Chapter 185: A New Position, Acquired
As his words hung in the air, everyone snapped back to reality. Their eyes shifted from the plated dish to Hachiman, who had already shed his apron and chef's hat, leaving them momentarily speechless.
"He really finished it in just an hour..."
One of the assisting chefs mumbled as they stared at the plated dish.
"This is impossible! We've prepared this Beef Bourguignon countless times, and it usually takes at least two hours, especially when it goes in the oven. But he managed it in thirty minutes," another chef exclaimed with an incredulous expression.
However, the reality was undeniable: the dish was elegantly plated, and Hachiman had already moved on, displaying no intention to continue.
"Alright, Erina, as agreed, I've completed it within the hour." After meticulously washing his hands once more, Hachiman offered a smile to the girl on the other side.
"Hmph, it's not over yet. Taste is paramount, and there's no way a dish prepared in just an hour can be truly delicious." Erina issued a disdainful huff, her skepticism apparent.
"Whether it's good or not, you'll have the final say when you taste it yourself," Hachiman replied with a nonchalant shrug.
"Fine, I'll give it a taste."
Observing his unwavering confidence, the girl glared at him and approached the kitchen counter.
The fragrance of the dish had filled the kitchen during the plating process. Now, the entire kitchen was saturated with the alluring aroma of the meat.
Gazing at the plate of Beef Bourguignon before her, Erina, though reluctant to admit it, couldn't help but feel her mouth water. She reached out and took a fork in hand.
The glistening fork delicately pierced a piece of beef, causing a small section of the meat's surface to yield, and a stream of succulent juices burst forth from the fork's puncture.
"This is... so tender. Why is there so much juice in the beef? And even after searing and roasting, it's still this springy!"
Observing this, Erina's gaze sharpened, and she delicately placed the piece of meat into her mouth.
As the beef entered her mouth, a rich, meaty flavor immediately enveloped her palate, followed by the pleasing notes of red wine.
This intrigued the girl. It was the same red wine used, yet the previous dish had a subtle hint of acidity, while this one did not.
Upon closer scrutiny, aside from the sweetness of the red wine, another form of sweetness subtly emerged on her taste buds.
Upon careful consideration, Erina unraveled the secret behind this sweetness.
"You used honey."
"That's correct. You have an astute palate, Erina. It's no surprise you figured it out." Hearing the girl uncover the mystery, Hachiman explained without surprise.
"Honey can tenderize the resilient beef fibers. I incorporated honey into the meat before simmering it, and I also added some while seasoning to balance the gentle acidity of the red wine."
"Erina, you're aware that I've delved into Chinese cuisine extensively. Many Chinese dishes cleverly incorporate honey, such as bear paws in the 'Eight Treasures' dish. These dishes have robust and coarse textures, and they require air-drying before consumption. Honey is used to soften the meat, making it more palatable..."
Upon hearing this, the girl nodded, but her attractive brows furrowed after a moment.
"However, can honey alone achieve this level?" Erina questioned.
To this, Hachiman gave a faint smile and continued.
"Of course, honey alone wouldn't be enough. So when I was handling the beef, I made some cuts on the meat's surface. This allows the meat to absorb the sauce better while simmering, resulting in a finer, smoother, and more elastic texture."
He presented a piece of remaining beef in front of the girl.
Erina scrutinized it carefully and noticed subtle cut marks on the beef's surface. It was likely something Hachiman had done while cutting the meat, but he did it so deftly that no one else had noticed.
This level of knife skill wasn't within everyone's reach, at least not in her estimation.
Erina was most astounded by the fact that Hachiman's culinary skills appeared to have improved since their last showdown, judging by the taste of the Beef Bourguignon. This left her almost speechless.
"Doesn't this guy have a limit?" she pondered.
In reality, he didn't seem to have any limits. Hachiman possessed extraordinary abilities, with his culinary skills improving as he accumulated proficiency and breaking through the level cap automatically, rendering any constraints obsolete.
Observing Erina's silence, Hachiman didn't rush to break it. He picked up the fork, skewered a piece of beef, and tasted it.
He activated his "Tasting" module, and his Beef Bourguignon scored 92 points, whereas Chef Kasumigaoka's dish from earlier had only scored around 80 points.
You might wonder when he acquired this module?
He obtained the "Tasting" module when he became a judge in a cooking battle between Alice and Erina.
Erina snapped back to reality at this point. Her gaze fell upon the fork in Hachiman's hand, causing her face to flush with embarrassment.
"Hey, what are you doing?" she exclaimed, realizing that he had just used the same fork she had used. It was almost like an indirect kiss.
With that thought, Erina couldn't help but glare angrily at Hachiman.
Aware of the girl's gaze, Hachiman also realized that he had indeed picked up the fork she used without thinking.
However, he remained notably composed about the situation, considering they had shared a direct kiss at the beach before, making an indirect kiss seem hardly worth worrying about.
"Sorry, I didn't notice," Hachiman casually responded.
At this point, Erina reminisced about their night at the beach and felt a hint of emotion stirring in her heart. Nevertheless, upon hearing Hachiman's somewhat insincere apology, she couldn't resist giving him another piercing glare.
"So, Erina, what do you think? Is this dish acceptable?" Hachiman smiled slightly.
"Hmph, I'll reluctantly admit it. It's acceptable," she replied with a sulky tone. Although she wanted to punch him in the face, as a qualified judge, Erina grudgingly responded to the dish.
"So, our bet..."
"Alright, alright, I got it. I'll judge this Star Rating Assessment as a pass," the girl replied, giving him a disgruntled look.
Hearing her words, Chef Kasumigaoka and the assisting chefs all wore excited expressions.
"However, even if the assessment is passed, Chef Kasumigaoka will still need to continue working hard. If the annual reassessments don't go well, the star rating title will be revoked," Erina said with a serious expression.
Many restaurants found themselves in this situation, thinking that passing the star rating assessment guaranteed success, only to have their star ratings revoked during reassessment. Regret often came too late in those cases.
"Please rest assured, Miss Erina, I will continue to put in effort," Chef Kasumigaoka Hiroki said with a slight bow.
Hearing this, the girl nodded. She had tasted Chef Kasumigaoka's culinary skills earlier, and apart from a few mishaps in the Beef Bourguignon, his performance in other dishes met the passable standard. As long as he could be more strict with himself, maintaining the star rating title shouldn't be too difficult.
"Now that the assessment is over, I'll take my leave."
After saying this, Erina left the kitchen with Hisako, and the Kasumigaoka couple hurriedly followed.
At this moment, Hachiman blinked at Utaha.
Recalling the condition he had promised earlier, a hint of shyness appeared on the girl's face.
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-The "Eight Treasures" dish, known as "Babao Fan" in Chinese, is a traditional Chinese cuisine that features a combination of various ingredients, often totaling eight or more. The dish typically includes a mix of meats, vegetables, and other components, creating a rich and flavorful meal. Some common ingredients that can be found in the Eight Treasures dish include meats like chicken, pork, and shrimp, along with vegetables, nuts, and fruits. The precise combination of ingredients may vary depending on regional and personal preferences.
This dish is known for its complex flavors, combining sweet, savory, and sometimes spicy elements, making it a popular choice in Chinese banquets and festive occasions. The name "Eight Treasures" symbolizes abundance and good fortune, making it a suitable dish for celebrations and special events.
-In the Zhou Dynasty, the bear paw was regarded as a delicacy in the palace known as one of the eighth treasures.