I Got the Almighty Tongue - Chapter 160



Only Noblemtl

160 The Fallen Critic (2)

I read the magazine carefully.

[Have you ever heard of a restaurant called Segreto? If you are a reader interested in fine dining, you have probably seen the name somewhere, even if you do not live in New York.

Segreto is a rising star in the fine dining world, having received a Michelin star in less than half a year since opening, and then another two stars a year later. The owner chef, Shin Je-hee, is widely known to the public for her absolute taste. So you can’t blame me for expecting a slightly more special experience when I visit here than at other restaurants.

Was my expectations too high? Segreto’s food was full of the chef’s ego. Behind the high-level molecular cuisine, the fancy cooking techniques and plating, and the unique taste that overturned expectations, there was no consideration for the guests. There was just an immature ego that wanted to show off its taste and skills.

syncopation

The Michelin Guide may have praised this restaurant for its adventurous spirit, but its diners are not the subjects of the experiment. That may be why I felt uneasy when I left the restaurant.

I can’t give this place more than two stars.]

This column, which was published both online and offline, was gaining views at a rapid pace.

└Horace is a real man. He puts two stars on Segreto.

└Note> Horace is the critic who gave Hot Kitchen (which closed last year due to financial difficulties) five stars.

└What’s the problem? I also think this restaurant was over-inflated.

└Everyone is saying that it is an absolute delicacy, so it seems like the chef has lost his mind. Look at the picture. You can’t tell what kind of dish it is.

└There is a chance that those who expected a familiar taste will be disappointed. Why don’t those people just go to a family restaurant? Including you, Horace.

└A collaboration of vulgar capitalism and vanity.

Horace’s review began to spread through the community. My name was so popular that an unusually bad review from a famous critic caught the public’s attention and began to be mentioned on Twitter.

[Segreto Bubble? The pasta place in front of my house will fill your plate with overflowing toppings for just $20. What the hell is that meager pasta in the picture? How much is it?]

[Fine dining itself is just a means for the rich to show off their wealth. It’s a long-standing tradition that dates back to the French Revolution.]

People aren’t really interested in someone’s success story. Their success doesn’t change my life, and the achievements of extraordinary people that I can’t emulate only stimulate my inner inferiority complex.

But the downfall of someone with such a splendid history is in itself cathartic.

I had no intention of engaging in a public opinion war. I knew better than anyone that no matter how right I was in speaking to the media, I would not be able to handle the volume of articles.

Recorded phone conversations and CCTV footage could not be made public. In New York City, recording non-consensual phone conversations or conversations is illegal, and unauthorized disclosure can result in punishment and is not valid as evidence in a trial.

The most effective response I could make was a quick lawsuit. It would be best to pressure Horace into confessing. It would take time to gather evidence thoroughly. In the meantime, public opinion would worsen, but this had to be endured.

Then something unexpected started to happen: chefs started to volunteer.

[If Segreto is foam, my dog ​​must have a better sense of taste than you, Horace. Chef Shin Je-hee’s food is an innovation and revolution in itself. No one has ever used molecular gastronomy so creatively. His food, which makes the most of all the five senses, including sight, taste, and smell, can be said to be the essence of modern dining. If you don’t understand this, shouldn’t you just put down your pen?]

-Joreb Rolland, Head Chef of Michelin 2-star Mystic Garden

[After reading that article, the first thing that came to my mind was that Flavor was over. Anyone who knows how to cook cannot help but acknowledge Shin Je-hee’s excellence. If there is no chef’s effort in cooking, then it is a franchise. If you are going to criticize that, then what on earth are you expecting when you go to fine dining?]

-Romeo Greco, Head Chef of Michelin 3-star Luce de Sole

[I want to make it clear that I have no relationship with Chef Shin Je-hee. However, I have tried his dishes many times. I learned a lot. The trend in cooking is always changing. And Chef Shin Je-hee and Segreto have always been at the forefront of change. If he is not given the honor he deserves, who will try experiments and lead the development of dining?]

-Frank Norman, Head Chef at Michelin 3-star Gibsons Italiano

[I am a student at the CIA, and Chef Shin Je-hee’s lectures have always been a great inspiration to us. She is also one of our most respected seniors. I can’t believe this controversy has erupted.]

[Although he is an unknown chef, Segreto would visit and have a meal regularly even when he was busy. If you can’t recognize the genius of Chef Shin Je-hee, aren’t you already finished as a critic?]

[I really hope out-of-towners don’t come. It’s already hard to get a reservation.]

└I wasn’t the only one looking forward to that haha

My nose got sour while watching the monitor. I thought it would be a lonely fight, but I had more allies than I thought. The encouragement from the citizens of New York who cheered me on and believed in me was also tremendous. And in this atmosphere, an unexpected bomb exploded.

[Horace Milton. Still haven’t kicked that habit.

That guy’s malicious article closed my restaurant. If that were all I had, I would have humbly accepted my shortcomings. But before the article was published, Horace asked me for a large ‘manuscript fee’. He said he would write a good article. Of course, I declined. Then the article was published the following week. Was this really a coincidence? Were the restaurants he had praised really unrelated to this? I don’t think so.

