Food Wars, My Dishes Don't Just Shine

Seeing Tadokoro Megumi casting a scrutinizing glance at her, Yoshino Yuuki immediately began to explain.

She has always enjoyed these novelties and likes to try new things, which is the real reason why her dishes are so vibrant and creative.

"So how do you feel?"

Upon hearing what Yoshino Yuuki said, Tadokoro Megumi immediately felt admiration for her, and then asked anxiously, "This is very important to her!"

The evaluation can help determine whether it's a prank or a genuine sharing.

Just like when they were in the Polar Star Dormitory, Soma Yukihira liked to make them eat squid legs marinated in peanut sauce, and he would show a twisted smile when he saw them in pain.

"I can't quite put my finger on it, but it smells a bit like dried bean curd and natto, with a complex musty aroma that comes from the fermentation of the brine."

Upon hearing Tadokoro Megumi's question, Yoshino Yuuki thought for a moment before answering.

"As for the taste, the tofu's outer skin is fried to a crispy, golden-black color, while the inside is fluffy and absorbs the juices, creating a very strong contrast in texture."

The rich, flavorful brine imparts a deep, savory base to the tofu, which, when paired with chili peppers, minced garlic, and other seasonings, creates exceptionally distinct layers of flavor!

As if she had thought of something, Yoshino Yuuki swallowed hard, her expression of longing intensifying, her eyes revealing intense excitement, and then she quickened her pace.

"Wait for us, Yuuki!"

Seeing Yoshino Yuuki squeeze into the crowd, Tadokoro Megumi and Sakaki Ryoko felt bad leaving her alone, so they exchanged a glance and went forward together.

Soon, the three arrived at the stinky tofu stall. Tadokoro Megumi and Sakaki Ryoko frowned, pinched their noses, and showed expressions of pain mixed with curiosity.

"Mmm! That's the smell! At first I thought it smelled bad, but the more I smelled it, the more fragrant it became."

That complex and profound stench was the perfect complement to the dish, making it irresistible and tempting one to linger and savor every bite.

"Boss, three large portions of stinky tofu."

The only one looking pleased was Yoshino Yuuki. Facing the uneasy gazes of Tadokoro Megumi and Sakaki Ryoko, she went up to the shopkeeper and asked for three servings.

"You treated me earlier, now it's my turn to treat you! Don't look at me like that, I promise you, this tastes absolutely amazing!"

Faced with the ambiguous looks from Tadokoro Megumi and Sakaki Ryoko, Yoshino Yuuki stomped her foot in annoyance. Upon hearing her words, the shopkeeper immediately opened the bamboo basket containing the gray tofu and picked out twenty-four pieces of tofu to put into the heated oil pot.

A "sizzling" sound rang out.

The next moment, the stench in the air intensified.

"I can't take it anymore, Yuuki, come find us after you're done shopping, I really can't stand it."

Although she wanted to stand still and wait, seeing the scene before her and smelling the stench in the air, Tadokoro Megumi couldn't help but frown.

"Me too. We'll wait for you in that pavilion. Come find us after you've bought your things."

Faced with this terrifying smell, Ryoko Sakaki was also not able to stand it. As they talked, she and Megumi Tadokoro walked toward a pavilion not far away where people could rest.

"Oh, okay."

Watching the two leave one after the other, Yoshino Yuuki showed a regretful expression, but didn't say anything more, humming a little tune as she waited for the stinky tofu to be finished.

After the stinky tofu pieces were put into the pot one by one, the gray outer skin became exceptionally crispy, and one after another dark golden bubbles appeared on it. During this time, the vendor kept turning it over to ensure that it was heated evenly.

The stinky tofu, fried until it puffs up with a dark golden color, is taken out of the pot. Each piece of stinky tofu has a round hole poked in the center when it comes out of the pot, so that it can absorb the flavor better.

"It smells so good! Is that chopped chili pepper in the tofu?"

Yoshino Yuuki asked the question she had wanted to ask last time but hadn't had a chance.

Although it sounded like she knew the answer to a question, it was what she really wanted to know right now. If her guess was correct, she could try to replicate it when she got back!

"Of course, stinky tofu is only fragrant when it's topped with chopped chili peppers!"

The stall owner, an older man, laughed heartily when he heard Yoshino Yuuki's words. As a delicacy he had eaten since childhood, no one knew more about stinky tofu than him!

"Don't be fooled by its stinky smell, it tastes incredibly delicious!"

First, select firm white tofu that is neither too firm nor too soft, and cut it into 3-5 cm square pieces and 1 cm thick. This will ensure that the tofu has a firm texture and is not easily broken.

The secret brine used for marinating incorporates ingredients such as fermented black beans, winter bamboo shoots, shiitake mushrooms, amaranth stems, white wine, and salt, ensuring a rich and mellow flavor.

Seeing that Yoshino Yuuki was not speaking, the stall owner continued talking, and in his excitement, he even revealed most of the secret recipe used in the braising liquid.

"I remember that the savory brine used to make stinky tofu gets better with age. Is that true? Is it because the brine becomes smellier after simmering, or is there some other reason?"

Seeing that the stall owner was sharing his knowledge generously, Yoshino Yuuki's eyes lit up, and then she asked casually.

"You've come to the right person. I can guarantee that, apart from me, any other stinky tofu vendor here only has a superficial understanding of this. Only I have done detailed research on this brine."

Upon hearing Yoshino Yuuki's words, the stall owner showed a proud expression, and while speaking, he poured garlic water into the stinky tofu, saying that this was the essence of Changsha stinky tofu.

"What?!"

Yoshino Yuuki accepted the three portions of stinky tofu from the stall owner, her eyes filled with eagerness to learn.

