Chapter 387: The Copycat Chef, Hachiman Hikigaya
"Ha ha, first resurrecting in the glacier, and then being reborn in the raging fire, this is truly a marvelous sea bream feast."
"Yes, the lively taste is as if the sea bream is dancing on the tip of the tongue, it's hard to describe in words."
"This culinary skill is amazing. These two dishes alone make the trip worthwhile."
"Yeah, young people these days are really something."
"..."
As the dishes were emptied, everyone gradually eased out of the culinary trance, praising Hachiman's first two dishes endlessly.
To their compliments, Hachiman smiled faintly, "You flatter me. Since we've already sampled the appetizer and pre-dinner snacks, let's move on to the main course."
Upon hearing his words, everyone felt a bit speechless but couldn't argue against it.
Indeed, sashimi was an appetizing cold dish, and spring rolls, categorized as appetizers or snacks, were appropriate for pre-dinner nibbles.
However, since Hachiman said so, the next dish was bound to be even more delicious.
With this thought in mind, everyone's anticipation grew.
Hachiman once again got to work, but this time, he clearly quickened his pace.
In the eyes of everyone, Hachiman's figure seemed to have been pressed with an acceleration button.
Kneading dough, preparing vegetables, mushrooms, and various meats...
From the amount of preparation, it was evident that he wasn't planning to make dishes one by one.
Currently, Hachiman was handling various cuts of meat: tenderloin, leg meat, shoulder meat, pork head meat, trotters...
Not only that, he also took out a leg of lamb, picked up a kitchen knife, and swiftly made several even and deep cuts on the leg of lamb. Then, he made a few pokes in the air, creating small holes on both sides of the leg of lamb.
Once the leg of lamb was prepared, he placed it in a container, added cooking wine and Sichuan peppercorn water to remove the gaminess, and started marinating it.
??????
Seeing this scene, Gin seemed a bit bewildered.
Hachiman's actions were too familiar to him now. Kneading dough and handling various cuts of pork were probably for making the "Cosmic Dumplings," while the handling of the leg of lamb was clearly for making the "Ninefold Secret Lamb Leg" from last time!
This...
Just by watching a few times, he learned it all?
At this moment, Gin began to doubt his own talent deeply.
It should be noted that the "Ninefold Secret Lamb Leg" was something he had painstakingly researched for a long time, and after continuous improvement and optimization, it had become one of his strongest dishes.
You're picking up everything just by watching a few times, Hachiman, isn't that a bit too much?
Unfortunately, no matter how much Gin complains in his mind, Hachiman's actions continue.
This "Ninefold Secret Lamb Leg" was indeed something he secretly learned last time at the Totsuki Resort.
With the blessing of his maxed-out "Physique" module, Hachiman's senses were greatly enhanced. In terms of vision, he could even slow down captured images, making it easy for him to see or learn high-difficulty operations.
So, as long as he wears a face mask, he could easily cosplay as Hatake Kakashi.
...
Looking at Hachiman again, while marinating the leg of lamb, he didn't idle. He blanched the Jinhua ham, which had been soaked in clear water in advance, in boiling water, then took it out, and stewed it together with the previously prepared tea tree mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and ginger in a pot.
During this time, Hachiman began cooking various parts of the pork using different pots.
Frying, deep-frying, stewing, roasting...
And during the cooking process, he would add scallions, ginger, garlic, star anise, onions, and even French red wine, various herbs, and other common seasonings from different cuisines!
When these meats were cooked to about seventy percent done, Hachiman turned off the heat.
By this time, the dough was also almost ready. He rolled out the pale golden dough into a slightly thinner dough sheet, then went to a relatively open space and started spinning the dough sheet in his hands.
Under the centrifugal force, the dough sheet in Hachiman's hands grew larger and larger, soon becoming a dough sheet with a diameter of over one meter.
Seeing this scene, the people around remained emotionally stable.
After all, they had just witnessed some grand scenes. Compared to carving void, slicing void, or spinning dough with hands, this was relatively minor.
Tossing the spun dough sheet gently upward, Hachiman didn't move his head, just watched as the large dough sheet slowly descended, landing perfectly in the large steamer prepared on the countertop.
With the dough sheet ready, Hachiman processed the various kinds of pork that had been cooked to half done. Soon, chunks of meat, meat grains, and even meat fillings appeared under his knife.
After arranging the various meats on the dough and filling them, Hachiman carefully folded the edges of the dough to form them into the shape of dumplings.
Seeing the finished dumplings, both Erina and Alice exclaimed softly.
"Huh, isn't this..."
"It seems to be that dish, right?"
Hearing the two sisters' comments, Leonora became interested.
"What's going on, Erina, Alice, do you know this dish?"
"Oh, this dish is something Hachiman made on the last night of our residential training, it's called... uh, what was it... the 'Cosmic Dumplings,' I think." Alice nodded.
At this moment, Gin, who was nearby, also spoke up. "That's right, it's exactly the dish Hachiman made for the celebratory dinner during our residential training."
