Shokugeki: Start with an izakaya, making everyone cry

Night falls.

The dim light of the street lamps sprinkled on the narrow cobblestone road, casting a veil of mystery over this alley hidden in a corner of the bustling food street.

The warm yellow lights of the izakaya.

Overflowing from the gap of the half-open wooden sliding door.

It forms a sharp contrast with the deserted surrounding environment, like a warm and inviting haven in the night.

……

Sudden.

The sound of light footsteps broke the silence of the night.

I saw a masked boy slowly walking into the food street which was gradually becoming deserted due to the late-night cook incident.

He was wearing a black cloak, the gauze covering his face swaying gently in the wind, covering most of his face, leaving only a pair of deep and sharp eyes that flashed an elusive light in the night.

Every step he took was so steady, yet mysterious.

gradually.

As he gets closer.

Inside the izakaya, the laughter and the aroma of food cooking became clearer and stronger.

This inevitably aroused his interest, so he stopped for a while in front of the izakaya.

Through the half-open door, I took in the cozy scene in the house: the wooden tables and chairs were filled with guests of all kinds, some toasting to celebrate, some chatting in whispers, and everyone's face was filled with relaxation and satisfaction.

finally.

The masked man hesitated again and again.

He made up his mind, gently pushed the door open and walked in.

……

Just stepped one foot in.

A warm current mixed with the aroma of food came towards me.

He could only walk into the pub silently, chose a corner by the window and sat down. Then he did not take off the mask in public, and continued to leave a mysterious and lonely figure!

of course.

Izakaya atmosphere.

There was no change at all because of the arrival of this uninvited guest.

"This guest."

"Our restaurant has a rule that you can order whatever you want, provided that there are ready-made ingredients and I can make it, so..."

"What would you like to eat now?"

As soon as he sat down, Zhang Fan's eyes flickered. Probably knowing his identity, he came forward to greet him enthusiastically.

Inquiring in his unique gentle voice, the masked man, no, Cai Bo Chaoyang's needs!

"Ok?"

"whatever."

"Anyway, I'm not picky about food!"

Cai Bo Chaoyang responded with simple gestures and a low voice.

On this dimly lit night, his appearance made it obvious that he was from a different world from the other diners in the pub.

But because of this accidental intersection, a subtle connection was also created!

"OK."

"Then you wait here for a while."

Hearing this, Zhang Fan didn't say much, but turned around and returned to the cooking table.

……

Japanese sour.

The most famous one is probably the lemon cocktail.

Sawa, which is the pronunciation of Sour, comes from the Japanese word さわやか, which means the refreshing feeling after drinking.

This type of wine appeared during the post-war period when Japan was facing a severe shortage of supplies. In that era, ordinary people could not eat much meat, and most of what they could eat were foods such as offal.

Therefore, in a public izakaya restaurant in Meguro District that serves grilled offal, shochu is mixed with carbonated water and then lemon juice is added.

This resulted in a very refreshing drink that goes perfectly with grilled offal.

It became very popular as soon as it was launched.

later.

After decades of development.

Now, it has become a very popular drink among both uncles and young people.

Because the waiting time for the food was a bit long, Cai Bo Chaoyang could only order a bottle of Sauvignon beer and drink it alone.

lemon.

Soju.

Granulated sugar.

salt.

These are the basic ingredients for smashed cocktails.

The mixture of lemon peel and crushed lemon is very refreshing and can also bring a full fruity aroma.

The main ingredient of lemon cocktail is undoubtedly lemon. The first impression of lemon is sourness. In addition to the sour taste, lemon also contains fructose. The sweetness of ripe lemon is very strong.

At the same time, the lemon peel will also bring a bitter taste to the drink, as well as the refreshing flavor of the lemon itself.

These four elements combined determine the main taste of lemon cocktail!

When this carefully prepared lemon cocktail was finally presented to Cai Bo Chaoyang, it was like a fresh and unworldly summer breeze, gently blowing across his heart, bringing endless coolness and joy.

It is not only a work of art in color, but also a miracle of taste.

In the golden liquid, a few slices of lemon peel float as decoration, swaying gently, as if adding a touch of liveliness and playfulness to the drink.

Subsequently.

Take a sip.

First, the fresh sourness of lemon jumps on the tip of your tongue.

Then, a sweetness slowly permeates, and finally the mellowness of the alcohol slowly spreads in the throat, leaving behind a long aftertaste that is endless.

……

"Oh?"

"This sauvignon ..."

Chaoyang was surprised for a moment.