"Old brine is like yeast sourdough. The stable microbial community in aged brine has undergone many years of iteration, making it more capable of breaking down proteins and fats, and producing richer amino acids and aromatic substances. This is the secret to its greater deliciousness."

The saying goes that the older the braising liquid, the more fragrant it becomes. The reason is that the flavor of the braising liquid is stable, and secondly, it's a psychological effect; the more you hear it, the more likely you are to believe it.

"I see.

So, it seems that the success or failure of a stinky tofu stall hinges on that pot of brine.

After listening to the stall owner's story, Yoshino Yuuki seemed to understand something and then pointed out the key point.

Since the braising liquid determines the taste of stinky tofu, the core of whether a stinky tofu stall has been passed down through generations should be the braising liquid.

"Your understanding is not wrong."

The stall owner nodded slightly in agreement.

"Another reason why the old brine tastes better is that the new brine has a sharp and pungent odor."

The pungent smell of aged brine, due to thorough fermentation, carries a rich aroma reminiscent of mold, soy sauce, and fermented bean curd. To be more precise, it's like the difference between aged cheese and fresh cheese. Can you imagine?

It's rare to find someone so interested in stinky tofu, plus it's a chance to show off one's knowledge in front of a young girl.

The stall owner talked a lot. He's been selling stinky tofu for over ten years, and almost everyone in the area who sells stinky tofu has consulted him.

He shared all his knowledge without reservation, but no one could make stinky tofu as authentic as his. Although his business was not as good as some of his students' because of its exceptionally strong smell.

However, when it comes to authenticity...

If he claims to be second, then nowhere else in all of Japan dares to claim to be first!

"Boss, you're amazing! Listening to you talk about so much reminds me of my teacher."

When explaining cooking, he likes to analyze the essence to explain the reasons for the flavor, thus making it easier for us to understand the principles.

As she listened to the stall owner's enthusiastic explanation, Yoshino Yuuki suddenly thought of Bai Yuan, feeling that the two were inexplicably similar.

They all have a deep love for cooking.

The only difference is that Bai Yuan has a deep understanding of all kinds of cuisine, while the stall owner in front of him probably only knows a little about stinky tofu and knows nothing about anything else. He is a master who specializes in one thing.

Of course, it's quite impressive for an ordinary person to be proficient in one skill. At least for Yoshino Yuuki, she thought the stinky tofu made by this master was delicious.

"Your teacher? Are you a chef too?!"

Upon hearing Yoshino Yuuki's words, the stall owner's expression visibly changed, and he looked at her with a wary gaze.

"Ah, I'm a student in a cooking class, not a chef, hahaha."

Thinking about how much industry secrets the other person had just discussed with her, Yoshino Yuuki smiled and told a white lie before jogging away.

The stall owner didn't think much of it as he watched Yoshino Yuuki's retreating figure. He shook his head and continued frying the stinky tofu, calling out his wares as he did so.

"Stinky tofu, stinky tofu, smells bad but tastes delicious!"

"Pavilion...pavilion."

"Found it! So that's where it was!"

After leaving the stinky tofu stall, Yoshino Yuuki looked for a pavilion in the surrounding area and soon found her destination.

However, when she saw the person standing in the pavilion, a look of doubt and surprise appeared on her face. But despite her hesitation, she still went up to him.

"Is that you, Teacher Bai Yuan?"

Her voice was filled with a strong lack of confidence. As Yoshino Yuuki looked at that familiar figure, a surge of excitement welled up in her heart.

"It's me. It's been a while. You've gotten quite a bit fuller in the face."

Looking at the little girl in front of him with her cheeks becoming rounder, Bai Yuan couldn't help but complain, and even reached out to pinch her little face as he spoke.

Hmm, it has indeed gained some weight, and it feels surprisingly good to the touch.

"Huh? Is it really that exaggerated..."

Upon hearing Bai Yuan's words, Yoshino Yuuki immediately panicked.

Ryoko Sakaki said she could pretend not to know she had gained weight, but Shirabuchi said no.

The reason for this is probably because she likes Bai Yuan and doesn't want her image to be damaged in front of him.

"Actually, it's not that obvious, and your face looks better when it's a little rounder. It looks especially lively and cute with your hairstyle. But you can't get any fatter. For now, maintaining the current state is the best thing."

Seeing that Yoshino Yuuki's reaction was rather strong, Bai Yuan immediately realized that he had said something wrong, so he corrected himself with high emotional intelligence.

"Does a rounder face look better...? Does Professor Bai Yuan like my type?"

Hearing Bai Yuan's words of comfort, Yoshino Yuuki's restless heart calmed down a bit. She then blinked and looked at him, her face growing warmer.

This feeling... even though it's not a confession, why is my heart racing like this?!

"Of course, Yuuki is so beautiful, anyone would like her, right?"

Upon hearing Yoshino Yuuki's words, Shirobuchi answered without hesitation.

Although Yoshino Yuuki has been eating a lot lately, she looks quite chubby.

However, because she naturally has a sweet image, and because of her hairstyle, her appearance did not become uglier; on the contrary, it made her even cuter.

"Is that so? Then it's a minor issue, don't worry about it."

After learning that Bai Yuan didn't think she looked bad, Yoshino Yuuki's previously tense heart completely relaxed.

However, deep down, a warning bell still rang in my heart, and I told myself to be more restrained in the future, lest I lose my beauty and joy.

As for what I like about you, I don't care about your appearance.

Even if Yoshino Yuuki were naive, she wouldn't believe such nonsense; it was undoubtedly a white lie.

Without any external interference, boys definitely prefer girls who are good-looking, and a good figure is also a plus.