"And that leg of lamb that's marinating, it should be for the dish I originally made, the 'Ninefold Secret Lamb Leg.' I wonder how Hachiman's version will taste," Gin added, feeling somewhat strange in his heart, as it's not common for someone to replicate his dishes so openly.
On Hachiman's side, the dumplings were already wrapped up. He placed the large steamer on the steamer pot and started the final steaming process.
Taking advantage of this time, he continued with the cooking steps for other dishes.
After removing the cooked ham, he added the sliced bamboo shoots and scattered fish maw into the broth and cooked them for a few minutes to absorb the flavor of the ham broth.
The ham and bamboo shoot slices were cut to the same thickness as the scattered fish maw. Next, it was time for some manual work. Hachiman intertwined these three strands, then braided them.
Once the braided strands were stuffed into the sausage casing, they were placed in the pot with the ham broth and steamed.
Seeing this scene, Erina suddenly realized.
"So, it's that dish?"
Naturally, the young girl could tell that Hachiman was making the "Tornado Wing Sausage."
"Huh, Erina, do you know? What dish is this?" Alice asked curiously.
However, Erina had no intention of telling her. "I'm not telling you. Not only do I know about this dish, but Hachiman also taught me how to make it."
Saying this, the young girl glanced triumphantly at Alice.
Seeing her triumphant look, Alice gritted her teeth.
Damn you, Erina!
Hmph, even if you know about this dish, Hachiman has already done that kind of thing with me. No matter what, you'll have to be behind me.
I've won!
Thinking this, Alice's mood improved a lot, and she glanced triumphantly at Erina in return.
This puzzled Erina a bit because she didn't know what Alice was feeling triumphant about.
But then again, besides Erina, Gin also knew about this dish, but he had no intention of getting involved in the sisters' jealousy, so he simply watched without saying a word.
At the same time, he became even more certain of his speculation.
Erina and Alice, the two sisters, indeed both seemed to like Hachiman.
The only question was, which one would Hachiman choose?
This also piqued the interest of Gin, the "Top Graduate of Totsuki," in his heart.
After all, gossip is a human instinct, and almost everyone has some interest in gossip news.
This was something Hachiman didn't know about Gin's thoughts. If he knew, he would surely look down on him.
Only children make choices. Adults, of course, want them all.
Meanwhile, Hachiman continued to focus on cooking. Soon, a dish was ready, and he proudly carried over a plate of pink cylindrical objects—his freshly made "Tornado Wing Sausage."
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Chapter 388: A Unique Ninefold Secret Lamb Leg
"The Tornado Wing Sausage, please enjoy," Hachiman said with a slight smile as he placed the plate on the table. However, he didn't wait for the judgment of the others but turned back to his position at the stove. After all, he still had more cooking to do.
The others paid no attention to Hachiman's actions and instead focused their gaze on the pink cylindrical object in front of them.
"Sausage?"
Observing the segments of pink cylindrical objects on the plate, Senzaemon nodded.
"Then let's give it a try."
He reached for a piece with his knife.
However, Gin quickly stopped him, "Chief, this dish shouldn't be cut. Its essence can only be fully appreciated when eaten whole."
"Oh? Is that so?" Senzaemon nodded and used a fork to pick up a piece of sausage, then put it into his mouth.
As Senzaemon's teeth broke open the sausage casing, a storm suddenly brewed in his mouth.
A new storm has arisen, how can...
Ahem... sorry, got carried away.
Feeling the storm brewing in his mouth, Senzaemon couldn't help but widen his eyes.
"This is... it's as if a tornado is swirling in my mouth, this is amazing."
"Yes, that's the miraculous aspect of this dish. The 'braids' inside scatter like loosened springs the moment they're bitten into."
As one of the few who had tasted this dish before, Gin naturally had the authority to speak.
"As the three intertwined strands flip and spin, the delicious flavors of the fish maw and Jinhua ham seem to form a tornado of taste in the mouth, sweeping over every inch of the palate. It's an indescribable sensation!"
Hearing Gin's praise, Joichiro also became interested. "Is it really that amazing? Let me try."
With that, he also picked up a piece of sausage and put it into his mouth.
"Wow, this is really amazing! Along with the tornado, not only do the delicious flavors of the fish maw and Jinhua ham spread in the mouth, but also the silky texture of the fish maw soaked in broth. That's why it doesn't feel overpowering at all."
"To come up with such a cooking method, this Hachiman guy is really talented."
Watching Hachiman still busy at work, Senzaemon also couldn't help but praise.
It's worth noting that aside from Hachiman, Gin and Joichiro were the two highest-skilled chefs present. Even Senzaemon, as the supreme commander of Totsuki, couldn't confidently say his culinary skills surpassed theirs due to his aging body.
Since both of them are praising it, this dish must have an extraordinary taste.
With that in mind, everyone didn't hesitate and picked up a piece of sausage to taste.
