Everything can be infused with spirit.
In desserts, this is thoroughly exemplified.
Whiskey, brandy, rum, and various liqueurs are frequent guests in dessert baking.
Not just these spirits, wine also plays its part, though added in small quantities, it is considered the "soul" of the dessert.
"Alcohol!"
"This alcohol… doesn't seem like…"
Momo opened her eyes, pondering after tasting, then seemed to realize something.
"Amarone."
"A type of dried grape wine from Italy."
Beside her, Zane explained.
The so-called dried grape wine involves drying freshly picked grapes.
The purpose of drying is to dehydrate the grapes, given that water makes up more than 80% of the grape's composition.
What Momo didn't expect was that the wine used in the Zabaglione dessert was this robust, richly flavored Amarone.
This wine, light in tannins and color, tends to oxidize into a pomegranate hue.
Because of its high acidity, tannins, and complex flavors, it has great aging potential and theoretically, it's perfect for making Zabaglione.
"Owner, how did you think to use this kind of wine?"
After thinking it over, Momo blinked her eyes adorably and asked Zane.
"At the tavern, we offer many types of alcohol every day, but for now, this wine is the most suitable for Zabaglione."
Zane replied calmly.
"Do you mean there is better wine than Amarone?" Momo, suddenly excited, quickly asked again.
"Of course, good dessert wines, aside from being sweet, also need high acidity to balance it out, making the wine dimensional rather than just a syrupy sweetness."
"Generally, dessert wines are often made from white grapes."
"And Marsala wine, with an alcohol content of 16% to 20%, has a rich, sweet flavor, and if some could be added to the Zabaglione, it would enhance the overall taste experience!"
In fact, Marsala wine is always an excellent choice as an aperitif.
This wine is suitable for cold consumption and also for use in cooking.
Because it can impart a nutty flavor to dishes without being overly sweet, and it also has notes of plum and vanilla.
Even as a drink, its wine texture is as soft as velvet, lingering on the lips with a sweet taste of raisins!
"I see, I… I've tried many kinds of dessert wines, including rum."
"However, the Zabaglione I made always failed to balance the wine aroma with the other flavors!"
Only now did Momo fully understand, and her respect for Zane grew even more.
Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses.
Although Momo knows more about desserts than others, she might not be as knowledgeable about wines!
Afterward, in a good mood, she continued to enjoy the Zabaglione in front of her.
The warm, smooth egg mixture, always mixed with the aroma of the wine, and then paired with the cool, sweet strawberries at the bottom of the cup, one feeling:
Delicious!
Truly delicious!
Her heart was completely melting along with this dessert!
...
Meanwhile, at Totsuki Academy.
The brightly lit conference room was already filled with various Elite Ten members.
With a lazy glance around and noticing the empty seat next to Fuyuki Megishima, Eishi felt helpless.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Momo is unavoidably absent tonight."
"So tonight's Elite Ten Council meeting is missing her presence!"
"Anyway, the sudden gathering of everyone is mainly to discuss how to alleviate various conflicts among students after school starts?"
"Just on the first day of school, I had to handle two Shokugeki."
Eishi scratched his head, his gaze landing on Erina, and he sighed again, "Erina... I'm begging you."
"After dealing with the Donburi Cuisine Research Society tomorrow morning, can you please stop?"
These past few days, dealing with various school affairs and managing each Shokugeki had already been very stressful for him, even causing him some anxiety.
"Senpai, you know the financial situation of the academy."
"And for those research societies that only leech off the school, those institutions that contribute nothing, I, Erina, naturally have to bring them down!"
Erina firmly addressed Tsukasa.
"Although you have a point, I think the purpose of research societies."
"Is to allow a group of like-minded people to work together on the same things, to study the same cuisines."
"And this pleasure can't be measured in money or any other benefits."
Rindo, taking a bite of a delicious dumpling
, stared straight at Erina with his round eyes.
"Sister, do you know how much the Sumo Hotpot Cuisine Research Society spends on research costs each year?"
"And then look at what valuable sumo hotpot cuisines they have developed over the years?"
"In my view, it's precisely because we've been too lenient with them that the value of various research societies has become meaningless!"
Erina firmly replied.
"Fine, fine, you have your reasons, and I'm not joining those societies anyway."
Typically unconcerned about such matters, Rindo didn't want to get too involved.
"I also agree with this view."
"Just like someone, using the name of research societies to coerce freshmen."
"Using these dirty methods to rapidly expand his influence, I heard that now more than 100 students serve him, truly impressive!"
Rui slightly lifted his glasses, speaking faintly.
"Four-eyes, if you're not happy, just say it directly, did I bother you by recruiting freshmen?"
Knowing he was being mocked, Terunori immediately slammed the table and retorted.
"Cut!"
"Do I look upset?"
"I just dislike your methods."
"How can you, who only make spicy cuisine, represent Chinese cuisine? Why should others follow you? What gives you the right to act recklessly in the academy?"
Rui, also slamming the table, stared back at Terunori with an equally intense presence.
"Alright, alright, let's settle this with cooking then. Let's see if my cuisine can represent Chinese cuisine?"
Terunori, visibly annoyed, issued a culinary challenge to him.
"If I weren't busy making money these days, do you think you could still hold onto the eighth seat? I would have replaced you already." Rui retorted irritably.
"Can you two calm down?"
"I've said this meeting is to discuss how to solve conflicts among students, and you two are starting trouble already?"
