The beginning is only when you become a chef

Chapter 106: Shura Returns to the Polaris Dormitory (Two Chapters in One)

"correct!"

"Dad, didn't you also make ramen when you came to Polaris Dormitory during summer vacation?"

When Soma Yukihira mentioned Saiba Joichiro and the "Joichiro Special Morning Fragrant Ramen" he made that morning, everyone's eyes lit up.

Isshiki Hui, who was wearing a naked apron, couldn't help but slap her hands excitedly and said:

"I have a vivid memory of Saiba-senpai's ramen. I can even name all the techniques and ingredient combinations now!"

The blue-haired girl with big pigtails named Megumi Tadokoro moved closer to the kitchen counter.

Take a deep breath of the fresh aroma in the air.

Tanaka Hui blushed:
“It’s dashi and ramen!”

"The last time Saibo-senpai made the morning fragrant ramen, he used kelp and dried shiitake mushrooms to make a vegetarian soup stock, and didn't use any fish products!"

The rest of the people in the Polar Star Dormitory were also talking at once.

I pieced together the delicious morning ramen dish that belonged entirely to Shura a month or two ago:
Vegetarian stock.

Then there are the auxiliary ingredients, including lotus root slices with skin and burdock slices.

Both are fried until golden and crispy and sprinkled with rock salt.

There are also long strips of carrots and bite-sized turnips, grilled over charcoal until crispy and also sprinkled with rock salt.

Of course, there is also "vegetarian meat" tempeh, which serves as an important snack in the noodle bowl.

Tempeh, also known as Danbei, is a soybean or grain product that originated in China and then became popular around the world.

In Saiba Joichiro's special morning fragrant ramen.

Teriyaki-style tempeh.

It is an important snack that adds fragrance to the noodle bowl and satisfies diners with one bite.

"Medicine King" Soma Yukihira couldn't help but put aside his surprise that his father suddenly came back to visit Polaris Dormitory again.

Hold your chin and discuss with your friends:
“Dad’s fragrant ramen can be said to be pure vegetarian umami ramen!”

“Put miso, grated ginger, and grated garlic in a pan and sauté until fragrant. Then add soy milk and vegetarian stock to dissolve the miso.”

"At this time, you also need to grind the shrimp taro into taro paste and put it into the pot to cook together!"

"Only in this way can we gradually prepare the most important soup base for a bowl of ramen!"

You know, during the summer vacation, I had a food battle with my dad, Ichiro Shiba.

This was the 490th food battle between father and son.

There is no doubt that Soma Yukihira's "Western Apple Risotto" lost to his father's ramen.

About where to lose.

Soma Yukihira is very sober.

There are gaps everywhere!

A huge gap in all directions!

"Even my dad wants to imitate this dish. Could it be that the chef is much better than my dad? Even my dad is impressed and admires him?"

Think about this.

Soma Yukihira couldn't help but take a breath.

How amazing that is!

In his opinion, his father is like a mountain.

And the mountain higher than Daddy...

At this time, in the public kitchen of Jixing Dormitory, in front of a long kitchen counter.

Led by Isshiki Hui.

The friends followed suit and held their chopsticks horizontally in their hands, with their palms together:
"Thank you for the hospitality, senior!"

"Then I'll start!"

Say it.

In the kitchen, there was a sound of blowing.

call--

call--

On the chopsticks, the handmade noodles dipped in the boiling soup had cooled slightly.

"Suck it!"

A group of people, all slurping noodles at the same time.

"!!!"

Everyone's cheeks puffed up slightly in an instant, and their eyes widened and their pupils froze at the moment they swallowed the noodles.

"what?"

Tadokoro Megumi, this simple blue-haired girl, has watery eyes filled with surprise:

"Compared to the vegetarian ramen for breakfast last time, this ramen is a heavyweight dish that has the soul of freshness!"

Having said that, Tanosuke Kei couldn't stop eating anymore and picked up her chopsticks to take a second bite of noodles.

"Why does this noodle have such a strong umami flavor? Is it because fish meat is kneaded into the noodles?"

And next to Tanomo Megumi.

Isshiki Hui is the seventh of the Ten Greatest Ones.

There is also Aunt Wenxu, the dormitory manager.

They were putting noodles into their mouths with chopsticks one after another, as if the accelerator of their appetite had been stepped on to the bottom by the delicious taste, and they couldn't stop the car at all, and there was no need to brake.

"Gulu~"

Served with big mouthfuls of noodles.

Several friends from Polar Star Dormitory, including Ryoko Sakaki, Yuki Yoshino and others, held their bowls of noodles high and drank the hot soup, not seeming to be afraid of the heat at all.

After a while.

