Food Wars, My Dishes Don't Just Shine

"learn."

Seeing Alice Nakiri's relaxed appearance, Keiko Kitagawa felt much relieved. After leaving those words, she turned and left to continue serving the guests who came in later.

Damn it, if I had known business would be this booming, I should have posted job advertisements yesterday!

the other side.

Inside the private room, Zi Linsi poured himself a cup of tea and waited calmly.

He didn't know why he came in; he probably smelled the aroma wafting from inside when the car drove by, and couldn't resist the temptation.

The taste was absolutely captivating.

"Jingle Bell."

The phone rang, and after glancing at the contact, Zi Linsi did not answer.

Half a minute later, the bodyguard's phone rang. Just as he was about to answer it, he was stopped by a sharp look from the bodyguard.

"Don't answer, I need an hour of private time."

Zi Linsi's voice was cold.

The phone ringing meant there was work coming in, but he had just placed his order and didn't want to waste his dinner time dealing with work.

As one of the hottest celebrities right now, he also wants some private time.

"Yes."

Although they were somewhat afraid, Zi Linsi had already spoken. If they dared to openly disobey, he would definitely blacklist them in the industry. This guy was known in the industry for being petty.

Thinking of this, the two bodyguards stood still and did not move.

At worst, I'll be fired, which is better than not being able to continue in this industry.

"I've turned down such an important job, so I hope your cooking won't disappoint me."

Looking at the constant stream of text messages popping up on his phone, Zi Linji clasped his hands together and rested his head on his hands. He stared intently at the doorway, silently awaiting Kitagawa Keiko's arrival.

This wasn't the first time this had happened, and the agent had experience in handling it, but it would still take at least half an hour to find him.

This half hour is enough time for him to calm down and savor the food.

Perhaps due to an overly strong desire, as Shirinji was fantasizing about the delicious food, the door to the private room was suddenly pushed open, and Kitagawa Keiko walked in carrying the dishes, a smug look on her face.

"This is a pre-meal snack, using lines from the poem 'Two Poems on Autumn' by the ancient Chinese poet Liu Yuxi: 'The mountains are bright, the water is clear, and frost comes at night; several trees are deep red amidst pale yellow.'"

Below is a crisp tart base made of tapioca flour, topped with black truffle, white sesame paste, pounded peppers, and glacial tomato, and garnished with a few pickled peppers.

As she served the appetizers, Kitagawa Keiko, facing Shirinji's intensely ardent gaze, spoke in a gentle voice, offering a brief introduction.

"Ah."

Looking at the dish in front of him, Shirin nodded slightly.

He then reached out, picked up the dish, brought it to his mouth, took a bite, closed his eyes, and savored it.

"The texture is crisp yet chewy, with an overall sweet and mild flavor, and a hint of spiciness from the water droplets of chili. It feels like a ray of sunlight shining through the morning mist, bright yet gentle."

Also featured is Tamarind Gongmei White Tea, which is served alongside appetizers and snacks. Its sweet and sour flavor is excellent for stimulating the appetite.

Zi Linsi took a sip of tea, savoring its flavor, and his slightly furrowed brows finally relaxed.

"This is a really good appetizer pairing."

He sighed with genuine emotion.

"The main ingredient in the first dish is fennel, which is often used in meat dishes. Its unique aroma can effectively neutralize the greasiness."

While Shirin was enjoying the appetizers, Kitagawa Keiko went out and came back in to serve the first dish.

"This dish mainly uses sliced ​​fennel roots, garnished with fennel flowers. Please pour on the secret sauce."

Keiko Kitagawa gently placed the dish in front of Rinji Shiro and instructed him.

"it is good."

Zi Linsi nodded slightly, picked up the small pot next to him, and poured the sauce into it. A faint fragrance spread from it, while the sauce was rich and tempting.

"Grapefruit, orange juice... what's the deeper flavor? It's so rich and full-bodied."

Savoring the flavors on his tongue, Shirin closed his eyes and savored them.

No matter how he tried to taste it, all he could detect were grapefruit and orange juice. But this sauce clearly contained more than just those flavors; it had an overall sweet and sour taste.

"Don't look at me, I'm just a waiter in a restaurant, I don't know anything."

Feeling the intense gaze of Shirinji, Kitagawa Keiko shrugged slightly.

Although the dish was made based on her memory, it would be too much to ask her to remember all the ingredients after seeing it only once.

If she had this talent, her father would have sent her to Totsuki Academy during her junior high school years, instead of sending her to an ordinary high school. Now she's cramming at the last minute.

"It also contains bergamot and litsea cubeba oil."

Bergamot has a bright, tangy flavor similar to lemon, lime, or grapefruit, but it is less sweet and has a subtle floral scent.

Litsea cubeba oil can deliver an explosively fresh lemon scent, similar to lemon but sharper and more penetrating.

At the same time, Alice Nakiri appeared in the private room and overheard their conversation, while she was carrying a dish that looked like soil.

"The star of this dish is the potato, nestled in a fertile soil made of whole wheat bread and green pepper puree. The potatoes are smoked beforehand and served with a sauce made from green peppers, giving it a unique flavor."

Before placing the dish in front of Shirinji, Alice Nakiri introduced it to him.

"I see, a mixture of smoked potatoes and green pepper puree, that sounds really novel."

Looking at the dish in front of him, Shirin couldn't help but sigh, then picked up the spoon in his hand, scooped up a spoonful and put it in his mouth.

At the same time, I closed my eyes and savored the flavor it contained.

