In the episode aired on the 15th, 'Manito Club' Episode 7 featured Jung Hae-in, Go Yoon-jung, Park Myung-soo, Hong Jin-kyung, Kim Do-hoon, and Chef Yoon Nam-no embarking on a 'Secret Manito' mission. They prepared a special late-night meal for the dedicated Bucheon Fire Station firefighters who work tirelessly for public safety.
The episode achieved a record-breaking viewership rating of 2.3% in the Seoul metropolitan area. The key demographic of viewers aged 20-54 also showed an upward trend with a 1.1% rating. Since its first season, which featured BLACKPINK's Jennie, 'Manito Club' had maintained ratings in the 1% range until it hit its highest rating in the sixth episode. The peak moment, with a 3.4% rating, was when Jung Hae-in, Go Yoon-jung, Park Myung-soo, Hong Jin-kyung, Kim Do-hoon, and Chef Yoon Nam-no hurriedly simulated the opening of the midnight diner for the firefighters. (Nielsen Korea, Seoul metropolitan area)
Chef Yoon Nam-no shared a past experience of receiving help from firefighters and prepared a heartfelt meal. The goal was to serve 60 portions, ensuring that even those who were on duty could enjoy a warm meal. The menu included seafood kalguksu, turmeric rice, abalone meatballs with truffle, and 'Dujonshu,' a dessert using rice cakes instead of marshmallows, all designed to rejuvenate the firefighters. Under Chef Yoon Nam-no's leadership, Jung Hae-in, Go Yoon-jung, and Kim Do-hoon took on their respective roles to tackle the large-scale cooking.
The preparation process was not without challenges, from handling live abalone to endless chopping. With a five-hour time limit, it was a race against the clock. Jung Hae-in and Kim Do-hoon took charge of the truffle abalone meatballs, operating a 'meat factory' using their forearm muscles, while Go Yoon-jung handled the 'Dujonshu,' preparing 60 servings of dessert. Park Myung-soo joined later, focusing on abalone preparation, kalguksu dough, and homemade noodles, while Hong Jin-kyung was responsible for the seafood kalguksu and turmeric rice.
With preparations complete, the members finally opened the midnight diner. The fire station's cafeteria transformed into a warm, inviting space where the kitchen was hidden from view. Despite their nervousness, the members conducted a simulation before the real event, but frequent mistakes due to their urgency added to the tension. At 9 PM, the firefighters began to arrive, and contrary to expectations, a large number of them visited at once, leading to a flood of orders. With the first order being for eight servings, viewers are left wondering if the members can successfully serve their first late-night meal.
Lee So-jung, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr