Pokémon Detective Case Files.

“Actually, according to past practice, this dish shouldn’t be served at this time of year.” Koun leaned forward slightly, his sea-blue hair falling over his forehead.

"Fortunately, spring came a few days earlier than usual this year, which allowed the cherryfish schools near the Sinnoh Sea to begin their breeding season ahead of schedule."

His fingers gently turned the disc displaying the snow-capped mountains, rotating the vibrant fish roe sashimi to each guest.

"If you don't like the fishy smell of raw caviar, you can squeeze a few drops of lemon juice on it before eating. There is also a way to eat it with wasabi soy sauce, but we still recommend eating it on its own to experience the purest vitality of spring."

Chapter 369 Feast - Soup and Main Course

The glistening fish roe bursts between your teeth, its instant sweetness creating a wonderful contrast with the unique crispness of the freeze-dried kelp.

As the kelp softens, a mineral-rich saltiness follows, intertwining with the nectar-like aftertaste of fish roe, lingering in the throat.

"This is truly a delicacy that can only be enjoyed in spring."

Even the picky Guscalf couldn't help but relax his expression at this moment, and like Snorlax enjoying a delicious meal, he squinted his eyes in pleasure—

"Using fish eggs, which are destined never to hatch into pearl oysters, to depict the theme of 'new life' is a commendable ingenuity. In addition, the way the seaweed is prepared is just right; I don't think I've seen a similar way of eating it anywhere else in the United States?"

“This is a culinary custom from the maritime region.” Zimi elegantly wiped his mouth. “The Ionian Hotel in the Galar region seems to have developed similar dishes. However, they used locally grown aromatic mushrooms for freeze-drying.”

"You're right."

Tian Tong was serving the guests a new round of drinks when she heard this and smiled with delight.

"After tasting the dishes at that restaurant in Galar, Cohen was inspired to create this dish, incorporating his unique insights into seafood cuisine, and ultimately developed this unique fish roe sashimi."

"The appetizer was delicious. Now it's time for the chef to shine, isn't it?"

The food editor picked up the straight glass handed to her by the sommelier; the cold-brewed oolong tea inside emitted a pleasant aroma.

Guscalf knew very well that drinks like this, which had a mouth-rinsing effect, often represented the end of a phase at a banquet.

So, he turned his gaze with great interest to the "Flaming Kitchen" at the far end of the restaurant.

"No, it's not time for Bert to make his appearance yet."

Kohn's voice flowed like a clear spring. He pushed the food cart slowly over once again, and the cold-water monkey beside him moved in perfect harmony with its master.

The food cart was decorated with exquisite celadon soup bowls, the lids still on, yet a faint fragrance wafted through the air.

"This dish, 'Bamboo Shoots in Clear Broth with Maitake Mushrooms,' uses oolong tea as a transition, allowing the taste buds to find a balance between seafood and mountain delicacies."

He elegantly lifted the lid of the bowl, and steam rose like a thin mist. The soup was clear as amber, with tender yellow bamboo shoots and brown maitake mushrooms appearing and disappearing in the broth, like a freehand ink painting landscape.

"The bamboo shoot tips are wild bamboo shoots that grow in the forests of Karakusa Town. Although they are a common variety, thanks to the nearby geographical distance and modern logistics system, they can be picked and harvested on the spot. From breaking the soil to adding them to the soup, it takes no more than six hours, which preserves the crispness and flavor of the fresh bamboo shoot tips to the greatest extent. The maitake mushrooms come from the white forest in northern Sanyo City and are marinated in vegetable broth before stewing."

Wow! It smells so good!

Azure unconsciously leaned forward, and Eevee also pricked up its ears, its small nose twitching slightly.

A hint of a smile flashed in Kohn's eyes—

"I'm glad you like it. This soup base is made by slowly simmering the egg whites of Chansey eggs, and we also added green onions, a specialty of Kanto, to enhance the flavor—so it has the same nourishing effect on elves as well."

He bent down and placed a small soup dish in front of Ibrahimovic: "This is a portion that was specially set aside when preparing the meal, please enjoy."

Seeing Eevee eagerly burying its head in its soup, the Water-type Gym Leader's lips curled up slightly in a happy smile.

He turned to the other two guests, his voice gentle yet professional: "Mr. Guscalf, King Zimi, would you like some for your elves as well?"

The former shook his enormous head: "Elves and humans have different tastes, so I won't bring my Pokémon with me when I review restaurants. I'll trouble you next time I visit as a customer."

The demanding editor used his fork to put a bamboo shoot tip into his mouth, savored it briefly, then took a sip of the soup before swallowing and saying—

"This soup takes a strong local flavor, simple yet substantial, which is quite bold on another level. Although I don't have any prejudice against it, it's just..."

A thick index finger tapped lightly on the edge of the table.

"The presentation of the dish is too simple. I'm worried that some people who lack appreciation skills might think that the dish doesn't match the restaurant's style."

"I don't think there will be such a problem."

Shimi also declined to let the Pokémon taste the soup—most Water-type Pokémon don't like soup.