"The texture is soft and chewy, the sauce is rich and flavorful, the soil is crisp, paired with crunchy dried enoki mushrooms, arrowhead (one of the eight aquatic treasures of Suzhou), and ice plant, the final taste is surprisingly good..."

The look of enjoyment on Shirinji's face was captivating. Although it was an autumn/winter menu, it exuded vitality, a vibrant energy that was simply irresistible!

"The second dish is fried winter melon flowers."

Seeing the satisfied expression on Zi Linji's face, Kitagawa Keiko felt a great sense of relief.

As she spoke, she set out the dishes, deciding to spend most of her time with the guy who could potentially bring their shop to the brink of collapse.

"The batter is of just the right thickness, crispy and delicious, and it's topped with buckwheat sprouts and..."

Looking at the fried winter melon flowers in front of him, golden and crispy, and after mentioning the buckwheat sprouts on top, Zi Lin Si's expression suddenly became puzzled.

This store offers really novel items; there are so many things he doesn't recognize.

"Sweet alyssum flowers are indeed difficult for most people to recognize. But it's quite surprising that you could recognize buckwheat seedlings..."

“I come from the countryside, so of course I can recognize buckwheat seedlings. What country kid doesn’t recognize the things they depend on for survival?”

Upon hearing Kitagawa Keiko's somewhat surprised question, Shirinji calmly revealed his background.

"Huh? Didn't the media say you were the son of a wealthy family?"

Upon hearing Shirinji's words, Kitagawa Keiko exclaimed in surprise, her face showing a hint of disbelief.

Because the persona their company created for him was that of a wealthy young master from a rich family, of Japanese and American descent, whose family assets exceeded 100 million, and who being a celebrity was just a hobby.

Now the other party tells her that he comes from the countryside...

Keiko Kitagawa was certain that after today, many people would want to cover her mouth.

However, she wouldn't just go around publicizing her chest pain, especially since even if she did, not everyone would believe her, and some crazy fans might even open her chest.

She didn't want to cause herself trouble at this crucial moment.

Even though the other party had told her something so important, Zi Linsi still looked indifferent, clearly knowing that she couldn't possibly cause him any trouble.

Celebrity PR teams are not just sitting idly by.

"Have you ever seen a rich young master who gets bombarded with phone calls just for going out to eat? He's nothing more than a tool for some people to make money; he's not that noble."

Seeing Kitagawa Keiko's expression, Shirinji had already guessed most of what she was thinking. He then picked up his phone, waved it in front of her, and gave a wry smile.

"No matter what, at least you're free for this moment, aren't you? Hurry up and try the food, it'll taste worse when it gets cold."

Seeing the dejected look on the boy's face, Kitagawa Keiko gently comforted him and then urged him to taste the food.

There's no way around it; even his fans know how petty he is.

I can't imagine what he would say on his homepage if he was dissatisfied with the restaurant's food. I wonder how long it would take for the restaurant to reverse that reputation.

No matter what, she had to protect the restaurant.

Thinking of this, Keiko Kitagawa's eyes hardened.

"Okay, okay, is there really a need to be in such a hurry..."

Zilin Si expressed her confusion, but still reached out and picked up the fried winter melon flower dish. At first glance, she noticed that there was a little wasabi spread on the bottom of the dish.

"Is the filling made of tender winter melon, small walnuts, and finger lemons...?"

With one bite, the filling of the fried winter melon flower was revealed. Looking at the filling and feeling the rich flavor in her mouth, Zi Lin Si murmured to herself.

The addition of so many fillings makes this fried winter melon flower dish rich in texture and flavor, presenting a colorful appearance.

"The batter is thin and even, and the high-temperature frying creates an airy, crispy crust that makes a soft 'crunch' sound when you bite into it. It has a slightly salty aroma of flour and the unique caramelized aroma of fried grains. The small amount of freshly grated wasabi spread on the bottom is not a pungent irritation that hits your nose, but rather a refreshing spiciness that quietly awakens your taste buds."

With her eyes closed, she opened her mouth and took a bite, a look of bliss on Zi Lin Si's face.

As he savored the burst of flavor in his mouth, he began to speak at length: "The tender winter melon wrapped in the center retains its juice after steaming and baking. Its texture is between the softness of zucchini and the crispness of cucumber, releasing a delicate sweetness like cucumber after the rain."

After being lightly roasted, the caramelized surface of the chopped nuts brings an almond-like sweetness, while the slightly bitter woody notes unique to walnuts emerge when chewed, creating a tension with the sweetness of the winter melon.

The finger lime bits scattered throughout burst open between your teeth, releasing a sharp yet fleeting tartness reminiscent of lime juice—like a crisp musical note inserted into a warm, mellow melody!

He closed his eyes and remained silent for a moment: "Besides that, there's the wild bitterness of buckwheat seedlings, and the subtle fragrance of sweet alyssum..."

Overwhelmed with emotion, Zi Linsi stood up abruptly, opening his arms as if embracing the sky, his expression one of pure bliss.

"The third dish is ingots made from Anji winter bamboo shoots, soaked in miso soup with grated Japanese yuzu, and filled with lily paste and Yunnan snow fungus..."

Just as Shirin was enjoying herself, Alice Nakiri walked in from outside carrying the next dish, explaining how to make it as she went.

Vegetarian dishes are relatively simple to prepare and come in smaller portions, so many can be made at once. This dish is what was left over from the previous batch.

"This is also great. The crispness and tenderness are layered and blended together, paired with the light and slightly sour soup underneath, making it unforgettable."