(Please add it to your Library! Please send Power Stones! Thank you!)
"It doesn't matter to me. You can handle the cooking, and I'll assist you," Erina said softly.
"Why?" Megumi asked, looking at Erina with surprise.
She had always known Erina—the bearer of the prestigious God's Tongue—to be fiercely independent, especially when it came to cooking. It was unheard of for her to take a back seat, let alone offer to assist someone else. Yet here she was, willing to be Sui's assistant. This was a rare sight.
Even Alice looked puzzled.
"In that case, I'll assist as well," Megumi quickly added, not wanting to be left behind. She was already used to being Sui's assistant and wanted to continue supporting him.
"Me too!" Alice chimed in cheerfully, raising her hand with enthusiasm.
Erina turned toward Sui. "So, what dish do you plan to make?" she asked.
"I'm thinking of Bear Stroganina," Sui replied after a brief moment of contemplation.
Few dishes featured bear meat due to its overpowering odor. However, Bear Stroganina had left a lasting impression on Sui, vividly recalling its unique presentation during a field trip in his previous life. Despite that memory, he hadn't had much personal experience with the dish.
One reason was the complexity and rarity of the ingredient.
Fortunately, this was a new challenge for most of the other chefs as well. Few, if any, had ever dealt with bear meat before, meaning everyone would need time to figure out how to handle it properly. Perhaps only Rindō, with her vast experience in exotic ingredients, had encountered it.
For now, the challenge was to test everyone's foundational cooking skills.
"Bear Stroganina? A Russian dish? That's a good choice. I also saw it from a book," Erina nodded in agreement.
Alice then spoke up proudly, "Actually, Europeans also have their own bear dishes!"
"Yes," Erina added. "For instance, in France, there's a dish where Bear Stroganina is braised with straw mushrooms and ham. In Germany, they stew it with spiced red wine, adding other meats, and finishing with wine and lemon juice."
Erina paused, deep in thought. "China also has a method of smoking bear meat, but I don't remember the details."
"Wow, Miss Erina! You really are like a cooking encyclopedia!" Megumi exclaimed, looking at her with admiration.
Blushing slightly, Erina replied, "It's nothing, really."
Alice puffed out her cheeks in frustration. She had hoped to impress everyone with her knowledge, but Erina had stolen the spotlight.
"Alright, let's dive into the Bear Stroganina preparation, shall we?" Sui said with a slight smile, refocusing everyone.
No one objected, and soon after, Totsuki's staff delivered a fresh batch of bear meat. These ingredients were rare, specially raised at the Totsuki Hokkaido Resort, and highly valued due to their scarcity.
——First POV——
With the ingredients ready, my team and I set out to prepare Bear Stroganina, a high-end Russian delicacy. Naturally, it was an experiment for us.
The process was intricate. First, we soaked the bear meat in lime to help neutralize its strong odor. Afterward, we briefly heated it in water and then allowed it to cool, which made removing the hair easier. Next, we soaked the meat in rice water to further cleanse it of any lingering gamey smell.
Once the preparation was complete, I used a sharp, thin-bladed knife to carefully slice the meat into extremely thin, almost transparent pieces. The slices were delicate and cold, resembling strips of sashimi. The girls then arranged them neatly on a chilled platter, ready for the final touches and presentation.
The next step was to lightly sprinkle the meat with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. With Erina's suggestions, we added a few drops of vinegar or lemon juice to balance the strong, gamey flavor of the bear meat.
After six hours of careful preparation, we finally finished the dish.
I served it immediately, with mustard or horseradish sauce for dipping, and garnished it with fresh dill. Bear Stroganina is best enjoyed while it's still cold and slightly frozen, preserving the unique texture and flavor of this rare delicacy.
——Third POV——
"Alright, it's ready. Come taste it," Sui said with a smile.
Everyone eagerly dug in. The Bear Stroganina was extraordinarily tender, melting in their mouths with an incredibly rich and savory flavor.
"This is amazing! It's so delicious, I feel like I'm going to swallow my tongue!" Megumi exclaimed, her eyes closed in delight as she savored the dish.
Alice was equally enthusiastic, continuously shoveling food into her mouth with her chopsticks. "This is fantastic!"
Before long, the entire dish was devoured by the group.
"So, how was it?" Sui asked Erina.
Erina, who had been carefully analyzing each bite, responded, "It's delicious, but there's still a slight gamey smell that wasn't fully removed. It's also a bit too greasy, and the Bear meat has been stewed too soft. The heat could be adjusted."
She rattled off her critiques quickly, pointing out areas for improvement.
Sui nodded thoughtfully. "You're right. There's definitely room for improvement. Let's try cooking a different style of Bear Stroganina dish and see if we can incorporate the strengths of each method."
"Already? We just finished!" Erina was taken aback, but then quickly pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from Sui's brow. As she hovered around him, she added, "Do you want to sit down and rest for a while? How about some water? I can massage your shoulders, too."
Halfway through her offer, Erina suddenly noticed everyone staring at her.
"Why are you all looking at me like that?" she asked, her cheeks flushing red.
"Miss Erina, when did you start being so... nice to Sui?" Megumi asked, her voice filled with surprise.
"Is that so?" Erina responded guiltily, her voice quiet.
Even Sui was puzzled. In the past, Erina had been careful to maintain a distance from him in front of others. Though she occasionally showed concern, it was always subtle and understated. Now, she was openly fussing over him, pouring water, and even offering a massage—acting like a devoted wife.
Is it because of what happened yesterday? Sui wondered to himself. Has Erina already embraced the role of a wife, serving me like her future husband?
He chuckled inwardly and said, "Alright, let's take a break first."
He sat down, glancing at Erina, who blushed again but dutifully walked over to massage his shoulders. Her soft hands moved skillfully, providing a soothing relief that made Sui feel at ease.
Watching the scene, Alice pouted, clearly a little jealous of the attention Sui was receiving.
After a half-hour break, the group resumed cooking. This time, Sui prepared Bear Stroganina, garnished with fresh herbs like dill and parsley, which added a bright, refreshing contrast to the richness of the bear meat.
By evening, they finally emerged from the kitchen.
"I wonder how Sōma-kun and the others are doing," Megumi mused curiously.
"With Hayama-kun on their team, I'm sure they're managing just fine," Erina said thoughtfully.
However, as they passed by Yukihira's kitchen, they were met with the sounds of a heated argument.
"Do it my way! You won't regret it!"
"Are you serious? You should be listening to 'me'!"
"Who do you think you are? You wanna settle this?"
"Bring it on!"
Everyone outside stood in stunned silence.