Spicy!
We should put it this way.
Since modern times, spiciness has gradually occupied an increasingly important position in the culinary world.
Firstly, spice can cover many flaws.
If the ingredients aren't fresh, spice can mask it. If a chef's seasoning skills aren't great, adding some spice makes it less noticeable!
Secondly, spice can create a neural sensation, leading to an addictive feeling that makes people crave more, making it a cost-effective way to enhance the dining experience.
Of course, using too much spice can destroy the original flavor of the ingredients and is rarely used for high-end ingredients.
This can be seen in Chinese state banquet dishes where the use of chili and Sichuan pepper in Sichuan cuisine is reduced.
...
"Kuga, your cooking has improved a bit."
"But your overuse of spice hasn't changed!"
Finally, a steaming plate of Mapo Tofu was finished by Rindo Kobayashi.
She was sweating profusely but felt extremely satisfied.
That spicy kick made her lose her mind, forcing her to keep craving the pain-induced experience brought by the Mapo Tofu's taste!
But after finishing it, she calmed down and felt a bit repelled.
She specialized in "rare ingredients," pursuing the value, taste, and function of the ingredients.
This cooking philosophy of treating "spicy" as supreme was destroying and masking the flavor of the ingredients, which naturally clashed with her philosophy.
"Senpai, I don't want to hear about how spiciness ruins people's taste buds."
"After all, spiciness is a pain sensation, not a taste sensation, so it doesn't damage the tongue. I want to prove that it's not spice choosing everyone, but everyone choosing spice!"
Kuga shrugged.
He knew he couldn't convince Rindo Kobayashi with these words, but he had his persistence.
Cooking is easy to learn but hard to master.
The potential of any cuisine, or even any dish, is unlimited.
If Terunori Kuga can allow people to taste various flavors within a primarily spicy dish, then it's also the correct path!
However, with his current ability level, Rindo felt he couldn't reach that realm.
...
At night, in the smoky, lively Tavern.
Every customer who came here could experience all the flavors of life in this small dining area, chatting and laughing with the owner, Zane, at the walnut wood cooking counter.
At this moment, a white-collar worker who worked during the day was eating Mapo Tofu.
He picked up a shiny piece of tofu, blew on it a few times, and only after it cooled slightly did he slowly put it into his mouth.
Smooth, tender, numbing, and spicy, all it took was a gentle chew.
A flavor instantly burst in his mouth, occupying every part of his tongue.
This wonderful feeling made the customer linger.
Eating Mapo Tofu in the Tavern indeed had a strange sense of novelty.
But the Tavern had a rule of allowing customers to order whatever they wanted, and Zane's Mapo Tofu was quite authentic, different from many Chinese restaurants outside.
Some restaurants used firm tofu, which wasn't smooth enough.
Because using soft tofu could break easily during stir-frying, testing the chef's work skills.
Some restaurants, to save costs and time, used hot pot bases directly, compromising the flavor.
Only Zane's Mapo Tofu left a lasting impression on diners every time.
...
In Japan, all spicy Chinese dishes are called "Mapo XX," such as:
Fish-fragrant eggplant is called Mapo Eggplant.
It seems that in the eyes of the Japanese, "Mapo" is the creator of the spicy world.
To cater to the lighter tastes of the Japanese, Zane naturally made some changes to the Mapo Tofu recipe!
He abandoned the original high-heat stir-frying method and adopted a slow simmering method.
This allowed the minced beef to soften, and various seasonings to fully infuse into the tofu, making it more flavorful.
He also used the three-time thickening method to create a thick sauce, making the tofu smooth like water, which could easily slide into the mouth, catching diners off guard.
The flavor wasn't too spicy, but it had a lingering aftertaste.
Once tasted, it felt like the dish had an addictive quality, making people want to lick the plate clean...
"Owner, your Mapo Tofu is amazing!"
Licking the last drop of rich sauce from the plate, the satisfied customer exclaimed deeply.
Then he asked Zane for a glass of water.
He drank it down to cool the spicy sensation.
After chatting with others and Zane for a while, he paid the bill and left the Tavern satisfied.
...
Watching the customer leave, the helper Sonoka cleaned the table.
Then she wiped the table with a clean cloth and threw the dishes into the dishwasher.
If Ryoko Sakaki saw her old friend, a former Totsuki graduate, working as a helper in the Tavern, she might want to kill Zane!
However, Sonoka seemed to enjoy it.
After all, working as a helper in the Tavern these days was exhausting but rewarding.
At least in terms of cooking skills, she had learned a lot from Zane!
"What... what's happening to me?"
Suddenly, after finishing her work, Sonoka felt dizzy, and her vision became dark and blurry.
She quickly rubbed her forehead, trying to clear her mind.
But in the end, she lost strength and fell backward, feeling someone's hand supporting her back, pulling her into an embrace.
As she regained her footing, she gradually recovered some clarity.
"Are you okay?"
Looking at Sonoka's exhausted face, Zane felt a pang of guilt and heartache.
"Owner, I... I'm fine, probably just overworked these past few days, pushing my body beyond its limits."
Nestling in Zane's arms, Sonoka felt a strange but comforting sensation, feeling tired yet safe.
"These days, you've been running your own Shunkatei during the day and helping out at the Tavern at night."
"Even if it were me, I'd be exhausted. Tonight, don't do anything, just rest well!"
Zane said gently.
"Okay, I... I'll listen to you."
Sonoka didn't act stubbornly, just quietly nodded.