The next moment, a gust of flavor stormed through their mouths.
Just as Joichiro said, although this storm was intense, it didn't irritate the palate at all, only leaving an indescribable sensation of exquisite pleasure that lingered on.
Although Erina had previously tasted this dish once, this time was different. Hachiman had put forth his full effort, and the deliciousness and impact were naturally incomparable to before.
The young girl's sensitive "God Tongue" was being bombarded by waves of pleasure, causing her delicate body to tremble uncontrollably. She hugged her arms around her chest, and from her mouth escaped seductive moans.
"Ah... Mm... Ah... Oh..."
Upon hearing Erina's voice, Hachiman, who was roasting the lamb leg, lifted his head slightly and glanced over with a strange expression.
"The 'God Tongue' is indeed sensitive."
Soon, he lowered his head again, continuing to flip the lamb leg in his hands and occasionally applying the well-proportioned spices onto its surface. However, the spices he used were somewhat different from Gin's.
...
Erina quickly eased out of her gourmet trance. Although the potency of the dish had increased this time, she had developed some "resistance" from tasting it before, so she was the first to come back to her senses.
Even though she had regained consciousness, Erina's current state seemed a bit precarious. Her enticing lips were slightly panting, and her legs couldn't help but feel weak, almost causing her to collapse to the ground. She hastily grabbed onto the table beside her to steady herself.
Unfortunately, before Erina could catch her breath, a blush suddenly appeared on her face, and she anxiously wriggled her legs a few times, realizing that her underwear had gotten wet just now.
Glancing around at the others who were still immersed in the deliciousness, Erina stealthily slipped out of the kitchen, then quickly dashed towards her own room.
When Erina returned after changing her underwear, she noticed that everyone had already regained their composure. Alice, looking at Erina who had just entered, couldn't help but ask curiously, "Hmm, Erina, where did you go just now?"
Not only Alice, but even Hisako beside her seemed somewhat puzzled because she hadn't noticed her mistress leaving just now, which was quite negligent of her.
Hearing the question, Erina's face flushed slightly.
She couldn't possibly say she went to change her underwear, or else Alice would mock her mercilessly.
"Oh, it's nothing, I just went to the restroom." The girl's gaze wandered, casually making up an excuse to brush it off.
"Oh, I see," Alice replied, not probing further, just nodding casually, then shifting her gaze to Hachiman.
Who cares about Erina, my Hachiman is more important.
Seeing that there were no further inquiries, Erina also breathed a sigh of relief and turned her gaze to Hachiman, who was still busy.
As he continued to flip and apply spices onto the lamb leg, the enticing aroma permeated the entire kitchen.
"Cinnamon, ginger, white atractylodes, cardamom, cloves, tangerine peel..."
Gin, smelling the aroma, mentioned the names of several spices. However, he felt even more peculiar at this moment because these were exactly the spices used in his "Ninefold Secret Lamb Leg."
It seems Hachiman really did learn just by glancing at it.
As time passed, Hachiman finally finished roasting the lamb leg. At the same time, the dumplings in the steamer were also fully cooked.
First, he took the lamb leg off the rack, then Hachiman walked over to the steamer and opened the lid.
As the cold air rushed in, the hot air inside the dumplings began to expand, causing a gap to open at the top of the dumplings where the seal wasn't very tight.
Instantly, a strong meaty aroma filled the kitchen once again.
At this moment, two distinct aromas permeated the kitchen: one was the aroma of lamb mixed with various spices, and the other was a mixture of various meaty aromas converging together.
Initially, these diverse meat aromas appeared to converge, but eventually, they seemed to burst apart due to excessive concentration, forming a distinct pattern and settling in a specific location.
Experiencing this remarkable transformation, everyone felt as if they were witnessing the creation of planets after a cosmic explosion, as if a luminous Milky Way unfolded before their eyes, and they were freely drifting in this celestial river.
"Please enjoy the Cosmic Dumplings and the Ninefold Secret Lamb Leg."
Placing the two dishes on the table one by one, Hachiman smiled softly at everyone.
Observing the golden-brown roasted lamb leg in front of him, Gin looked perplexed. "Hachiman, did you really master my Ninefold Secret Lamb Leg?"
"Well, yes and no. Anyway, Gin-senpai, you'll understand once you taste it," Hachiman teased.
"Yes and no? What does that mean?" Gin furrowed his brow at Hachiman's enigmatic response.
Nevertheless, Hachiman's words piqued curiosity among the others, and they unanimously decided to sample the Ninefold Secret Lamb Leg first.
Using a knife to slice a piece of lamb, the aroma of meat and assorted spices burst forth as the blade cut through the leg. Despite the extended roasting time, the slice maintained its tender texture, releasing flavorful juices.
Using a fork to lift the small piece of lamb and placing it in his mouth, Gin's eyes widened as the rich aroma of meat blended with various spices flooded his senses.
"This is!"
As the lamb meat entered his mouth, Gin's eyes widened in amazement.
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