Food Wars, My Dishes Don't Just Shine

Erina Nakiri gave a low shout and excitedly scooped the braised goose out of the pot, placing it on the cutting board to slice into small pieces. When she looked up, she was surprised to find everyone staring at her, and immediately felt a little embarrassed.

"What's wrong? Is there something on my face? Why is everyone staring at me...?"

You and Alice are the only ones left who haven't brought out the food. Who else should everyone look at if not you?

"It's alright, bring it up quickly."

Bai Yuan mentally ranted, but his attention was focused on the dish in front of Nakiri Erina: a plate of braised goose.

"This is a lion goose, which is perfect for making braised dishes. And this one is only about 140 days old, which is when its meat is at its most tender."

Erina Nakiri placed the sauce in front of the three of them and stepped back to introduce it. This dish is Chinese, and she had learned it from her master chef recently.

Although they are all braised dishes, the braising methods of different cuisines are also different. Hers is the braising method from Chaoshan, which she has only recently learned.

I originally planned to showcase it at a certain time to surprise Bai Yuan, but I didn't expect to run into a cooking competition, and Alice even bumped into me.

Now, you can't blame her for preparing in advance!

As if she had just thought of something, Erina Nakiri glanced at Alice Nakiri and a mischievous smile appeared on her face.

Besides using Chaoshan-style braising broth, Lion Head Goose is also a very precious breed, with a robust body, long neck, and five wart-like protrusions on its head resembling a lion's head.

If raised for five years, a single goose head can be worth 100,000 yen, yet even then, demand still exceeds supply, which speaks volumes about its deliciousness.

Unfortunately, the goose head she bought was still in pre-sale status and had not yet been delivered, so she could only use the Lionhead Goose she had just bought and originally intended to raise herself.

"Lion Head Goose? I once ate goose head at a restaurant and I really miss the taste. I didn't expect to be able to enjoy it again today."

Thinking of the delicious food he had tasted while traveling in Chaoshan a few years ago, Bai Yuan swallowed hard and then looked at the braised goose in front of him.

This wasn't his first time eating it. After all, braised goose is quite famous in Chaoshan, and Lion Head Goose is a local specialty. He had eaten quite a lot of it.

However, he was somewhat surprised that Erina Nakiri served him such a dish. He had thought it would be a Western-style meal, but it turned out to be authentic Chinese food. It seemed that she had been assimilated into Chinese culture by him.

"Hehe, you'd better try it and see if it's any different from what you ate before. Mine should taste even better."

Erina Nakiri was very confident. She had learned this skill from a master chef, which was a special treat for her, all so that she would have more opportunities to shine in Shiraibu.

Only if she performs exceptionally well will the other party be willing to spend time and energy to cultivate her. In order to win Bai Yuan's favor, she is willing to give everything!

"Then let me try it first."

Seeing that Bai Yuan and Nakiri Erina were talking back and forth, Kobayashi Rindou stopped being reserved, picked up his chopsticks, picked up some goose meat, and put it directly into his mouth.

"The meat is tender and juicy, not greasy, and melts in your mouth. Every bite is full of rich aroma and deep layers of braised flavor."

Compared to the duck meat we just tasted, the goose meat was noticeably fuller and firmer, with a more compact and coarser texture. This is why Erina Nakiri spent so much time preparing it, and it was the second to last dish served. Goose meat needs to be stewed for a longer time to become tender and flavorful.

"After being braised for a long time, the goose skin becomes soft, chewy, and elastic, rich in collagen. It is both satisfying and delicate when you bite into it."

Both in texture and flavor, it's far superior to the duck skin mentioned earlier. No wonder it's a Lion Head Goose; the quality is exceptional. And the braising liquid is quite authentic.

Bai Yuan also picked up a slice of goose meat and put it in his mouth. Then his eyes lit up and he praised it.

Having just eaten duck, the contrast between the two was particularly striking. Goose meat has coarser fibers, absorbs more flavor from the braising liquid, and the Chaoshan braising liquid has a richer, more robust flavor.

