Food Wars!: Delicious Food of the Heavens

After cooking the second pot of rice, Tadokoro Megumi smiled and served it to Lin Yu.

"Lin Yujun, the second pot of rice is cooked. Let's start making lunch. What are you planning to make?"

Lin Yu laughed and said, "Didn't you say this morning that you were going to do it?"

Tadokoro Megumi was a little embarrassed. "I mainly... saw that everyone had such high expectations for lunch after eating Lin Yujun's soy sauce rice."

"I was thinking, maybe I should just stay out of it, lest I ruin lunch."

Lin Yu knew that this was another instance of Tadokoro Megumi's tendency to back down when she got nervous.

He thought for a moment, then looked at Megumi Tadokoro, "Megumi, I'm thinking of having you cook lunch today."

Tadokoro Megumi was startled. "Huh? What?"

Seeing Uedadokoro Megumi's questioning gaze, Lin Yu nodded, "Yes, you heard me right, you do it."

Tadokoro Megumi's face showed a hint of hesitation. "But what if I don't do it well?"

"It's okay, you be the head chef, and I'll assist you."

"Lin Yujun is here to assist... Is this really a good idea?"

"Why can't that be?"

Lin Yu laughed and said, "What? Is Xiao Hui afraid I'll mess this up?"

"No...no, that's not it!"

Hearing Lin Yu's joking words, Tadokoro Megumi nervously waved her hands repeatedly, "I just feel that it's too...too much of a waste of Lin Yu's talents to come and assist me."

Lin Yu placed his palm on Tadokoro Megumi's head and gently stroked it. "Megumi, I told you last time, right? I can't always be there to help you in crucial moments. You need to learn to grow up and rely on yourself."

Tadokoro Megumi lowered her head. "Am I really okay?"

Lin Yu continued to reassure him, "Of course, even if something goes wrong, I will help you make up for it, so don't worry."

"What? You still don't trust my abilities?"

"Of course not, Lin Yu is the strongest person I have ever met."

Megumi Tadokoro shook her head, looking somewhat hesitant, but after a long silence, she finally made up her mind.

"I also think Lin Yujun makes a good point. In that case, I'll ask Lin Yujun to assist me."

Seeing that this seemingly frail girl had finally made up her mind, Lin Yu felt genuinely happy.

"Yes, Chef Tadokoro!"

"Hehe, Chef Tadokoro..."

Upon hearing this address, Tadokoro Megumi couldn't help but let out a silly grin.

"Let's begin."

Lin Yu gave a helpless smile.

"Oh well."

"So, your original plan was to make rice balls, right? What kind of rice balls were you planning to make?"

"Lin Yujun, my original plan was to make rice balls in three different flavors."

Megumi Tadokoro held up three fingers.

"The first one is salmon rice balls fried in butter."

"The second type is hawthorn stewed beef rice ball, and the last type is the simplest salt and scallion sauce rice ball."

"That's great!"

Lin Yu exclaimed, "Three flavors, and all of them are rice balls with quite different flavors, so they won't feel repetitive. There's a savory flavor, a rich flavor, and a refreshing flavor, allowing everyone to taste different flavors."

"Hehe, that's what I think too."

Megumi Tadokoro was very happy to receive the performance.

"As for how to add soy sauce to Lin Yujun's dish... does Lin Yujun have any suggestions?"

Lin Yu thought for a moment and then offered his own idea.

"My suggestion is to brush soy sauce onto the surface of the rice ball, and then lightly smoke it over charcoal to create a crispy crust."

"This method allows the soy sauce flavor to be fully released through high-temperature smoking, and the crispy exterior of the rice balls contrasts sharply with the soft and sticky texture, adding layers of flavor to the rice balls."

Lin Yu looked at Tadokoro Megumi, "How is it, Chef?"

Tadokoro Megumi gave a thumbs up, "Excellent suggestion, sous chef!"

Lin Yu smiled and said, "In that case, please give the order, Chef."

"I need to make the stewed beef first, which takes the most time. So, could you please have Lin Yujun cut out the beef and marinate it for me?"

"learn!"

Lin Yu took out the beef from the refrigerator, picked up the cleaver on the cutting board, and with a swift and skillful chop, cut the beef into small pieces the size of a thumbnail.

This is the filling wrapped inside the rice ball, so it won't be as big as it was in the last class. The current size, wrapped inside the rice ball, is more suitable for eating, and it also won't take too long to cook.