Horace! If you are innocent, sue me.]

The fallout from this tweet was huge, and Flavor took the article down. I felt the need to quickly sort things out, because there was no reason to hold onto the negative image for too long.

[This is Segreto’s head chef, Shin Je-hee.

Horace Milton demanded $30,000 per page before visiting the restaurant. The ethics of the media have long since fallen to the ground. It is regrettable that the industry is losing reviews and only sensational articles and capital are gaining ground.

Horace! You don’t have to sue me to prove the truth. I’ve already filed the complaint.

And wherever you go, don’t forget to pay for your meals.]

└I knew this would happen.

└It’s not just Horace’s problem. These days, bloggers are eating and writing for free here and there, so the problem is serious.

└Segreto is a place with national fame, but if you touch it for no reason, you will see blood.

└I also run a small restaurant, and two nerds came and took pictures with a camera and said they would advertise for free. I beat them up because they refused to pay for the food.

└If you receive money, advertise and display it.

└Isn’t it normal for critics to be secretive? They were monsters created by capitalism.

“Jehee. We investigated and found that there are more than ten victims. It would be advantageous to file a class action lawsuit.”

Attorneys at Cravath, Swain & Gardner, a top New York law firm, are having a meeting in their offices.

“Sydney. The essence of this is the platform. While critics were writing irresponsibly, the platform was neglecting it because it was profitable. It was a neglect of duty. This trial will set a precedent.”

“Of course. If it were a lawsuit between individuals, we wouldn’t have had to get involved. You can look forward to it.”

I offered 50% of the settlement amount as a success fee.

It may seem excessive, but this is the kind of carrot that is necessary to take down a major media company. The lawyers will thoroughly examine not only Horace but also all the articles and columns that have been serialized in the magazine to ensure that there was no wrongdoing.

* * *

Bam.

“Horace! What are you going to do?”

Raphael, the editor of Flavor, throws a newspaper in front of Horace.

[Flavor, has it become a billboard for corrupt critics?]

It was the headline of the New York Times.

“Raphael. You can’t do this. Where on earth do you think the wine and meal vouchers I’ve been giving you all this time came from?”

He could not have been unaware of Horace’s infidelity. He simply turned a blind eye and condoned it because his performance was good.

“You better watch your mouth. No one has ever condoned your trashy behavior. We never would have guessed that you would do something like this.”

The platform must always be the victim. That way, it can minimize the damage.

“Do you think I’ll just sit still?”

“What if you don’t stay still? Don’t get me wrong. You’re already finished. If you don’t trust the critics, who else is going to read your writing? You’d better find a competent lawyer. We’re going to sue you too.”

“Raphael!”

“Shut up. It’s hard to even calculate how much damage you’re going to cause us. Leave immediately. I’ll send your luggage by courier. Don’t touch anything.”

Horace had no choice but to leave the company helplessly.

Gulp gulp gulp.

Back home, fill your glass with bourbon.

Wow.

I drank it all in one gulp and it felt like my esophagus was burning.

Horace looked back on his past life.

What could have been the problem?

Was that the first time you received money?

Was the first day you asked for money the problem?

Now he will be in debt that he cannot repay even if he is born again ten times. Bankruptcy is certain and there is no possibility of recovery. His family will turn away from him and he will be condemned by society.

Is there any reason to live?

Horace brought a chair and tied his tie tightly to the light.

Tears are flowing. I made a wrong choice because I couldn’t resist one temptation. Now is the time to take responsibility.

dripping.

Just as I’m putting my tie around my neck and pushing the chair away, someone knocks on the door.

Horace thought for a moment, then got down from his chair and opened the door.

“Mr. Milton. You were drinking alone.”

At this very moment, the face you hate the most is smiling at you.

“Are you here to laugh at me? Feel free to do as you please.”

He had been prepared for death, and there was nothing he could do about it.

“I’m not laughing. Everyone makes mistakes. What matters is what happens next.”

“There is no next time. It’s already over.”

“Are you thinking of dying?”

He frowns at the chair placed under the light.

“It’s none of your business. Oh! Now you’re going to be a debtor, aren’t you?”

Hehe.

Horace laughs self-deprecatingly.

“I’ll give you a chance.”

“Even God would find it impossible. I’m already bankrupt from the lawsuits I’ve already filed. There’s nothing I can do after that.”

Horace’s face is filled with despair. No matter how bleak the reality, if there is a future, people can live. On the other hand, if they have to live in a world filled only with destruction, they lose the will to live.

“I can’t prevent bankruptcy, but I will drop the lawsuit we filed. We have already reached an agreement with the other victims.”

It was an incredible offer.

“Really? How is that possible? Everyone must be anxious because they can’t catch me.”

You can tell without looking. They hate themselves. If they were dead and gone, everyone would gather in the pub, drink beer, and party.

“Of course there are conditions.”

Horace had a long talk with Jehee. Then he nodded.