"Paper pot?"
"Is it to filter out some residual impurities from the ingredients?"
Erina thought for a moment, frowning and muttering to herself, "Wouldn't a modern glazed clay pot be more effective?"
"A clay pot itself is made from sand and clay, with a rough texture and dense pores, which helps water molecules and ingredients penetrate each other."
"Boiling it also has a good insulation effect, forming a heat cycle inside the pot, which helps to expel impurities from the ingredients."
"Moreover, this kind of glazed clay pot."
"It has a waterproof glaze layer that can better preserve the flavor and juices of the ingredients."
"I don't get it... I really don't get Zane's idea!"
...
"Zane, can I see the paper you used?"
Mana, also noticing some issues, quickly raised her head and asked.
Zane didn't reply, just nodded, and took out a pre-folded paper pot, handing it to Mana.
"This paper..."
Mana gently rubbed it with her fingers, feeling its texture and quality. Suddenly, she was shocked and roughly understood, "Indeed, the paper used is not market-standard A4 paper, napkins, or writing paper, but..."
"Wow, I've never seen this kind of paper before in my life!"
"Xuan paper, specifically processed Xuan paper."
Zane explained.
"Xuan paper? Isn't that a special type of paper from China?"
Mana was puzzled.
"Yes, Xuan paper has strong water absorption and permeability, making it perfect for paper pots."
"While the theory is that paper pots won't burn because there's water inside,"
"But theory is one thing, practical use is another. You can't use too thick paper, can't fold too many layers, and can't use glue to shape the pot; it must be folded."
"Additionally, the paper's water absorption shouldn't be too strong, or the broth will leak before the pot gets hot enough."
"Furthermore, the heat must be controlled; you have to wait until the broth has soaked into the paper fibers before heating, so the paper stays at 100℃ without burning."
"In summary, paper pots require meticulous attention to detail. Chefs without strong micro-manipulation skills are not recommended to use them!"
Hearing this, Mana looked frustrated.
What he said made sense, but as he mentioned, it's tough to manage in practice.
"Even though Xuan paper has strong water absorption, wouldn't relying on a paper pot be inefficient?"
"If the heat isn't high enough, only a small contact area gets hot, and using something like chicken breast to replace shrimp balls would filter out impurities better than using a paper pot."
"Also, cooking in a regular pot and then straining with cheesecloth works too, right?"
Finally expressing her confusion, Mana gave Zane a hard look.
"Paper pots have their unique benefits. Just taste it quickly before it gets cold."
Zane didn't want to explain too much on this topic.
He knew some things couldn't be explained with words alone; only by tasting it would she fully understand!
...
"Alright, I'm starting."
With that, the eager Mana scooped up a spoonful of soup.
In the dim light, the soup in the spoon seemed to shimmer, but upon closer inspection, it was very clear, with no impurities left by the ingredients.
"No matter how high-quality the ingredients are, cooking them will always leave some undesirable flavors."
"Even with the strong absorption and filtering of the Xuan paper pot and multiple filtrations, it's theoretically impossible to achieve near 100% clarity, right?"
Thinking this, Mana finally sipped the spoonful of soup.
With a slurp, the clear, rich broth slid onto her tongue, then down her throat into her body.
A single sip.
Undoubtedly.
It contained the sweetness of various vegetables, the wildness of mushrooms, and the chewiness of lobster.
The three flavors, no, the multitude of vegetable, mushroom, and shrimp flavors formed a storm on her taste buds.
It felt like the golden dragon flying through the clouds, taking Mana on a journey to the deepest parts of the universe!
Meanwhile, the steam rising from the pot blurred the surroundings, separating the tavern from the outside world.
Exaggeratingly, even a small drop of this broth was filled with endless power, as if concentrated with the essence of all vegetable ingredients, intertwining, rotating, condensing, and sublimating in her mouth.
Eventually, Mana felt like she had dived into a world of hot pot, and this deliciousness made her unable to stop.
It felt like a mouse falling in love with rice, a cat falling in love with a mouse, and a weasel falling in love with a cat!
...
Life's warmth and cold are just like hot pot and alcohol.
Seafood and meat are always the stars of hot pot, but without vegetables, hot pot is incomplete.
Common seasonal vegetables can not only cut through the richness but also enrich the broth's taste.
Bamboo fungus, porcini, shiitake mushrooms, mini king oyster mushrooms, and soybean sprouts—all these vegetable ingredients offered a layered taste, continually challenging the limits of Mana's God Tongue.
The flavor of the entire Treasure Mountain Dragon Pot was indeed intoxicating, like a rich dream lingering on her tongue, with each bite full of endless aftertaste.
Gradually, Mana felt very warm and free.
Even with her God Tongue, as she continued to devour the ingredients in the paper pot, her inner fog cleared.
Finally, she entered a mystical realm, finding herself in a tranquil and beautiful hot spring, with gentle water sounds and birds chirping around, and mist filling the air.
The hot spring water, just like the broth of the Treasure Mountain Dragon Pot, was crystal clear and perfectly warm.
Mana then removed her kimono and immersed herself in the hot spring.
In this environment, she could temporarily forget the trivialities and pressures of life.