Add the chopped beef to a large bowl, then add salt, black pepper, paprika, and rosemary in that order. Lin Yu also added a piece of butter to enhance the aroma, and then poured in enough red wine to submerge the beef.

Then, Lin Yu began to help Tadokoro Megumi cut the side dishes, onions, celery, and carrots, all into evenly sized small pieces.

After the beef was marinated, Tadokoro Megumi recalled Lin Yu's operating steps from that previous class.

First, mix olive oil and butter in a pan, then add the marinated beef and fry until browned and fragrant, until the surface shows an appealing Maillard reaction. Remove the beef and stir-fry with onions and other side dishes.

After sautéing the vegetables until fragrant, add the beef and the red wine used to marinate the beef to the pot. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium heat and simmer.

Tadokoro Megumi's operation was naturally not as meticulous and complicated as Lin Yu's last time, and she simplified some of the procedures.

However, Lin Yu also noticed something different: before putting the lid on the pot, Tadokoro Megumi put a handful of red dried fruit into the pot.

"This is... hawthorn?"

Lin Yu asked.

Megumi Tadokoro nodded. "Yes, that's right, it's hawthorn."

"This inspiration came from Lin Yujun," Tadokoro Megumi said softly.

"In the last class, I noticed that when Lin Yujun was talking to Mito, she mentioned that hawthorn can soften meat and stimulate people's appetite."

"Everyone must be tired and exhausted after working in the fields, so I thought I would make some lunches that are easier to eat and more appetizing."

Lin Yu looked at Tadokoro Megumi.

"Xiao Hui..."

"Hmm, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing, I just thought to myself, Xiaohui, you're so kind, you always think of others."

Hearing Lin Yu's words, Tadokoro Megumi blushed.

"No, I just... hope everyone can feel more comfortable."

"That's amazing." Lin Yu patted Tadokoro Megumi's head.

"In that case, we'd better step up our efforts and continue issuing orders."

"Um!"

"Lin Yujun, could you please prepare the salmon for me?"

"Okay, would you like me to fry them?"

Tadokoro Megumi shook her head, a determined look in her eyes. "No need. Since Lin Yujun trusts me and is willing to be my deputy, I have to challenge myself too."

"I'll fry it."

"Okay, then you can give it a try."

Lin Yu sprinkled the salmon meat with salt and black pepper, marinated it, and then handed it to Tadokoro Megumi.

Megumi Tadokoro took the salmon fillet, placed the frying pan on the fire, added olive oil to the pan, and then, when the oil was hot enough, placed the salmon fillet skin-side down into the oil.

Although the last time I tasted Lin Yu's white sauce salmon, it left a very deep impression on Tadokoro Megumi.

However, because she had never witnessed Lin Yu's cooking process, Tadokoro Megumi became noticeably more nervous when frying the salmon. She stayed by the pan, anxiously watching the changes in the fish.

Lin Yu noticed Tadokoro Megumi's behavior, and also noticed that she was simply staring at the pot without making any further moves.

If the fish is ruined during frying, given Xiaohui's personality, she'll probably feel guilty, and become even more timid in the future.

After thinking it over, Lin Yu felt that he should step in and help.

"There's nothing wrong with frying it like this, but you can't get the fish skin to be extremely crispy."

Lin Yu added a piece of butter to the pot and handed a spoon to Tadokoro Megumi.

"If you want to get crispy fish skin like I did last time, you have to use the pan-frying method."

"Pan Fried Dumpling?"

"It's not difficult, I'll teach you."

Lin Yu grasped Tadokoro Megumi's hand holding the spoon, continuously scooping up melted butter and pouring it over the fish, while also pressing down on the fish from time to time to make the fish skin and the iron pot make closer contact.

Before Tadokoro Megumi could react, Lin Yu grabbed her hand. She instinctively stepped back, but bumped right into Lin Yu's arms.

"What's wrong?"

Lin Yu's attention was still on the frying pan.

"N-nothing..."

Tadokoro Megumi answered in a trembling voice.

Although there was no mirror at the moment, Megumi Tadokoro could imagine that her face must be bright red, perhaps even redder than the bottle of red wine she had used to stew the beef that day.

"Lin Yujun, it must have been an accident, right?"

Thinking this, Tadokoro Megumi relaxed her body and let Lin Yu hold her hand and operate it.

As the fish skin sizzles in the oil, it gradually turns a deep brown color and becomes an enticingly crispy texture.