Original subtitles

Who are you?

As of tomorrow,

you will be assigned to cook.

Report for work tomorrow.

Could you please say that again, Chef?

"As of tomorrow..."

You will start cooking.

"As of tomorrow..."

Report for work!

Thank you! I'll do my best!

-Congratulations! -Seo You-kyung is the best!

What?

I'll bet he would like to pluck his own eyes out!

That's good.

It has become cold but it's still light and fresh.

The pasta has a nice cheese coating.

The more you chew it, the more flavorful it is.

It also has a nice peppery aroma.

Thank you.

Your aglio e olio

is good enough to be served.

Thank you.

Congratulations!

Isn't this the first time he's picked a woman?

The Chef did a lot of blind auditions in Italy

but this never happened before.

So, did you three also get picked through blind auditions?

Of course.

If You-kyung moves up to cook,

what's going to happen to me?

Who's going to be the kitchen assistant?

You don't think...

Hello, fishies!

If you're uncomfortable, then get out.

Good night!

Are you a woman?

Pardon?

I asked if you're a woman?

Do you regret picking me?

Come with me.

The weight of the frying pan, clams, broth, garlic, and pasta is 1.5 kilograms.

Since you are holding two pans, that's three kilograms combined.

That's almost the weight of a newborn baby.

So right now you're practically rocking a baby.

I guess so.

What you have there are babies.

Newborn babies.

And because you keep on shaking them,

they're getting motion sickness!

Do you see how many of the babies haven't been able to open up.

Move out of the way.

You want to toss them out because they're heavy?

If you're not a good mother, you can't take care of a baby.

I see.

In the kitchen, men are better with babies.

Lunch time?

For the customers, lunch time lasts for two hours, from twelve to two p.m.

But the customers only allows us 20 minutes for lunch.

The orders are accepted at exactly 12.

Within 20 minutes, the bread and salad, and the pasta must already be served.

The customer came in at 12. It's now 12:30 but he still hasn't received his pasta.

This is disrespectful for the customer.

Pasta for 200 guests, on the first and second floors, in 20 minutes.

You're ready for this, right?

Yes, Chef.

You might be upset that I, a woman, had been selected

but I'll make sure you won't regret it.

Please teach me, Chef.

Please teach them to me step-by-step, just like now.

There has been an increase on sales since the new chef arrived.

For the better?

For the worse.

Don't ask to see me carrying this damn thing!

Learn how to use computers! Just what is this?

It's too hard to draw graphs.

Gosh.

It'll get better next month.

Of course.

No doubt!

Hui-ju!

They're going to reopen and they're accepting applications!

For what position?

Only for the serving staff?

Hi, guys!

What's up?

-It's cold, isn't it? -Why are you so late?

Have you eaten? You must be cold.

I'm starting back at La Sfera starting tomorrow!

They want me to cook!

How did that happen?

Well...

That...

Just you?

So you're the only one they'll hire back, is that it?

Well, yes.

Why just you?

-Why? -Why?

Hey.

Yes.

It will be at La Sfera, three o'clock, so I'll go there immediately.

I've spoken to the owner,

but if there's a problem with filming in the kitchen...

Nevermind.

Bye.

Jung Eun-su!

Yes, Chef!

Starting today, you're now the kitchen assistant.

-Seo You-kyung! -Yes, Chef.

You're going to cook.

Yes, Chef.

You'll act as support for a week.

After that, you'll begin to cook independently.

Yes, Chef.

And additionally, Seo You-kyung

is banned from the kitchen locker room.

Yes-- what?

Use the serving staff lounge or the locker room with other women. Okay?

Chef!

You heard me.

I don't want to, Chef!

Why not?

Because I'm a cook.

Because I'm a cook!

Okay, whatever.

During the past few days,

because of recent problems in the kitchen,

our sales have dropped off noticeably.

From now on, we need to improve on our teamwork

and to increase our sales.

Chef.

Can we expect improvement?

The kitchen's restructuring is still not finished.

What?

I'm just getting started.

You mean you're not finished on firing?

There's more--

Whoever's name is called would be fired.

Jung Ho-nam, you can leave.

Why me?

I said I won't mess around with my girlfriend anymore.

Even if you let me...

There's no one to mess around with, Chef.

Number three!

Foie gras is fired.

But that provides us a lot of sales.

Foie gras is made by shoving a funnel down a goose's throat

and force-feeding it until its liver becomes the size of a fist.

Should people be doing that?

It's the favorite of our CEO customers.