Occasionally he looked up at the other diners, and seeing that they all had happy expressions on their faces because of the delicious food, there was an indescribable hint in his eyes.

In Japan, dumplings are positioned as a dish rather than a staple food.

Therefore, pairing staple food with staple food is a traditional art for Japanese people. Not to mention dumplings with rice, there are also ramen with rice, instant noodles with fried rice, fried noodles with hot dogs...

Ah!

What Zhang Fan is going to prepare now is the special recipe of colorful dumplings.

This is a delicious dish that is mainly colorful. During the production process, vegetable or fruit juice is mainly used to add color to the dumpling skin, which not only makes the dumplings look more attractive, but also improves the nutritional value.

Time flies by.

Soon the colorful dumplings he made were completed!

……

watch carefully.

The colorful dumplings, like the most gorgeous rainbow in nature, fell into the earth and lay quietly on the white porcelain plate.

Every dumpling actually emits a soft and dazzling light.

It seems like nature’s most exquisite handwriting, carefully carving the colors of the sky into this small space.

These dumplings have colorful skins.

Red like the morning glow, orange like the warm sun, yellow like the golden autumn, green like the emerald bamboo, blue like the deep sea, blue like the clear sky, purple like Roland. Each color is pure and full, and the interweaving together forms a flowing rainbow painting.

"what?"

"What on earth is going on with this rainbow-colored light?"

It was the first time that Cai Bo Chaoyang saw food glowing, and he was so surprised that his eyes almost popped out of his head.

Indeed, in his eyes, the colorful dumplings in the izakaya are not just food, but more like works of art, which make people indulge in the visual shock and beauty before tasting them!

This incredible scene makes everything around seem so unreal, as if you have stepped into a fairy tale world woven by colors.

in the air.

Not only is the aroma of dumplings permeating.

It also seems to be mixed with a light floral scent and the sweetness of candy, making people feel relaxed and happy, and intoxicated.

Even Senzaemon, who hadn't left yet, opened his eyes wide with disbelief, and the diners covered their mouths in surprise. Some of them even surrounded the plate of rainbow-emitting dumplings, as if it was the most precious treasure they had ever seen!

As for Kikuchi and Kadozaki, they smiled at each other, with tenderness and surprise flashing in their eyes.

this moment.

They all know it.

Zhang Fan's plate of colorful dumplings will surely shock the masked late-night cook in front of him just like it did before!

And in this space lit up by colorful dumplings, time seems to stand still.

Leaving only full of happiness and warmth.

……

The seven kinds of dumplings are:

Select red-heart pitaya to squeeze out the juice, knead the dough to make the skin, and then use the pitaya pulp as the filling to make dumplings.

Squeeze the selected pumpkin into juice, knead the dough to make the skin, and then select yellow croaker as the filling to make dumplings.

Select red yeast rice, knead it into dough to make the skin, then select shrimp and tomatoes as the filling to make dumplings.

Select cuttlefish sacs, mix with dough to make skin, and then use cuttlefish meat as filling to make dumplings.

Squeeze the selected spinach, knead it into dough to make the skin, and then use leeks, oysters and shrimps as stuffing to make dumplings.

Juice the selected carrots, mix with flour to make the skin, and then use pumpkin and dried shrimp as stuffing to make dumplings.

Use original flour to make the dough, and then use fresh Spanish mackerel meat as the stuffing to make dumplings.

In terms of the order of colors, there are seven colors: purple, yellow, red, black, green, orange and white, so it looks very bright.

……

then.

Cai Bo looked up at the sun and gently picked up one.

What I feel with my fingertips is the softness and elasticity of the dough, and it seems that I can also touch the tenderness of the rainbow.

Through the thin dumpling skin, you can vaguely see the tempting color of the filling. When you take the first bite, it is not only a carnival for your taste buds, but also a touch to your soul.

The lightness of the crust and the richness of the filling are intertwined in the mouth, bringing out distinct layers of deliciousness, as if the entire taste buds are surrounded by an unprecedented magic, and every bite is an ode to a better life!

First, the dragon fruit dumplings.

This creative idea combines traditional cuisine with modern innovative delicacies, as if spreading the brilliant colors of nature directly on the dining table in a gorgeous painting.

Imagine the skin is pink with a hint of lavender, just like the petals of a pitaya just blooming in the morning light. Gently bite it open, and you will find a rich and varied filling inside. It retains the warmth and satisfaction of traditional dumplings, while adding a unique fruity aroma and freshness.

"I see."

