Food Wars, My Dishes Don't Just Shine

The others were handled by another student from Totsuki Academy, Hinata.

Bai Yuan took out his wallet, paid the corresponding amount, and then took the small box from the shopkeeper and left the shop.

School had just let out, and high school students filed out.

Seeing this, Bai Yuan couldn't help but marvel at how early Japanese high schools let out for the day.

Most high school students finish school at 3 p.m., and then they can do what they like.

Joining clubs, playing video games at home, or even doing part-time jobs—overall, it's a very free lifestyle.

This has also given some street food stalls a new lease on life.

Wagashi, a common Japanese dessert, is very popular among young women.

And sure enough, it's only been less than half an hour.

More than ten girls skipped and hopped from a distance, wearing JK uniforms that showed off their fair and tender thighs. They looked full of energy, and their laughter was as clear as silver bells.

Bai Yuan found a spot where he could see legs and sat down.

He first admired it for a while before opening the box that was on his lap.

"Chestnut Deer Balls are a very innovative dish. They are made by wrapping red bean paste in chestnut puree after sifting it and sprinkling fine chestnut pieces on the surface to imitate the spots of a fawn."

And this ginkgo omelet is a bit like Doraemon's favorite dorayaki, except the filling is ginkgo nuts and miso walnuts, and the outer layer is crispier.

These two items are the signature dishes of this "Sanmori Wagashi" shop, both made in Huangmei.

There was also a red leaf steamed bun, but unfortunately, the person in front of him had just bought the last steamed bun, and when it was his turn, only chestnut roe and ginkgo fritters were left, so he only bought those two.

"The styling is really well done; no wonder she's a woman with an extraordinary sense of touch."

While pondering, Bai Yuan picked up the chestnut deer in front of him.

Its shape resembles a pine cone found in the mountains in autumn, and its entire body is a warm amber brown.

Its surface is covered with sugar-preserved chestnuts, each plump like spots on a young deer's back, glistening like honey in the sunlight.

The bottom subtly reveals the dark red filling, like berries half-hidden in a pile of fallen leaves, making it look incredibly appetizing.

"This texture..."

Pick up a chestnut and bite into it. The moment your teeth sink in, the first burst of crisp sweetness from the sugar chestnut kernels is like biting into a wild chestnut that has been thoroughly dried by the autumn sun.

Then the soft, chewy outer layer wraps around the tip of the tongue, carrying the simple aroma of a mixture of glutinous rice and brown rice.

"So they added red bean paste too? The smoothness of the red bean paste and the texture of the chestnut puree intertwine, and the sweetness spreads layer by layer. The base notes reveal a hint of warmth from the cinnamon. The ratio is quite wonderful."

Close your eyes, and the flavor of chestnut roe fills your mouth.

As someone with an extraordinary sense of taste, everything about Kurishiko becomes crystal clear in his mouth; he can even discern the exact proportions of the filling.

It would be strange if you couldn't taste it.

"Then there's the ginkgo ware, which, because it uses a copper mold, is shaped like a ginkgo leaf..."

However, it would be nice to have a cup of tea at this time. After all, wagashi (Japanese sweets) should be paired with tea, otherwise they're a bit too sweet.

Savoring the lingering taste on his tongue and looking at the silver leaf ware in his hand, which had been cast into smooth fan-shaped veins by the copper mold, Bai Yuan couldn't help but sigh.

The edges of this silver leaf pyrography feature finely hand-carved serrations, and a deliberately left caramel-colored burn mark on the stem, making it undeniably exquisite.

Would you like some tea?

As they were talking, a thermos was handed to Bai Yuan.

Upon hearing the voice, Bai Yuan looked up in surprise and saw the girl's bright smiling face.

"Xiaomei, why are you out here? Shouldn't you be cooking at the shop right now...?"

Looking at that face that was so familiar it couldn't be more so, it was Bai Yuan's turn to be surprised.

This guy was just busy in the shop a moment ago, how did he end up in front of him in the blink of an eye...?

"I saw you buying wagashi (Japanese sweets) and thought you might not have brought any tea, so I came to bring you some. These two taste best when paired together!"

Having worked at a wagashi shop for so long, Huang Mei knows wagashi like the back of her hand; no one understands wagashi better than her!

No matter how wagashi tastes, the first step is to prepare a cup of hot tea.

Firstly, because it is a tea snack, and secondly, the bitterness of the tea can effectively neutralize the sweetness of the sweets, making the sweetness more sophisticated.

"The one who truly understands me is Huangmei."

Upon learning that the other party had come specifically for him, Bai Yuan was deeply moved and gave a thumbs-up.

"Hehe, I'll head back now, I'm still busy over there."

I sneaked out under the pretext of going to the toilet. Now that the things have been delivered, Huang Mei naturally has to go back. It's a pity I can't stay here and eat with him.

This is the tragedy of being a corporate slave.

Huang Mei thought to herself with a touch of sadness.

"Let's go back. We'll wait for you to get off work, and then I'll take you out for something delicious."

Bai Yuan originally planned to leave after finishing his wagashi (Japanese sweets), but Huang Mei's special visit to bring him hot tea touched him. The orphan decided to wait for her to finish get off work and take her out for something nice to eat.

