Food Wars, My Dishes Don't Just Shine

"We've caught about this many people, that's about enough."

The key to making lion's head meatballs is that the filling doesn't need to be overly firm; the point is to enjoy its slightly grainy texture. Over-mixing it will destroy that texture.

Seeing that Alice Nakiri had been scooping at the filling in the bowl for ages without stopping, Bai Yuan reached out and slapped her hand away to remind her that it was ready.

Alice Nakiri withdrew her hand after feeling the pain.

"And then next is starch..."

As Bai Yuan spoke, he scooped in several spoonfuls of starch, and when Alice Nakiri saw this, she continued to grab the filling, but this time her movements were much slower, and she stopped when she felt it was almost done.

"This time, the grasping felt pretty good. Lion's head meatballs are all about the loose texture, but the shape can't be broken. The key is to grasp them so that they can hold together when they go into the pot, and not fall apart during the stewing process."

Bai Yuan explained things in great detail, just as he had taught Nakiri Alice when she was a child. Even the parts she already knew, he continued to teach her patiently.

“Erina, the scallions in your braised tofu with scallions need to be fried a little more until they are charred. At the current temperature, the aroma of the scallions has not been brought out at all. Wait another three to five seconds, and it will be about right.”

"clear."

Erina Nakiri stopped the tofu from falling in her hand, then mentally counted down five seconds before scooping out the scallions and dumping the tofu in.

Although it was only a five-second difference.

However, it is the difference between the Special Grade and the Special Grade High Star level in terms of their understanding of cooking.

If the scallions are cooked a little too slowly, the flavor will be slightly off, and the final product will be less delicious.

There are some things that can be mastered very well during the cooking process. This is the skill of a high-level chef, and something that a low-level chef can understand but cannot do.

It requires a great deal of experience.

"Fry the tofu until golden brown, then add soy sauce, and finally add the fried scallions."

After looking at Erina Nakiri's pot, Bai Yuan spoke up, then turned his gaze to Hisako Shirato, who was doing a decent job, and said nothing.

"The key to making lion's head meatballs is preparing the broth. Take the leftover pork skin and scraps of meat from processing the lean meat, and sauté them in oil until fragrant and the oil is rendered."

After sautéing until fragrant, add scallions and fry over high heat. This will enhance the flavor of the broth.

After Alice Nakiri finished preparing the ingredients, Shiro went to the stove and began his part of the work, turning the ingredients into a delicious dish.

They also provided guidance during the production process.

"Star anise, cinnamon, soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, and other seasonings are mixed and put into another pot to boil. Alice, you prepare the water chestnuts."

"It's been dealt with."

As soon as Bai Yuan finished speaking, Alice Nakiri placed the cleaned horse hoof in front of him.

"You're observant and helpful, that's good."

Bai Yuan praised him, then mixed the water chestnuts and minced meat together.

Heat oil in a wok. Take a ball of minced meat from the filling bowl, hold it in your hand and slap it to remove the air inside, while waiting for the oil in the wok to heat up.

When the oil was at the right temperature, Bai Yuan began to put the lion's head meatballs into it.

"The lion's head meatballs don't need to be fried until they're very crispy. Just coat them with a simple layer of color to give them a crispy texture, and then simmer them in the soup until they're cooked through."

Add a little MSG, sugar, and pepper, and that should be about it. This needs to cook for fifty minutes.

Looking at the state of the lion's head meatballs in the pot, each one was plump and eagerly absorbing the broth. Bai Yuan put down the spatula and strolled around the kitchen with a purpose.

Erina Nakiri has finished cooking the braised tofu with scallions, and it is now emitting a rich aroma.

As a chef, coordinating the timing of food preparation is a fundamental skill.

Dishes with longer preparation times should be prepared first, while those with shorter preparation times can be prepared later. This way, all the dishes will be served piping hot.

Of course, for a grand finale dish like lion's head meatballs, it's acceptable to serve it for ten minutes or more than other dishes; otherwise, its significance as the grand finale cannot be fully appreciated.

"Let's start serving the food."

After briefly checking on Erina Nakiri and Hisako Shirato's progress, Shirayu called out to them and then brought the freshly steamed rice to the table.

Erina Nakiri followed closely behind, holding a plate of braised tofu with scallions.

Before long, dishes were served one after another, and the rich aroma filled the entire hall.

"That's about it. I'll bring out the beef ribs too."

After a quick calculation, the beef ribs were almost done cooking.

Sniffing the enticing aroma emanating from the kitchen, Bai Yuan got up and walked towards it after confirming that the food was cooked to perfection.

Seeing him suddenly head to the kitchen, and smelling the enticing aroma in the air, the people sitting next to him exchanged glances and got up to follow him.

"It's just a beef rib, I can get it myself, you don't need to come along."

Seeing that Erina Nakiri and the others had followed them instead of going to eat, Bai Yuan couldn't help but complain, wondering what they were up to.

"It's okay, we're not that hungry anyway. Instead of waiting for you to eat, let's see what kind of food that smelled earlier is."

Erina Nakiri stared at the pressure cooker that was emitting a pure beefy aroma. Her mouth was already full of saliva, and her lips were even stretching into strands as she moved them. Her anticipation was evident in her expression.

"You were saying you were hungry when you came, how come you're not hungry anymore all of a sudden?"

