Former White House Chef André Rush Creates Unprecedented Seafood Dishes on MBC's 'It's a Blessing to Rest Well'

[OSEN=Kang Seo-jung Reporter] André Rush, the former White House chef who was responsible for the tables of U.S. presidents, has perfectly taken over the uninhabited island.

In episode 69 of MBC's 'It's a Blessing to Rest Well' (directed by Kim Myeong-jin, Kim Moon-seop, Shin Hyun-bin, Lee Joon-beom, written by Kwon Jeong-hee, hereinafter referred to as 'It's a Blessing'), which aired on the 13th of last month, André Rush, who served four U.S. presidents from Bill Clinton to Donald Trump, challenged operating a restaurant on the uninhabited island. Using fresh seafood he caught with his own hands on the island, André Rush created the best dish that even U.S. presidents had never tasted, captivating viewers. The episode responded with high ratings, recording the highest viewership among all variety programs broadcast on Monday, solidifying its position as the "Monday variety king" (provided by Nielsen Korea, based on national/capital area households).

On this day, the world-renowned White House chef André Rush landed on the uninhabited island with unmatched charisma. The workers, hesitating over how to address him due to the language barrier, gave him the Korean name "Saetbyeol-i" (Morning Star). André Rush, who wanted a strong name, was satisfied with "Saetbyeol-i" and repeatedly shouted, "My name is Saetbyeol-i," eliciting laughter.

André Rush, who challenged fishing, won the captain's favor with his exceptional performance, such as pulling the net alone using his arm muscles built from daily push-ups. The net overflowed with high-grade fish species like sea bass, red sea bream, red spot sweetlips, and cowtail stingrays, proving his fishing luck with a record catch.

Additionally, a special large fish appeared for the first time in years for the captain, who has 40 years of fishing experience. Its identity was a "bumphead parrotfish" with a bump on its head. "CEO Ahn" Ahn Jung-hwan exclaimed, "I've never seen this fish before," and the captain, impressed by André Rush's fishing luck, suggested, "Follow our boat."

The captain served bumphead parrotfish sashimi as a snack. All the workers on the boat, including Boom, were captivated by the surprising taste of the sashimi they were eating for the first time. In particular, André Rush, who tasted the bump of the bumphead parrotfish -- a part the captain confidently called "the most delicious" -- exclaimed, "Delicious," impressed by its chewy yet melting texture.

André Rush then challenged his first-ever tidal flat foraging. After listening to Yang Se-hyung's lecture and thoroughly searching the water, he discovered a whelk. He also tried fresh sea cucumbers and sea urchins caught on the uninhabited island for the first time and fell in love with the taste of K-uninhabited island seafood.

At the uninhabited island restaurant, André Rush, who returned with abundant seafood, presented "meatloaf," a dish loved by U.S. presidents. Instead of using meat, he used bumphead parrotfish to create a limited-edition uninhabited island dish, "Bumphead Parrotfish Meatloaf," which even U.S. presidents had never tasted. Combined with a Korean-style sauce containing red pepper paste, it achieved a unique flavor. Boom and Yang Se-hyung, who tasted it, exclaimed, "It's the first taste I've ever had, and it's really delicious," sparking curiosity.

He then proceeded to make his favorite "jjamppong" (spicy seafood noodle soup). The jjamppong, filled with squid, shrimp, octopus, crab, and whelk, moved everyone with its deep broth flavor. Later, Boom recreated it as "stir-fried jjamppong" for the workers' meal, and after tasting it, André Rush proposed, "Boom, you could become a White House chef too!" eliciting laughter.

Viewers were deeply immersed in André Rush's performance, who served dishes surpassing White House banquets to the uninhabited island restaurant guests.

Meanwhile, in the preview released at the end of the broadcast, the uninhabited island restaurant operations of Ahn Yoo-sung, a master chef opening a new era; Imo Kase Kim Mi-ryeong; and Michelin-starred chef Fabri were depicted, raising anticipation. /kangsj@osen.co.kr

White House Chef Rush Wows with Uninhabited Island Dishes