"It's done. I present it to the judges for tasting!" Arranging the completed "Dragon Through a Tiger's Belly" on a plate, then drizzling it
"It's done. I present it to the judges for tasting!"
Arranging the completed "Dragon Through a Tiger's Belly" on a plate, then drizzling it with a sauce mixed from kumquat oil and salted plum juice to bring the two together.
Seeing Dylan stop his conversation and focus his gaze on her, Alice Nakiri carried the plate and walked up.
Although she had only eaten it once as a child, because its taste was so incredibly delicious, she had remembered it to this day. Now, to replicate it for her master to taste.
"Master, please try it..."
Looking at the handsome face before her, Alice Nakiri whispered softly, then placed the dish in front of him, her eyes full of anticipation.
"This 'Dragon Through a Tiger's Belly' is well made. Although there are still some minor flaws in various details, it has already reached my passing line."
Looking at the dish before him, Dylan couldn't help but praise. Although he hadn't yet picked up his chopsticks, the aroma in the air had already told him the answer with great precision.
This was a genuine Special Grade dish.
To be able to replicate most of the details based only on a memory from childhood, without detailed instruction, one had to say Alice Nakiri was very formidable.
Truly worthy of being his direct disciple!
"It's because Master taught me well!"
Hearing the praise, Alice Nakiri smiled shyly, then handed the chopsticks to Dylan, her eyes sparkling as she awaited his evaluation.
"Not bad. The pig's large intestine, after special treatment and braising, has completely lost its original foul smell. In its place is a faint aroma of wine and spices. These flavors fuse with the freshness of the eel, creating a unique texture."
Hesitantly putting the dish into his mouth, Nakiri Sen'uemon's eyes widened, and his tightly furrowed brow relaxed.
However, this was too surprising.
These two little girls, they should still be in the middle school division of Tōtsuki Academy, right? Why did they possess such strong skills!?
But then, thinking about how Erina Nakiri and Alice Nakiri addressed Dylan, he felt a sense of relief.
A disciple personally trained by such a formidable chef, how could they possibly be a mediocre and vulgar person? They must have something extraordinary about them.
"The texture of the eel is delicate, intertwining with the savory fragrance of the Jinhua ham and pork belly, making every bite full of layers."
Senzaemon Nakiri also nodded. Because the production was very rigorous, the layers of the dish were exceptionally distinct. One bite was incredibly satisfying!
And this dish showcased the respective strengths of both girls. Erina Nakiri's ultimate control over flavor, and Alice Nakiri's meticulousness in cooking.
Of course, the most important factor was still Dylan. If he hadn't created such a dish, even if his two granddaughters were more formidable, it would have been impossible for them to replicate it!
He could give this dish an eight out of ten for taste.
But the creativity had to be full marks!
Using the method of making sausage to incorporate eel—what a bold and peculiar idea.
"Truly delicious to the extreme!"
The clothes on his body burst, turning into strips of cloth scattered on the ground.
His extremely muscular physique was exposed to everyone present. This was a phenomenon that only occurred when the Nakiri family tasted delicious cuisine.
On the other side, Nakiri Sen'uemon's clothes also burst. But unlike Senzaemon Nakiri's muscular body, the old man revealed a lean figure.
"It is indeed a very good dish."
Nakiri Sen'uemon chimed in, a complex look in his eyes as he looked at Erina Nakiri and Alice Nakiri.
It seemed the next head of the Nakiri family would have to be chosen from these two little girls.
Although it was a pity, their second faction indeed lacked a stunningly talented genius. If his descendants were to become the family head, the Nakiri family would only head towards decline.
"It seems I won't be able to win against my old brother even until I die."
Nakiri Sen'uemon sighed in his heart. Although they had their disputes, it was on the premise of not hindering the development of the Nakiri family.
In other words, he couldn't possibly abandon the principle of appointing people on their merit just to fight for the so-called position of family head and support someone from his own faction.
Only by making the cake bigger could one get a larger slice.