No sooner had Erina Nakiri finished speaking than Bai Yuan bluntly exposed her, because she had been complaining that dinner wasn't ready when she arrived.

"Cough cough, I was really hungry just now, but I'm not hungry anymore after that feeling passed. Hurry up and open the pressure cooker, I can't wait!"

Looking at the pressure cooker bubbling and steaming in front of her, Erina Nakiri swallowed hard.

"I knew you guys came here because you were craving this, but the pressure cooker can only be opened after the pressure is released. Let's make the dipping sauce for the beef ribs first."

Seeing Erina Nakiri's extremely eager expression, Bai Yuan gave him an "I knew it" look, then turned off the fire and deflated.

After finishing these tasks, he went to the chopping board.

Arrange the prepared lemongrass, cilantro, scallions, shallots, garlic, and chili peppers in order, then finely chop them and set aside.

"The stuff is almost done, Alice. Heat some oil for me, I'll pour it on later."

"Got it."

Upon hearing Bai Yuan's shout, Nakiri Alice responded quickly, then heated the oil in a wok and scooped it out with a spoon when the oil temperature rose.

Without much hesitation, she raised her spoon and sizzled it into the prepared sauce, releasing a complex aroma.

"This sauce feels so different from ordinary sauces. I've never seen a sauce made like this before. Is this your original creation, Mr. Bai Yuan?"

Looking at the sauce prepared by Shirai, Erina Nakiri couldn't help but sigh.

“I was taught by an older mentor. He was a very talented creative genius who liked to use all sorts of unexpected ingredients to make dishes and sauces.”

When asked by Erina Nakiri, Hakugen did not hide anything.

This was taught to him by a veteran in the world of culinary disasters—not just a single sauce, but the method of creating it.

Simply put, it's about understanding the characteristics of ingredients and then using those characteristics to create a special sauce that's best suited for a particular dish.

The sauce for this dish was made using the method of that senior, and it's the perfect sauce for this dish.

"Senior? Did you meet him when you were in China?"

Upon hearing Bai Yuan's words, Alice Nakiri looked puzzled. She had never heard of him knowing any senior figures.

Could it be that he encountered a powerful expert when he went to China before?

In an instant, a multitude of thoughts flashed through Alice Nakiri's mind, before a look of realization appeared on her face.

If nothing unexpected happens, this explanation should be the most reasonable.

During his previous trip to China, Brother Bai Yuan encountered many impressive figures. Back in Guangzhou, he had a good relationship with the four kings of the Guangzhou Chefs Association.

Thinking back to the attitude of the top chefs from the Guangzhou Chefs Association towards him when he went to Guangzhou to take the special chef exam last year, Alice Nakiri looked at Bai Yuan with more admiration in her eyes.

Only a culinary master like Bai Yuan can be successful in any region!

"It wouldn't be wrong to say that we met in China."

Upon hearing Alice Nakiri's words, Bai Yuan naturally had no idea what she was thinking, but it was true that the people in the Dark Cuisine world were Chinese.

"Sure enough!"

"What are you talking about?"

Looking at Alice Nakiri, whose face was full of excitement, Erina Nakiri was a little confused, and then looked at Bai Yuan.

"It was a mentor I met in China who taught me how to make the sauce. Stop worrying about these trivial matters; the sauce isn't finished yet."

As Bai Yuan spoke, he added three spoonfuls of soy sauce, one spoonful of Maggi seasoning, one spoonful of spicy soy sauce, two spoonfuls of sugar, one small spoonful of MSG, and a little lemon juice to the sauce.

"Lemon juice is the soul of this sauce. You'll have to try it later; the taste will leave you speechless."

As Bai Yuan squeezed lemon juice into the condiment bowl, he boasted to the three people behind him.

He made this sauce once when he was in the dark cuisine world, and even Chef Lin was amazed by it, praising it for several days afterward.

"After eating so many delicious foods, we've developed a high level of resistance to them. How could our clothes possibly burst off so easily!"

Erina Nakiri didn't say anything more, but her meaning was clear: she felt she was capable again.

"My sincere suggestion is that you take off your clothes before you taste it, so as not to waste a few of my clothes."

Alice Nakiri scoffed at this, saying, "With this guy's weak resistance, I hope he doesn't cause everyone's clothes to burst open."

Because of this guy's clothes being torn off, she's been spending a lot more on clothes lately.

"No way! I'm prepared this time, that kind of thing is absolutely impossible!"

"Your gazes...do you not trust me?!"

Feeling the subtle gazes of those around her, Erina Nakiri stomped her foot in annoyance, then looked at Hisako Shinoto next to her, hoping to get her support, but found that her gaze was evasive, and she immediately felt a little defensive.

"It's not that I don't trust you, it's just that statistically speaking, you have the highest probability of causing a group of people to have their clothes blown off. There must have been more than ten times this year."

Bai Yuan also spoke with some emotion.

"By the way, this has only happened once this year, and that was when it was just me and Brother Bai Yuan in the house."

Alice Nakiri's words were undoubtedly the final dagger, piercing Erina Nakiri's heart, and she placed her hand on her chest.

"Take it off, I'll take it off, okay?!"

Erina Nakiri said with a look of shame and indignation.

"Shouldn't you be making a tough statement at a time like this, saying you absolutely won't cause anyone's clothes to rip off?"