Chapter 9

Chapter 8

Sihu received a scolding from Hayun.

"Hey! You're proud of being directionally challenged. If you go to the military, you'll really get it from your seniors."

"Bro. I probably won't go to the military, though."

"What?"

Hayun looked surprised.

'Oh, right. He lost his parents in an accident when he was a minor and suffered multiple injuries, leading to a diagnosis of psychological trauma, which he submitted to the military service bureau.'

Hayun, after thinking, asked Sihu.

"Have you received your enlistment notice yet?"

"Not yet."

The two chatted about various things as they headed to the restaurant run by Master Yoon Sook-hee.

"Wow, a tile-roofed house."

Hayun marveled at the tile-roofed house.

The house was located deep in an alley.

Perhaps because it was cold, there were no people walking in the alley.

After crossing the wooden gate, a small garden appeared.

"Wow—"

Hayun and Sihu couldn't help but exclaim in amazement as they entered the shop.

After passing through the gate and garden, which looked like they belonged in a folk village, another small wooden gate appeared.

Creak—

When the door opened, a faint fragrance of orchids and ink tickled their noses.

A staff member dressed in a stylish hanbok approached and asked.

"Welcome. May I have the name of the reservation, please?"

Sihu and Hayun looked at each other.

A reservation?

Sihu, momentarily flustered, handed the invitation to the staff member.

The staff member, after checking the invitation, looked slightly surprised and then looked at Sihu and Hayun.

"Oh! You must be Master Yoon's guests. Please follow me."

The staff member politely led Sihu and Hayun to a room.

When Sihu and Hayun entered the room, they couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.

A large table occupied the entire room, and thick cushions were placed on the floor.

The paper walls exuded a subtle Korean charm.

While they were silently marveling at the room, the staff member entered and placed cups of water in front of Sihu and Hayun.

The cups were made of celadon porcelain.

The teapot used to pour the water was also made of celadon porcelain.

When Sihu held the cup, he felt warmth.

Swish—

The cup was filled with the rich flavor of dandelion tea.

The staff member, who had been watching them, smiled and left the room, and Hayun asked Sihu.

"Even a cup of water has such a rich flavor... How much would it cost if we had made a reservation?"

After thinking for a moment, Sihu replied.

"It would start at around 200,000 won."

"What? Why is it so expensive?"

When Sihu first learned about Korean cuisine, his teacher's story had elicited the same reaction from him.

Sihu chuckled and then spoke.

"Bro. The futurist Alvin Toffler said that the future is heading towards the third taste. The first taste is salt, the second taste is seasoning, and the third taste is fermentation. He said the world is gradually moving towards the era of the third taste."

Sihu took another sip of the dandelion tea and continued.

"Korean cuisine is the essence of the third taste, the taste of fermentation. Have you heard of it? That's why it's so expensive."

Hayun nodded in response to Sihu's question.

"The root of Korean cuisine's flavor is fermentation. The taste of fermentation starts in earthenware jars."

As Sihu spoke, Hayun felt that Sihu seemed different.

'This guy has such a deep affection for Korean cuisine? Surprising... I thought he was just good at it...'

Sihu continued his explanation about fermentation.

"Earthenware jars made at high temperatures have pores. Like a person breathing, the earthenware jars take in air through these pores and release moisture."

When Sihu paused, a deep female voice came from somewhere.

"To achieve the best taste, the fermentation must be excellent, and the subtle umami of well-aged fermentation completes the flavor of Korean cuisine."

A woman wearing a practical hanbok entered the room with graceful movements.

Her seasoned voice gave away her age.

Sihu stood up and bowed when Master Yoon Sook-hee entered the room.

"Hello, teacher."

Yoon Sook-hee looked at Sihu with a mix of emotions.

"Yes, it's been a long time, Sihu."

Sihu's pupils dilated slightly at Yoon Sook-hee's words.

Hayun, who had also stood up when Sihu did, remained standing.

"Everyone, please sit down."

Following Yoon Sook-hee's words, the two sat down again.

Yoon Sook-hee, wearing an elegant hanbok, sat down and spoke.

"Thank you for coming, Sihu. And...?"

Yoon Sook-hee's gaze turned to Hayun, who bowed and introduced himself.

"Oh, I'm Joo Hayun, teacher."

Yoon Sook-hee nodded at Hayun's name.

"Yes, Hayun. How are you?"

After looking at Hayun for a moment, Yoon Sook-hee turned her gaze to Sihu.

"Sihu, I've heard a lot about you."

"Really?"

Seeing the curiosity in Sihu's face, Yoon Sook-hee only smiled kindly.

"First, I'll bring out some food. Please wait."

Yoon Sook-hee left the room with a dignified and graceful demeanor.

Sigh—

Hayun sighed, and Sihu asked.

"What's wrong, bro?"

"Huh? Nothing... I was just nervous."

Hayun ran his hand through his hair to calm down.

He had been nervous ever since he saw Yoon Sook-hee.

"Can I eat properly?"

"Relax. I'm looking forward to the teacher's cooking."