"To think that such a top-tier genius would be my, Senzaemon Nakiri's, granddaughter! Well done, Alice!"
Senzaemon Nakiri was unaware of his brother's thoughts.
At this moment, he was looking at Dylan, who was not far away, having just picked up a piece of "Dragon Through a Tiger's Belly" and put it in his mouth to taste, his eyes growing more and more satisfied.
"This dish uses a cooking method of braising first, then frying. Considering that ordinary frying would affect the texture, I chose the method of ladle-frying back then. Braising allows the inside to cook through while adding a rich braised flavor to the dish. After air-drying with a fan, the moisture on its surface also dissipates with time. Suddenly pouring hot oil over it at this moment allows a golden, crispy outer shell to form quickly on the surface of the casing. This shell not only adds to the diversity of textures but also firmly locks the juices inside the braised sausage, while maintaining a certain degree of tenderness. Because all meat ingredients were used, the shiitake mushrooms within can be said to be the masterstroke, bringing a fresh aroma to the whole dish."
Tasting this dish again after so many years, Dylan began to explain his creative thinking at the time to everyone.
However, looking at it with his current eyes, this dish still had many problems. Plus, since Alice Nakiri made it from memory, the problems were even greater.
But to be able to achieve this extent purely from memory, Dylan was already very satisfied.
Replication was a very important skill for a chef.
"Let me try too."
On the other side, Erina Nakiri, seeing everyone eating with such relish, could no longer suppress her curiosity and came to Dylan's side.
And as for the young woman's craving, Dylan was well aware of it. But thinking about what she had said just now, a mischievous smile couldn't help but appear on his face.
"Didn't you say you'd rather die than eat pig intestines? How come you're eating your words now?"
He picked up a piece of "Dragon Through a Tiger's Belly"—the eel as the dragon, the pig's large intestine as the tiger's belly. As for why he chose this name, it was purely because it sounded good.
He couldn't possibly call it 'Pig Intestine Stuffed with Eel,' right? That would be too rustic and unpleasant to the ear.
"I don't know the person who said that."
Turning her head slightly to the side, a blush quickly spread across her cheeks. Erina Nakiri directly denied her former self.
Then she put on a pitiful expression.
"Oh? How come I remember it was a golden-haired young lady who said it?"
Waving the "Dragon Through a Tiger's Belly" in front of Erina Nakiri's nose, Dylan's voice was tinged with teasing. Bullying this girl was too much fun!
"Who is that person? I don't know them. A clean break!"
Opening her mouth wide to take a bite, but because Dylan's movement was too fast, she bit on empty air. Erina Nakiri looked eagerly at the dish before her, feeling slightly annoyed with him.
She had already humbled herself like this, yet Dylan still wouldn't give it to her. What a mean-spirited fellow!
"Open your mouth."
Seeing her like this, Dylan knew in his heart that it was about enough. Going any further would be overdoing it, so he decisively brought the dish to her lips.
Erina Nakiri didn't hesitate either, opening her mouth and taking a bite. Various flavors blossomed on her taste buds, making her show an expression of enjoyment.
Because it was a team Shokugeki, Alice Nakiri had left the seasoning part of the dish to her.
However, because she didn't know the original taste of the dish, she could only season it based on experience.
Alice Nakiri then took on the role of the taster, judging whether the flavor Erina had created met the requirements.
Through the close cooperation and coordination of the two, they finally concocted the dish with the most suitable proportions on the twentieth attempt at seasoning.
And now...
Erina Nakiri's face was full of enjoyment.
"The eel is as delicate as petals, lightly scattered, like cherry blossoms fluttering in the spring, bringing a touch of gentle softness. The pork belly, on the other hand, is like intensely fierce firecracker flowers, bursting with a rich and elastic flavor between the teeth, exciting every corner of the taste buds. In between, the subtle savory fragrance of the ham leisurely rises, like a finishing touch, adding the most perfect flavor layer to this dish. And the final addition of the sauce made from kumquat oil and salted plum juice—its sour and sweet flavors are intertwined, the texture both crisp and soft, with a sweet fragrance overflowing."