Soma Yukihira put down the bowl with a thump and muttered to himself:
"Compared to my dad's morning vegetarian ramen soup, this bowl of fish noodles has very simple ingredients, only chopped green onions and fish rolls, but why does it give people a very solid, satisfying and shocking taste bud experience when they eat it as a whole?"

this problem.

Isshiki Satoshi, who holds the seventh seat in this year's Totsuki session, can answer Yukihira Soma.

He wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his palm, squinted his eyes and smiled:
“In the world of cooking, there is never only one way or one formula.”

"Senior Caibo's path, or the way of cooking, is to travel around the world and learn the subtleties and blends of the best from hundreds of schools."

"But, this bowl of fish noodles is clearly some kind of classic? I tasted a very strong classical flavor, as if... I went to the ancient Chinese food world and witnessed chefs from ancient times to the present performing classics!"

At this moment, a solemn look appeared in Yi Se's narrow eyes.

"That's absolutely right!"

When everyone in Polaris Dormitory heard this, they also started discussing it.

Megumi Tadokoro: "If this umami fish noodle dish is a simple classic of fishery, then Saiba-senpai's morning fragrant ramen is a delicate and comprehensive vegetarian dish!"

Sakaki Ryoko: "But this is amazing. The soup base, side dishes and snacks of this fish noodle dish are very simple and can be understood at a glance, but why..."

Yoshino Yuuki: "Why does it taste even better than Saiba-senpai's ramen?"

Zenji Marui is a boy who wears glasses and has a small encyclopedia personality.

I couldn't help but push the frame of my glasses.

He is a well-known professor in Totsuki and an ace member of Professor Takao Miyazato's club "Miyasato Seminar".

Normally, the most discussed and analyzed topics in this "Palace Seminar" club are often related to the Chinese food industry and a series of classical documents originating from China.

In fact, through studying ancient books, Marui Zenji's Chinese level was high enough to understand complex classical Chinese.

"This fish noodle dish reminds me of a classic recipe called 'Catfish Noodles', which was passed down by the former chef god Liu Maoxing in the Chinese culinary world." The lenses of Marui Zenji's glasses reflected the light slightly, and he suddenly shocked everyone.

"what?"

"The last chef god Liu Maoxing?"

Hearing the keywords "God of Cooking" and "Liu Maoxing" was like triggering memories.

The friends in the Polar Star Dormitory all looked solemn.

After all, no matter how much you refuse to admit it.

Neon, or Japan, has been deeply influenced by Chinese civilization and has not yet been able to completely get rid of Chinese characters.

Just like the Japanese are obsessed with the story of the Three Kingdoms and many famous people in Chinese history.

The last chef god is Liu Maoxing, who has quite a few fans in Japan. Even many chefs in the industry regard Liu Maoxing as the faith coordinate of their culinary career.

Therefore, the students in Polaris Dormitory, or other Totsuki students, more or less grew up listening to the stories of the God of Cooking. "Hey, do you know this classic recipe?"

Saiba Joichiro glanced at the glasses otaku Marui Zenji in surprise.

"Yes."

Marui Zenji said: "During the seminar, we analyzed and discussed many recipes of the chef god Liu Maoxing."

Then, Ichiro Bo became interested:
“Where did these recipes come from?”

Marui Zenji: "Some are Professor Miyazato's personal collection of manuscripts, and some are scanned copies obtained from museums in various countries or large and small gourmet clubs."

"So, Professor Miyazato has some classic ancient recipes?" Saiba Chengichiro looked thoughtful.

He thought he could contact Professor Miyazato to see if he had any good stuff.

Then, recommend it to Boss Xia.

He was sure that Boss Xia would be very interested.

"So, Senior Caibo, this fish noodle dish you made is really a classic ancient dish?"

When everyone in Polaris Dormitory saw his reaction, they knew that what Marui Zenji said was absolutely correct.

As a result, the friends were all dumbfounded.

"Hold the grass?"

"No way!"

Even Soma Yukihira was extremely confused.

"Dad, didn't you say that this fish noodle dish was imitated by someone else..."

"Then the person you imitated is the Kitchen God Liu Maoxing?"

Unexpectedly, Saiba Chengyilang just shook his head:

"wrong."

"This is not Liu Maoxing's classic work. To be precise, it is derived from Liu Maoxing's "Catfish Noodles". It uses the creativity and framework of the former chef god and is a new recipe that has been re-edited and improved!"

"It's called—"Fantasy Fish Noodle"!"

There was silence in the communal kitchen for a moment.

Mrs. Wenxu, the dormitory manager, suddenly said, "Since it is a fantasy dish, it must have used fantasy fish products?"

Saibashiro Ichiro: "In fact, I did use striped salmon and lychee sturgeon, but I am new to these two fantasy fish and my utilization rate is very low!"

"Besides!"

A sudden change of tone.

This "Shura" is very famous in the Totsuki circle.