Hayun tilted his head in response.

"Looking forward to it?"

Sihu nodded and said.

"Master Yoon Sook-hee's food is not something even Korean chefs can easily enjoy."

"What? Then what?"

"The teacher's food is said to be filled with consideration for the guest and the intention to convey something. That's why I'm looking forward to the dishes."

As soon as Sihu finished speaking, the door opened, and the food started to be placed on the table.

Sihu's eyes sparkled.

'This is... a royal banquet.'

The food served in celadon bowls and plates was a beautiful scene.

After all the food was placed on the table, the staff member spoke.

"Please enjoy your meal. Master Yoon will bring the dessert herself after you finish."

Click—

As the door closed, Hayun looked at the table with wide eyes.

"What is all this? It doesn't look like ordinary food. Do you know something, Sihu?"

"Bro, this is a 'royal banquet.'"

"Royal banquet? Isn't that the king's meal from the Joseon Dynasty?"

"Right. It's not wrong to call it the king's meal. It can also be called court cuisine."

After explaining the food to Hayun, Sihu began to observe each dish.

Sihu looked at the celadon utensils on the table.

There were two spoons.

One was for rice, and the other was for porridge.

There are many stories about why two types of spoons are prepared in Korean cuisine, but the majority opinion is that it shows consideration for the guest.

Sihu looked at the celadon bowl in front of him.

'It's chestnut porridge.'

When Sihu picked up the celadon porridge spoon, Hayun, who had been watching him, followed suit.

'Wow. I've been to expensive rice restaurants, but this is my first time seeing such expensive-looking Korean cuisine. I should follow Sihu to see how to eat it.'

Sihu scooped up the porridge with the porridge spoon.

As he tilted the spoon slightly, the porridge flowed out smoothly.

When he took a bite, the aroma of chestnuts filled his mouth, and he could also taste a slight saltiness.

'They used high-quality sea salt, ground with a wooden pestle.'

Sihu savored the chestnut porridge and swallowed it.

"Wow. This is the first time I've had such delicious porridge."

When Hayun exclaimed in amazement, Sihu nodded.

The next dish in another celadon bowl was a dumpling.

The dumpling wrapper was thin, and the contents inside were almost transparent.

Sihu picked up a dumpling with the celadon chopsticks and put it in his mouth.

A chewy texture and the softness of fish meat washed over him like a wave.

'Court fish dumpling. Is this the texture? The dumpling wrapper is a blend of potato and wheat. The fish inside is probably sea bream?'

Sihu slowly savored and ate each dish on the table, including the compartmented plate, fresh and dried fish dishes, and grilled dishes.

Hayun found Sihu's slow eating unusual.

'Is he really tasting each dish? Analyzing it? What's that notebook for?'

After finishing the food on the table, Sihu started to take notes in a notebook he had brought.

He even began to examine the celadon utensils and bowls.

After he had examined them to some extent, the staff member came in and took away the used celadon bowls.

The table was now empty.

Click—

The paper door slid open, and Yoon Sook-hee entered with a long wooden tray.

Click—

Yoon Sook-hee placed a plate with persimmons, pears, and yugwa in front of Hayun and Sihu and spoke.

"Did the food suit your taste?"

Hayun bowed and said it was really delicious.

Yoon Sook-hee, nodding in satisfaction, turned to Sihu and asked.

"Sihu, how did you find this royal banquet?"

Sihu felt a bead of sweat roll down his back.

Yoon Sook-hee, seeing Sihu's tense expression, smiled slightly.

Sihu's tightly pressed lips opened.

"Teacher, I felt that the heart you put into this royal banquet reflects your philosophy of Korean cuisine."

"Philosophy of Korean cuisine... Why do you think so?"

Sihu couldn't easily answer Yoon Sook-hee's question.

He didn't know if she had treated him as an ordinary customer or as a special guest.

After much thought, Sihu spoke.

"I'm not sure yet."

Yoon Sook-hee smiled faintly at Sihu's answer.

"You're honest. It's important to be able to say 'I don't know.'"

Yoon Sook-hee looked at Sihu for a moment and then at the notebook next to him.

'Notebook? I wonder what's written in it.'

Sihu, following Yoon Sook-hee's gaze, saw that it was on his notebook.

Feeling embarrassed, Sihu discreetly hid the notebook.

"Hehe. Let me guess what's written in the notebook Sihu is hiding."

Sihu's eyes widened at Yoon Sook-hee's words.

"Isn't it about the flavors you perceived from this royal banquet, the composition of Korean dishes, and how to approach the guests?"

Sihu felt his hair stand on end at Yoon Sook-hee's words.

Sihu closed his eyes and then opened them, deciding to be honest.

When he opened his eyes, he answered Yoon Sook-hee.

"As you said, teacher."

Sihu admitted it.

Then he handed the notebook to Yoon Sook-hee.

Yoon Sook-hee took the notebook and flipped through it.

Rustle—

Yoon Sook-hee was inwardly surprised as she read the contents of Sihu's notebook.

A genius chef with local ingredients?!