If you don't mind me shoving a funnel down your throat

and force feeding you until your liver becomes the size of a car

and then taking it out and grilling and eating it, then I'll think about it. Okay?

Number two!

Spoons are fired.

Why spoons?

From now on, we're going to use half as much sauce on our pasta.

Pasta should soak up the sauce so that you don't need a spoon to eat it.

In other words, pasta should not be so watery.

You should be able to chew it

and enjoy the nutty texture, instead of just slurping it down.

It should be served on a flat plate without a spoon and watery sauce.

So bowl-type dishes are also fired.

But Koreans prefer a lot of sauce on their noodles!

Number one!

Chef!

The customers have no idea

how much sugar a dish has.

They eat it because they don't know it.

In addition to being a pile of sugar,

no matter what kind of pasta is served,

the customers eat it with pickles. This barbaric behavior...

is no longer allowed.

Pickles!

Out.

Are we...

Do you want us to run a business or not?

Pickles!

Someone say something! Am I wrong here?

Without the pickle,

people won't eat Italian food because it's too greasy.

How can people eat pasta without pickles?

Are you crazy, Chef?

I'm not sending out of this kitchen another dish from that absurd menu.

I want to see the section leaders in my room.

That's all.

Crazy bastard!

Why are you here?

I'm in charge of pickles,

so they told me to come.

Did you all bring your resignation letters?

If the three of you plan to persuade me,

hand them over.

Let me ask you one thing.

How are you going to take responsibility if the sales go down?

Do you have even the least amount of feelings for the kitchen

as your workplace?

Keep talking.

For whom did you exclude

those three menus?

The customers?

Actually, it seems that it's not for them.

I've made pickles everyday over the past three years that I've been at La Sfera.

Items can go on and off the menu depending on the season or fads,

but not pickles, Chef.

Some customers even eat pasta just for the pickles,

like how people enjoys ramen because of kimchi,

like roast chicken with radishes, or stir-fried noodles with pickled radish.

The next time you make pickles,

you're fired.

Make them.

Make them.

I'll take responsibility.

Sous-chef, I'll keep doing the sauce the same way as before.

You'll take responsibility for me too, right?

Of course.

And we'll keep doing foie gras too.

We won't accept

these menu exclusions without a fight.

In the kitchen, the chef is the law.

Then go by the law.

Can I have a word with you, Sous-chef?

Do you think I'm doing this just for our sales?

I don't like pressuring customers to eat only what we serve them.

Are they dogs? Or do you think they're pigs?

Do they only eat food that are given by their master?

They don't eat for free.

Are we supposed to say, "We don't have this or that, so don't ask for it,"

or "We can't give you that"?

You all think our customers only come to fill themselves with whatever we serve.

But,

it's their choice.

Why would you refuse them the pleasure of eating whatever they want.

So if the customer orders bad food,

you would serve it to them?

Do you feel the same way?

Pardon?

-Let's go. -Yes, Sous-chef.

Come on.

You...

You should be thankful that the Chef gave back your job.

He gave you an opportunity. How could you do this?

Get back here.

Stop.

If the Chef tells you to do something,

you should do it!

Chef,

you can't disregard pickles in Korea.

You can't get rid of them. The restaurant will close down.

Yes?

There's someone who wants to take room 1001.

I know.

So then it's someone you know?

Yes.

Do you want to handle this yourself then?

Yes, I'll take care of it.

Bye.

I heard you changed chefs?

Yes.

So the food has changed too?

I guess so.

I'll have to try it.

But don't let anybody know.

I bet you'll like him.

Why?

Have a look in the kitchen.

Why?

Just go.

In the kitchen?

Excuse me.

Enjoy your meal.

Here.

Yes, sir.

I said bring me some pickles.

Well...

You can't give me pickles?

Yes, ma'am.

How am I supposed to eat this stuff without pickles?

With their sweet and sour flavor, pickles may seem like diet food,

but they're actually high calorie because of the sugar.

They're not good for the health and they hide the true flavor of pasta.

Then why did you serve them before?

If not because they're full of sugar and good for me?

Ma'am.

"The true flavor of pasta"?

Are you trying to educate me?

Don't make me laugh!

What is this?

Then just give me some more sauce.

We can't do that either.

Instead, we're offering free coffee.

It breaks down the fat and cleans the palate.

Get Seo You-kyung out here.

"You-kyung?"

You may not know from my looks, but I like carbonara spaghetti!

I'm busy!

Why did your servings' sauce decrease all of a sudden?

