Slices of coconut meat.
They looked like white jade, crispy and filled with the savory flavor of chicken soup!
At the same time, the chicken soup slowly mixed with the coconut water, blending a rich taste with a charming sweetness, like golden wind meeting jade dew, surpassing countless flavors.
The star of the coconut chicken was naturally the tender, juicy chicken.
The chicken was carefully selected, with delicate texture and smooth, tender taste.
Under Zane's skillful cooking, the chicken fully absorbed the coconut's fragrance, preserving the original taste of the meat while adding the sweetness of coconut. Each piece of chicken seemed to be wrapped in the coconut's aroma, making it unforgettable.
The addition of coconut added a unique flavor to the dish.
Fresh coconut was split open, revealing white jade-like meat and sweet coconut juice. The coconut meat was shredded and simmered with the chicken, making the chicken's texture richer and infusing it with coconut fragrance.
The coconut juice was cleverly used to add natural sweetness to the dish, making it refreshing and delicious.
Besides chicken and coconut, the dish also included various seasonings and side dishes, enriching its taste.
Finally, the presentation of the dish was a visual feast.
Golden chicken and white coconut meat complemented each other, with colorful side dishes decorating the plate, making the dish look both beautiful and appetizing. Every bite was an ultimate tease to the taste buds, making one want to taste it again and again.
Hisako, who came with Erina, sat at the comfortable table with an empty ceramic bowl in front of her.
Upon closer inspection.
The remains of the coconut chicken had been thoroughly cleaned up.
And there was a hint of oil on her lips, a trace of the delicious coconut chicken she had just enjoyed.
That feeling of being full and happy made a smile appear on her delicate, pretty face, her eyes slightly closed as if savoring the wonderful taste.
Her stomach.
At this moment, it felt like a bag that could be filled.
Heavy and very satisfying!
Hisako couldn't help but gently pat her stomach, feeling the food inside slowly digesting, turning into the energy her body needed.
"Phew~"
"I'm so full!"
"Lady Erina, it's really the best to enjoy a hearty meal at the tavern after the advancement exam!"
Hisako said with a sigh to Erina.
...
However.
Erina, who had only taken a few bites of the coconut chicken, seemed a bit dazed as she watched the two busy women at the counter: Sonoka and Taki!
Now, the seats at the tavern bar were already full, with diners sitting together, toasting and laughing, creating a lively atmosphere.
And sometimes.
Taki would move through the crowd, busy yet orderly, providing attentive service to the diners.
The bar was filled with various Japanese snacks and exquisite dishes, emitting enticing aromas. The smoke from the grilled meat intertwined with the surrounding lights, creating a scene like paradise, combined with the diners' exclamations and satisfied laughter…
Hmm!
How to put it?
Although the atmosphere was the same as always, it felt a bit different to Erina!
The tavern had always been bustling, but today was unusual.
It was no exaggeration to say that the tavern was probably the liveliest place on this food street.
"Huh?"
"Has it always been this busy?"
Even though she hadn't been to the tavern for a few days because of the advancement exams, the fact that there were such long lines of diners under the skillful hands of Zane, Sonoka, and Taki seemed incredible to Erina.
...
"Lady Erina, you won't believe it."
"Tonight, on our way to the tavern, we passed by two one-star restaurants, and both seemed to have closed down!"
Hisako, sitting beside her, blinked and shared her observations.
"What?"
"One-star restaurants?"
Erina fell into deep thought upon hearing this.
The WGO's rating system has significant influence in the culinary industry.
It not only recognizes the quality of restaurants but also symbolizes the ultimate pursuit of culinary art. However, even with the WGO's prestigious "golden signboard," can restaurants truly avoid closure?
Firstly, as diners' demands for quality increase, competition in the fine dining market becomes increasingly fierce.
To stand out, restaurants must constantly adjust their business models and pricing structures, or they risk being quickly discarded by the times!
Secondly.
WGO ratings are not permanent.
Receiving a one-star rating one year doesn't guarantee the same rating will be retained continuously!
The organization annually reassesses based on restaurant performance.
This means:
A restaurant's rating can improve, remain unchanged, or, in some cases, be downgraded or revoked.
Executives like Anne typically conduct anonymous visits to rated restaurants to ensure their quality and service match their ratings.
If a restaurant's standards decline.
Whether due to lower food quality, poor service, chef changes, menu alterations, or other factors, its rating can be affected.
"Strange!"
"I remember the WGO's evaluations for this year haven't started yet, right?"
"And for two one-star restaurants to close in a single day, can such a coincidence happen?"
Erina muttered in confusion.
...
"No need to guess!"
"From 7 a.m. today until my tavern opened."
"In about 12 hours, every WGO-rated one-star restaurant in Japan has closed."
"This includes Sonoka's Shunkatei, Hinako's Kirinoya, Fuyumi's Ristorante F…"
"Besides that."
"Over 1000 high-end restaurants have also closed!"
"Now this food street is in a state of panic, with many chefs too scared to continue operating."
Zane seemed to know what Erina was thinking, so he explained.