Especially that comfortable feeling, as if seeping into her body through every pore, relaxing her muscles and dispelling her tension and anxiety.
Over time, the minerals in the water began to nourish her skin, making it feel smooth.
"What's happening?"
"This feeling... no, no, why do I feel so weak all over? It's so... so... so comfortable!"
In the end, in reality, Mana collapsed onto the table.
Her sharp eyes suddenly rolled back, showing a completely dazed expression, and after a while, she sighed with infinite satisfaction, "Oh no, I can't resist!"
Being conquered by Zane's cooking, being captivated by this dish, this feeling was:
Too wonderful!
...
Ultimately, as she completely lost consciousness, she ravenously devoured everything.
In no time, the entire pot of vegetables and shrimp balls was completely eaten, and she didn't even leave a drop of broth, licking it desperately.
"Huh?"
"Did I see that right?"
Next to her, Erina was dumbfounded.
The last time she reunited with her mother, even though she liked the Golden Ratio Shumai, she never had such a reaction!
Finally, seeing her mother Mana slowly come to, calmly wiping her mouth with a napkin, she accepted this reality.
A dream.
No, this was not a dream at all.
Her mother, with the God Tongue, was truly conquered by Zane once again.
"So, how was the hot pot made with a paper pot? It tasted pretty good, right?"
Zane approached her, tidying up and then smiling slightly, asking.
Mana blushed, looked up charmingly at Zane, and softly replied, "Yes, it was very good."
"Many hot pots leave a faint greasy smell, but the paper pot has an advantage of filtering out the greasiness, keeping the ingredients and air fresh!"
"Mom, it seems that only Zane's cooking in the world can completely satisfy your God Tongue and make you feel fulfilled!"
Erina, in a daze after hearing her mother's explanation, couldn't help but say.
"I like Zane the most in this life, because without his cooking, I might still be relying on nutritional liquids to keep myself alive."
Whether it was from just finishing the entire Treasure Mountain Dragon Pot or being a bit excited, her face blushed, showing a hint of happiness!
"Like?"
Erina felt confused.
"Erina, your God Tongue ability."
"Hasn't evolved to reject any food yet, so you don't understand how terrible anorexia is."
"I have experienced it for more than ten years, almost losing my life several times."
"So, I know better that when Zane's cooking can conquer the God Tongue, people like you and me with this ability can never leave him."
"We might even develop some feelings and dependence on him because of the food."
In the past, Erina would never believe this.
There was no theory proving that conquering the God Tongue could conquer her heart.
But thinking about her feelings for Zane recently, she didn't doubt her mother's opinion.
Maybe.
This is fate?
Only fate could arrange for her to meet Zane.
And because of the God Tongue and his delicious cooking, some emotional connection developed!
...
France is a country full of romance.
In literature, they emphasize their subjective world, using passionate language and colorful artistic methods, combined with unique imagination, to express their pursuit of a beautiful world!
Similarly, in cooking, French cuisine also carries a strong sense of "romanticism."
For example:
In the city of Paris.
A French restaurant called SHINO'S.
Walking in, the restaurant's decoration and design reflected the chef Kojiro's taste as an art lover.
Every table had a neatly ironed white tablecloth and a vase of fresh flowers, with candlelight flickering under the green shade.
The diners here were all nobles from the upper class.
They ate exquisite French dishes elegantly, while the waiters and sommeliers busily moved around, everything
exuding elegance!
As everyone knows, French cuisine has a serving order and is particularly complex.
When it came to desserts, the tablecloths and cutlery had to be replaced with a full set of beautiful ones, and the desserts Kojiro offered were grand and sweet.
Like a piece of chocolate, which contained the bitterness of almonds and the fragrance of hazelnuts, making it delightful.
So, every diner here marveled at how a young French chef's understanding and handling of French cuisine were so outstanding.
...
"Damn it, I've told you many times."
"The halibut candy appetizer must be made according to my requirements."
"The umami must be just right, with vegetable bits inside, to be qualified. The sticky rice skin should not be too tough."
At this moment in the kitchen, Kojiro was loudly scolding the newly recruited helpers.
"Sorry, Chef, we were wrong!"
"We promise to follow your recipe for the halibut candy appetizer next time and not make changes to shorten the serving time!"
The helpers were pale with fright, bowing and apologizing.
"This time I'll let it go, but if it happens again, you're all fired."
Kojiro slightly lifted the glasses on his nose and coldly said.
Since the end of the residential training, influenced by Megumi and Zane's cooking, his views had inevitably changed.
He still felt upset about unauthorized changes to recipes, but his punishment was milder.
Unexpectedly, as a chef, he rarely went to the dining area to greet diners or ask about their needs.
But now, after finishing his kitchen work, he often ran to the dining area, personally greeting each table of diners.
"I want to infuse my cooking with feelings and wisdom. Everyone needs poetic, gentle, and refined things..."
This was Kojiro's response to a reporter's question two days ago about "why open a branch of SHINO'S restaurant in Japan."
Obviously, he succeeded.
For him, embracing world-class French cuisine again felt great!
"Oh? Is this the place?"
At this moment, a masked man stood in front of SHINO'S restaurant, holding a "Shokugeki Challenge Letter."
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