He sighed and said respectfully:

"I don't know how to turn the White Snake Chain!"

“So, even if we use more than 80% of these two types of fantasy fish products, I’m afraid we won’t be able to catch up with the original “Fantasy Fish Noodles” made by that man!”

Hear the words.

Everyone in Polaris Dormitory looked at each other in bewilderment.

Here we go again!

Publicly admit that you can never catch up with someone...

But who is this man?
Soma Yukihira was depressed, and he couldn't help but scratch his head and ask with strong curiosity:
"Dad, who is that man?"

Saiba Joichiro looked up and saw the students in Polaris Dormitory who were showing curiosity and inquiry:

"His name is Xia An."

“It is now well-known in the Chinese food world.”

"It won't be long before his name spreads to the Japanese food world."

Xia An?

This name made everyone choke for a long time, and they couldn't find the slightest impression in their minds.

Mrs. Wenxu, the dormitory manager, said, "I have heard of many famous chefs in Shenzhou, but I have never heard of this name."

Isshiki Huiya looked confused.

In fact, Isshiki Hui and Kinokuni Ningning, who ranked sixth among the Ten Greatest, are childhood sweethearts.

Their families are known as "The Country of West Isshiki and East Ki", and are famous in the Japanese food world.

But because of the existence of the wall.

Also, the Japanese food industry is suffering from old age disease, and its pace and reaction are always slow.

So even though the signboard of "Boss Xia" has become a traffic password on the Shenzhou version of Douyin, it doesn't seem to make much of a splash in Japan.

"never mind."

Saiba Joichiro didn't want to say much, with a playful smile on his lips.

Looking at the group of students from the Polaris Dormitory in front of him, he suddenly changed the subject and said:
"Who among you will be participating in the Autumn Selection in a week?"

Hearing this, Yukihira Soma was the first to put his hands on his hips and said, "I'll participate!"

Tanomo Kei weakly raised her hands and cried:

"I, I'm participating too!"

Then, except for the second-year student Isshiki Hui and the dormitory manager Mrs. Fumio.

The remaining friends.

The girls are Sakaki Ryoko and Yoshino Yuuki.

The boys are Ibuzaki Shun and Marui Zenji.

They all raised their hands.

Seeing this, Saibajo Ichiro laughed and said, "Are there so many dormitory members participating in the trials this year?"

Mrs. Wenxu sighed:
"Jiuichiro, it's been 20 years since your class was formed, and we finally have another batch of outstanding students!"

Isshiki continued:
"From today's perspective, the class of the top ten that Senior Cai Bo was a part of was filled with evildoers."

The friends nodded in agreement.

About twenty years ago.

That session of the top ten agencies.

The first place was Dojima Gin and the second place was Saiba Joichiro.

The third seat was "Nakamura Tsuki", who was the son-in-law of the Dragon King who later married into the Nakiri family and changed his surname to the ghost father of Nakiri Tsuki.

The fourth seat, Ebisawa Riko, also has amazing achievements and is already a well-known senior special grade.

"By the way, it seems that Saiba-senpai didn't graduate from Totsuki?" Someone muttered.

Saiba Joichiro laughed loudly, waved his hand and said:
"Don't worry about it."

"Don't tell us about those old antique stories from twenty years ago."

“Now, it’s your chapter in the story.”

"But your class may encounter a new storm..."

He was here, deliberately arousing the curiosity of everyone in Polaris Dormitory.

"A new storm?" Yukihira Soma's eyes twitched, and he protested loudly, "Dad, can you finish it in one breath? Stop being a riddler!"

"hehe."

Saiba Joichiro said slowly:
"Because, the man named Xia An taught three apprentices this summer. They are Hojo Miyoko, Nakiri Alice, and Nakiri Erina."

This statement came out.

The public kitchen of Jixing Dormitory suddenly became silent.

Half an hour!

Yukihira Soma's expression collapsed and he was about to say something, but others, such as the lively Yoshino Yuuki, were already shocked and jumped up:

"You must be kidding. Forget about Hojo Miyoko, but why would the Nakiri sisters go to the Shenzhou food world to learn from a master?"

Tansho Kei just wanted to shrink into a corner and draw circles.

The girl with blue hair and big pigtails was already panicking.

Because, at the beginning of summer vacation, when the group list of the selection competition was announced, Hojo Miyoko came to compete with her.

They are all in Group B!
If you want to grab the top four places in the group and advance to the quarterfinals, a head-on collision is inevitable!

"Hojo and Alice are both in Group B. Did they go to Shenzhou for further studies during the summer vacation?" Tanomo Megumi's face was covered in sweat and she looked pale. "The master I'm learning from is a famous chef in Shenzhou who was praised by Senior Saiba. I'm screwed..."

(End of this chapter)