Cupid's Kitchen Episode 8 Recap
> Cupid's Kitchen Recap
Victor presented a challenge to Lin Kesong, stating that if she could slice fish to a thickness of 0. 1mm, he would return the fish to Yuxuan. Lin Kesong found this demand absurd, questioning how such precision could even be measured. Victor, mocking her as "Evil Dragon Princess," proceeded to demonstrate, meticulously slicing the fish into 0. 1mm pieces. When it was Lin Kesong's turn, Victor immediately ridiculed her clumsy knife handling.
At this point, Jiang Qianfan stepped forward, gently guiding Lin Kesong's hand and teaching her the slant cut technique, emphasizing consistent force and even cuts. With his patient instruction, Lin Kesong was able to achieve the required thickness. On their way home, Lin Kesong expressed awe at Victor's culinary prowess, wondering how someone so young could be so accomplished.
Jiang Qianfan informed her that Victor was 22 years old and had begun cooking at age 13, spending more time in the kitchen than with Elise, showcasing over a decade of dedication. Lin Kesong felt overwhelmed by Victor's talent and diligence, suggesting she might withdraw from the current competition and participate in the next. Jiang Qianfan, however, promptly reminded her that he might not choose her again.
Back at home, Jiang Qianfan continued his culinary lessons, focusing on utilizing every part of a fish. He demonstrated how to prepare the fish in six different ways: the fatty belly for sashimi, the back meat for fried fillets, the collagen-rich skin for salt and pepper crisps, the fish maw for a salad, remaining meat for dim sum, and the head and bones for stew.
He stressed the importance of making the most of all ingredients, a principle he extended to people, encouraging Lin Kesong to play to her strengths and find her most suitable skills. Lin Kesong again praised Victor as a genius, prompting Jiang Qianfan to reveal that he had once considered Victor as an apprentice but found him "too smart" to embrace the tedious hard work required, often taking shortcuts.
In contrast, he told Lin Kesong that she was "perfectly stupid," explaining that a chef's cuts, burns, and scalds are not merely wounds but badges of honor, reflecting dedication and resilience. Jiang Qianfan then shifted to advanced knife skills, emphasizing that regardless of the cut—dicing, slicing, shredding, or chopping—the thickness and length of ingredients must be uniform for both aesthetic appeal and even cooking. He demonstrated the pull slice technique while making "Chrysanthemum Fish with Pumpkin Sauce."
He explained that this dish served as an introductory test for Yuxuan's chefs, revealing their fundamental skills and understanding of ingredients. After Lin Kesong tasted his perfectly prepared dish, she was tasked with recreating it. Meanwhile, Boris, having found Li Yan's address through a shared accommodation website, visited him. Boris offered Li Yan money in exchange for information about Jiang Qianfan's current situation. Li Yan, however, firmly refused, citing Jiang Qianfan's kindness to him.
Despite Boris increasing his offer and implying potential issues with Jiang Qianfan, Li Yan remained loyal. Before leaving, Boris gave Li Yan his contact number. Lin Kesong finished her "Chrysanthemum Fish with Pumpkin Sauce." Jiang Qianfan, after a visual inspection, declared it lacked flavor and was not crispy enough, criticizing its softness. Lin Kesong vehemently disagreed, asserting that it tasted identical to his own and had the same amount of salt.
Jiang Qianfan, visibly agitated, sternly ordered her to remake the dish, sending her upstairs. Once she was gone, a distressed Jiang Qianfan secretly tested his own taste buds by eating salt and then chili. He confirmed his worst fear: he could no longer taste saltiness, only the burning sensation of the chili, indicating a worsening of his condition. Lin Kesong, believing Jiang Qianfan was merely testing her, remade the dish.
Jiang Qianfan told her that the only thing that mattered was her own ability to discern the difference. He then took her to Yuxuan's kitchen, instructing chefs Zhiqiang, Qiwen, and Hu Hao to each prepare a "Chrysanthemum Fish with Pumpkin Sauce," while Lin Kesong also made one. His intention was for Lin Kesong to taste each dish and identify the subtle distinctions. During this tasting, Elise arrived.