He then said to Guskaf—

"You probably haven't tried that maitake mushroom yet, have you? Go ahead and try it; it will completely change your perception of this soup."

"Oh?"

Mr. Giant raised one eyebrow, picked up the pine cone-shaped mushroom from the small bowl with some skepticism, and tried to take a bite.

The next instant, his usually downcast eyes lit up, and he took another big gulp, swallowing the whole mushroom. Then, as if he still wasn't satisfied, he drank the entire bowl of soup without leaving a drop.

"Wow! Mr. Cohen, is this really a mushroom?"

Azure, standing to the side, also asked with sparkling eyes—

"It's like eating... eating... well, in short, it's indescribable and unimaginable how delicious what was originally a mushroom was."

"These are 100% freshly picked White Forest Maiden mushrooms."

Master Koun replied mysteriously, but couldn't hide the smile on his face.

Just as he was trying to answer Azur Lane's question, Shimi offered his commentary at this moment—

"It's a truly delightful flavor. Although the marinated maitake mushroom is soaking in the soup, it has been reprocessed using the Slowpoke tail grilling method, so it's full of rich spice aroma and savory flavor from the caramelization."

The top chef savored the flavor of the soup, casting an approving glance in a certain direction—

"It seems someone deliberately had their companion lie in order to surprise me. They've already shown off their skills in this dish, but they're still reluctant to take the lead themselves."

"I didn't ask them to lie. I just lent a hand when the brothers were preparing the food, that's all. What follows is my real skill."

The next second, a lively voice rang out from the direction of the kitchen, and Bert, with red hair, strode out of the kitchen.

Behind him followed a giant food cart of fragrant monkeys.

The small Fire-type Pokémon tiptoed to push the cart, causing the silver lid on the cart to tremble slightly as it moved, and the reflected light spots bounced on the wall like marbles.

"Good! It seems the appetizers and soup were quite popular. The atmosphere is already lively, it's time to bring out the main course."

Master Bert removed his chef's hat, rubbed his hands together eagerly, took the food cart from the sizzling monkey, and pushed it in front of the guests—

"Next up is the first main course..."

"It is very rude of me, but please wait a moment."

Guskaf suddenly raised his hand to interrupt the fire-type gym leader's speech, at which point there were still a few soup stains on his napkin.

"About that mushroom from earlier..."

The gourmet's fingers unconsciously traced the rim of the bowl; this is probably what the phrase "the index finger is twitching" means.

"How can such an intense flavor be completely sealed inside the mushroom? It only bursts out the moment you bite into it. This dining experience is truly amazing!"

"Huh? Didn't you already eat the answer to that question?"

Bert tilted his head, and the Explosive Monkey at his feet followed suit. When Eevee tried to tilt its head too, Azure pressed its head down.

"Eaten...? What does that mean?" The food editor stared blankly at the empty bowl in front of him.

Zhimi suddenly chuckled, her fingertips tapping the table with a crisp sound: "Is that the 'extra' foam mousse on the pistol shrimp sashimi?"

The legendary chef, unusually, showed an expression of appreciation—

"The mousse made from the foam of the frog is air-dried and has enough stickiness to temporarily isolate moisture. You used this property to seal in the umami and texture of the maitake mushroom, which is similar to that of a steak. If I'm not mistaken, the air mousse on the chopsticks is actually the leftover material from this process."

"Yes, it's rare to make something this good. It would be such a waste to just throw it away."

Bert nodded affirmatively, which made Guscalf, who had previously subtly criticized the air mousse as "showy but impractical," break out in a cold sweat.

But he turned the boat around very quickly—"I dare say this is the most creative soup I've had in a year. When I get back, I'll definitely write about it in the magazine and promote it properly!"

"Hmph, it's rare for the three of us brothers to work together on the same dish, so it's certainly not boring. But the main course that follows will be a one-man show between me and the Explosive Monkey."

The Fire-type Gym Leader placed a huge plate on the table, covered with a lid so the contents couldn't be seen. He took a bottle of brandy from Tian Tong and, with a showy flourish, poured it around the edge of the silver lid.

"While strong liquor isn't suitable for accompanying meals, it can certainly create such a spectacular fireworks display."

Bert grabbed the handle of the food lid, while the fragrant monkey beside him quickly climbed onto the food cart and snapped its fingers as stylishly as a detective.

In an instant, flames rose up.

The fire-elemental restaurant owner abruptly lifted the lid of the food container, and the rich aroma of meat, along with the smell of smoke, swept through the hall.

In the flickering flames, a giant steak shaped like a Tauros' hind leg stands majestically—its caramel-colored crust is covered with flame-scorched patterns, and a bone-shaped piece of fragrant wood is inserted in the center.

"This is my proudest main course, 'Flaming Seared Tauros Leg Steak'! The meat is imported from Aether Paradise in the Alola region and uses the most advanced artificial protein synthesis technology."

Bert flicked the bottom of the plate, causing the enormous imitation beef leg to slowly rotate in front of everyone.