Then, blushing, she murmured, "Um... Owner, can you let go? I'm not used to being held like this!"
"Sorry, sorry."
Zane, looking down at his hands tightly wrapped around her waist, quickly let go.
"I'll go tend to the other customers."
Then, Zane hurriedly walked away, pretending to be busy.
Recalling the intimate moment they just had, Sonoka stood blushing, lost in her thoughts.
...
"Mana-sama."
"Your body is still weak, don't run so fast!"
"Annie, let's hurry to the Tavern while Erina is at the training camp."
"But... but even if you don't want to meet your daughter, there's no need to rush."
"How can I not hurry?"
"If I wasn't worried about running into Erina at the Tavern, I would've come earlier."
Accompanied by urgent voices, two beautiful women entered the Tavern.
Leading the way was a graceful and elegant woman.
Usually dressed in a kimono, and holding a folding fan, she exuded a strong presence.
But tonight, she wore a light red backless dress with intricate embroidery, looking noble and glamorous!
The most striking feature was her elegant updo, with a few strands of hair cascading down her neck, making her look like a young girl in her twenties.
Behind her was another beautiful woman, slightly less elegant but as captivating as a blooming jasmine flower.
"What brings you to the Tavern again?"
Seeing Mana Nakiri and Annie, Zane was a bit surprised.
Not because he didn't expect them, but because he noticed Mana Nakiri seemed increasingly dependent on his cooking!
...
"Zane, give me a portion of Comet Fried Rice."
Mana, sitting down, said eagerly.
"Unfortunately, the Tavern didn't prepare spinach tonight, so I can't make Comet Fried Rice."
Zane replied with a smile.
"No Comet Fried Rice, then... how about Frozen Bream?"
Mana looked disappointed but quickly asked again.
"I can make that." Hearing this, Mana's eyes lit up, but before she could speak, Zane interrupted: "But I recommend another dish, Magical Mapo Tofu!"
"Mapo Tofu?"
Mana was stunned.
"Note my words, it's not just Mapo Tofu, but Magical Mapo Tofu."
"What's the difference?"
"Magical Mapo Tofu is a magical version of Mapo Tofu!"
Hearing this nonsensical explanation, Mana rolled her eyes, annoyed. "How does it compare to Frozen Bream and Comet Fried Rice?"
"It has six flavors, what do you think?"
"Okay, then... I'll have a portion of Magical Mapo Tofu."
After a few seconds of thought, Mana, surprised, quickly nodded.
"Okay, please wait a moment."
With that, Zane turned back to the cooking counter.
...
In the opening of "Cooking Master Boy," the story first introduces the factions and geographical distribution of Chinese cuisine, divided into major categories:
Beijing, Shanghai, Cantonese, Sichuan!
Among them, Sichuan cuisine's Mapo Tofu appears early on.
"Mana-sama, isn't Mapo Tofu usually just spicy and numbing?"
Annie, still puzzled, whispered to Mana.
"I don't know either. I vaguely remember that the heat trapped inside the tofu's protein could count as a flavor."
"Huh? Heat is also a flavor?"
Annie blinked, thinking for a moment, then seemed to understand.
"Let's just watch and see how he
makes Mapo Tofu with six flavors."
Mana, her eyes shining, sat up straight, observing Zane.
Heating the pot, Zane added a bit more oil, then sautéed minced garlic, garlic shoots, fermented black beans, and dried chilies until fragrant, followed by the essential fermented bean paste, cooking until the oil turned red.
Sizzle, sizzle.
As the pot's temperature gradually rose, a strong spicy aroma emerged.
"This is the first flavor, spicy!"
"Next comes the second flavor, fragrant!"
Zane added broth, soy sauce, rice wine, sugar, and salt for seasoning and coloring.
He then added soft tofu and some garlic shoot leaves, bringing it to a boil, and then simmering it over low heat to allow the flavors to infuse into the tofu.
"Wow, Mana-sama, it smells so good!"
Annie, sniffing the air, almost got drunk on the rich fragrance.
Next, Zane mixed starch with water to make a slurry.
He added the slurry to the tofu, thickening the sauce in three batches, ensuring the sauce coated the tofu perfectly.
Once the sauce thickened and red oil surfaced, he turned up the heat, shaking the pan gently to prevent burning.
"This is the third and fourth flavors, color and heat."
Zane then added soy-based "minced meat," served the dish, and sprinkled the remaining garlic shoot leaves and Sichuan pepper.
The six-flavor Mapo Tofu was complete!
...
Gurgle, gurgle!
When the steaming Magical Mapo Tofu was served, it was still bubbling.
The green garlic shoots and red sauce contrasted beautifully, making the white tofu swim in the clear yet thick base, increasing one's appetite.
Meanwhile, a strong, pungent aroma, like a wild beast, attacked the entire Tavern!
"Huh? This Mapo Tofu..."
Watching the brown minced meat mixed with tofu sliding into the red soup, Mana's eyes widened as she leaned closer to observe.
Suddenly, a dazzling light shot out from the plate, illuminating the entire dim sky.
"What? It's glowing again?"
Seeing the Magical Mapo Tofu glowing, Mana swallowed hard, growing more excited.
She knew that any dish glowing in Zane's hands was bound to be amazing!
"Spicy, fragrant, colorful, hot, and the numbing effect of Sichuan pepper."
"That makes five flavors, right?"
Calming down, Mana asked Zane, confused.
"Taste it first."
"The sixth flavor is hidden within."
Zane replied mysteriously.
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