Kim Jaejoong and Chef Kwon Seongjun's Italian Rib Rice Bowl has won first place in the new makeover.
On the 11th, the results of the new makeover buddy special menu competition were revealed on KBS2’s ‘New Menu Launch Pyeon Restaurant’ (hereafter ‘Pyeon Restaurant’).
The teams included Kim Jaejoong and ‘Napoli Mafia’ Chef Kwon Seongjun with ‘Center of Mafia’, Nam Bora and ‘Chinese Goddess’ Chef Park Eunyoung with ‘Ddaenggriz’, and Intern Chef Hong Jiyoon and ‘Chinese Master’ Chef Lee Yeonbok with ‘Lucky Jiyoon’. After fierce competition, the honor of winning and launching went to the ‘Center of Mafia’ team.
On this day, the production team of ‘Pyeon Restaurant’ made sure to elevate the competition as it was the first menu contest after the makeover. Each team had to cook 30 servings of their final menu within a set time and receive evaluations from a panel of 30 experts.
First, the ‘Center of Mafia’ (Kim Jaejoong X Kwon Seongjun Chef) team presented their final menu, ‘Italian Rib Rice Bowl’, which featured braised ribs flavored with tomato puree on top of fried rice with diced radish. It was a fusion menu that perfectly combined Kim Jaejoong's Korean cuisine and Chef Kwon Seongjun's Italian cooking. The two showed tremendous confidence before cooking, bringing smiles. Additionally, Kim Jaejoong's double fire show and their simultaneous flame performance captivated the audience.
The ‘Ddaenggriz’ (Nam Bora X Park Eunyoung Chef) team completed their final menu, ‘Dongpo Chicken Rice Bowl’, by placing a sauce made with Park Eunyoung Chef's super kick on top of grilled chicken that Nam Bora cooked to a crispy exterior and juicy interior. Nam Bora operated six pans simultaneously to grill the chicken. Chef Park Eunyoung created a sauce with ‘garlic bean sauce’ that instantly brought the taste of ‘Hong Kong’. The teamwork of the two, perfectly dividing the roles of meat and sauce, shone brightly.
The ‘Lucky Jiyoon’ (Hong Jiyoon X Lee Yeonbok Chef) team presented their final menu, ‘Spicy Duck Japchae Rice’, by adding smoked duck to Hong Jiyoon's idea of japchae and incorporating Chef Lee Yeonbok's signature chili oil. Hong Jiyoon, who couldn't even chop vegetables, improved her cooking skills through relentless practice despite her busy schedule. Chef Lee Yeonbok perfectly seasoned the ‘Spicy Duck Japchae Rice’ and added an addictive smoky flavor, leading to exclamations of “As expected from a Chinese master.”
The cooking processes of the three teams were filled with surprises and laughter. The chefs' incredible cooking skills captured attention, while all three teams faced crises as they tried to outdo each other, causing them to sweat. The lively commentary from MC Boom added to the fun, as each team showcased their competitive spirit with their unique skills.
Ultimately, the choice of the panel of 30 experts was Kim Jaejoong X Kwon Seongjun Chef's ‘Italian Rib Rice Bowl’. The expert panel praised it as “a menu where Eastern and Western flavors harmonize well” and said, “It could be a hit.” After the announcement of the winner, Chef Kwon Seongjun expressed, “I was worried a lot, but I believed in it,” showing consistent confidence and bringing more laughter. The ‘Italian Rib Rice Bowl’ will be launched as a frozen meal by ‘Our Home’, the new partner of ‘Pyeon Restaurant’, and will be available for purchase online right after the victory.
Meanwhile, on that day, Nam Bora received her first health check-up with her fiancé. The eldest daughter of 13 siblings, Nam Bora expressed her desire to have at least three, possibly four children, but was shocked to learn that her ovarian age was 37 during the health check-up. Afterward, she felt relieved to hear that with enough effort, pregnancy was still possible. Her fiancé encouraged her with kind words, instantly turning ‘Pyeon Restaurant’ into a marriage promotion program.
KBS2’s ‘New Menu Launch Pyeon Restaurant’, which offers upgraded fun with its makeover, airs every Friday at 8:30 PM.
[Jin Juhee, MK Sports Reporter]
