01x03 - The Ortolan

[bunniefuu]

[dogs barking]

[dramatic music playing]

Hmm.

[whimpering]

[gasps]

Acceptable.

Yes!

Now to get to the good stuff

-and finally learn to cut...
-[Jiro] Nori.

What!

You will next
learn to toast Nori.

Oh, come on.
No one cares about seaweed.

It's all about the fish.

No. Each dish lives
and dies by its ingredients.

-All of them.
-[Bob] He's right.

Each step must be perfected
before unlocking the next.

What is he doing here?

Today's lesson is over.

-You are dismissed.
-But...

Fine. Okay.

I wasn't aware
you had taken an apprentice.

Caviar bump?

Mmm-mmm.

Ah!

It's a sacred relationship.

I remember the chef
that mentored me.

Who made this?

Will someone please
take credit for this dish?

Yeah.

Make it again.

Make it perfect.

[Bob] Sure, Chef Garezzi
taught me

recipes, technique...

Again.

Again.

Again.

Almost,

but... again.

-[grunts]
-[Bob] But, he also taught me

-to never cut corners.
-[groaning]

And never settle for

-anything less than excellence.
-[grunting]

But the most important lesson
he taught me,

was about my own
personal limitations...

[Chef Garezzi screaming]

That I will never
achieve perfection.

[lips smacking]

Mmm.

Like music.

Very few people live up
to their hype, Jiro.

Even fewer exceed it.

I'm sure you have made

your fair share
of satisfying dishes.

-[Bob] Not like this.
-[knife scrapes]

Between you and me,
I'll never be a true chef.

I'm just a cook.

In fact, I'm rarely
in the kitchen

getting my hands
dirty these days.

But I have another gift.

I can recognize
greatness in others,

a Salieri to other Mozarts.

And you, my friend,

you have it. In spades.

Which brings me to why I'm here.

You proved your loyalty to me,

sabotaging Rose
and her fake meat.

So now, I'd like
to return the favor.

I'm opening a food hall
in the Middle Ring.

A way to bring cheaper versions

of popular restaurants

from different rings
to the masses.

And now,
after tasting for myself,

I want you to headline it

-with your very own booth.
-[gasps]

It is a generous offer,
but my focus remains

on this restaurant.

Yeah, I had my boys

look into your overhead.

The quality of fish you buy

versus the low prices you
sell it at, it's unsustainable.

I give you eight
to ten months tops,

then, no more feeding
the underprivileged.

No more apprenticeship.

No more restaurant.

But if you expand it
at the food hall,

you could bring
in a wealthier clientele,

a new revenue stream,

that would let you
keep this place open.

A place we both know,
you're willing to k*ll for.

Another one of your
talents I could use.

I've witnessed
the power you wield.

I offer you all of my services.

Perhaps then, you can help me

take my restaurant
to the next level.

Well, okay.

-[engine running]
-[music playing]

[gasps]

Can I help you?

Quieres un tamale?

-Uh... yeah. Okay.
-Gracias.

Thank you.

[sighs]

-[gasps]
-[suspenseful music playing]

-sh*t.
-[shutter clicks]

[tense music playing]

-[camera shutter clicks]
-[tense music continues]

[camera shutter clicks]

[door whirs]

-So?
-We have a deal.

Oh, he'll be incredibly useful
in swaying the investors.

He'll open the food hall,

then we'll steal his techniques,

name and credibility,
like we've done to all

the other schmuck chefs
in the Outer Ring.

Everyone's useful.

-[car speeding]
-Until they're not.

[bell dings]

I'd like to place an order.

A baker's dozen for Bob,

and should you throw in
a half dozen for Jiro,

I'd happily pay more.

Say, an exclusive
contract to serve your goods at

all my restaurants?

Uh... uh.

I accept.

[dramatic music playing]

[Bob] As you can see,

we're merely months away
from opening.

I thought you said early October.

You can't rush greatness.

Ah, cuisine reduced to retail.

How gauche.

Save some five-dollar words
for your next review, Alister.

Enough chit-chatting.

I got a better use
for your mouths.

[Jiro greeting]
Irasshai.

[Mr. Madison] Ooh.

-Don't mind if I do.
-This is not for the help.

Only those who matter.

Oh, right. Sorry, sir.

-[lips smacking]
-[Investor] Oh!

-[investor] This is...
-Mmm.

[investor] This is absolutely
astonishing.

Well, look at that.

Even the [bleep] critic
is speechless.

Wow.

[head guard clears throat]
This tour is a private event.

Oh, and here's my invite,
[bleep].

Sorry, honey.
No search warrant.

-No dice.
-Right.

[head guard] Why don't you go,
call for backup, or something?

Let's see how that
plays out for you.

[huffing]

[clicks tongue] sh**t.

Catering for the tour.

Hmm? Mmm.

Mmm-mmm.

Psycho.

[Bob] With all of you on board,

we'll bring in a lot of business.

We'll all be a lot richer.