Savoring the exquisitely detailed taste in her mouth, Erina Nakiri subconsciously gripped Dylan's chair, her body trembling slightly.
"This feeling is just like the splendid rainbow in the sky after the rain has just cleared. Not only is it a feast for the eyes, but it also blossoms on the tongue into an astonishing miracle of deliciousness!"
Erina Nakiri let out a long, cloudy breath, her face an expression of ineffable enjoyment. She finally understood why Dylan had to develop this dish.
And this was with their unskilled technique. If it were Dylan instead, she couldn't imagine how delicious the dish he finally cooked would be!
"Now it's up to them."
Looking at the empty plates in front of the other judges, Dylan swallowed the remaining food and then looked at Nakiri Kaede and his team.
While they were tasting the "Dragon Through a Tiger's Belly," Nakiri Kaede and the others had made a salad, which seemed to be a side dish to accompany the roasted meat.
At this moment, their dish had also entered the final step: preparing the sauce for the dish.
Take 40 grams each of butter and flour. First, melt the butter, then add the flour and stir, simmering on low heat for five minutes before adding the chicken stock prepared earlier.
Season with salt and pepper until the thickness is enough to coat the back of a spoon.
Chop parsley and mint finely.
In a stone mortar, add garlic, capers, and the pieces of one anchovy. Grind them and put them in a bowl, mixing with the parsley and mint.
After finishing, add the juice of half a lemon, a spoonful of Dijon mustard, emulsify with olive oil and stir evenly, then add an appropriate amount of seasoning to adjust the taste.
With that, the special sauce was complete.
Because they had been together for a long time, and were siblings from the same mother, they understood each other very well. And because their respective strengths were different, the quality of the dish they produced was much higher than if they had made it individually.
"Luckily this Shokugeki didn't have a time limit, which gave us a lot of time. Otherwise, it would have been really difficult to make this dish."
Everything was ready, only the roast meat was missing.
Looking at the roast meat in the oven, sizzling with oil, the pork skin already starting to form large bubbles, Nakiri Kaede muttered to himself, his eyes full of anticipation.
Soon, another hour passed.
"Come on, our original three-person dish, Cyclone Crispy-Skinned Pork Belly! A joint dish that would be impossible to achieve Special Grade level with even one person missing!"
Opening the oven, a rich aroma instantly swept through the kitchen. The faces of the three showed excitement, and they then looked at the judges' panel with sparkling eyes.
Only to see Nakiri Sen'uemon looking at them with a complicated expression.
This made them puzzled, but they quickly figured it out.
He was probably afraid that because they had used their full strength and made a Special Grade dish, they would offend Dylan, which was why he had that expression.
However, Grandpa, a cooking duel requires one to go all out. A result that is given away cannot be recognized by both sides!
"Please enjoy, Cyclone Crispy-Skinned Pork Belly!"
The roasted pork belly was taken out of the oven and left to rest on the side for about ten minutes. Then, it was cut with a knife, with each slice about a finger's width apart.
The vegetable salad was placed at the bottom, topped with three potato balls, and finally, the roasted meat was placed on top, drizzled with the secret green sauce.
Due to the heat, the aroma of the green sauce was instantly stimulated, wafting through the entire kitchen and attracting everyone's attention.
"It looks quite good. These fine, golden oil bubbles are really appetizing!"
Looking at Nakiri Kaede walking towards him, and the exquisitely plated dish placed in front of him, Dylan praised with a certain tone.
Although the character of these guys was not very good, their cooking level was really not bad.
Three chefs with the strength of top-tier first-grade chefs, working together, could actually make a Special Grade dish. The Nakiri family really had a knack for cultivating chefs.
Although he hadn't tasted it yet, the aroma emanating from the dish already said it all.
