Food Wars, My Dishes Don't Just Shine

The man in the blue shirt and glasses had an expression of pure bliss on his face.

The man and woman beside him smelled the fragrance and spoke up:

"I'll have one too! This fried tofu smells so good, it can't be too bad even if it doesn't taste great!"

"Me too! Give me one too! A large one!"

"Alright, once this batch is finished, the next batch will be for you guys."

Faced with the two men's inconsistent enthusiasm, Yoshino Yuuki remained calm, as if she had expected it all along.

As soon as the braised tofu hits the hot oil, the intense heat releases its rich, savory aroma, enough to instantly overwhelm anyone's senses. Regardless of their initial attitude, the smell alone will cause a complete 180-degree shift in their mindset.

The rich aroma wafted through the air, attracting many passersby.

As the crowd gradually gathered, Yoshino Yuuki showed no fear, her face always displaying composure as she placed the fried tofu into a plate filled with five-spice seasoning.

"Where is this place...?"

Watching Yoshino Yuuki's actions, the man's confusion was tinged with a hint of understanding.

"After frying, roll it in five-spice powder, and you'll have five-spice flavored braised tofu."

As Yoshino Yuuki spoke, she tossed the braised tofu into the five-spice powder in front of her, and at the same time used her chopsticks to poke the surface of it, making a crisp sound, so that the flavor could penetrate better.

As time went on, the once deserted stall became crowded with customers.

"This aroma is so irresistible, it makes me want to come and find out what it's all about!"

"Exactly, this smells absolutely amazing!"

As the crowd queued, they discussed the food, sniffing the air with the aroma of braised and fried tofu. Their faces were filled with enjoyment and anticipation.

What exactly does this fragrant braised and fried tofu taste like?!

"Here you go, your braised and fried tofu! It tastes even better when it's hot."

As she spoke, Yoshino Yuuki handed the freshly fried braised tofu to the man in the blue shirt and glasses, her eyes filled with anticipation.

This customer was her first since opening, and she wondered what their opinion would be on the braised and fried tofu. Would they like it, dislike it, or something else entirely...?

After quickly calculating the volume of the fryer, Yoshino Yuuki took a deep breath.

Without hesitation, she gently swept thirty pieces of braised tofu off the counter and threw them into the oil pot—the maximum amount the pot could hold.

However, because it was the limit, the pieces of braised tofu were not far apart when they were put into the pot. They would touch each other and break when they were slightly rolled in the hot oil.

Yoshino Yuuki naturally couldn't stand idly by and watch this happen. At least before the braised tofu was completely set, there couldn't be any squeezing. So she quickly stirred the oil with her chopsticks.

In an instant, the oil in the pan began to boil.

Yoshino Yuuki deftly placed her chopsticks on each piece of braised tofu, keeping them at a proper distance so they wouldn't bump into each other.

During this process, Yoshino Yuuki also made sure to observe her surroundings.

The man in the blue shirt and glasses, who was the first to receive the spiced fried tofu, was especially eager to see how the guy would react after eating it.

"The salty and savory flavor of light soy sauce, the dark soy sauce's rich color, and the subtle sweetness of rock sugar are concentrated into a delicious base color after frying, making this tofu more and more fragrant with each chew! In addition, the rock sugar and dark soy sauce in the braising liquid undergo a Maillard reaction during frying, giving the tofu a salty, savory, and slightly sweet caramelized aroma."

As he put the spiced fried tofu into his mouth, the bespectacled man in the blue shirt felt a tremor on his tongue for a moment, followed by a burst of flavors that made him want to sing.

"After being braised for a long time, the tofu absorbs the braising liquid inside, and when you bite into it, it is full of juice, with the aroma of soybeans and braising liquid intertwined. The rich aroma of classic spices such as star anise, cinnamon, and Sichuan peppercorns permeates every pore of the tofu during the braising process, leaving a long-lasting aftertaste."

"High-temperature frying quickly dehydrates the surface of the braised tofu, forming a thin and crispy crust that makes a crunching sound when you bite into it! The soft texture brings a sense of joy from the bottom of your heart."

Because they were traveling companions, the person next to them also received two pieces of fried tofu while the man in the blue shirt and glasses was tasting it. After tasting it, they couldn't help but start singing.

"You must have used firm tofu, otherwise it wouldn't have such a firm texture."

Furthermore, it retains an exceptionally delicate texture even after braising, unlike soft tofu which crumbles in the pot after braising. The contrast between the crispy outside and the tender inside is striking!

The girl among the two men and one woman liked tofu and would eat all kinds of tofu, so she knew what kind of tofu was in front of her the moment she took a bite.

Despite the guise of being deep-fried, it still retains the unique texture of old-fashioned tofu.

"Indeed, even after being fried, the inside is still tender and delicious, which is a characteristic of firm tofu. I have to say that the selection of ingredients is excellent."

The man in the blue shirt and glasses couldn't help but sigh.

When he saw Yoshino Yuuki's confidence, he had already anticipated that the braised tofu would taste good, but he did not expect it to be this delicious.

"Firm tofu has a tight structure, is not easily broken, and has a strong ability to absorb sauce. Its moisture content is just right, making it easy to form a crispy outer shell when deep-fried, and the inside remains relatively tender after braising, without becoming mushy. This contrast between the crispy skin and tender meat makes it the perfect choice for making fried tofu!"

Hearing the boy's sentiments, Yoshino Yuuki began to speak at length.

This is something she experimented on all night yesterday.

Although these are trade secrets, she is not afraid of them being exposed.

Firstly, she was only staying here for fifteen days, and secondly, few people would waste a lot of time making such a complicated dish.

Even if you tried, it would be difficult to reach her level.