-[tense music playing]
-[elevator dings]

[tense music continues]

[knife rasping]

-[g*n c*ck]
-[swishing]

-[g*n c*ck]
-[swishing continues]

[g*n c*ck]

[tense music intensifies]

-[g*n fires]
-[Bob groans]

-[investor gasping]
-[shatters]

[grunting]

[g*n fires]

-[g*n fires]
-[man groaning]

-[woman screaming]
-[Bob] Huh.

Caviar bump.

[suspenseful music playing]

[g*nsh*t]

[g*n firing]

[Jiro sighing]

[g*n fires]

Mmm.

[suspenseful music continues]

[Jiro gasping]

[tense music playing]

[Cynda] I'm telling you,

something big is boiling
over between Bob and Rose.

And somehow,
this unassuming sushi chef

from the Outer Ring
is at the center of it.

What's his angle?

That's what I'm
trying to find out.

Well, I need something
concrete, not a hunch,

or wild theory like your
body abductor boogie man.

Uh, it's not a hunch.

It's an open investigation.

And I am as right about my
boogie man as I am about Jiro.

[Cromwell sighs]

I believe you.

Now, bring me proof.

We're not gonna talk about this?

I got high ranking
city council members,

cozying up to Bob,
in broad daylight.

[Cynda] I couldn't get inside,

but I think,
he's paying them off.

[Cromwell] Shh.

[door creaking]

[door slams]

All right, listen.

You need to proceed with caution.

I've gotten whiffs
of deeper corruption.

I just don't know
how far it goes.

You sound afraid.

I am.

[sighs]

I'm afraid of anything
happening to you.

You're like a daughter
to me, Cynda.

You're a good health inspector.

A great one.

But you need to be
careful with this.

So, promise me.

I promise.

I'm not hugging you.

[scoffs]
I didn't ask.

Now get back out there,
and get me something I can use.

[footsteps receding]

[car honks]

Here you go.

-Enjoy.
-[customer] Thanks.

[sighs]
Okay.

What's up your butt today?

Nothing.

Oh, did you get scolded again?

If it doesn't work out,

I happen to know
a fry cook at MacDuggal's,

that's also looking
for an apprentice.

No, I'm actually getting
really good at it.

Sure, Jiro won't let me
touch a single fish,

but, like, my rice
is super on point.

[Maria] Aw.

So, why the pouty-pity-party?

It's Jiro.

He was talking to Bob,
and it seemed like...

they were working together.

Oh, Cam.
[sighs]

I don't understand.

I thought he was one of us.

[sighs]
Look, I told you

not to have heroes.

They'll let you down every time.

[customer 2] Hello, you got
an order for Brian?

Hey, you still got me.

Always will.

The Guerrero sisters
versus the world.

Hey, sorry for the wait.

[Maria] I got your order,
right here.

[breathing shakily]

You let Rose's assassin
walk right by you.

[straining]
She had food.

I thought she was
part of the tour.

Please.

We all have jobs to do.

If I did mine as poorly as you,
I wouldn't have any customers.

-I... I...
-[Bob] Take creme brulee.

Easy to ruin.

Not the right amount of sugar,

and it just tastes wrong.

No, wait.
[grunting]

-[Bob] Not enough cognac.
-[head guard] Please!

-My own personal touch.
-[head guard] Wait, wait!

[breath trembling]
No.

[coughing and spitting]

[Bob] It's just not
as flammable as you want it.

[head guard] I am begging you.

Please, I'm begging you.
[crying]

No!
[shrieking]

Got to get that caramelization
just right.

[head guard struggling]

Because at the end of the day,

people want to hear that crisp...

-crack!
-[groaning]

[squelching]

Anyone else want to
disappoint me?

The food critic refuses
to review my restaurants,

out of fear for his safety.

My investors are pulling out,

and the city is hard-lining me
on permits!

Now, they all see me
as vulnerable,

as weak!

[thuds]

Rose may have failed to k*ll me.

[bangs]
But she's k*lled my

[bleep] food hall.

[Jiro] These people...

They were originally united

to invest in your food.

Perhaps, they can be
won back by it.

What are you saying?

Your restaurants are considered
the best in the city.

It's time to remind them why.

And how do you propose
we do that?

I will cook them a perfect meal.

One that will make them forget

all about your problems
with Rose.

That kind of meal doesn't exist.

[Jiro] It doesn't
because it was banned.

A delicacy so decadent,

it must be eaten under a napkin,

to shield your face
from God's eyes.

Ortolan.

Hai.

Even Garezzi struggled
to properly cook ortolan.

You know how?

[sighs]

Of course.

[dogs barking]

[siren wailing]

-Amazing as always.
-[Jean-Claude] You're too kind.

-Thank you so much.
-Have a good night.

[customer] Oh my gosh,
that was delicious.

Ah, Jiro. You are
three days early

to our weekly shared meal.

As much as I appreciate
seeing your stoically,

stone-faced visage, I must ask,

what brings you
to my doorstep, after close?

