After breakfast.
Zane would always go to the nearby meat and vegetable market to buy ingredients.
Although the system's sign-in rewards included some common ingredients, it was often not enough.
Moreover, with the tavern's business booming and the daily demand for ingredients being quite high, having the rule of allowing customers to order anything they wanted, it was essential to stock up as much as possible.
"I need to go buy some ingredients later. Do you want to come with me?"
After some preparations, Zane turned to ask Erina.
"Yes!"
"I... I want to go."
Erina did not refuse.
Thinking about it, she realized that at some point, she had started to almost always comply with Zane's wishes, willing to do whatever he suggested.
Perhaps she had gotten too "into character" and really considered herself as Zane's subordinate.
...
The bustling food street.
Its location was right next to the meat and vegetable market, making it very convenient to buy ingredients.
The smell of fresh meat, the earthy scent of vegetables, the sound of chopping, and the vendors' shouts permeated the area, making every corner vibrant and lively.
As the noble daughter of the Nakiri family, Erina had never experienced the life of shopping for groceries, as this was always handled by Hisako, so she never had to do it herself.
As a result, her eyes were filled with curiosity, looking left and right.
At a vegetable stand, Zane casually picked up a carrot and praised, "Not bad, the quality is quite good."
Then he quickly selected a lot of vegetables.
His selection method was simply sweeping his eyes over the produce and immediately finding the best quality vegetables among them.
At first, Erina thought he didn't care about the quality of the ingredients.
Because in the tavern, most of the dishes were just simple bar snacks, there was no need for top-quality ingredients.
However, she gradually realized that although Zane seemed to be picking randomly, the vegetables he chose were always of better quality and appearance than others of the same kind.
"Is it my imagination?"
"His understanding of ingredients seems to be as good as mine, even though I have the God's Tongue!"
"And now that I think about it, even though the tavern uses ordinary ingredients for most dishes, I've never seen any low-quality or rotten vegetables or meat."
"Could it be that he, like me..."
"Has some ability to discern the quality of ingredients?"
Looking at the newly purchased vegetables, Erina suddenly thought of something, feeling a chill down her back.
...
While she was lost in thought.
Elsewhere, under the astonished gaze of the fish shop owner.
Zane managed to buy two top-quality saury at the lowest price.
This operation made Erina, who was standing behind, break her composure, and she couldn't help but ask, "Zane, can you tell the quality of saury at a glance?"
"Many vendors use chemicals to soak the saury to slow oxidation, making it look fresh."
"Judging by appearance alone is very difficult."
"Besides checking if the fish is straight, not curved, dry and not sticky, and has clear gills, you also need to smell for any off odors."
"Of course, the best way is to hang the fish and see if it remains straight without support, indicating freshness and that the flesh hasn't deteriorated."
"In short, telling the quality of saury at a glance is impossible for anyone, even me."
"Exactly."
"I was wondering how you could..."
Hearing this, Erina breathed a sigh of relief, but Zane shook his head and continued, "For common vegetables like carrots, cauliflower, and cabbage, I can tell at a glance. For saury, it takes two looks!"
Erina: ???
"Even if it takes two looks, it's almost instant."
"My God's Tongue can only discern food quality by tasting, but you can judge with just your eyes..."
"Wait, do you have the Eye of God?"
Erina looked deeply into Zane's eyes, filled with countless thoughts.
That's it!
It must be it!
Only if he has the Eye of God can it make sense that at such a young age, he possesses world-class culinary skills, enough to conquer both her and her mother's God's Tongue!
"Hehe, things have come to this point."
"I won't hide it anymore. I'll come clean. I do have the Eye of God."
Zane pretended to be profound, then shrugged and sighed.
Erina: (⊙o⊙)
...
Just by looking, he can know the quality of ingredients.
Just by tasting, he can discern all aspects of a dish's ingredients.
In other words, if these two abilities were combined to create a child... oh no, to create a dish, wouldn't it be unstoppable?
"Ha!"
"What kind of expression is that?"
"Erina, I have to say, sometimes you're adorably naive!"
"What Eye of God, that's nonsense. I handle various ingredients every day to cook. With enough experience, you can easily tell the quality of ingredients with just a look."
"Is that so strange? Is that so surprising?"
He gently flicked her nose and said with a wry smile.
"Huh?"
"Experience?"
"If this counts as experience, then you're scarier than God!"
Touching her nose, Erina rolled her eyes at him and said, "The God's Tongue is known as the closest thing to divine ability, and you, a mere mortal, can rival, no, surpass God with just experience!"
"Maybe I'm just a genius?"
Zane paused but did not deny it.
While his achievements often relied on the system, even before that, he had become the youngest chef at a five-star hotel in the country without any system help!
His strength, his ability to conquer everyone with his cooking, was also due to his own talent.
Of course, in the near future, when he awakens a powerful ability, everyone will see his true terrifying potential.
"Don't just stand there!"
"Erina, come on and follow me."
Zane's urging voice reached Erina's ears, snapping her out of her daze.
She quickly caught up, following Zane closely, helping him buy ingredients.
...
In France.
