Live Preparation
As the name suggests, it means preparing live fish, slicing it, and serving it on the table in the shortest possible time! Generally, this time does not exceed 10 minutes.
However, using the "Arhat Crystal Slash" technique, Zane managed to shorten it to within 1 minute.
The freshly killed sea bream's central nervous system was dead, but the nerve endings around its muscles and the ATP (adenosine triphosphate) within the flesh had not yet depleted.
Therefore, just a little external stimulation was needed.
The sea bream's flesh would continue to "twitch."
...
"Huh? It actually moved in my mouth?"
While tasting the dish, Mana felt the fish moving and got a bit scared.
Then, she unintentionally bit down, and the fresh fish juice filled her mouth, mixing with her saliva, creating an indescribable delightful flavor.
Delicious!
Sweet!
Savoring it carefully.
She could also taste a faint fish oil fragrance.
Each bite was an enjoyment, and she could clearly feel the sea bream flesh dancing on her tongue.
Sashimi typically has a simple flavor, highlighting the natural taste of the ingredients.
However, Zane's Fiery Ice Sea Bream Mountain was different. It was a unique and complex sashimi dish, combining the fresh taste of sea bream, exquisite knife skills, and the chef's endless pursuit of culinary perfection.
...
It was well-known that Mana's God Tongue could quickly adapt to any dish.
No matter how delicious or perfect the dish, it usually became unappealing to her after a moment.
Yet, every time she tasted Fiery Ice Sea Bream Mountain, she experienced different flavors and sensations without feeling bored or disgusted.
Even more so, the wonderful experience.
Made her feel like she was in a tantalizing food street, unable to resist its charm.
"The beauty of knife skills is not only reflected in handling ingredients but also in respecting food and loving life."
"Every cut produces a paper-thin slice of sea bream sashimi."
"Each piece of sashimi is like a delicate artwork, possessing the coldest temperature yet offering the most tender texture, igniting the taste buds instantly."
"Delicate."
"Smooth."
"Soft."
"Both cold and sweet."
"These textures are unforgettable."
"Only the most exquisite dishes, only such subtle changes in the mouth, bring true happiness!"
Perhaps she was truly hungry, or maybe the God Tongue fully appreciated the perfection of this Fiery Ice Sea Bream Mountain.
Mana's eyes widened, hesitating for a moment before she began to devour it ravenously.
...
A plate of excellent sashimi.
Must meet three conditions:
Fresh ingredients.
Exquisite knife skills.
Beautiful presentation.
Clearly, the Fiery Ice Sea Bream Mountain before them was perfect.
Under the soft light, the sashimi on the ice mountain gleamed, the visual pleasure alone was intoxicating!
Each thin, translucent slice was tantalizing.
Picking up a small piece, it felt slippery, almost about to slide off her fingertips.
Every chew was like tasting life, imprinting every flavor in memory.
Her rough and unrefined eating manner truly echoed the phrase:
There are no ladies before delicious food!
After finishing, fully satisfied, Mana even burped contentedly.
"That was amazing, the same dish can continuously conquer the God Tongue."
Patting her stomach, Mana sighed.
Her heart felt like it had fallen into a soft cloud, feeling weightless.
...
Squeak! Squeak!
At that moment, the plate with just a small ice mountain left began to tremble slightly.
Initially, the trembling was almost imperceptible, like a gentle breeze brushing by, so no one noticed.
As time passed, the breeze turned into a gust, causing noticeable shaking on the table.
"Hey?"
"Could it be... the Transmission Pulse?"
Anne, standing nearby, seemed to understand something and exclaimed in surprise.
She had followed Mana for over ten years and had almost never seen the Transmission Pulse skill activated by the same dish.
"How strange, it doesn't seem like it's caused by wind, but rather... an earthquake?"
Zane's eyes were fixed on the shaking plate, feeling more and more uneasy.
Gradually, the plates, chopsticks, cups, and ceramic bowls on the table started colliding due to the shaking, producing a jingling sound.
The table legs creaked and groaned under the intense shaking, as if protesting this unusual tremor!
...
Everyone became tense.
They focused on the trembling table, faces filled with disbelief.
Then, not only Mana's table, but all the tables began shaking.
The entire tavern felt like a small boat rocking on a turbulent sea, even the paintings on the walls swayed violently, ready to fall.
The curtains flapped wildly, slapping against the window frames.
Suddenly, a loud noise erupted, an unstoppable force spread rapidly, causing a hundred-meter radius to shake violently.
The situation made everyone's faces turn pale, thinking it was a real earthquake.
People wanted to flee or hide under tables or scream loudly.
"What's happening?"
"The tables, the room, the tavern, the food street, everything within a hundred meters..."
"Is Mana's Transmission Pulse skill that powerful?"
"No!"
"Impossible."
"I've never seen anything like this in my life."
"Could it be Zane's cooking has broken through, causing Mana's skill to upgrade?"
"Zane's evolution speed is indeed more terrifying than the God Tongue!"
In the chaotic scene, Anne's eyes widened in shock.
The so-called Transmission Pulse usually just caused a gust of wind without much destructive power.