"The aromas of black pepper, fennel, and juniper berries are gradually released during the roasting process. After being ground into powder, the flavors of these spices become even more intense. Now added to the dish, the taste they bring is astonishing, and after fusing with the pork belly, they give it a unique fragrance."
Savoring the aroma of the Cyclone Crispy-Skinned Pork Belly, Senzaemon Nakiri closed his eyes to feel it. This was the deepest flavor of the pork belly.
"Not only that, you also added garlic paste and anchovies to the pork, giving the meat both the spiciness of garlic and the umami of anchovies. These two ingredients, after being ground and mixed, form a unique base flavor, greatly increasing the taste layers of the roast meat."
On the side, Nakiri Sen'uemon also spoke. It was precisely because so many kinds of seasonings were used that the flavor of the dish became so mellow and rich.
"The key is the orange peel and lemon zest. It can be said to be the most crucial step. The peels of these two contain essential oils. After being added, they bring a refreshing taste to the roast meat while balancing the richness of the fat."
Dylan's voice sounded.
The few of them, speaking one after another, quickly broke down the taste structure of the Cyclone Crispy-Skinned Pork Belly.
With every bite, the tongue could feel the tenderness and juiciness of the pork belly, as well as the mellow flavor of the spices that penetrated deep into the bone.
And the crispy skin on the outermost layer provided an even richer texture. The combination of crisp and tender made this dish even more flavorful!
"The final sauce poured over it utilizes a mixture of parsley, mint, capers, anchovies, lemon juice, and Dijon mustard, forming a taste that combines freshness, sweetness, sourness, and a slight spiciness, adding more flavor variations to the roast meat."
"But I still prefer these potato balls. Because they have absorbed the aroma of the spice oil, and have been slow-roasted at a low temperature, they have become crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with a rich texture."
"The taste of the vegetable salad is also quite good. It's a very classic Italian salad recipe, which does a great job of cutting through the greasiness of the meat."
The few of them discussed animatedly, a very intense discussion. Although it looked like just a dish of crispy roasted pork belly, the effort put into it was considerable.
That hot soup, made with butter, flour, and chicken stock, also had an exceptionally mellow taste, which did an excellent job of neutralizing the greasiness of the dish.
"There's still half a roast over there. Bring it over."
As they were discussing, Dylan calculated the time, then had the three excited individuals bring over the remaining half of the roast from their cooking station.
This couldn't help but make them a bit puzzled, guessing that Dylan perhaps hadn't had enough to eat. So, Nakiri Kaede proactively stepped forward to show off, wanting to help him slice the meat.
"No need. Just bring the whole thing over."
Faced with Nakiri Kaede's enthusiasm, Dylan shook his head, his cold voice telling him to bring the roast over as it was.
"Okay."
Nakiri Kaede didn't say more, nodded in agreement, and trotted to the cooking station, bringing the remaining Cyclone Crispy-Skinned Pork Belly to Dylan.
Looking at Dylan suddenly draw out a kitchen knife, to his right, Nakiri Sen'uemon asked with confusion.
Because his older brother addressed him as such, he now also called him little friend Dylan, which sounded more affectionate.
"I'm improving this dish."
Without going into detail, but simply answering, Dylan picked up the bottle of white wine Alice Nakiri had prepared and poured it onto the Wuqu knife.
Then he drew out the Wenqu knife and struck it against the Wuqu knife at an astonishing angle.
In an instant, tiny sparks were generated at the point of collision between the two knives. Because of the white wine, flames quickly wrapped around the two blades, held in Dylan's hand like divine weapons from hell!
"You see this area here. Because of the oven's temperature, the heat is not even, so the color is lighter. But that's no reason for you to leave it unattended. Using flames to raise the surrounding temperature can help them heat evenly."
Dylan said as he pressed the blade against it. The originally not-so-perfect crispy skin, under the blessing of the flames, bloomed with 'life' for a second time.