"Adding five-spice powder is a brilliant idea. The flavors of Sichuan peppercorns and fennel in the five-spice powder can effectively neutralize the greasiness of fried food, making it more and more appetizing!"

I initially thought 500 yen was a bit expensive for fried tofu, but now it seems just right. Such exquisitely made braised fried tofu deserves this price!

The girl among the three spoke with a deep sense of emotion.

The price difference is simply determined by the quality of the taste.

Yoshino Yuuki's dishes are unparalleled in their deliciousness; both the texture and flavor surpass ordinary tofu dishes, so it's normal for them to be priced this way.

Rather, it would be wrong not to sell at this price.

"You flatter me. This is your spiced fried tofu."

"Thank you."

As she spoke, Yoshino Yuuki scooped the braised tofu out of the pot, drained the oil slightly, and then put it into the five-spice powder and stirred it evenly to allow the flavor to penetrate more fully.

"I want one too."

"This smells amazing! Give me two servings!"

As the first three people left, more and more people were drawn in by the aroma, a characteristic of fried food—its strong and far-reaching fragrance.

"Yuuki's cooking is very popular."

Tadokoro Megumi and Shirabuchi pushed their stall cart into Xingxiang Square together, and then saw Yoshino Yuuki at the entrance, noticing a crowd gathered around her stall.

"Fried food has been gaining momentum early, and as long as the taste remains consistent, there will be no shortage of customers."

After glancing at the bustling scene in front of Yoshino Yuuki's stall, Shirabuchi pointed out the unique advantages of fried food.

However, there was one more thing he didn't mention.

That is, if the problem of excessive oiliness in fried food is not solved when the stall is fixed, customers will only decrease over time.

This is also the biggest problem with fried food.

While other dishes may also experience similar issues, they don't react as quickly as fried dishes; they can generally last for at least fifteen days without major problems.

The difficulty of Yoshino Yuuki's assessment lies in how to solve such problems.

To put some pressure on the students around him, he explained the requirements early in the morning.

Make it into the top ten at least, or you will face severe punishment!

"Then I'll head over first, Teacher Bai Yuan. Watch me from here!"

After glancing at the other stalls, Megumi Tadokoro did not choose to stand next to Yuuki Yoshino, but instead opted for a relatively secluded but spacious location.

Only this place could accommodate her stall, and at the same time, two queues could form.

That's right, Megumi Tadokoro decided to take a two-pronged approach.

Only in this way can the advantages of her high-tech booth be fully utilized!

"You go ahead, I'll wander around for a bit."

Bai Yuan simply nodded slightly without saying anything more, then left Tadokoro Megumi's side, his gaze wandering over the surrounding stalls to observe the students' business operations.

"Little Meat Charm chose fried rice? It's good that she's putting what she's learned into practice."

Looking at Mito Ikumi with several woks set up in front of her stall, Bai Yuan nodded to himself.

The other party didn't dwell on anything else and wholeheartedly chose fried rice as a good option.

"Does Ryoko sell special natto? That's quite her style."

Miyoko is stir-fried rice noodles, Liu Yu is brown sugar glutinous rice cake, and Yukihira Soma...

Looking at Yukihira Soma's stall not far away, Bai Yuan slowly stopped, a puzzled look on his face, and then took the initiative to join the queue in front of his stall.

"Just as I suspected, they're selling sesame cakes, and I wonder where they got their oven from."

Looking at the dishes prepared by Yukihira Soma at the stall, Bai Yuan nodded slightly in his heart. The other party had grasped the key point of speed, which was also the key to this assessment.

When culinary skills are comparable, the one who prepares the food faster and makes a higher profit will be the ultimate winner in this field training program.

"Give me two preserved vegetable and lean pork sesame cakes."

With three ovens operating simultaneously, each batch takes an average of five minutes to complete, and each batch produces thirty sesame cakes. Without purchase limits, this can satisfy seven to eight customers at the same time.

Therefore, Bai Yuan didn't have to wait long before it was his turn.

As Yukihira Soma bent over to take the sesame seed cakes out of the oven, Shirabuchi's voice rang in his ears.

"Hey, Professor Shirayuki, it's been a long time. The two sesame seed cakes you ordered are 600 yen. They taste even better when they're hot."

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Soma Yukihira looked up and, seeing that the person was indeed the one he had expected, couldn't help but show a surprised expression. He then quickly packed the two preserved vegetable and lean meat sesame cakes into a brown paper bag and handed them to Shiro.

"Indeed, sesame seed cakes are best eaten fresh out of the oven; that's when they're crispy and fragrant!"

Upon hearing Yukihira Soma's words, Bai Yuan nodded in agreement, then picked up the brown paper bag in front of him, revealing half of a sesame seed cake inside, and took a big bite.

A crisp "crack" rang in their ears. The honey brushed on the crust brought a subtle sweetness, and the roasted sesame seeds released a rich and unique nutty aroma, making them want to close their eyes and savor it.

"The stir-fried preserved mustard greens exude their unique fermented and salty aroma, with a slight smoky and slightly sour taste on the surface, and a deep and lingering flavor. Underneath, the minced pork with alternating layers of fat and lean meat melts quickly under the high temperature, and the oil seeps out and soaks into the preserved mustard greens."

The meat is tender and juicy, with the aroma of light soy sauce and a touch of white pepper.

You probably added sugar too. The sugar cleverly balances the saltiness of the preserved mustard greens, creating a complex flavor that's both salty and sweet, making this preserved mustard green and lean pork pancake less greasy.

Bai Yuan gave an extremely fair evaluation: if preserved mustard greens and pork are the foundation of this sesame seed cake, then white sugar is the key to enhancing its flavor!

"That's right, the most delicious part of the sesame seed cake is the fusion of the fillings. The feeling of the complex aromas exploding on the tip of your tongue is simply amazing!"