“I want to make a dragon fruit dumpling like this.”

"First, you need to select fresh and ripe dragon fruit, finely mash its delicate flesh, filter out the bright juice, and then slowly mix it with high-quality flour to knead it into a smooth dough."

"This dough becomes particularly tempting with the addition of dragon fruit juice, exuding a light fruity aroma that makes people want to explore it."

"As for the fillings, you can freely mix and match them according to your personal preferences. Whether it is the classic pork and green onion, the delicious shrimp and leek, or the refreshing vegetarian three fresh, each one can complement the sweet fragrance of dragon fruit and collide with surprising flavors."

“When the fillings are cleverly wrapped in the dragon fruit dough and the opening is pinched tightly, small, exquisite and colorful dragon fruit dumplings appear before your eyes, as delicate as works of art.”

"As the water temperature rises during cooking, the dragon fruit dumplings roll gently in the water, and the unique pink color gradually becomes translucent, as if the corals on the seabed are swaying gently."

"When the dumplings float up, remove them from the water and place them on a plate. Drizzle a few drops of oil on them and sprinkle some chopped green onions or coriander on them."

"A tempting aroma mixed with the aroma of fruit, flour and fillings hits your nose, which is really mouth-watering."

"When you taste it, the first bite is the soft and slightly sweet dragon fruit dough, followed by the delicious and juicy filling. The two are intertwined and blended in the mouth, bringing an unprecedented taste enjoyment."

Cai Bo Chaoyang closed his eyes and savored the food while letting his thoughts drift far away.

Yes!

Such dumplings really surprised him.

……

"So."

“What about this pumpkin dumplings?”

After saying that, he opened his eyes and stared at the orange pumpkin dumplings curiously.

First, peel and seed the pumpkin, cut it into pieces and steam it. The golden pumpkin flesh becomes soft, sweet and fragrant under the action of the steam, exuding a natural sweetness and warmth.

Then, mash the steamed pumpkin into a paste, add an appropriate amount of white sugar, and stir evenly so that you can feel the purity and sweetness of the pumpkin in every bite.

In order to add layers and richness to the taste, some fried minced pork or fresh shrimps are cleverly mixed into the pumpkin puree, and then sprinkled with a little chopped green onion and minced ginger to enhance the flavor and remove the fishy smell.

The addition of seasonings perfectly balances the sweetness of the pumpkin, making the filling retain the authenticity of the pumpkin while adding a bit of freshness and chewiness.

Next comes the dumpling-making process.

The dumpling skins, as thin as cicada wings, are gently spread out in the hands.

Take a spoonful of the carefully prepared pumpkin filling, fold it in half and pinch it tightly, and small and exquisite pumpkin dumplings of various shapes will appear in your palm.

They may be like a crescent moon or full of gold ingots, and each one carries the maker's thoughts and expectations.

Finally, when a pot of water is boiling, gently put the pumpkin dumplings into it.

After a while, the dumplings began to roll happily in the water. As the water temperature rose, the dumpling skin gradually became transparent, and the golden pumpkin filling inside could be vaguely seen. The aroma also spread and filled the entire kitchen.

When the dumplings float up, take them out and put them on a plate. Then drizzle a few drops of oil on them and sprinkle some chopped green onions or coriander on them for garnish. A plate of pumpkin dumplings with good color, aroma and flavor is ready.

Take a bite, the outer layer is chewy, the inner filling is soft, glutinous and sweet, and the freshness of pumpkin and the aroma of meat are intertwined, as if the beauty of the whole autumn is wrapped in this small dumpling, which makes people have endless aftertaste and warm feeling!

"it is good!"

"It's really awesome!"

"Gently bite open the thin and tough dumpling skin, and a warm pumpkin aroma instantly fills your mouth. It is the taste of sunshine and earth, fresh yet mellow."

“Pumpkin puree is the main ingredient of the filling. It is carefully cooked and seasoned to retain the original sweetness of the pumpkin.”

“At the same time, it incorporates just the right amount of saltiness and freshness, and the two are interwoven in the mouth to create a layered and harmonious taste.”

"The filling is delicate and smooth, as if it can easily melt on the tip of the tongue, bringing a silky enjoyment. The pumpkin fiber is processed just right, retaining the natural taste without being too rough, allowing people to experience a subtle chewing pleasure when tasting it."

“Occasionally, you can chew on some tiny pumpkin particles, which are like little surprises and add a bit of fun and layering to this delicacy.”

At the end of the story, Cai Bo Chaoyang was extremely shocked!