"Your problem lies in the details. The goose meat is processed very meticulously, and the proportion of the braising spices is well controlled. However, the blanching time and braising time are not well controlled. I suggest you calculate the time according to the weight of the Lion Head Goose, and soaking it for a while will make it more flavorful."

Nevertheless, it's still a very good dish, and for someone your age to have reached this level is already quite impressive.

Different sized ingredients require different braising times, especially when a whole goose is put into the pot, the braising time needs to be calculated carefully.

If the braising time can be precisely controlled, the quality of this braised goose will be very close to that of a gourmet dish. With a few more refinements, reaching the level of a gourmet dish is not impossible.

"Okay, I'll be more careful next time."

"Oh yeah!"

Having received Bai Yuan's praise, Erina Nakiri couldn't help but clench her fist in excitement, but she maintained a calm expression on her face before looking at Alice.

At the same time, Alice Nakiri finished cooking, gave her a defiant smile in response to her gaze, and then strode forward to serve the dish.

"A master of braised seafood."

Please enjoy, Master Baiyuan.

When she said the last two words, Alice Nakiri deliberately drew out the last syllable. As she put down the food, the tip of her little finger brushed against the back of Bai Yuan's hand, bringing a faint warmth, as if her heart had been gently caressed by a feather.

"A feast of braised seafood..."

Bai Yuan looked at the plate in front of him, which contained all kinds of braised seafood, gathered together on one plate, looking exceptionally abundant.

Among these seafood items, the most eye-catching is the crab with roe placed in the middle. It has just molted, and its new shell is relatively soft, so she used it directly for braising, because this way it can better absorb the flavor of the braising liquid.

Now, imagine how incredibly delicious the crabs with roe, soaked in braising liquid, must be!

Chapter 214 Victory or Defeat, The Bet

"Then I won't be polite."

As he spoke, Bai Yuan picked up a freshly molted braised crab from the plate. He had already removed the inedible parts, so it was ready to eat.

Holding the braised crab in his hand, Bai Yuan didn't taste it immediately. Instead, he examined it under the light. The crab shell was covered with a deep, glossy braising color, which looked very appetizing. There were also signs of cutting underneath.

The crab meat itself, having had its excess internal organs removed, becomes firm and delicious.

Open your mouth and take a bite. The soft-shell braised crab enters your mouth, and you can clearly feel the richness of the braising sauce and the sweetness of the crab meat. The two flavors blend perfectly!

It's worth mentioning that although the crab is in its molting period and the crab roe is not as plump as when it is mature, the crab meat after being braised can still feel the delicate and rich flavor of the crab roe, adding an indescribable sense of luxury to the overall taste.

"I never expected braised crab to taste so good."

Kobayashi Rindou's voice rang out. She had finished the braised crab on her plate and was now licking her fingers, clearly still wanting more.

"Moreover, because it has just molted, even the shell is very soft from the brine, so you can chew it up and swallow it directly without any problem, saving you the trouble of removing the shell."

Hisako Shirato also looked completely satisfied; this flavor was truly irresistible!

"To remove the inedible parts such as the internal organs while preserving the soft shell, without damaging the crab's shape, and while retaining most of the crab meat and roe, undoubtedly requires extremely superb knife skills!"

Kobayashi Rindou nodded in agreement, and at that moment she closed her eyes to savor the taste from just now.

With each bite, everything is edible. The brine has thoroughly soaked the crab meat and roe, giving it a savory and savory flavor.

"I used this. This small knife can pry open the shell of the crab to quickly remove the impurities inside, thus making the crab itself clear and transparent."

Hearing Kobayashi Rindou's slightly sentimental words, Nakiri Alice took out a small knife from the counter and casually brandished it a few times in front of her.

"The fish is delicate and tender, and the braising sauce brings a salty and slightly sweet flavor with a hint of spiciness. This is a new flavor that I didn't have with the braised crab. It's also very good. I suggest you grill it after braising and sprinkle some toasted white sesame seeds on top for an even better flavor."

Bai Yuan offered his evaluation and suggestions: the braised seafood paired with a spicy and sour dressing was both appetizing and refreshing, making it perfect in every way.

"I thought that braising so much seafood at the same time would result in a chaotic flavor, but it turns out that they complement each other perfectly and enhance each other's taste?"

