"Is this the tavern?"
"Ryo, is this the place?"
Jun Shiomi stood in front of the tavern, looking up at the sign that read "Drinking Alone Under the Moon," feeling a bit stunned.
"I've investigated. Many Totsuki students have been coming here frequently."
"What?"
"Really?"
Jun Shiomi couldn't believe it.
"Yes, and I heard that even some of the Elite Ten frequent this place, and it has a very special rule."
Ryo smiled faintly.
"A rule?"
"A tavern with rules?"
Jun Shiomi was now very curious.
"The rule is that as long as there are ingredients available and the owner can make it, customers can order whatever dish they want," Ryo explained.
"So, does that mean the owner can cook any dish?"
Jun Shiomi asked.
"I'm not sure. Let's go in and find out."
With that, Ryo led her inside.
Recently, Jun had been engrossed in her research on cultivating irises, but she was always missing something.
This issue had been bothering her so much that she often lost her appetite. And with the Autumn Selection over and Ryo securing second place, although he didn't win, it was still an excellent result.
To help Jun relax and celebrate his achievement, Ryo had inquired about the tavern from the Elite Ten after the Maple Leaf Viewing event.
He discovered that half of the Elite Ten had visited the tavern and knew it very well.
This made him even more curious.
...
As they entered, Jun Shiomi felt a bit nervous.
Despite being an expert in spices, she was shy and socially anxious.
"Hmm?"
"Unexpected guests!"
Jun Shiomi, small and petite, with a youthful face but a developed figure, was hard to ignore. She looked no older than a high school student, maybe even a middle schooler around 13 or 14.
Meanwhile, Ryo, with his short silver hair and slightly tanned skin, looked much more athletic and confident.
There was no denying it:
The tavern had indeed become well-known within Totsuki Academy.
Among the Elite Ten, the second, fourth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth seats had all visited the tavern.
So, it was no surprise that other Totsuki students had also heard about it.
...
Unlike Jun Shiomi, Ryo was very curious on his first visit to the tavern.
He noticed many of the patrons were ordinary office workers, but there were also Totsuki students like Erina and Hisako.
"Th-They..."
Jun Shiomi pointed at Sonoka and Taki, who were busy working, in disbelief.
"What's wrong?" Ryo asked, puzzled.
"They are the second seats of the 88th and 89th Totsuki Elite Ten. Oh, and I almost forgot, Sonoka's Shunkatei restaurant is right next door!"
Jun Shiomi suddenly realized that this tavern might be quite extraordinary.
Although it couldn't compare to grand hotels in size, the tavern's cozy ambiance and style made it appealing.
Moreover, with familiar faces like Erina, Hisako, Sonoka, and Taki all gathered here, it hinted that the owner must be someone impressive and mysterious.
Realizing this, Jun Shiomi's anxiety lessened, and she sat down with curiosity.
...
"May I take your order, guests?"
"Order? Oh, right! We need to order something."
Looking up, Jun Shiomi was surprised by Zane's handsome and refined appearance.
His clear skin and charming smile were captivating under the soft lighting.
"I'll have two glasses of mulled wine."
Finally snapping out of her daze, Jun Shiomi quickly ordered.
"Mulled wine?" Zane was surprised.
Although it was a place to drink, it was unusual for someone to order a winter drink like mulled wine, especially at night.
"Yes, two glasses of mulled wine."
Seeing Zane's puzzled look, Jun Shiomi explained, "Isn't your rule that customers can order whatever they want?"
"Alright, as long as we have the ingredients, we can make it. Please wait a moment."
"Thank you."
Seeing Zane agree, Jun Shiomi smiled.
...
In many Western countries, mulled wine is a popular holiday drink during Christmas.
Its origins date back to ancient Rome.
The earliest recipe for "spiced wine" was found in a 2000-year-old cookbook.
As the Romans expanded across Europe, they brought their wine-making techniques and recipes, including mulled wine.
Zane, familiar with this tradition, found the idea of mulled wine a bit strange but interesting.
As long as it's wine, it must be better than plain water. And mulled wine, besides wine, includes many spices:
Allspice.
Cinnamon.
Bay leaves.
Green cardamom.
Clove buds.
For the wine, any regular red wine will do, but it's best if the alcohol content is lower, around 5-10%, unlike the usual 13%.
The lower alcohol content is important because heating intensifies the flavor.
Cold vodka can taste like water.
But heated wine becomes quite strong.
Europeans might drink a lot, but they often can't handle strong spirits without mixing them with soda or juice.
Hence, mulled wine shouldn't use high-alcohol wines.
...
Zane inserted cloves into an orange.
He then halved the orange and set it aside.
