A station.
A home.
This tavern gives off a feeling that's somewhere between the two. It feels welcoming yet maintains a bit of privacy, a delicate balance that the tavern owner, Zane, must carefully manage.
Many things, as the owner, Zane observes quietly, require a delicate touch. He must appear indifferent at the right moments, showing care and concern without being overly intrusive.
As a result, the tavern feels like a place full of warmth and comfort!
In contrast, the neighboring Shunkatei restaurant emphasizes ceremony much more!
...
Young consumers often love a sense of ceremony and are willing to pay for it. According to related survey data, 73.7% of young respondents believe ceremony is important, with 18.5% saying it's "very important."
Further analysis shows that among post-2000 respondents, 79.0% find it important. French cuisine is particularly skilled at creating a sense of ceremony, even inventing various peculiar "rules."
In 2019, a high-end internet-famous restaurant in Nanjing declared it wouldn't accept walk-ins, only served a maximum of 10 guests per meal, charged high prices, refused to serve until all guests arrived, and had a strict no take-out policy. This created a buzz online and made the restaurant incredibly popular.
In the ice cream industry, the brand Zhong Xuegao has focused on high-end products in recent years. For example, their product "Apricot Over the Years" is priced at 176 yuan, even though the psychological price point for most consumers is around 30-40 yuan. This high pricing led to the so-called "ice cream assassin" incident, sparking widespread discussion online.
...
Perhaps the sense of ceremony not only resonates with young people but also satisfies some middle-class people's pursuit of status.
As Paul Fussell mentioned in "Class":
Taste is the last refuge of the upper classes.
With the added sense of ceremony and the allure of high-quality ingredients, French cuisine has subtly become a symbol for the middle class, where the more upscale it is, the more it confirms their social status and taste.
Therefore, despite the strong competition from the nearby tavern, Shunkatei has not shown any signs of closing down!
...
At Shunkatei.
Sonoka was sitting idly in a corner. Her beautiful but lifeless eyes made her friend, Taki, feel as if she was in a snowy winter. To Taki, that vacant look was one of pure, unrequited love! With a "hmph," she glared at Sonoka with a gaze full of irritation.
Sonoka snapped out of her daze. Seeing Taki's angry look, she was confused, not knowing how she had offended her. So, she gave a silly, kind-hearted smile.
Unaware that this smile confirmed Taki's suspicions, Taki felt the urge to shake some sense into her. But without evidence, she could only give her a stern look!
"Taki!"
"What's wrong?"
"Your gaze is a bit scary!"
Sonoka asked, puzzled.
"What were you thinking about so deeply?" Taki crossed her arms and asked, annoyed.
"Milk bananas."
"I don't know much about cultivating bananas, but I've heard about Big Mike bananas. So, I've been thinking about what it would be like if this banana, with its milk-like aroma, were to spread worldwide."
Sonoka blinked adorably.
"Yes, indeed, that ingredient left a lasting impression on me."
"The shock, the amazement, and most importantly, the taste that doesn't exist in this world... It can truly be described as perfect."
"If I hadn't tasted it myself, I wouldn't believe that Zane could cultivate such a miraculous ingredient."
Taki agreed.
...
Bananas are quite common.
In Europe, they are often called happy fruit, believed to improve mood with their soft, sweet taste.
Besides, bananas can be made into various products. Even the peels have their uses.
Currently, research suggests bananas likely originated from Papua New Guinea. The island's environment and climate are ideal for growing bananas, with many wild banana trees producing giant fruits.
However, wild bananas are different from the ones people eat today, as they have many seeds inside, making them less desirable due to the limited flesh.
It wasn't until the 19th century that people discovered a seedless variety. It's said that a French naturalist, Nicolas Baudin, found some unusual bananas during his travels in Southeast Asia—these bananas had no seeds. He brought them back to the botanical gardens to try growing them.
Thus began the "delicious journey" of bananas for humans.
This seedless banana was named:
Big Mike!
But things didn't go smoothly. In the 1950s, a fungus called Fusarium wilt started affecting banana plantations worldwide. This fungus infects the roots and vascular systems of banana plants, preventing them from absorbing water and nutrients, leading to their death.
This disease wiped out the Big Mike bananas globally, and antifungal drugs were ineffective.
Sadly, Big Mike bananas disappeared quickly.
Finally, they were replaced by Cavendish bananas, which are more resistant to the disease and are the bananas we eat today.
...
As the saying goes, "people move, trees grow."
Farmers understood this but had no choice. Essentially, all "seedless bananas" come from the original mutated banana tree discovered by the French naturalist, meaning all bananas might trace back to one tree.
People loved Big Mike bananas for their mutation. To perfectly replicate this gene without affecting taste and yield, farmers used asexual reproduction methods, essentially "cuttings." These cuttings are all from that original tree.