"Okay, then you'll have to wait a moment. Just come pick me up after 6 p.m.

Huang Mei simply gave a sweet smile in response, then jogged back to the shop.

Bai Yuan watched her retreating figure and silently poured himself a cup of hot tea. Then he looked at the high school girls JK queuing up not far away.

There were all kinds of stockings, black and white, and to be honest, they were quite addictive.

"Is the pastry made with miso and brown sugar? It has a wonderful balance of sweet and salty..."

The taste that reached Bai Yuan's tongue surprised him. He clearly hadn't expected this wagashi shop to use such a novel approach.

"The filling is made of fermented ginkgo paste wrapped with chopped walnuts. The slight bitterness of ginkgo is softened by honey, which is somewhat similar to the sweet and sticky taste of a ripe persimmon."

The walnuts, lightly roasted over charcoal, release an aroma with a distinctive oily fragrance reminiscent of smoky pine...

Bai Yuan pinched his chin and pondered. Underneath the flaky pastry was the filling, a perfect combination of ginkgo and miso walnuts, which was quite eye-catching.

And at this time, one can enjoy a cup of tea.

Lost in thought, he looked at the tea that had been poured in advance and was now cooling down beside the chair.

This is a cup of deep-steamed roasted tea.

Chapter 312: Mushroom Hot Pot That Makes You See Tiny People!

"You know a lot, Xiaomei."

Picking up the teacup and looking at the greenish-yellow tea inside, Bai Yuan couldn't help but sigh.

Making qualified deep-steamed roasted tea requires two steps: steaming fresh leaves and slow roasting over charcoal. Only by perfecting both steps can you produce good tea.

The slow roasting over charcoal imparts a smoky umami flavor, which effectively balances the sweetness.

The essence of this is the extreme roasting method of Japanese tea masters, which destroys the shape of tea leaves through excessive steaming and roasting, but in turn, refines a profound flavor that surpasses the original leaves.

A sip of hot tea, the smoky bitterness of roasted tea instantly washes away the sweetness of the pastry, as if an autumn breeze sweeps across the tip of the tongue, making the flavor of the ginkgo charcoal suddenly clear.

The aroma of the crispy crust, the rich flavor of the walnuts, and the subtle bitterness of the ginkgo blossom layer by layer under the baptism of the tea soup.

In the end, only a clear, sweet aftertaste remains on the lips and teeth, like dewdrops rolling off ginkgo leaves after the rain, clear and bright!

Bai Yuan gently put down the cup in his hand, let out a long breath, and showed an expression of enjoyment.

Huang Mei truly lived up to his expectations; even though the wagashi before him wasn't at the level of a top-grade dish, it was still a superior quality among first-grade dishes.

No wonder the previously mediocre Mimori Wagashi shop has suddenly become so bustling; the top chef is now working as a chef in a restaurant.

Moreover, even a top-notch chef is not 100% successful in making a first-class dish.

This can be further divided into familiar and unfamiliar.

Those who have practiced cooking since childhood often have a success rate of over 90% when creating a top-tier dish.

For dishes that are only encountered temporarily, it usually takes more than a week to master them. Only after you have truly mastered them can you achieve a 50% success rate.

This is the level of a novice first-class chef.

The success rate will gradually increase as you become a first-class chef, and the time required to master the skills will also decrease at an astonishing rate.

If a top-tier chef has a progress bar.

So now, Huangmei has definitely reached 80% completion.

After another year or two of honing your skills and truly understanding yourself, you can break through the limits of a master chef!

After swallowing the last mouthful of silver leaf liquor, Bai Yuan gulped down several large mouthfuls of tea and exhaled a long breath of stale air.

Without hesitation, Bai Yuan glanced one last time at the female student's black stockings, then resolutely got on his bicycle and headed towards the shop where the other students worked.

In one morning and afternoon, Bai Yuan visited more than ten shops.

Since they weren't his trusted confidants, he would only glance at most of the shops from the outside, make sure the students inside were alright, and then leave.

As a result, the sky gradually darkened.

"Beautiful lady, would you do me the honor of having dinner with me?"

At the entrance of the 【Mimori Wagashi】 shop, Bai Yuan held a bouquet of flowers in his hand and naturally handed it to Huang Mei as she came out of the shop.

"Hey, Professor Bai Yuan! Let's go, let's go!"

Upon seeing the flowers that suddenly appeared in front of her and hearing Teacher Bai Yuan's voice, Huang Mei's previously calm face visibly flushed red.

One second the girl was chatting and laughing with her colleagues, the next she grabbed Bai Yuan's arm and strode forward, disappearing without a trace a minute later.

"Is this... Huang Mei's boyfriend? Why is he acting like a thief? He's actually quite handsome, he doesn't seem like someone to be ashamed of as he appears in public..."

A while after Huang Mei left, the shop manager spoke up in confusion, his voice full of complaints.

"Um..."

The only person in the crowd who knew the situation was named Yang Shimokawa Kai, but he kept quiet at the moment, as a student dared not gossip about his teacher behind his back.

It's good that no one heard it.

If this gets back to Bai Yuan, he'll be in big trouble!

Putting oneself in danger for the sake of momentary verbal gratification is not the behavior of a wise person.