The chaotic journey of pioneering Korean cuisine in a new land has begun in ‘Street Food Business’.
On the 8th, the first episode of the JTBC entertainment program ‘Street Food Business’ (directed by Kim So-young, written by Lee Eon-joo) featured Ryu Soo-young, Hwang Kwang-hee, Shin Hyun-ji, Bae In-hyuk, and Jeon So-mi, who faced unpredictable situations such as ingredient sourcing and weather conditions during their first business venture in the Korean food desert of Cadiz, Spain.
First, the food bike that would traverse every corner of Cadiz, embodying the members, caught attention. From a food bike equipped with a powerful burner and a sign that highlights the harmony of Spanish tiles and Korean traditional colors, to a versatile food bike with induction, burners, and outlets, and a cargo bike for transporting ingredients, each added freshness to the scene.
Additionally, aiming to serve 100 portions, Ryu Soo-young excitedly shopped for ingredients at the relatively cheap local market, but soon faced challenges during the first prep. He planned to make his winning recipe of stir-fried pork and pork belly, but the local garlic had a strong flavor that clashed with the seasoning, and the butchering method required using leaner meat.
Entering emergency simulation mode, Ryu Soo-young showcased his ingenuity by altering the cooking method for stir-fried pork belly to create spicy pork belly, earning praise from the members. However, the strong presence of garlic in the seasoning left Ryu Soo-young unsatisfied, prompting him to blend Western pears and Raph tomato into the existing sauce, demonstrating the class of ‘Eonam Teacher’.
The first business at La Caleta Beach was tense from the start. In particular, Bae In-hyuk, who was in charge of the side dish squid chive pancake, struggled with the cooking, causing his mental state to waver. He received tips from Hwang Kwang-hee on how to add more batter to keep the squid from falling apart, and with encouragement from Ryu Soo-young and Jeon So-mi, he managed to overcome a hurdle.
However, another challenge awaited as the squid chive pancake stuck to the pan. Ryu Soo-young identified that the uneven heat was due to the wind and thought he had resolved the issue, but faced another situation where the pancake was crumbling, causing Bae In-hyuk to feel anxious. With Ryu Soo-young stepping in again, viewers were left wondering if Bae In-hyuk could escape the predicament of the squid chive pancake.
In this way, during the first business that began amidst crises, the members each played their roles and worked together, creating a warm atmosphere. Ryu Soo-young showcased his culinary expertise by teaching Jeon So-mi, who struggled with peeling onions, and Bae In-hyuk, who had difficulty cutting meat, easy and efficient methods. He not only captivated the customers with spicy pork belly but also engaged in friendly conversations with them and interacted remotely with those who were not present.
Jeon So-mi spread positive energy to the members who were feeling down due to the lack of customers, and when urgently called to serve, she energetically ran around the hall. Hwang Kwang-hee acted as a ‘professional server’ moving between the hall and kitchen, while Shin Hyun-ji showcased her foreign language skills, actively promoting and facilitating smooth communication with customers.
The story of the first day of business, which is not yet over, will continue in the JTBC ‘Street Food Business’ airing on the 15th at 10:40 PM.
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
