Cupid's Kitchen Episode 22 Recap
> Cupid's Kitchen Recap
Lin Kesong tasted a tomato in the "time tunnel," surprised by its dramatically changed flavor. Jiang Qianfan explained that fermentation is cooking's time channel, capable of altering a food's texture, flavor, and quality over durations ranging from a month to a lifetime. Meanwhile, Elise prepared to leave her home early. Her mother, Madam Quentin, reminded her that the upcoming competition's theme was fermentation and urged her to return soon to teach Victor her signature Lime Fish Fillet.
Victor, Elise's younger brother, declared his ambition to secure the top position. Madam Quentin and Victor exchanged knowing glances when they saw Dr. Xie Junbin arriving to pick up Elise. Xie Junbin had prepared a lavish breakfast of Cantonese dim sum and Darjeeling tea, Elise's favorite.
As they ate, he reminisced about their first meeting at a London garden party, recalling her floral dress and vibrant laughter, and how she first asked him if he was a doctor to check on Jiang Qianfan. Despite the years, Xie Junbin assured Elise that she remained the bright, young girl he had first encountered. In his office, Song Yiran's older brother confronted him about his relationship.
Song Yiran revealed that he had broken up with Chu Ting due to a major argument. His brother reacted furiously, chastising Song Yiran for his casual approach to love and his lack of career and family stability. Song Yiran, frustrated by his brother's interference, accused him of only pushing the relationship for Chu Ting's family influence.
His brother conceded this was true and revealed the family's dire financial predicament: the traditional hotel business was struggling against emerging industries, all capital was tied up in foreign investments, Liang She Hotel had been mortgaged, and the company lacked a new revenue stream, deterring new investors. He explained that some board members wanted to remove him or withdraw their shares.
Marrying Chu Ting, he implored, would signal to everyone that the Chu family would provide financial guarantees, stabilizing the Song Group and preventing its collapse. Back at Jiang Qianfan's home, he taught Lin Kesong about the impact of aging on vinegar, comparing it to wine, where different years yield distinct flavors. He informed her that her next task was to prepare a sour-flavored dish, but he wouldn't be teaching her, as someone else was more proficient.
Elise then arrived, and Jiang Qianfan explained that the dish was her specialty, praising her unique fermentation method for squid. As Jiang Qianfan helped Elise with her chef's uniform and rolled up her sleeves, Lin Kesong observed, feeling a pang of jealousy. Blu, worried that Lin Xiaoyu wasn't responding to his numerous messages, confided in Lin Feng. Lin Feng confirmed Xiaoyu had received them but advised Blu that Xiaoyu, being spoiled since childhood, needed to be tolerated but not indulged.
Blu then asked Lin Feng to give Xiaoyu a painting he had made for her. The painting depicted mountains, water, and a small cat. Lin Feng joked that Xiaoyu was more like a "big tiger bearing fangs and brandishing claws," not a kitten, to Blu's amusement. Elise began teaching Lin Kesong, demonstrating techniques like mashing garlic and cutting squid, but Lin Kesong struggled with the repeated instructions, making several mistakes, including incorrectly mashing peppercorns for an uneven sauce.
Lin Kesong silently marveled at Elise's impressive culinary skills, which she hadn't expected from someone she perceived as merely good at management. She reflected on her past desire to be like Chu Ting and her current envy of Elise, feeling like an "ugly duckling" unable to catch up to their excellence. Elise, frustrated by Lin Kesong's lack of progress, questioned Jiang Qianfan about why he insisted she teach Lin Kesong.
Jiang Qianfan casually admitted that he primarily didn't want Elise to teach Victor that particular dish. Later, Lin Xiaoyu returned home, saw Blu's painting, and took a photo of the cat. She found Blu, chiding him for drawing her as a kitten and demanded he repaint her as a tiger at his studio, leaving Blu bewildered. At that moment, Boris called, reprimanding Xiaoyu for not attending practice.
Xiaoyu casually dismissed his concerns, stating that she had been dealing with fermentation since childhood and that in the upcoming competition, only Victor posed a serious challenge. She abruptly hung up on an enraged Boris. She then playfully teased Blu about drawing a "Hello Kitty" instead of a tiger. Elise returned home, where Victor presented his prepared dish for her to taste.
