It was winter, and the sun had already gone down.A group of middle-aged men were chatting loudly.“German food? It’s all too salty!”Ji-young was busy replying to Instagram comments.The door opened. A pale, thin woman stepped inside. Her hair was tightly…
Seunghyun and Jiyoung had already gone home. Taehos legs were heavy. But inside the shop, laughter was still flowing as Taehos voice joined Kyungsik’s in harmony. “Sing us a song tonight~” Billy Joel’s Piano Man echoed through The Berlin, louder…
Taeho was reading Zhuangzi. He liked fables. Not the flowery descriptions, the emotional venting, the detached fantasy, or the literary self-congratulations. That’s why he hadn’t read a novel in a long time. Ji-young was dozing off in a corner. Nod.…
It was 8:00 p.m.Taeho’s legs felt heavy. The last guests had just left. Ji-young was briskly wiping down the tables. “Ji-young, how’s the reaction to our opening photo on SNS?” She wiped the same table once more—slowly. “Not much. Only…
It was Sunday.The streets were empty—no cars, no people.Taehos arrived at the restaurant at 9 a.m. “Excuse me. I know it’s early, but… is it possible to eat?” Inside the soondae soup(korean meat soup) shop, no one answered.Youngcheol was crouched…
The team was assembled.Taehos, the head chef.Seunghyun, assistant chef.Jiyoung, front-of-house manager. Today, the guests would be:Taehos’s mother,Yoonjae the butcher,and two of Jiyoung’s friends. The Berlin’s full menu was ready:Goulash, Jägerschnitzel, Schweinshaxe, Svickova (Czech-style sauerbraten),Currywurst, Hoppl Poppl, fried cheese, fries, Chicken…
Salt and Fire – Episode 7: The Interview Continues It was Jiyoung’s first official day.She was taking photos, scouting SNS-worthy angles,and trying to craft the restaurant’s story. Taehos was sharpening his knives.The assistant chef & front-of-house interview was again set…
Taehos stood in the kitchen he had arranged himself. Fryer beside the stove, two ovens next to it. Sink right behind. Three mixers to the right. No wasted steps. Everything in reach. The fridge top would double as a worktable…
Taehos was measuring the tables with a tape. Plastic wraps and cardboard from the delivery were piled up nearby. “Just do the wallpaper. I’ll keep the original structure. Please use gray tiles for the floor.” The contractor gave him a…
Salt and Fire – Episode 4: Supply Lines The phone kept ringing at the wholesale shop. Carts clattered as workers moved boxes across the floor. Taehos scanned the shelves. The shop lady was slightly plump, with curled hair. She waved…