"This is your first mistake. The second is the heat control. The optimal roasting time for this dish should be four hours. Three and a half hours of low-temperature slow roasting, and half an hour of high temperature, not two hours at the same temperature throughout. According to my method, the dish will have more layers, and the taste will also have a significant improvement."
Watching the flames on the blade extinguish, Dylan blew on it lightly, then pointed out the second problem with this dish.
"Next is my personal taste, regarding the second cutting method for this Cyclone Crispy-Skinned Pork Belly: slicing it into thin pieces like char siu."
As he spoke, Dylan shook the Wuqu knife in his hand. The crowd only saw a flash of white light before their eyes, but no one closed their eyes.
Everyone was concentrating on the knife.
They only saw the Wuqu knife rise and fall at an astonishing speed, turning the Cyclone Crispy-Skinned Pork Belly before them into thin slices about two millimeters thick.
Of course, this was not Dylan's limit. But for slices thinner than two millimeters, the crispy skin on the outside would lose its texture, and a layer of flavor would be lost.
And two millimeters was just right. It could both guarantee the texture of the Cyclone Crispy-Skinned Pork Belly and allow one to taste the full flavor of a slice of meat in one bite.
Pouring the sauce prepared by Nakiri Kaede over it, Dylan continued, "Letting it cool for thirty minutes before slicing is the optimal time for tasting. You've already waited several hours; there's no need to save that twenty minutes. This is the third problem with this dish. Go ahead and try it, the transformed Cyclone Crispy-Skinned Pork Belly."
"Just a few details were modified, and the level of the dish was elevated to a Three-Star Special Grade. This is too exaggerated!"
Picking up an extremely thin slice of Cyclone Crispy-Skinned Pork Belly and putting it in his mouth to taste.
Senzaemon Nakiri's eyes widened in an instant. With his many years of experience, he could naturally feel the improvement in the dish's taste.
This improvement was not just a little bit, but exponential. The extremely thin slice of meat melted in his mouth, bringing a rich and full flavor.
And that crispy skin was the only source of texture, yet it didn't seem monotonous. After a little chewing, it released a savory fragrance, which fused with that rich flavor.
"So this is the correct way to do it."
Savoring the full flavor in her mouth, Nakiri Ranye muttered to herself. Nakiri Sui took out a notebook and pen from her pocket and began to take notes.
For Dylan, this was just simple guidance, but for them, it was a guiding light in their culinary journey, giving them a clear direction forward, which was of great significance!
"Thank you very much for your guidance. Please accept my apology. I shouldn't have said those bastardly things back then. I'm the one who should be apologizing the most."
Looking at Dylan's normal expression, and thinking of the bastardly things he had said when they first met.
The more Nakiri Kaede thought about it, the more he felt he was not a good person, so he raised his hand and slapped himself a few times.
"Brother Kaede..."
"Don't stop me. This is what I deserve."
The sudden action startled everyone at the scene. Nakiri Sui and Nakiri Ranye rushed forward to stop him, but were thrown aside by him.
"In that case, then I'll join in!"
Seeing Nakiri Kaede's resolute expression, Nakiri Sui and Nakiri Ranye instantly understood his intention. They then looked at each other and also began to slap themselves.
For a time, the scene was filled with the sound of slapping.
Dylan took all of this in, said nothing, just silently watched them.
And under such a gaze, the force of their slaps grew stronger and stronger, their faces swelling up. In the end, they even felt a little dizzy.
"Alright, I forgive you."
After about twenty-something slaps, Dylan felt the anger in his heart had dissipated quite a bit, so he spoke up to stop them.
"Thank you."
Hearing Dylan's words, a smile appeared on Nakiri Kaede's face. Compared to the other two, his every slap was real. Blood even seeped from the corner of his mouth.
And Nakiri Sui and Nakiri Ranye, concerned about their faces, didn't use their full strength. Although their faces became very red, they were not injured.
Dylan saw all of this, understanding in his heart, but he said nothing, just silently placed the dishes of both sides together.
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