Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 40

Extracurricular 40. Imperial Scenery (5)

While Gocho [Korean chili paste] and Gocho paste openly dyed the tables of the Empire red, Sitomatl [tomato] was quietly expanding its presence.

And, of course, Hyang was behind this.

“Tomatoes are perfect for hamburgers! Opportunity is chance!”

As soon as ‘Sitomatl Thin Sauce,’ shortened to ‘Sitomul Sauce,’ was created, Hyang didn’t miss the opportunity.

“Bring Alberto, the head chef!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Hyang, after summoning Alberto, immediately ordered the preparation of hamburgers.

“Hmm… So, ground beef and pork mixed and pan-fried, thinly sliced pickled cucumbers (Sottaceto di cetriolo) [Italian pickled cucumbers], lettuce placed on Pane [Italian bread], then Sitomul sauce is sprinkled and Pane is placed on top again? It seems like a variation of Panini…”

For Alberto, this kind of cooking method was not unfamiliar.

In regions where bread was a staple food, it was common to eat various ingredients sandwiched between bread.

As Alberto already mentioned, there was also an Italian cooking method called Panini.

However, what worried Alberto was the addition of Sitomul sauce.

“Considering the taste of Sitomul sauce, it might not be bad, but…”

Alberto, who cooked according to Hyang’s recipe, tasted it and shook his head lightly.

“It’s okay, but it’s a bit lacking? Hmm…”

After pondering for a moment, Alberto sliced and added onions.

“Much better!”

Satisfied, Alberto presented the finished product to Hyang.

“It’s delicious. Hmm… But it feels a bit lacking. How about thinly slicing and adding Toma, no, Sitomatl?”

After briefly considering Hyang’s suggestion, Alberto immediately nodded.

“I think that would be good.”

The resulting product satisfied both Alberto and Hyang, and the recipe was delivered to the palace’s royal kitchen and Il Venezia.

As time passed, ‘Imperial Panini’ began to spread widely among the common people of the Empire.

The beginning was the officials of the Empire, especially those in Seoul.

As this ‘Imperial Panini’ was introduced as the Emperor’s ‘gift’ for officials suffering from overtime work, those who learned its taste immediately started buying it as soon as Panini was added to Il Venezia’s menu.

“The nobles working in the palace and government offices enjoy eating it?”

“Sounds delicious?”

Ordinary Imperials who heard the rumors soon began to enjoy ‘Imperial Panini’ as well.

Soon, not only ‘Imperial Panini’ but also ‘Imperial Pizza’ began to spread.

As these ‘Imperial Italian Foods’ began to spread rapidly, the Imperial Family moved quickly.

They immediately signed a contract with Alberto and began to mass-produce and sell ‘Sitodeath’ [tomato paste] and ‘Sitomul Sauce.’

As Sitodeath and Sitomul Sauce became common, many restaurants selling ‘Imperial Panini’ and ‘Imperial Pizza’ began to emerge.

However, the ‘Imperial Panini’ sold in restaurants other than ‘Il Venezia’ had a different shape.

For the Empire’s chefs, Pane—Italian bread—was an unfamiliar dish.

Therefore, ‘Il Venezia’s competitors chose ingredients that were familiar to them.

In the Honji and Bukji regions, they replaced Pane with ‘Jeonbyeong’ (pancake) [Korean pancake], and in the Shinji region, they replaced it with tortillas.

As they did so, the cooking method also changed. Instead of sandwiching ingredients between two well-baked Pane, they placed thinly sliced ingredients on a large baked Jeonbyeong and rolled it up.

They applied cooking methods familiar to the Imperials of Honji or Shinji.

Hyang, who received this report, wore an interesting expression.

“Is it Mexican food this time? Then…”

Some time later, Wan summoned Alberto.

“His Majesty has ordered something for you.”

“What is it?”

“He ordered you to make a sauce using mustard.”

“Sauce, you say?”

Wan, seeing Alberto’s troubled expression, added.

“According to the letter, he said you would know if he said ‘Salsa.'”

“Ah! I understand what you have ordered!”

“Is that so? Then, please do your best.”

“I will do my best!”

This is how ‘Mustard Sauce’ was born.

However, not everything was positive.

As Gocho firmly established itself, Imperials increasingly sought out stimulating tastes.

As a backlash, the number of Imperials suffering from digestive diseases also gradually increased.

As these actions and reactions continued, internal medicine, especially medicine related to digestive diseases, began to develop rapidly.

The same was true of the newly emerged ‘Imperial Italian Cuisine’ that came with the introduction of Sitomatl.

In particular, ‘Imperial Pizza’ was the problem.

As Imperials became familiar with Imperial Pizza, they began to add all sorts of ingredients to the pizza.

And Fabio, an Italian chef, especially from Rome, who encountered these ‘Imperial Pizzas’ that were newly born in this way, grabbed the back of his neck.

“This is not pizza! Sitomatl is okay! Why are you putting garlic on it!”

Alberto responded to Fabio’s outburst with an expression that it was nothing special.

“We sometimes put garlic in it, too.”

“The amount is the problem! No, do Imperials eat garlic like rice! Garlic is used as a seasoning, not to fill your stomach!”

“That’s true…”

Everyone acknowledged the Imperials’ unusual love for garlic.

-If you get lost in the desert, be sure to follow the smell of garlic. If you smell garlic, it means there is an Imperial nearby.

This saying was circulating in Europe and the Middle East.

Whenever they heard these words, the Imperials’ reactions were all similar.

“But what can I do if I don’t feel like I’m eating unless I taste garlic?”

“Should I tell you the story of Ungnyeo marrying Hwanung again?” [A Korean foundation myth involving a bear and a tiger who wanted to become human]

“Hey! You’re from Shinji! And not even a native, but a descendant of immigrants from Europe!”

“My taste is native.”

In fact, the residents of Imperial Shinji, especially the Imperials of native origin in central and southern Shinji, loved garlic as much as the Honji people.

The descendants of those who immigrated from Europe to the Empire also liked garlic as a bonus.