Andre Rush, the former White House chef who served under four U.S. presidents from Bill Clinton to Donald Trump, has embarked on a new culinary adventure on a deserted island.
On the 69th episode of MBC's 'If You Rest, It's a Relief' (directed by Kim Myung-jin, Kim Moon-seop, Shin Hyun-bin, Lee Joon-beom / writer Kwon Jeong-hee), which aired on the 13th, Andre Rush took on the challenge of running a restaurant on a deserted island. His culinary skills, using fresh seafood caught by hand, captivated viewers, leading the show to achieve the highest ratings among all Monday entertainment programs, according to Nielsen Korea.
Andre Rush, known for his global reputation as a White House chef, made a charismatic entrance on the island. Despite language barriers, the workers on the island affectionately gave him the Korean nickname 'Saetbyeol-i,' which means 'morning star.' Rush embraced the name, humorously repeating, "My name is Saetbyeol-i."
Rush showcased his strength, honed by daily push-ups, by single-handedly pulling in fishing nets, earning the admiration of the boat captain. The nets yielded a bountiful catch of premium fish such as sea bass, red snapper, and yellow stingray, proving Rush's fishing prowess.
Among the catch was a rare 'humphead wrasse,' a fish the captain hadn't seen in years. Even 'CEO Ahn' Ahn Jung-hwan was amazed, saying, "It's the first time I've seen this fish." The captain, impressed by Rush's luck, jokingly suggested, "Follow our boat."
The captain treated everyone on board to fresh humphead wrasse sashimi, a first for all, including Boom and the workers. The unique taste captivated them, especially Rush, who marveled at the chewy yet melt-in-your-mouth texture, exclaiming, "Delicious!"
Rush also tried his hand at 'haerujil,' a traditional Korean method of catching seafood by hand. Guided by Yang Se-hyung, he successfully found conch shells and tasted freshly caught sea cucumbers and sea urchins, falling in love with the flavors of Korean island seafood.
Back at the deserted island restaurant, Rush prepared 'humphead wrasse meatloaf,' a unique twist on the classic dish loved by U.S. presidents. This island-exclusive dish featured a Korean-style sauce with gochujang, creating a distinctive flavor. Boom and Yang Se-hyung, after tasting it, exclaimed, "It's a flavor I've never experienced before, but it's truly delicious," sparking curiosity.
Rush also made his favorite 'jjamppong,' a spicy seafood noodle soup, using squid, shrimp, octopus, crab, and conch. The rich broth impressed everyone. Boom later transformed it into 'stir-fried jjamppong' for the workers' meal, prompting Rush to jokingly offer Boom a position as a White House chef, saying, "Boom, you could be a White House chef too!"
The episode ended with a teaser for the next installment, featuring renowned chefs An Yoo-sung, Kim Mi-ryeong, and Michelin-starred chef Fabri, who will continue the island restaurant challenge. MBC's 'If You Rest, It's a Relief' airs every Monday at 9 PM.
Kim Se-ah, TenAsia Reporter haesmik@tenasia.co.kr