Simply put, every seedless banana has the same ancestor!
Since they couldn't prevent the tragic fate of Big Mike bananas, people now eat the somewhat less tasty Cavendish bananas. However, scientists predict bananas might still go extinct in the future, as there's no guarantee that Cavendish bananas won't face similar problems!
Therefore, Zane's "cultivated" special ingredient, the milk banana, has a deeper significance for the world!
...
"Taki, are you interested in Zane now?"
Seeing Taki's slightly softened expression, Sonoka asked with a smile.
"What?"
"Why would I be interested in him?"
Taki blushed with anger, shouting at Sonoka, "Absolutely not!"
"That milk-flavored banana would shock anyone, right? Besides, I never liked him. At most, I'm just... a little curious."
Since her restaurant was forcibly closed by the Midnight Chefs, Taki reluctantly took a job as an assistant cook at the tavern with Sonoka.
And so, she's been working there for several months.
But all along, her relationship with Zane remained distant, as if separated by a galaxy.
Every time she saw Sonoka getting closer to Zane at the tavern, she couldn't help but feel jealous and "envious." This feeling left her heart blocked and made her a little gloomy!
Seeing Taki's anger, Sonoka shrank back, not daring to speak further.
...
"It's here."
Just as they were about to discuss Zane and the tavern, a mysterious customer arrived at Shunkatei. The person wore a dark baseball cap, the brim pulled low, seemingly to obscure the light above and add to the mystery. The face under the brim was covered with a mask, leaving only a pair of deep, sharp eyes that glinted even in the daytime.
Looking closely, the mask fitted perfectly to the face, not leaving a single gap.
He moved like a ghost, silently and confidently walking down the bustling food street, his steps measured and deliberate.
Every step seemed calculated, neither hurried nor sluggish.
Though covered from head to toe, his strong presence could still be felt.
This mysterious figure attracted all the attention in the restaurant!
His presence injected a sense of mystery into the place.
Everyone was curious about his true identity and the story behind him.
"Hmm?"
"This outfit... Could it be...?"
"The person who defeated me before, the Midnight Chef, I remember clearly. The silhouette and build are definitely not... Could it be..."
Taki stared at the masked figure, eyes widening as she seemingly realized something.
...
"I see."
"I almost forgot, the owner of this Shunkatei restaurant, Sonoka, is close friends with the former Totsuki Ten Elite, Taki."
The masked figure glanced at Sonoka and Taki, then paused.
Finally, he understood.
"Hey, are you a Midnight Chef too?"
Hearing this, Taki was certain he was a Midnight Chef, but perhaps out of fear, she couldn't help but shout at him.
"Of course."
The masked figure removed the mask, revealing a handsome face. "Let me introduce myself. I'm Asahi Saiba!"
"Damn, have you finally decided to invade Japan?"
Taki gritted her teeth, her expression complicated.
She had already experienced the prowess of the Midnight Chefs, so she was naturally afraid.
Especially this young man, who gave her the impression of a fierce beast, making her shiver even more.
"Haha."
"Japan will eventually be taken over by us Midnight Chefs!"
"I'm sure Sonoka knew this day would come, so let's not waste time. You should prepare yourselves."
"I'll allow you two former Totsuki Ten Elites to challenge me with a team Shokugeki."
Asahi said calmly.
"It's come to this."
"Sonoka, we shouldn't be afraid."
"We can take this opportunity to avenge ourselves!"
With that, Taki rolled up her sleeves, exuding a powerful aura.
"Sigh!"
"Is my restaurant's fate also sealed?"
Sonoka sighed deeply.
If it's unavoidable, why not face it head-on?
At least before falling, let the Midnight Chefs see
:
She!
Is the former Second Seat of Totsuki!
And also the head chef and owner of a one-star restaurant!
...
In the culinary world.
Knives are indispensable tools, each with its unique charm and purpose.
Compared to Chinese cuisine, which often uses a single knife for all tasks, Western cuisine features a more complex array of knives, each designed for specific functions.
Moreover, Western kitchens use not only knives but also mixers, food processors, grinders, and more.
Together, these tools improve overall efficiency, unlike Chinese kitchens, which often rely on just one or two knives.
There's no superiority; it's all about tradition and efficiency.
Clatter!
In Shunkatei's kitchen.
Asahi removed a cloak from his shoulders, revealing an array of knives:
Chef's knife!
Steak knife!
Dessert knife!
Fish knife!
Santoku knife!
There were even Chinese cleavers, deboning knives, and more...
Taki and Sonoka looked at each other in shock.
"Which knife should I use?"
"My opponent is skilled in French, Italian, and Spanish cuisine, so... this knife will do."
With that, Asahi picked up a small knife. On the handle, some words were engraved; upon closer inspection, they read:
Shinomiya!
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