In a small town at the foot of Mont Blanc in the Alps.
Here, during winter, it's the best place to enjoy snowy scenery, but now in summer, there's no snow.
Even so, the "Chamonix Mont-Blanc" five-star hotel was bustling with business, attracting many people.
From the outside, the hotel looked like a castle with golden turrets, full of classical charm.
Around the base, there were bronze statues of the twelve zodiac signs, symbolizing loyal guards ready to defend the king against enemies.
Entering the spacious and luxurious lobby, the elegant chandeliers made guests feel like they had stepped into a palace.
The dark decor, wooden high stools, and delicate tableware, accompanied by romantic music, exuded an intoxicating atmosphere.
Romantic, charming, elegant...
All words representing France were vividly embodied here.
At this moment, when a plate of freshly made onion soup was served to a noble guest, he was startled. "Is this onion soup? Have you changed chefs?"
"Yes, sir. Our hotel recently welcomed a world-class chef."
"Oh?"
"A world-class chef?"
Curious, the guest took a spoonful of the onion soup and tasted it.
To his astonishment, he displayed a look of sheer amazement.
"The flavor of the soup hinges on the caramelization process."
"This onion soup only has broth and onions before adding the bread."
"Therefore, the broth must be made delicious as the foundation of this dish."
"Hmm, let me think. Oh, I see. After the onions began to soften, a bit of salt and sugar were added, and the heat was turned up to elevate the broth to another level."
"Since sugar aids in the caramelization process, the onions must be constantly stirred until they turn this beautiful golden brown."
"Senzaemon?"
"Could this be the cooking of Joichiro Saiba?"
"He must be back. The chef who left a lasting impression on me is finally back."
"Tears welled up as he realized that he could once again taste Joichiro's cooking. At my age, being able to experience his cooking again leaves me with no regrets in life!"
The guest's exaggerated reaction quickly caused a stir.
After all, the name Joichiro Saiba was well-known to everyone present.
Moreover, many guests had previously tasted his cooking, so they were all excited and began to cheer.
...
Meanwhile, in the hotel's kitchen.
Joichiro Saiba, who had just taken up the role of head chef, was busy working.
He chopped raw beef finely, then mixed it with lemon juice, olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, chili peppers, salt, and black pepper for seasoning.
He blended the ingredients well, placed a round mold on a plate, and filled it with the mixture.
He created a hollow in the middle of the meat patty for an egg yolk and garnished the side with parsley, onions, pickled capers, chopped pickles, ketchup, mustard, and his special Worcestershire sauce.
With all the ingredients ready.
The next step was to mix them.
He served it with freshly fried French fries, completing the authentic French steak tartare.
"Impressive as always, Joichiro. Even raw beef becomes stunning under your hands, truly admirable," said a chef nearby, gazing at the steak tartare in awe.
"Where's Joichiro?"
"Have him make me a curry chicken cutlet rice."
Suddenly, a monk from India barged into the kitchen.
He was emaciated with dark skin, but his eyes, filled with life experiences, were also full of greed.
Seeing Joichiro in his white chef's uniform,
he froze momentarily before rushing over, unable to contain his joy.
"Master Alba, this is a restricted kitchen area. Unless specially invited, please don't come in."
Seeing him approach Joichiro, the kitchen staff intercepted him.
"Master, please calm down!"
"You are a renowned global leader in environment and development."
"You once vowed in public to eat only vegetarian food to protect the environment. But now you want to eat curry chicken cutlet rice?"
Another monk, following close behind, hurried to stop Alba, advising him.
"I don't care."
"I've practiced asceticism for so many years; can't I enjoy myself a little?"
"Now that Joichiro is here, right in front of me, how can I die without tasting his curry chicken cutlet rice?"
"No, I refuse. I don't want to live with that regret."
"Forget about protecting the environment and all that talk about animals having spirits. To hell with it."
Master Alba, seeing himself blocked by so many people, grew more agitated and began to shout regardless of his image.
...
When someone gives up all pleasures.
And is willing to endure all hardships, they are on the path to sainthood.
However, in this profit-driven society, saints are not needed; we need capitalists, farmers, scientists, engineers...
But in India, ascetic monks are the most respected.
They provide encouragement and perseverance to many of the lower class, their actions earning them the title of "saint."
For example:
Master Alba, who had traveled far and wide.
He had been to China, Japan, Southeast Asia, and even Europe...
Throughout his long journey, he carried only a bag of dry food, with no money, sleeping wherever he could find.
Using the sky as his blanket and the ground as his bed, he survived on whatever food kind-hearted people gave him.
He was not picky, asking only for a bowl of water and a piece of bread to continue his journey.
All worldly pleasures were meaningless to him.
People couldn't understand his actions, but perhaps all his endeavors were for his most sincere belief?
It was this purity that enabled Alba to complete his arduous "pilgrimage" despite the odds.
Gradually, as information spread, more people learned about him and began to respect him.
However, who would have thought?
Such a praiseworthy, admirable ascetic monk.
In the end, would be conquered by Joichiro Saiba's curry chicken cutlet rice.
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