Without even sampling it, she immediately recognized Lin Kesong's dish and ordered it to be discarded, declaring it unworthy of her respect. Lin Kesong challenged Elise, pointing out that she hadn't tasted it and was making a wild guess. Lin Kesong admitted that the other chefs' dishes were superior to hers.
Elise then asserted that Lin Kesong's dish was like a zircon trying to be a diamond—amateurs might not see the difference, but experts could, and such an attempt was a joke. She also questioned if Lin Kesong could win the "Future Star Competition" if these highly skilled Yuxuan chefs were to participate, explaining that they chose not to out of their loyalty and respect for Yuxuan and Jiang Qianfan. Jiang Qianfan then dismissed his chefs to return to their work.
Later, in a private conversation, Elise asked Jiang Qianfan if he had brought Lin Kesong to Yuxuan simply to teach her a harsh lesson. Jiang Qianfan then confided in Elise that he was rapidly losing his ability to taste salt. Elise expressed concern about the accelerated pace of his condition and asked if he had told Junbin, to which Jiang Qianfan replied no. Lin Kesong returned to the kitchen and meticulously analyzed the cooking methods of the Yuxuan chefs.
She realized that the subtle differences lay not just in seasoning but in techniques like controlling oil temperature for crispiness, adding sizzling oil to the sauce for a non-stick texture, and superior knife skills to preserve fish fiber. Applying these insights, she remade her dish. When Elise tasted it again, she was genuinely surprised by the improvement and asked Lin Kesong how she achieved it.
Lin Kesong explained her observations, then confidently told Miss Quentin that while zircon might not become a diamond, it could still shine brightly and might even "injure" her eyes if she wasn't careful. Seeing Jiang Qianfan's rare and satisfied nod, Lin Kesong felt a surge of hope and a desire for more of his affirmation. She then playfully asked him for a reward, specifically requesting that he cook a proper meal for her, as previous attempts didn't count.
Jiang Qianfan reluctantly agreed. At home, Lin Kesong, dressed like a princess, descended the stairs to a candlelit dinner prepared by Jiang Qianfan, complete with flowers, wine, and music. She declared herself touched by the gesture, though Jiang Qianfan downplayed it. She then asked Jiang Qianfan to leave so she could fully immerse herself in the dining experience. As she savored each dish, she felt a profound sense of warmth and happiness, feeling deeply loved by the meal.
Afterward, Lin Kesong thanked Jiang Qianfan for the delicious food. As she moved to wash the dishes, Jiang Qianfan stopped her, insisting on doing them himself because his bowls were "limited edition" and irreplaceable. Lin Kesong expressed concern that she might never eat such wonderful food again, but Jiang Qianfan promised to teach her until she could cook just as well.
She then revealed that if he hadn't chosen her, she would likely be washing dishes at her uncle's restaurant for the rest of her life. Jiang Qianfan then revealed he knew she had come to Shanghai for Song Yiran, who had been the center of her life for a decade and was still her motivation. He correctly guessed that she hadn't yet confessed her feelings to Song Yiran. Meanwhile, Elise, disappointed that Jiang Qianfan had forgotten her birthday, called Nina.
Nina informed her that Jiang Qianfan was at home, happily washing dishes with Lin Kesong. This news deeply upset Elise, as Jiang Qianfan had once called dishwashing the most worthless and uncreative work. Her mother advised her to let go of Jiang Qianfan, but Elise couldn't accept that he was now happier because of another woman. Back home, Lin Kesong reflected on her "stupidity" for holding onto an unclear emotional attachment for so many years.
Jiang Qianfan reassured her, explaining that her "stupidity" meant she didn't dwell on gains or losses, never doubted life, and was profoundly sincere. They both mused on the serendipitous nature of their meeting. Lin Kesong confessed that she had never truly known what she wanted until she tasted Jiang Qianfan's cooking that day.
She realized there were many wonderful things to discover in the world and, from the bottom of her heart, now wanted to become a good chef to cook delicious food for others. Jiang Qianfan promised to help her achieve her dream. As the night concluded, Jiang Qianfan encouraged her to rest for a busy day ahead, and they bid each other good night.
