Color!
Aroma!
Taste!
A good dish should have all three of these factors.
But the Burgundy red wine beef stew in front of us is a bit different from the usual.
It's extremely dark, almost black, completely lacking in any visual appeal, and makes it hard to even look appetizing!
However, the combination of the red wine aroma and the meat creates such a subtle and rich flavor.
"Is this... the most traditional way to make Burgundy red wine beef stew?"
Beside it, Megumi blinked a few times, quickly discovering the secret of this dish.
---
When people think of French cuisine, these words often come to mind:
- Elegant
- Sophisticated
- A-grade foie gras
- Veal
- Caviar
- Truffles
These world-renowned dishes not only taste great but are also exquisitely presented.
At times, it's hard not to marvel at the pursuit of perfection in French cuisine, especially in its presentation!
But in reality, French cuisine isn't just about elegance and sophistication.
Down-to-earth country dishes also have their own fantastic charm.
For example, the Burgundy red wine beef stew in front of us, while a true country dish, was once a common household dish two to three hundred years ago.
But with its unexpected flavor, it eventually became a legend in French cuisine!
At this moment, Megumi, who is skilled in country cooking, seems eager to peer into the secrets of this French country dish, and she is the first to cut a small piece of beef and taste it.
---
No amazement.
No excitement.
Just an unexpected flavor that touches the heart, leaving Megumi feeling indescribable!
Thinking back, when was the last time she had such a special and heartwarming food?
Hmm!
What was it?
All she remembers is living in a small port city in the northeastern part of the Neon Country.
It's a remote place, and very cold in the winter.
Thankfully, the locals are very hospitable, and her family also runs a culinary inn called "Shōkeien Ryokan," so her childhood wasn't that dull.
However, at the age of 12, she was accepted to the Totsuki Academy, so she had to come to Tokyo alone.
Before parting with her mother, she used some local seasonal ingredients to make a local specialty country dish for herself to taste.
At that time, she might have been still immersed in the pleasure of enrolling in Totsuki Academy.
She didn't realize how delicious her mother's cooking was, but she found it very warm and comforting!
Yes!
That dish.
Back when she was the best chef in her hometown.
And at a young age, she even got accepted to the top Japan's Totsuki Academy.
But when everyone had high hopes for her and she thought her future would be bright, she never expected to graduate with the lowest rank.
At the same time, she also faced the risk of being expelled in the first class after the start of the school year.
Thinking about this, Megumi slowly opened her eyes.
She couldn't help but look back at the plate of Burgundy red wine beef stew, and the suppressed emotions finally exploded at that moment!
"Mom, this is Mom's flavor!"
Perhaps it was her own predicament that made her wonder how she would face her mother in the future.
Or maybe it was this dish by Zane that indeed stirred up some memories, causing her to ultimately burst into tears.
---
Professional!
Seasoned!
But with a touch of formality and politeness.
The owner of this tavern is always confident and very dignified.
Though he cooks from the diners' perspective, he never bows and scrapes to them.
He always wants to recommend the most sincere and best flavors to every diner who comes to the tavern.
Thus, in the eyes of many, even the regular Rindo, it is Zane's cooking that has the most warmth.
But looking at Megumi's cooking style, she also has a gentle and warm side.
It's just that her nervousness and panic during every assessment caused her to fail to perform normally, and gradually she became the "tail-ender."
The beef, stewed to tenderness and then infused with red wine aroma, feels very juicy and tender in the mouth, with just the right chewiness.
One bite.
Rich, savory.
Every bit permeated with the rich aroma of grapes.
Megumi ate the red wine beef stew while shedding tears.
As for Yuuki and Ryoko, seeing her moved to tears by a dish left them stunned!
Could it be that a dish nowadays has to make people cry to be considered good?
Reluctantly, they all had to pick up their forks and knives, cutting and tasting the beef gently.
---
Eating and drinking, aside from being full of food and drink.
Balancing taste and texture, adding charm to each other, is a goal many people aim for.
Usually, when wine enters the mouth, it brings a bit of bitterness and astringency, which are caused by tannins in the wine.
Tannins bind with proteins in saliva, causing local muscle contractions in the mouth, reducing saliva production, creating a tightening sensation, making it feel dry.
However, as a phenolic substance, it can also neutralize the fats in the beef, reduce the greasy feeling, break down proteins, making the meat tender, juicy, and releasing its flavor!
Therefore, it can be said that red wine and beef are truly a perfect match in this world.
Unconsciously, Yoshino Yukihime and Sakaki Roko, their chewing gradually slowed down.
It seems like they want to savor the beef in their mouths, feeling the rich taste slowly dispersing after being chewed and crushed.
As time passed, the whole tavern became quiet.
Only the sounds made by these three Polar Star Dormitory girls eating beef could be heard.
Soon, Megumi managed to finish the whole plate of Burgundy red wine beef stew first.
Even though there was a little bit of broth left on the plate, she didn't want to waste it, so she quickly mixed it with mashed potatoes and finished it cleanly.
"Phew, it's really great!"
At that moment of finishing the meal, Megumi suddenly felt extremely calm.
"Master."
"I embarrassed myself in front of you!"
After a brief moment of realization, she quickly wiped away a few tears from the corner of her eyes.
Thinking back about crying while eating in front of Chef Zane, she couldn't help but feel embarrassed!