She praised it, finding it far superior to Lin Kesong's, and lamented that her entire morning teaching Lin Kesong had been fruitless. Madam Quentin, overhearing this, was furious, accusing Elise of prioritizing her "ex-boyfriend's apprentice" over her own brother. Victor, upon learning that Lin Kesong was making the same dish, declared that he would immediately prepare "three different fermented dishes" for the competition, refusing to be associated with Lin Kesong, whom he deemed unqualified. He promptly headed to the kitchen.
That evening, Da Mai provided two assistant chefs with dubious "rheumatoid arthritis" certificates, informing them to treat it as their last day at Yuxuan and to make things difficult. Upon starting her shift, Elise discovered an anonymous letter on her desk, stating that kitchen staff were planning a walkout. She immediately called Jiang Qianfan, and they concluded that Da Mai was likely involved, but not alone. During a pre-shift meeting, Jiang Qianfan announced Da Mai's return to the kitchen.
Da Mai demanded an explanation for his recent punishment. Jiang Qianfan cited a management rule about lateness to daily meetings. Da Mai challenged him, implying the real reason was his criticism of Jiang Qianfan's Wagyu Sirloin and Red Crayfish dish. Jiang Qianfan then asked everyone present to raise their hand if they thought the dish tasted bad.
The manager quickly praised Jiang Qianfan's cooking as "the standard," but Da Mai, surprisingly, was the first to raise his hand, followed by others, and finally, Jiang Qianfan himself. Jiang Qianfan announced that the dish would be removed from the menu and that he would develop new ones, emphasizing that Yuxuan belonged to everyone. A pleased Da Mai then urged everyone to return to work.
In his office, Jiang Qianfan confided in Elise that while his public concession was partly strategic, the priority was to stabilize Yuxuan's kitchen to achieve their Michelin third star. Losing Da Mai and two assistant chefs would have been disastrous. Elise shared that a restaurant headhunter had recently inquired about Yuxuan's staff changes, hinting at potential departures and offering to recruit anyone not renewing their contracts.
They realized this connected to the anonymous letter, suggesting someone internally was inciting unrest and arranging new positions for departing staff. Jiang Qianfan advised Elise to closely observe the manager, suspecting his involvement. In the kitchen, the two assistant chefs hesitantly asked Da Mai if they were still leaving. Da Mai declared that Jiang Qianfan's unprecedented public admission of fault signified Da Mai's "total victory," so there was no reason to leave.
He told them to tear up their fake sick-leave notes. The manager then called, urging them to sign contracts with the new restaurant. Da Mai, recalling the manager's cautious behavior during the meeting, accused him of being a "fence-sitter" and swiftly hung up, effectively severing ties with him. Elise called Xiao Pa to her office, acknowledging her failure to relay Da Mai's concerns to Jiang Qianfan promptly. She asked for his ideas on gathering feedback.
Xiao Pa suggested implementing an anonymous customer feedback questionnaire, a system he had used at a previous restaurant, where guests could honestly rate dishes and receive small gifts. He also advised Elise to directly inform Jiang Qianfan of the truth, as he believed Jiang Qianfan, being the most talented chef, would find a solution, thereby protecting Yuxuan. Elise then sought Xiao Pa's opinion on improving management rules.
Xiao Pa posited that "a living system is the best system," emphasizing adaptability over rigid rules. As Xiao Pa left, the manager, who had been waiting outside, discreetly questioned him. Xiao Pa reassured the manager that he hadn't divulged any sensitive information. Later, Song Yiran called Lin Kesong to meet him. He confessed that despite his recent breakup with Chu Ting, his brother was pressuring him to propose marriage.
Reflecting on how Lin Kesong had always deemed his previous girlfriends unsuitable, he asked for her opinion on whether he should propose to Chu Ting. Lin Kesong replied that she couldn't make such a decision for him, only that she found Chu Ting to be a "flawless" woman. Song Yiran accepted her answer.
