The latest episode of MBC’s popular variety program “If You Rest, It’s a Relief” (known as “Pookdahaeng”) once again captivated viewers’ eyes and appetites with a fierce culinary battle between top chefs stranded on a deserted island.

The 59th episode, aired on the 4th, brought together the show’s original trio of kitchen masters: Chinese cuisine maestro Lee Yeon-bok, Western food specialist Raymond Kim, and Japanese cuisine expert Jung Ho-young. The trio joined forces to run an impromptu island “restaurant,” serving up both tension and teamwork in front of the cameras.

Buoyed by soaring viewer support and record first-place ratings among overall households and the core 2049 demographic (according to Nielsen Korea), the program reunited the chefs for another special. “An CEO” Ahn Jung-hwan joked, “After the chef special, applicants increased from 100,000 to 120,000. At this rate, we’ll need to keep this going for 300 more years, passing it down to my kids, Riwon and Rihwan,” bringing laughter to the set.

Almost immediately after arriving, a humorous rivalry emerged among the chefs. Lee Yeon-bok confidently showed off his homemade oyster soy sauce, sparking vigilant reactions from Raymond Kim and Jung Ho-young. The supporting chef crew—Han Ji-hye, Yoo Hee-kwan, and Nam Chang-hee—added to the comedic energy, with Han Ji-hye quipping to Yoo Hee-kwan’s request for a relaxed attitude, “Your face isn’t exactly relaxing,” drawing laughs.

The episode set a new standard for fishing operations, deploying nets worth 3 billion won and casting an underwater trap the size of six soccer fields. The “half water, half fish” catch peaked when an enormous Spanish mackerel, as tall as a human, was hauled in, astonishing everyone.

A spirited battle broke out among the chefs over who would claim the prized Spanish mackerel for their dish. Youngest chef Jung Ho-young dramatically declared he wouldn’t cook without a large fish, prompting Lee Yeon-bok and Raymond Kim to concede. Jung even insisted on serving last and told Raymond Kim to "match my pace," spurring laughter on set.

Lee Yeon-bok kicked off the cooking contest by transforming the mackerel into a revitalized “Lazho Mackerel,” a play on his signature lazho chicken dish. Han Ji-hye took on the challenge of grilling “Chongyubing,” only to have her dough fall to the ground—an accident she quickly rectified with good humor.

Next up, Raymond Kim fired up a cauldron and pine needles to create a “Smoked Mackerel Steak,” pairing the smoky fillet with a South American chimichurri sauce for a dish that wowed everyone with its exotic flavors.

Finally, Jung Ho-young meticulously broke down the giant mackerel and crafted a rich broth by adding various fish. He topped homemade ramen noodles with slices of mackerel chashu, assembling an “Oily Mackerel Chashu Ramen” hailed as the best dish of the day. The intricacy and effort involved brought Lee Yeon-bok and Raymond Kim to lend a helping hand, and host Ahn Jung-hwan praised the result as “a dish with value beyond price.”

As the show drew to a close, a preview teased the chefs bracing for the program’s largest crowd of guests to date, and introduced new helpers, including a mysterious guest in Hanbok, piquing viewers’ curiosity.

Meanwhile, “If You Rest, It’s a Relief” airs every Monday at 9 p.m. on MBC.

Note “This article was translated from the original Korean version using AI assistance, and subsequently edited by a native-speaking journalist.”

Photo=MBC