That means the need for egg yolk in the sauce will also be reduced.

And who's going to eat cream spaghetti if you don't serve pickles?

I guess you won't be buying that many eggs from me anymore, right?

I'm upset too!

Did you know that for three years

the only dish of mine served here has been pickles?

If this keeps up, there could be trouble for you too!

I gave that ten million won back to you!

You got any proof?

There's no proof you returned that money,

but there is a proof you received it!

It says so in my bankbook.

Since Totti had to go back to Italy,

I bet you swallowed it all up yourself, right?

"Swallowed it?"

Chef...

Are you going to keep this up?

If so, I've got my own plan.

There may be a lot of resistance now, but the customers will soon calm down.

I'm confident of that, so don't worry.

This isn't Italy, so take your opinion back to Italy if you want.

When you're in Korea, you have to follow Korean ways.

This outrage is worse than banning kimchi from a Korean restaurant.

In total honesty,

would you want to show the customers how we make pickles here?

Could you show them how sugar is dumped into those pickles by the bag?

They eat them because they don't know and they haven't seen it.

How much longer are you going to keep your head buried in the sand?

There isn't one Italian restaurant

in Korea

that doesn't serve pickles.

Go to Seorae Village.

That's only possible because all the customers are foreigners!

What's wrong with wanting to serve something good to our customers?

What're you doing?

Why don't you stop them?

-Right. Sang-sik, get the plates! -Okay.

You want to die?

Didn't the boss just say it was okay?

Didn't the Chef say it's not okay?

But aren't the customers asking for pickles?

Are you on the serving staff?

-What? -What did he just say?

Make them.

Don't make them.

Make them!

Just try it.

Get to it!

Get out!

Enjoy your dinner.

-Eat up. -You too.

Suk-ho, look.

Why don't you have lunch, Chef?

Do I look like someone who came here for a fight?

I see.

Just what sort of kitchen are you trying to create?

For me,

if you hadn't saved my goldfish at that crosswalk,

no matter how much I liked this kitchen,

I never would've had the courage to come back here.

And you helped me with my cramp.

No one else saw how you saved the fish

or how you helped me with that leg cramp.

Is this solace, or flattery?

If it were flattery, would it work?

No.

How about solace?

No.

Then what would work?

Nothing.

Have some lunch!

Welcome!

-Hello. -Hello.

Welcome!

Guys.

Where's the Chef?

The wine just got here.

What is it?

It's bad news!

-Now what? -Now what?

She's here.

-This way. -Okay.

This way.

Right this way.

Oh Se-yeong?

Would you like to look around?

The refrigeration room is over there along with the freezer.

What?

-May I have your autograph? -Dinner is on me!

So please do a good job with the PR work!

So this is the La Sfera chef's table?

What do you think you're doing without having to consult me first?

Aren't you the one who always does things without consultation?

Do I need your permission to use this space?

They'll be finished before dinner time.

Are you planning to change chefs?

That won't happen.

Chef, I'm a regular at this restaurant,

and I was excited to come here tonight.

I'd like you to taste my pasta later.

You never lie about your opinion.

I don't have to taste it to know it's great.

You're not afraid, are you?

Lacking in confidence maybe?

Really?

Do what you want, then.

Alright, get out there! It's going to be dinner time soon!

Go on out! Hurry!

I thought you two were close?

Isn't that why you recommended him?

Hello?

It's me.

Since you're standing at the chef's table,

why don't you take responsibility for the dinner?

What the hell are you trying to do?

I'm glad that you are still mad at me, even after five years,

instead of forgetting about me.

Why are you doing this to me?

What're you doing in my kitchen?

I was afraid that you had completely forgotten about me.

This is nice. It reminds me of old times.

We used to fight all the time in pasta class in Italy.

Is there still something you want to take from me?

What do you want to steal now?

Take your time and be angry at me.

I can take it.

Choi Hyeon-uk that you knew back then died because of you.

Don't try to come back to a dead man.

Let's live together.

Damn it!

Shall we go in?

Yes.

He's not there.

Sorry, I was too busy to say hello.

Move over.

Madam.

"Madam"?

I'm single again, don't you know? Move!

Right, of course.

He's new here, isn't he?

Yes.

Look at that hair.

And on a man...

I bet you'll like him. Take a look inside the kitchen.

He works in the kitchen, right?

Yes.

I'll tell him to cut it right away.

I'll just have him shave it all off.

If you make him cut his hair, you're fired.

Chef!