"What?"
Erina was completely stunned.
She only felt shock in her heart, how had the entire culinary world of Japan fallen into a wave of closures just a day after Totsuki Academy finally got back on track following the upheaval?
"Now there's a group of Midnight Chefs using the rules of Totsuki's Shokugeki to forcibly challenge the head chefs of high-end restaurants, causing them to close after losing the duels!"
"Midnight Chefs?"
Erina was even more astonished.
"Yes!"
"Their abilities remain largely mysterious."
"But it's certain they possess special abilities, similar to the God Tongue. Using these abilities, they have defeated many elite chefs across Japan!"
Zane said, his eyes shining.
...
Crystal clear.
Smooth, cool, and elastic.
Gelatin, though a Western dessert, is semi-solid, made from water, sugar, fruit juice, etc. It looks crystalline, vibrant, and has a soft texture.
Of course, making a gelatin dessert from the juice of milk bananas is not that simple.
"What is this?"
"It exudes such a rich aroma!"
At this moment, Erina was truly enchanted, almost drooling.
With her God Tongue, she was extremely picky about food, but facing the milk banana dessert, her strong appetite and desire instantly exploded.
Her bright eyes flashed.
The gem-like gelatin left a deep impression on her at first sight.
Strange.
Really strange.
Why did this gelatin emit such a strong aroma?
What was causing this indescribable fragrance?
And this fragrance was like…
Moving her nose slightly, Erina was the first to give in!
She twisted her waist, and with a soft moan, felt weak, staring blankly at the milk banana dessert before her.
Finally, the last line of defense in her heart collapsed.
...
"Zane, what is this?"
She swallowed, her eyes fixed on Zane.
If someone were there, seeing the youngest Director in Totsuki's history showing such a hungry expression because of a dessert, they would be shocked!
"This is a gelatin dessert made from the juice of milk bananas."
Zane replied calmly.
"Milk banana?"
Erina was slightly stunned.
Milk?
Banana?
It's just milk and banana, how can it be a single ingredient?
Is there really an ingredient that combines both milk and banana characteristics?
...
The milk banana dessert in front of her kept exuding a sweet aroma.
Surprisingly, the evaporated juice formed a light. It was late at night, the temperature dropping, and as time passed, the milk banana flavor began to change.
Erina turned back.
She quickly looked at Zane, her eyes pleading.
After getting Zane's confirmation, she eagerly picked up a spoon and touched the milk banana dessert.
Soft!
Very soft!
The spoon's touch revealed a texture so delicate that it seemed a slight force could break it.
Erina was stunned.
Honestly, she almost hesitated to dig into such a beautiful, shiny dessert.
Finally, she gritted her teeth and took a bite.
...
Upon entering her mouth, it was very sweet and chewy!
"Amazing."
"This unprecedented gelatin, once in the mouth, is incredibly sweet!"
Erina exclaimed instantly.
First, it was like the sweetness of over a hundred ripe bananas, almost overwhelming.
Then came the milk flavor.
On careful tasting, the milk flavor was rich, but it soon changed, like kiwi fruit.
Next, it was like the taste of sweet dates.
This single gelatin dessert was like a department store of flavors!
More accurately, it was like a fruit store, with nearly all fruit flavors in one.
The exploding sweetness, though varied, was unforgettable.
...
At that moment, the rich sweetness in her mouth spread throughout her body instantly, making her whole body tingle.
The intense aroma was more elegant than red bean paste, more refined than osmanthus sugar, and more superlative than sugary treats.
"Really…"
"Really delicious!"
"This mysterious gelatin dessert."
"Once tasted, it undergoes several changes in the mouth!"
"Its juice concentration is astonishing, like the sweetness of hundreds of ripe mangoes concentrated together!"
Dazed, Erina
couldn't help but say.
She quickly succumbed!
Unable to resist, she moaned and exclaimed.
Seeing Erina's reaction, Hisako was stunned.
Then she reacted, picking up a spoon to take a small bite of the milk banana gelatin.
...
Upon entering the mouth.
The milk banana dessert.
Its flavor kept changing.
By the fifth change, it tasted like sweet chestnuts! By the sixth change, even after swallowing, it left an explosive presence.
This indescribable feeling spread throughout the body instantly!
"Phew~"
"Unbelievable!"
"The unique sweet taste flows through the body. No wonder milk banana is an earthly delight!"
At this moment, Hisako, also enjoying the milk banana dessert, closed her eyes, savoring the flavor and texture it brought.
Undoubtedly, this gelatin was more precious than any dish in the world.
Sparkling, like a rainbow, like a gem!
Then, the tavern experienced a phenomenon, with a whirlwind sweeping through its interior, stopping after a while.
...
"Zane, I didn't expect."
"That in your little tavern."
"Besides delicious dishes, there are fruits like a rainbow!"
Today's milk banana dessert was probably one of the most unforgettable foods for Erina in her life!
Finally, Erina was full to the brim.
This fullness made her very satisfied.
----------
For 10 advance chapters: patreon.com/angelictranslating