Though it wasn't a human capability, it was barely acceptable. But what they saw now, this phenomenon shaking a hundred-meter radius, was too exaggerated.
Not only Anne, anyone facing this situation would be terrified!
Soon, the intense shaking stopped.
Everyone was safe.
...
Mana slowly opened her eyes again.
She stretched, feeling as light as a feather. Sensing the mysterious power surging inside, her eyes showed pride and disbelief.
How was it possible?
A single Fiery Ice Sea Bream Mountain.
Upgraded her Transmission Pulse skill?
Facing the astonished gazes around her.
She realized this wasn't a dream!
Mana's brows showed a hint of joy.
"Zane, you're amazing. The power of a perfect Fiery Ice Sea Bream Mountain was so great, even my skill..."
Mid-sentence, she gazed at Zane with even more fascination.
Perhaps, mysterious and powerful men are just that attractive!
...
"Luckily, it stopped quickly. Another ten seconds, and my tavern would've collapsed."
Clearing the table, Zane joked.
"Haha!"
"Isn't that an exaggeration?"
Mana chuckled, exasperated.
"Mana, it's not an exaggeration. The energy from that skill was truly terrifying."
Anne chimed in, "We should name this new skill that surpasses the original Transmission Pulse."
"Let me think."
"Transmission Pulse: Super Earthquake Wave?"
"Mana, how about this name?"
Mana: (⊙o⊙)
"Just call it the Strongest Transmission."
"I doubt there will be a stronger skill, so it's the Strongest Transmission!"
Unable to stand Anne's naming, Mana rubbed her chin.
After some thought, she decided on the new skill's name.
"Strongest?"
"Might get embarrassed later."
Anne muttered.
But, since she couldn't argue, she reluctantly accepted the name.
...
"Zane, one plate wasn't enough, could... could I have another Fiery Ice Sea Bream Mountain?"
Mana, recovering, felt unsatisfied with one plate, looking at Zane expectantly.
"No more, there was only one fresh sea bream of that quality."
"You know, Fiery Ice Sea Bream Mountain requires the highest quality sea bream."
"Using regular sea bream, I could make it, but the taste and texture would be far inferior."
Zane shrugged.
"Oh." Mana responded, feeling a bit disappointed.
"No need to be disheartened, I have another dish, Cloud Dragon Fried Shrimp." Zane smiled, pride in his voice.
Mana eagerly asked, "Compared to the perfect Fiery Ice Sea Bream Mountain, how's the taste? Is it better?"
"The ingredients and methods are entirely different, like comparing apples to oranges."
"But I promise, this Cloud Dragon Fried Shrimp won't disappoint your God Tongue."
After a moment of thought, Zane replied honestly.
"Great!"
"Then please make Cloud Dragon Fried Shrimp."
Mana urged.
"No need to rush, this new dish requires more steps and takes time."
Waving his hand, indicating she needn't hurry, Zane returned to the kitchen to prepare the Cloud Dragon Fried Shrimp.
...
First, separate an egg.
Moving it back and forth, keeping only the yolk.
Then, add lemon juice, sugar, and vegetable oil to the yolk, mixing vigorously, adding corn oil in ten batches.
Until smooth, then add milk to dilute.
Next, prepare a large Australian lobster, using a sharp knife, tap the lobster's head to stun it.
Not kill, but brain-dead!
Remove the vein, twist off the tail, cut open the sides with scissors, pry off the shell, separating the meat.
Finally, remove the shell, keep the tail, and set the meat aside.
Boil the lobster meat for 10 minutes.
"Takumi, see those walnuts and nuts in the mortar?"
"Use the pestle to crush them into fine pieces."
After preparing everything, Zane pointed to the mortar and instructed Takumi.
"Okay, leave it to me."
Takumi, without complaint, eagerly took the heavy pestle.
Following his instructions, he pounded the walnuts and nuts into fine pieces.
...
After preparing the
ingredients.
Zane began assembling them, patting dry soaked tofu skin, spreading a thick yellow sauce.
Placing the lobster, covering evenly with the sauce, like a mask on a loved one, evenly and gently, covering with tofu skin, inserting toothpicks, coating with egg yolk.
Dredging in flour, dipping in egg yolk, then sprinkling with crushed nuts.
Due to the softness of the egg yolk sauce, shrimp, and tofu skin, Zane handled them very gently.
Then, placing the large lobster in a strainer, sprinkling evenly with nut crumbs.
Frying at 170°C.
Sizzle! Sizzle!
Instantly, the calm oil pot boiled.
Frying food involves high-temperature oil replacing the moisture in the food's surface.
Thus, fried food gains a crispy texture.
But since the heat transfers from the surface inward, the center temperature rises slowly.
If the oil is too hot, the surface may brown before the center is cooked.
Therefore, to avoid this, fry at low temperature until the center is cooked, then remove.
Reheat the oil, then fry again at high temperature until crispy.
This is known as:
Double Frying Method!
Zane used a long wooden chopstick to stir the lobster in the hot oil.
In the hot oil, the shrimp's coating quickly turned golden brown, and soon the coating set.
"Wow!"
"Smells so good!"
Mana took a deep breath, intoxicated.