Oh Se-yeong left this for you.

Clean it up.

It has poison.

If you eat it, you'd die.

Close your mouth.

-Is that all of it? -Yes.

Hey, this is all You-kyungs stuff.

So what's going to happen with You-kyung?

Something's up with her.

What?

Even though she passed a blind audition,

there's something going on between those two.

What do you mean?

Like what?

There's something!

Is... is this all?

Sales are down by half.

If we continue not to serve pickles, sauce and foie gras

our sales will drop by about 80%.

Sir, am I going to have to look for another job?

From tomorrow, start accepting orders!

What?

Take the orders!

How long do we have to do as the kitchen dictates in the restaurant?

What about the pickles?

Who's going to make them?

We're completely out right now.

Where's Seo You-kyung?

Make some pickles.

I won't make them until Chef tells me to.

Make them. While I'm still being nice.

I only take orders from Chef.

You took money from Gwang-tae, didn't you?

He's sold us basil and a lot of other stuff, hasn't he?

I underestimated you.

No! I gave it back to him!

I gave it back to Totti right before he left.

I can fire you too.

I said I can also fire you.

Make the pickles and don't leave them in the kitchen.

Put them in the dining hall. The dining hall also has a refrigerator.

Put them there, and we'll serve them.

Move out of the way.

Pick out what you want!

How much is the squid?

Three for 5,000 won.

I'll take these.

The white ones are better.

These are better. Give me these.

The color of the ink tells you which squid are fresh.

Never lose a test of wills to a merchant.

Yes, Chef.

And let's find new regular shops today.

Yes, Chef.

No, Mister.

I want these.

There's nothing wrong with these!

-No, give me these. -What's wrong with you?

How am I supposed to make a living?

You've got to take one of these too.

Squid turn white when the air hits them. They're all the same.

Since they're the same, give me these.

-Just one. Only one. -Don't put them in!

-No, not even one. -Goodness.

-I told you they're all the same. -Give me these.

This guy!

Come on, pick up!

Where are you, Totti?

The number you have dialed is not in service.

The number you have dialed is not in service.

-Welcome. -Thanks.

Where...

You're from La Sfera, right?

I sell basil to your restaurant.

Really?

Yes.

Yes, I've heard a lot about you from You-kyung.

YOU-KYUNG'S CHINESE RESTAURANT

Dad.

Why don't you get some more sleep?

It's cold. Go back inside.

I got a message from You-kyung.

What?

"Could you move out? I don't have anywhere to stay."

What has gotten into her?

Maybe something has happened.

With her? Like what? I bet it's nothing.

She's calling.

Are you ignoring my message?

And Dad's no better either.

You can stay in the dorm at school.

Or in the interns' night-duty room at the hospital.

Isn't a good doctor supposed to be near the patients?

Then why don't you sleep in the kitchen to be near your customers?

Say that again!

How much longer are you going to keep living off of Dad?

How dare you call him this early in the morning and nag him?

Don't bother him. I'm hanging up!

Haven't you ever heard that a good cook is better than a doctor?

We're both professionals! Why do you ignore me?

You like it when a doctor says, "Come again!" Dad?

Some people say "if you're a good cook, you don't need a doctor!"

I think cooks are the best kind of professionals!

Gosh.

That girl!

Where am I supposed to go? This is driving me mad.

We don't even have one container of pickles. There's no trace of pickles.

Okay.

This way.

It's cold out, isn't it?

Yes, it's very cold.

Right this way.

-Hurry up and get ready. -Yes, Chef.

Are you making Chinese noodles?

Sorry.

Since we cut the sauce in half, you have to move the pan twice as fast.

Don't sink the pasta in the sauce. Let the pasta absorb it.

Okay.

-Move out of the way. -Okay.

Quickly. Even more quicker. More quicker.

Okay?

Yes, Chef.

The greatest praise for a cook is an empty plate.

It is more honest than when someone say, "I enjoyed it."

Trust me, and the plates will come back empty.

-Understand? -Yes, Chef.

Table seven! Foie gras lunch course for five,

one foie gras clear soup,

one foie gras terrine with truffles and wild cherry sauce,

one foie gras with olives and ravioli!

Please.

What are you doing?

This is a reservation order from three days ago.

You want to break our promises with the customer?

You know how much this one table is worth?

Even if you sold ten tables of pasta, it wouldn't equal this order.

You know that, right?

Foie gras lunch course for five, okay!

Sang-sik, you get the truffles with wild cherry!

Okay.

Seung-jae, do the sauce.