“In ancient times, people would shape food into the most powerful parts of a Pokémon, then bake and use them, hoping to be as omnipotent as a Pokémon. So you could say that this ingredient is the product that takes this simple wish to the extreme.”

"The colors on both sides of the steak seem different," Observer Blue murmured, and the next second Bert snapped his fingers in front of her—

"That's right, the steak is cooked in different ways on each side: the left side is salt-grilled, and the right side is smoked with saffron."

Bert took an arm-length knife from the table, trimmed the huge steak slightly, then pulled out a large piece of fragrant wood that resembled a bone and used the knife to cut the steak into pieces suitable for placing on a plate, following the cross-section of the simulated muscle.

As the sharp knife rose and fell, the enticing aroma of the synthetic meat flowed freely, reigniting the appetites of the three diners who had just had their taste buds satisfied by the appetizers and soup.

Sensing the changes in her own heart, Zhimi couldn't help but nod inwardly: "Indeed, besides the color, aroma, and taste of the dishes themselves, the process of making food can also be an excellent ingredient to stimulate the viewer's appetite. This is something worth learning from..."

"Now is not the time to be distracted by studying cooking techniques."

As the plate was placed in front of him, Zhimi looked up and saw the owner of the restaurant, Bert, with a bright, sunny smile—

"Teacher Zhimi, please take a look at how my cooking skills have improved by leaps and bounds under your guidance these past few days."

“I didn’t teach you anything, so I don’t deserve that title. The way of cooking is like the tide in front of the beach, and we chefs are just the waves reflecting each other.”

Carlos, the water-elemental king, modestly shook his head and extended his knife and fork towards the bionic steak that had been grilled to two different colors on the left and right sides.

The moment the fork pierces the steak, the rich juices seep out like morning dew.

Chapter 370 Carnival - Main Course Two, Assorted Platter

"This meat looks so real that I hesitate to take a bite."

A bright blue fork hovered above the neatly sliced ​​imitation meat, and as she looked at the pink cut surfaces still dripping with juice, she couldn't help but hesitate.

"Although it may seem bloody and cruel, the original purpose of the Ether Foundation in developing bionic meat was actually to avoid killing."

Guscalf gracefully used his knife to cut one of the two steaks on his plate into a neat triangle. He held the pepper-salt end of the steak to his nose, inhaling the aroma, while sharing culinary anecdotes—

"When that organization was carrying out environmental protection work, it took in many wild Pokémon that were injured or lost their habitat due to human activities, including some carnivorous Pokémon. If they were fed with the Pokémon food we are familiar with now before being released back into the wild, they might lose their ability to continue to survive in nature. The alternative that has emerged for this purpose is this kind of bionic meat."

"Yes, the raw material for this bionic leg meat is plant protein. The fermentation enzymes secreted by the pot create the texture of meat. As for the parts that simulate fat and veins, different tree fruit pectin is used, so there is no need to worry. Please enjoy it with confidence."

The owner of the restaurant, Bert, proudly looked at the dishes he had baked and proudly introduced them to Azure.

"The addition of ground, dried hornberry kernels to the salt and pepper granules creates a truly layered flavor."

The food editor, having finished the salt-grilled meat, let out a satisfied sigh. Seeing the girl still hesitating over such delicious food, he frowned and said to Bilan—

"Nature itself is cruel. All living things must compete with each other to obtain energy from nature. Therefore, even those herbivorous Pokémon that seem to be benevolent to humans sometimes fight to the death for pasture and fruit trees. On the contrary, we humans are too privileged to have the leisure to enjoy delicious food at the table."

The enormous gourmet forked the other end of the smoked steak, continuing his lecture to Azure—

"So, let's put aside your inexplicable sympathy for now. Occasionally consuming this kind of primal, biological texture can help people better appreciate the meaning of life."

"No, I hadn't thought of that much."

Miss Azure, who was being lectured, scratched her head—

"Just looking at this huge leg bone and flesh reminds me of the experience of being chased by a raging herd of Tauros on the plains..."

"Looks like you've had a tough time, little girl!" Guskaf couldn't help but burst into laughter upon hearing the girl's reply. "Then you should really enjoy this 'steak' delicacy!"

The aroma of meat, enhanced by the smoky flavor of the smoky wood, wafted through the laughter. The editor took a bite of the steak on his fork, finding the pleasant conversation at the table even more delicious than the food itself.

Sure enough, mood affects the objectivity of food evaluation... Looking at the girl next to him whose eyes lit up again after taking a bite, Guskaf couldn't help but shake his head with a smile.

Forget it, from the moment he entered this restaurant, he never intended to write a restaurant review. Just hearing that Michelin King's insights on the dishes was already a very meaningful trip.

It wouldn't hurt to use the space originally intended for product reviews to record this dining experience. Today, for the moment, let's enjoy the delicious food to our hearts' content...

Just as Mr. Guscalf was thinking this, King Zimi stopped eating, puzzled, and turned to look at Bert—

"As far as the quality of the grilled meat is concerned, this steak is indeed impeccable. But... the portion you served us is not right."

He pointed his fork at the second remaining piece of steak on the plate—