Seeing this, Eishi's face turned blue with anger.
But with his indecisive personality, he was momentarily at a loss!
"Terunori, if you cause trouble at this critical moment."
"Then I can guarantee that you won't see the sun rise over Totsuki tomorrow morning!"
Beside him, Rindo's snake-like eyes were slightly widened, her body exuding a pressure that made everyone feel suppressed.
Terunori shivered involuntarily.
He quickly and wisely sat back down, and Rui also shut his mouth.
"Anyway, I hope you, as members of the Elite Ten, act with some discretion."
"If things get a bit too much, it really gives me a headache!"
Seeing Rindo finally intimidate everyone present, Eishi could only wipe the sweat from his forehead and speak helplessly again.
If he had known that sitting in the first seat would bring such great pressure and workload, he would have gladly handed the position to Rindo!
"Ah!"
"Next."
"There's another matter we need to discuss, which is..."
"The residential internship activity for new students."
Eishi finished speaking, his gaze becoming more intense, clearly indicating that this residential internship activity was the main topic of the meeting!
...
Just as instructor Roland had said in class, many things are beyond the capability of their group of instructors to teach.
Therefore, to enhance students' overall abilities, Totsuki Academy, in conjunction with the Totsuki Resort, holds a residential internship activity shortly after the start of the school year every year.
And this event is also one of the most important plot points in the entire "Food Wars" world!
Of course, enhancing students' abilities is one aspect.
The main purpose, actually, is to use this internship activity to re-screen those students who have successfully passed the entrance exams.
As the general said, 99% are there to hone the 1% who matter.
Thus, this is also why the assessments during the residential internships are often very stringent each year.
Take this year's residential internship activity, for example, where several Totsuki alumni are invited to serve as judges, demanding that these new Totsuki students not only produce delicious cuisines but also gain the approval of the alumni!
While filled with various challenges, for many students, it is also an opportunity not to be missed.
After all, the residential internship activity is the first major reshuffling that first-year students face after entering the higher education department.
So those poor students, those who are there just to fill the numbers, are naturally mercilessly eliminated.
But conversely, those powerful and excellent students often get to showcase their abilities, providing them a stage for their future potential to soar!
...
On a starry night, everything seemed hazy.
At this moment, in the hall on the first floor of the Polar Star Dormitory.
Soma had just brought a bowl of beef donburi he had made to Madame Fumio.
The slightly reddened beef was not overcooked from stir-frying; on the contrary, it looked fresh and juicy.
Paired with soft, sticky rice, vibrant green onions, smooth egg liquid, and very flavorful broth, the whole bowl of beef donburi felt very authentic and looked appealing!
"Soma, this is the third bowl of donburi now."
Glancing at the bowl of beef donburi out of the corner of her eye, Madame Fumio sighed.
"Grandma Fumio, there's a competition tomorrow morning, so please taste this again and see what problems still exist with the improved donburi?"
Seeing this, Soma could only put his hands together, bowing respectfully to Fumio.
"Ah!"
"I really can't stand you."
Madame Fumio, first picking up the ceramic bowl.
She sniffed it gently near her nose, then nodded slightly satisfied.
It must be said, the rich aroma of eggs, the sweet scent of rice, and the continuously emanating rich fat of the beef... If just based on the aroma, she could give Fumio a perfect score.
Then, she scooped up a bite, under Soma's watchful eyes, and began to taste it carefully.
The large pieces of grain-fed beef brisket, which were very satisfying to eat, did not resemble the cheap synthetic meat from outside at all.
Moreover, the mushrooms were delicious, the carrots soft and sweet, then the onions and beef complemented each other, the mix of meat and vegetables giving a sweet and salty taste.
"How is it? Any improvement?" Soma asked anxiously.
"Yes, did you add some Sichuan pepper powder that can remove the gamey taste and has a fragrant aroma?"
"Under the influence of the Sichuan pepper, the sweet, tender beef and the soft, sticky rice could perfectly meld together, reaching an almost seamless state."
"Wait!"
"Wait a minute!"
Swallowing, Madame Fumio fell into thought.
Then, as if realizing something, she looked at Soma: "I didn't expect you to add some pickled plums."
"Yes, I secretly added some pickled plums to this beef donburi!"
Soma did not deny it.
Beef itself contains fat, and paired with rice to make donburi, it results in a high-calorie and high-fat meal, which can easily make people feel full if eaten in excess.
Considering that Madame Fumio had already eaten two bowls of donburi, she must be feeling a bit satiated.
Therefore, he added some pickled plums, which can adjust the function of the stomach and intestines.
In addition, the sour taste of the pickled plums can make the overall dish taste sweet and appetizing.
Just a small bite, and the overwhelming sour taste would surge forth.
Further chewing, the intense sour, tender, fragrant, and sweet tastes and sensations under mutual interaction continually stimulated the body's instinctual responses.
"Not bad, you thought to use pickled plums."
"To neutralize the greasiness of the beef is definitely a very good approach."
Finally, Madame Fumio put down her chopsticks, no longer tasting his cuisine.
Although she did not want to discourage Soma internally, knowing how important the next day's competition was, she could only speak truthfully: "The rice, mushrooms, onions, carrots, and others are handled very well."
"But the beef still lacks something!"
"Beef?"
Soma paused.
"Don't underestimate the beef, only when the quality of the beef reaches its most delicious."
"Can it completely compensate for the deficiencies and flaws of this beef donburi?"
Madame Fumio spoke seriously.
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