"I adjusted the proportions before braising and selected the right types of seafood."

While not as precise as Bai Yuan's method, it didn't cause the flavors in the pot to mix and become strange; on the contrary, they complemented each other perfectly.

Upon hearing Hisako Shinoto's sentiments, Alice Nakiri explained that it was all intentional on her part.

Although theoretically any kind of braising liquid can be used, just like oil used for frying fish can't be used for stir-frying vegetables, if too many different things are braised, the taste will become strange.

Therefore, in order to keep the braised food stable, or even make it better, chefs generally select ingredients when adding them. For example, Bai Yuan's white braising sauce cannot coexist with her seafood.

"Let me try some too."

Hearing Hisako's praise and seeing Alice Nakiri's confident expression, Erina Nakiri felt a bad premonition. She then squeezed forward and reached for Shirobuchi's plate with her chopsticks.

"An octopus, this feeling..."

Looking at the uncut, whole octopus in her hand, Erina Nakiri mentally prepared herself before closing her eyes and taking a bite.

In an instant, endless tentacles reached out to her, and she felt as if she were in the deep sea, unable to exert any strength and bound by the octopus.

Such restraint brought a perfect sense of suffocation, causing her to experience intense pleasure amidst the pain. The tentacles tightly wrapped around her body, making her unconsciously let out soft moans.

"uh-huh...!"

Her hand involuntarily pressed down on the table, and Erina Nakiri made an extremely ambiguous sound. When Alice Nakiri saw this, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up.

Trap card, activated successfully.

Yes, it's a trap.

When braising the octopus, she added a lot of chili peppers and some sesame oil to the braising broth, which greatly enhanced the overall flavor of the broth.

Therefore, even though Erina Nakiri felt the spiciness, she was reluctant to give it up and even enjoyed it, eventually becoming a captive of the braised octopus!

"Now that we've tasted both sides' dishes, the outcome of this match should be clear."

Was my cooking simply more delicious, or was Erina's better? I can accept it no matter who wins.

Tell me, Brother Bai Yuan!

The gaze shifted from Erina Nakiri to Shirai Abyss, and Alice Nakiri, with a confident expression, inquired about the outcome of the match.

On the other side, Erina Nakiri also came to her senses, straightened up by supporting herself on the table, and looked at Bai Yuan, somewhat nervous about his final answer.

Although she only ate octopus, its intense and distinctive flavor truly gave her an unparalleled experience.

She was originally full of confidence, but now most of that confidence has disappeared.

"To be honest, both of your dishes are very good. Erina's braised goose uses the special lion-head goose from Chaoshan, which is large in size, with delicate and delicious meat, and is full of flavor after being braised."

Alice's braised seafood platter features a unique flavor for each type of seafood. Like a map marking a treasure, it promises a thrilling surprise when the explorer discovers it.

If I had to choose one, Alice's braised dishes are incredibly diverse, each one just as delicious as braised goose, and combining them takes it to another level. If I'm not mistaken, you're using a tiered braising method.

As he spoke, Bai Yuan looked at Nakiri Alice, awaiting her answer. The others also showed curious expressions upon hearing about the tiered brine method.

Tiered braising method? What kind of braising method is this?

"That's right, I used a tiered braising method, with each layer of braised food having a different flavor. By the end, the flavor of the dish will be much stronger than the braised food that came out of the pot earlier."

"There's actually such a method."

"Thinking about it carefully, this seems to be similar to the old braising liquid. The longer the braising liquid is used, the more fragrant it becomes. The essence of the ingredients that have been braised in the past will remain in the braising liquid to nourish the next dish. This is the theoretical basis."

Upon hearing Alice Nakiri's explanation, everyone present immediately began to discuss it, clearly astonished by her idea. "There's such a thing? Artificial brine?"

It has to be said that this was a bold innovation, but as a result, the food tasted pretty good, and at least the judges were very satisfied.

"There's actually this method..."

Erina Nakiri murmured softly, a hint of resentment on her face. She had thought victory was assured this time, but she hadn't expected her opponent to pull this stunt.

"A bet's a bet, Erina-neechan."