Slicing an apple, he added the pieces to a pot, squeezed in the orange juice, and added lemon zest.
He poured red wine into the pot, added a cinnamon stick, and simmered it over low heat.
The most delightful part of making mulled wine is the bubbling sound and the aroma filling the tavern.
Finally, Zane poured the mulled wine into elegant glasses, garnished with orange peel and a cinnamon stick.
The fragrant, rich mulled wine was ready!
...
In most people's minds.
Winter street vendors usually sell steaming corn or tea eggs.
But now, the air was filled with the aroma of wine, fruits, and spices.
Although it was late fall and not yet cold, the timing seemed right for mulled wine, especially at night.
Seeing the glass of mulled wine before her, Jun Shiomi felt pleasantly surprised.
She picked up the glass.
Sniffing it, she detected a faint fruit aroma.
The spice scent was strong, and the warmth from the glass felt comforting.
...
Warmth!
That's the most distinct feature of mulled wine.
Like the dish "tomato scrambled eggs," why add tomatoes?
Mulled wine's preparation involves adding ingredients and simmering, changing the usual way red wine is consumed and appealing to young people, which explains its popularity.
Looking closely, the rich, deep color of the mulled wine resembled a bowl of herbal medicine.
The spices blended in like herbs, making it very enticing.
Jun Shiomi took a small sip.
"What does it taste like?" Closing her eyes, she tried to figure it out but couldn't quite grasp the flavor.
The taste wasn't as surprising as she expected, yet she felt an urge to keep drinking.
Unable to resist, she took another sip.
"It seems... pretty good?"
Then another sip.
"This is amazing!"
By the third sip, Jun Shiomi was astonished.
She realized that the mulled wine's flavors became more pronounced as it cooled slightly.
...
Rich.
Full-bodied.
Sweet.
Not too sour, not too sweet.
The spices blended perfectly with the wine's robust flavor.
Jun Shiomi found herself getting lost in the delicious aroma, her eyes shining in the light.
She couldn't help but put down the glass and praise, "I never thought ordinary red wine could taste this good. Compared to other mulled wines I've tried, this is smoother and more refreshing!"
"Though the first sip was unremarkable, the second and third sips... it's addictive!"
Jun Shiomi concluded.
This glass of mulled wine was like a dark horse, impressive and admirable.
Its excellent balance of sweetness and strong spice flavor made it...
Refreshing!
Satisfying!
...
"It's puzzling."
"Why use regular red wine for mulled wine?"
"Wouldn't expensive, high-end wine be more aromatic and flavorful, enhancing the mulled wine even more?"
Jun Shiomi wondered.
"Mulled wine involves heating."
"This causes some of the wine's nutrients, like wine phenols and trace elements, to be lost."
"However, by adding other ingredients like fruits and spices, mulled wine gains dietary fiber, vitamins, and other nutrients, offsetting these losses."
"So, nutritionally, there's no significant difference between regular and high-end wine after heating."
Hearing this, Jun Shiomi thought for a moment and nodded.
She agreed with Zane's perspective and was increasingly impressed by him.
After all, she had spent years researching mulled wine, but Zane, at around 20 years old, already understood it well!
...
"Thank you for the explanation."
"So, which wine is best for making mulled wine?"
Jun Shiomi asked.
"Weilong Dry Red Wine!"
"This wine is full-bodied, with rich fruit aromas, and pairs well with fruits and spices during the heating process."
Hearing this, Jun Shiomi felt enlightened.
Indeed, Zane's mulled wine was fresh and captivating, filled with aromas of black fruits.
Even without swirling the glass, the strong fragrance was evident, reminiscent of blackcurrants, cherries, blackberries, and mulberries.
Some vintages even had hints of green pepper and leafy notes. Tasting it, one could feel the rich aroma, with waves of fruit and floral scents lingering on the palate.
The oak barrel added another layer of rich aroma, with noticeable smoky and roasted notes, vanilla, and cedar, typical of Bordeaux blends.
Zane's mulled wine left a strong, rich first impression.
...
The
warm yellow light fell on the cooking station and tables.
The diners' faces were filled with contentment and joy.
Some leaned against the cooking station, chatting casually with the owner, while others sat in corners, sharing stories.
Though the glass was empty, the cozy, slightly tipsy feeling lingered. Jun Shiomi felt that being in the tavern made time slow down, allowing her to forget the outside world's noise and fatigue.
Maybe?
The tavern's atmosphere was like a protective layer.
Like Cinderella's story, where the clock strikes midnight, stepping outside would break the spell.
And this protective layer would disappear.
So, she wanted to store all her happiness and emotions in this tavern, in this moment.
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