung Ha-neul and Bong Kang-min being a chef is still their main profession. The broadcasting work is just a stepping stone for cooking.

"That's where he met you."

Jung Ha-neul smiled broadly, seemingly pleased.

Was it so enjoyable to teach a lesson to a disciple whose arrogance had skyrocketed due to lack of worthy rivals?

"I don't remember doing anything so remarkable. It wasn't even a proper cooking competition."

"No way. Do you think we don't know that everyone, while pretending otherwise, was gritting their teeth and giving it their all? Chefs, as a breed, aren't as broad-minded as one might think."

I know all too well.

The kitchen is a battlefield, and there are many instances of being hurt or wronged by the harsh culture. It's only natural that those who overcame all that to become chefs are unusually tenacious.

Their competitive spirit must be equally strong.

"Thanks to that, I was able to hold onto my disciple for two more years. Should I thank you?"

Jung Ha-neul said playfully.

"Or should Chef An thank Chef Song? For preventing him from making a hasty decision."

"......"

"At the time, I didn't say anything because I thought if I tried to stop you, you'd leave out of defiance. But truthfully, I wished you had waited a bit longer."

"Is that so?"

"If you waited just a bit longer, I thought you'd become truly perfect."

Perfect? It's the first time I've heard Jung Ha-neul use such a word.

Didn't he always maintain a carefree attitude, like a sage ready to leave at any moment?

In contrast, Jung Ha-neul's eyes now sparkled as he looked at An Derek, like a craftsman gazing at a perfectly cut gem.

'Moreover, his skills were already formidable two years ago.'

I haven't had the chance to taste An Derek's food for a while. If Jung Ha-neul calls it 'perfect', I wonder what kind of monster he has become.

"Now, I wouldn't be ashamed to call you my disciple anywhere."

As if nothing had happened, Jung Ha-neul smiled brightly, his eyes curving.

"You must be busy preparing for the opening, but you still made time to come. Hm?"

"That's right, that's right. You're having the opening ceremony soon, right?"

Bong Kang-min quickly jumped in, seizing the topic.

"Was it next week?"

"Yes, that's correct."

"You'll invite us, right?"

"......"

"You'll... invite us, right?"

As Bong Kang-min, Manager's eye corners drooped pitifully, An Derek nodded.

"I was actually planning to bring that up today."

An Derek pulled out an elegant-looking invitation from his pocket. The name 'An Dam (安湛)' was clearly engraved on it.

"I'd like to serve you as my first guests."

"Of course we should go!"

Bong Kang-min responded immediately.

"It's Chef An's first showcase of his course menu. I'm so excited to see how much he's prepared. This is an opportunity you can't buy with money!"

"I'll go too."

"Thank you."

As the two promptly accepted, all eyes turned to me.

"...Will you be able to come."

An Derek spoke in a tone that seemed strangely tense. It must have been my imagination. That stone-faced person couldn't possibly be like that.

"Hmm. I think I'll need to check my schedule. When next week did you say?"

I pretended to check my schedule as I spoke.

"Chef Song!"

Bong Kang-min let out a scream-like shout from beside me. I burst into laughter and continued.

"I'm joking. Of course I should go."

Although I specialize in more popular food due to my franchise business, it doesn't mean I shy away from haute cuisine.

Despite appearances, before my regression, I traveled around the world collecting Michelin stars.

"Congratulations once again, Chef An."

I said, looking at An Derek.

"I'm looking forward to it. To see what wonderful dishes you'll present."

I had completely forgotten, but hearing the name 'An Dam', I remembered. It was a place I had visited once before my regression.

Even then, An Derek had gained some popularity through his appearances on Cold Cooking.

By the time I was traveling around on my gourmet journey, he had left the program and was running his own restaurant, famous for having one Michelin star.

'I remember enjoying the food quite a bit then.'

And from Jung Ha-neul's perspective, that was An Derek becoming independent with somewhat lacking skills?

'Then how will it be now?'

An Derek, who Jung Ha-neul has honed for two more years, An Derek who has set aside his arrogance and devoted himself.

Just how much more unreachable heights has he reached?

Perhaps...

'He might be the first in our country to reach 3 Michelin stars.'