Food Wars!: I Became a Fantasy Ingredient Supplier

Hisako, watching Erina Nakiri's reaction, was filled with curiosity and couldn't help but ask, "Young lady, does this elephant bear meat taste better than the previous nut-fed shad and red-haired pig?"

Erina did not answer immediately.

Instead, he picked up a piece of bear paw meat, put it in his mouth, savored it carefully, and then slowly said, "A mix of meat and vegetables!"

"The texture is very tender, and there is no meaty smell at all."

"This is simply..."

"It surpasses the original flavor of many fantastical ingredients I've ever tasted!"

……

at this time.

Ye Chen, who had been observing silently from the sidelines, revealed a confident smile.

He was the one who cooked this braised elephant bear meat, and he put a lot of thought and effort into it. From the selection and preparation of the ingredients to the combination of seasonings and the control of the heat, he was meticulous in every step.

Especially in terms of knife skills, he used his superb skills to cut bear paws into even thin slices and then cleverly arranged them into the shape of orchids.

Ah!

Beautiful and elegant.

At the same time, it allows the bear paw to be heated evenly during cooking and fully absorb the flavor of the seasonings.

In terms of cooking techniques, he employed a variety of unique braising methods, which allowed the bear paw meat to remain tender while being full of rich aroma.

In addition, his special seasoning method perfectly blends the flavors of various seasonings together, creating a unique and wonderful taste.

"Ok?"

Suddenly, Erina let out a soft gasp.

Afterwards, it was clear that her face was filled with astonishment.

As she continued to chew, the delicious taste of the bear's paw surged through her like a tidal wave, directly impacting her soul.

The rich aroma filled her mouth, making her feel as if she were in a culinary paradise. She began to feel her body become light, almost as if she were ascending to heaven.

Can't help but.

Erina completely disregarded her image.

She then began to devour the bear paw, each bite filled with such satisfaction and delight!

At last.

Her cheeks.

Her face flushed slightly with excitement.

Those bright, watery eyes sparkled with happiness.

Hisako watched in stunned silence; she had never seen Erina Nakiri so out of control.

Her eyes widened, her mouth slightly agape, her face filled with shock and envy. She thought to herself: Just how delicious must this fantastical ingredient, bear's paw, be? That it could make Miss Erina so captivated!

……

Speaking of cooking.

This leads us to delve into the fascinating role of water in cooking.

In the world of cooking, water is far more common and important than ingredients, and there are many ways to use water to heat food.

A large fire causes water to boil violently, heating the food; this is called:

cook!

Heat the food by letting the water boil gently over a low flame.

It's called stewing or simmering.

No open flame is needed; simply blanch the ingredients briefly in hot water. This is called "poaching".

When water covers or partially covers the ingredients, and the food is heated using both water and steam, this cooking method is called braising or stewing.

Finally, open the lid and let the broth gradually thicken; this process is called simmering.

The purpose of reducing the sauce is to allow the flavors of the ingredients to develop more fully, achieving a delicious and visually appealing result. Steaming is a cooking method where water is removed from the ingredients and only steam is used to heat the food.

……

burn.

This cooking method.

It can be further divided into braised in red, braised in yellow, and braised in white.

The main difference between them lies in the different coloring methods.

White-braised, as the name suggests, means that no coloring methods are used to preserve the original color of the ingredients; yellow-braised, on the other hand, uses natural ingredients such as gardenia and ginger to add a touch of golden yellow to the dish.

Well, as for braising...

Its coloring techniques are the most diverse and its geographical distribution is the widest.

The most basic method of coloring braised food involves the Maillard reaction, a series of complex reactions that occur when reducing sugars in food react with amino acids or proteins during heating, producing an appealing color and aroma.

To enhance the coloring effect, chefs also use sauces, soy sauce, caramel coloring, or soy sauce base.

This sauce.

There are different recipes in different parts of the country, both north and south.

In the South, the most common sauce is dark soy sauce, which is a convenient sauce made by adding caramel coloring to soy sauce and giving dishes a bright red color.

In the north, there is a sauce called "oil sauce," which is made by cleverly combining soy sauce and oil.

and so.

The basic flavor profile of braised dishes.

It is the natural flavor of the ingredients after cooking that blends with the unique aroma produced by the Maillard reaction.

Why not mention "soy sauce flavor" here?

Because some highly skilled chefs can achieve the ideal color and flavor of braised pork without any sauce, relying solely on caramel coloring.

Therefore, it is clear that there is a significant difference between braising in soy sauce and braising in broth!

……

now.

The sauce is savory and fragrant.

It blends perfectly with the natural deliciousness of the bear paw.

With an indescribable wild charm, it seemed to transport Erina to a vast, boundless primeval forest. She closed her eyes slightly, immersing herself in this exquisite taste.

As one's own consciousness gradually becomes blurred, one inevitably falls into a fantastical fantasy.

There she was, transformed into a princess in a magnificent robe, strolling through a misty fairyland.

As she stepped into the palace.

The sight before her amazed her.

Inside the hall, a group of elves dressed in strange costumes were dancing joyfully.

Their bodies were as light as swallows, drawing graceful arcs in the air, waving shimmering magic wands in their hands, scattering strings of dazzling starlight.

Erina was captivated by the beautiful scene and couldn't help but join in their dance. Surrounded by the fairies, she felt as if she too possessed magic, able to fly freely in this fantastical world.

Unbeknownst to her, she found herself in a mysterious garden, drawn by the rhythm of the dance.

In the center of the garden.

There is a huge crystal fountain.

Clear spring water gushes out of the fountain constantly, forming magnificent rainbows under the refraction of sunlight.

Around the fountain, various exotic plants grow.

Some flowers shimmer like stars, while others are as translucent as gemstones.

Erina curiously approached a fruit tree, gently picked a fruit, and put it in her mouth. Instantly, a cool and sweet juice spread in her mouth, making her feel refreshed, as if all her fatigue had been swept away.

……

however.

Just as she was reveling in this wonderful taste...

A huge white elephant bear was slowly walking towards her.

It radiates a soft light, and its eyes, like deep lake water, are full of tenderness.

Erina was a little scared at first, but in the end she cautiously reached out and gently stroked the elephant bear's fur. The elephant bear obediently lowered its head and gently rubbed its trunk against her palm.

but.

suddenly.

A slight tremor pulled her back to reality from her reverie.