Okay.

Get the ravioli ready!

Alright.

Eun-su, get the foie gras.

What?

Get it.

Okay.

Hurry up!

Okay!

I'll explain this to the customers myself.

I'm sorry.

Our kitchen no longer serves foie gras dishes.

I sincerely apologize for not telling you beforehand.

Instead, I would like to present a course that has never been served,

and is unique in the world.

Is that okay?

No.

What is he saying?

Mr. Seol, you just said it's available!

Of course. We do.

We'll prepare it for you.

We are a big fan of Sous-chef Kim's foie gras!

Let's have some.

We know about that animal abuse stuff,

but top restaurants should serve foie gras!

We even brought the president today!

We're paying customers, so why should we hear this,

Mr. Seol and the Sous-chef?

No problem! We'll get it for you.

You can look forward to it.

What're you doing? Set the table.

Yes.

Him first.

I thought we weren't going to get any foie gras today.

I know.

-The Chef saw them. -What?

He saw the pickles!

Hey.

You made those pickles, didn't you?

Is this funny?

You think I'm being funny!

No, Chef.

If you're going to be like this, why did you want to stay in my kitchen?

You're doing this on purpose?

To stab me in the back?

I did it because I wanted to learn more from you.

I wanted to keep working with you.

I found a teacher I wanted to learn from.

Just please don't kick me out.

If you want me to die, I'll die. I'll do whatever you say.

That doesn't make any sense!

More pickles for this table.

Is there anything I can get you?

We're fine.

I see. Enjoy your meal.

What's your excuse?

You going to make them again?

Yes.

Yes?

Is this a challenge?

No, it's not.

You have no excuse, and you're going to make them again.

But you're not challenging me?

There's someone you're just like.

Okay,

let's see what happens then.

You are right, Chef.

I want to do what you say.

Seo You-kyung!

You leaving already?

Hey.

What are you doing here at this hour?

We're getting the foodstuffs ready for tomorrow.

It's called "Prep."

Get him!

We local cooks will take care of this tedious prep work!

You big important Italian cooks can go on home.

Aren't you cold? Come on out!

You can't just ignore the Chef's recipes!

Please, just go!

Let's get it done and go home, You-kyung!

-Come on out. -Isn't it time for you to go home?

Until when should we have fights like this in a kitchen?

As soon as he got here

he started firing people

and filled in with his own people.

Who do you think it was that divided everybody up into sides?

Wasn't he the one who started that?

A kitchen is all about teamwork.

Just with a good knife skill, he can't make great food.

If he wants to be respected as a chef,

he has to show some leadership skills.

You tell him that.

What's wrong?

Good job, You-kyung!

Well done.

Wait, You-kyung.

No.

My arm!

Are you done?

Yes, but...

What is this?

Are these pickles?

Where are the cucumbers?

Is this something similar?

There's no sugar in it at all.

Really?

It didn't need any sugar because of the sweetness of the fruit.

And it helps with digestion.

Are you crazy?

Do you know how much this costs?

Are you out of your mind?

Pears, persimmons, and pineapples.

A box of 100 cucumbers costs 20,000 won and five boxes of 200 is 1,000!

For 100,000 won, we'd only get a whole day's worth of pickles!

You know how much 1,000 pears, persimmons, and pineapples would cost?

That would be a million won a day just for pickles!

Should we charge the customers for pickles? You ignorant dummy!

We'd spend the amount of your salary everyday on pickles!

Do you think that makes sense?

Chef.

You...

You were in charge, right?

Of the eggs, I mean.

You were in charge, right?

I received ten million won!

Yes! It smells like money!

Maybe that's the way he likes.

Yes, Chef.

What are you looking at?

Are you going to fire me again?

When those two are gone, you’ll be the Chef.

-Look here! -Chef.

Just this once.

Can't you just trust me?

-Mr. Seol knows, you say? -What do I do, seriously!

The Ambassador's group of six have arrived.

-Welcome to La Sfera. -My pleasure.

-Welcome. -Welcome.

Please do your best, Chef.

When will you do only what you're told?

You'll be fired.

-You're fired. -Who does he think he is? The Chef?

Why are you so interested in my kitchen and my restaurant?

Are they yours?

The customer is king.

I must be crazy.

I used to think I had to give up being a woman just to become a chef.

Don't do that. It looks pretty.

But then I fell in love.

Are you sick or something?

Does he realize the time? She'll faint at this rate.

One, two, three!

Subtitle translation by Ellie Oh