I need to learn to cook ortolan.

[laughing]
That's it?

Oh, would you also like to learn

how to paint the Mona Lisa?

And play Rachmaninoff's

"Concerto No. 3"
while you're here?

Hmm.

It takes most chefs years

to master ortolan.
[speaks French]

Well, Jean-Claude,

good thing I have
a mentor like you,

to teach me in one night.

[sighs]
I have not agreed to this.

I know you serve ortolan
off your secret menu.

The birds must
already be prepped.

Shall we...

get to work, then?

[sighing]

Your iron will
is absolutely exhausting.

I tell you that as a friend.

[scoffs]

Let's begin.

First, the birds are kept
in darkness for months,

tricking them into
gorging themselves.

[Jean-Claude] Their fat
little bellies

filling up on grains and figs,

-tripling in size.
-[camera clicks]

[Jean-Claude] Next,

they are drowned
in Armagnac brandy...

[splashing]

This act, both, simultaneously

kills the bird and marinates it.

L'amort puis la vie.

Death. Then life.

The bird is then plucked,
salted and peppered with care,

cooking in the juices
of his own delicious fat.

Like a mortician,

preparing a loved one
for a final, resting place.

[Jiro] Do you ever feel...

guilt?

[Jean-Claude] No,
I do not feel bad

taking the life
of these little things...

for...

are we all not born in sin?

Even the birdies?

[Jiro] Hmm.

Some of us more than others.

And for them,

I serve this dish.

The barbaric pinnacle
of gastronomic pleasure.

Why not indulge?

In the end,

judgment comes for all of us.

[Bob] Welcome.

Given the unpleasantness
at the food hall,

I want to thank all of you,

for agreeing to attend
this very special meal.

I now leave you

in the capable hands
of tonight's chef, Jiro.

[pensive music playing]

Good evening.

Tonight, there is no appetizer,

no salad, no dessert.

There is only ortolan.

[amusing music playing]

[Jiro] A small, rare,
nearly extinct songbird.

The traditional means
of eating ortolan is whole,

bones innards and all,

except head and beak.

To best eat,

the diner's head
should be covered in cloth.

So that you may inhale
the bird's earthy aroma.

An alternate explanation is,

a priest developed the custom...

-[knife scrapes]
-[tense music playing]

To shield his gluttony from God.

[gasps]

Tonight, as you dine,

you can decide for yourselves.

Bon appetit.

[grunts]

[swooshing]

[g*n c*ck]

[Bob] You're precise, meticulous.

-[gasps]
-[thudding]

[thudding]
[grunting]

A perfectionist.
[grunts]

[straining]

Okay, that's new.

[both grunting]

[shouting]

[groaning]

[grunting]

No more toys.

[both groaning]

[Bob] Ow!

[both straining]

[cracking]

Ahhh!

[both groaning]

[grunting]

[straining]

[g*n c*ck]

[g*n fires]

[panting]

[mellow music playing]

[Bob] The most important
lesson I learned

from my mentor, Chef Garezzi...

is that perfection...

is a fallacy.

An unachievable fool's errand.

Sometimes, messy just
gets the job done.

[spits]

[Jiro] I don't understand.

If you spotted the baker earlier,

why didn't you ask me for help?

[Bob] Like I said,
it had been some time

since I was in the kitchen.

Every once in a while,
it's good to remind this town,

how I got here.

Now, let's go check
on our guests.

[elevator dings]

And how are we
enjoying our... meal?

[sinister music playing]

No.

No.

Rose's vegans...

I should have stayed back,

protected the guests.

I...

failed in my duties.

I failed you.

[Chef Garezzi] Again!

Again! Again!

Again! Again!

No.

I need you
for what's coming next.

What's next?

We go to [bleep] w*r.

[music intensifies]

[bells chiming]

[pensive music playing]

I'm quitting.

You can find another apprentice.

Is this about the fish?

No, it's about you and Bob.

I can't be around anyone
who would work with him.

I see.

I thought you were different.

But, Maria was right.

There are no heroes.

[Jiro] She is right.

I never claimed to be a hero,

but there was a moment today,

where I could have k*lled Bob,

pushed him off a roof.

[Bob] Sometimes, messy just
gets the job done.

[Jiro] Every fiber of my being
told me to do it.

[Bob grunting and screaming]

But I resisted.

[Cam] Why?

Cam, do you like cookies?

I'm ten.

So, duh, yeah.

-Would you eat a raw egg?
-Ew.

Or a cup of flour?

No, that's disgusting.

That is what working
with Bob is for me.

[crunching]

A disgusting ingredient.

-[moaning]
-[knife slashes]

[Jiro] That will lead...

-[knife swishing]
-[thudding]

To a sweet dessert.

To bake a perfect dessert,

you need patience.

If you are able to trust me,

to wait and see...

Oh sh*t. The mayor.

You will eventually
get the best cookie

you've ever tasted.