Shokuki: Start with an izakaya and make everyone cry

In winter, or when you need to nourish your body and mind.

A bowl of steaming horse meat porridge can undoubtedly bring a different kind of warmth and satisfaction.

Gently scoop up a spoonful, and you can see that the porridge is shiny, and the horse meat is clearly visible, intertwined with the soft and glutinous rice grains, with an attractive color.

Take a bite.

First, the porridge is soft and warm.

Then, the horse meat is delicious and chewy.

The two complement each other, satisfying the enjoyment of the taste buds and bringing warmth to the body.

The ginger flavor in the porridge just neutralizes the slight smell of horse meat, making the taste of the whole bowl of porridge more harmonious and unified.

…

"Hmm?"

Nakiri Managi was stunned.

Then, she set her sights on the third dish of "Demon Breaking Eight Formations", lamb tripe pancakes.

Take a bite, the crispy outer skin instantly breaks in the mouth, making a pleasant "crunch, crunch" sound, bringing a mouthful of crispness and lightness.

This crispness is not monotonous and hard, but has a just right oily feeling, which makes people unforgettable.

Then, it is the inner part of the dough.

It is soft and chewy, forming a sharp contrast with the outer skin, but can coexist harmoniously, together to build a unique taste level of mutton tripe sesame cake.

Then taste it carefully.

The aroma of mutton tripe sesame cake is mixed with the rusticity of flour, the mellow fragrance of sesame and a subtle taste of seasoning.

These flavors are intertwined to form an indescribable wonderful taste.

If:

There is also mutton tripe inside.

Then, the rich meat aroma will penetrate into the cake aroma, making the taste of the whole sesame cake richer and fuller, and every bite is the ultimate temptation to the taste buds.

The filling is always the soul of mutton tripe sesame cake.

Fresh lamb tripe is carefully processed to remove the smell of mutton, retaining its unique freshness and chewiness.

With special seasonings, such as the spicy fragrance of onions, ginger, and garlic, as well as the appropriate amount of salt, pepper and other condiments, the filling tastes richer, with both the mellowness of lamb tripe and the fresh flavor.

Seriously.

Every bite.

In the mouth, you can feel the delicious juice slowly released by the lamb tripe in the mouth.

…

Shaobing has always been a touch of elegance on the table.

This food carries the atmosphere and cultural charm of thousands of years of fireworks. Its long history can be traced back to the Han and Tang Dynasties, and even further ancient civilizations.

This food is not just a food for filling the stomach, but actually contains profound historical implications and humanistic feelings. The stories and poems behind it give Shaobing a unique cultural temperament.

Hmm!

The name of Shaobing.

It was first seen in the record of "Hu Bing" in "Book of the Later Han Dynasty".

Since the opening of the Silk Road, the pastry that was introduced from the Western Regions to the Central Plains got its name because it needs to be baked when it is made.

In the Tang Dynasty, sesame cakes became famous because of the saying that "Yang Guifei gave the name".

It is said that Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and Yang Guifei visited Huaqing Palace and met an old man selling cakes on the way. The concubine praised it highly and named it "Guifei Cake". Since then, the reputation of sesame cakes has been passed down through the ages.

Of course, in literary works.

Sesame cakes are not just a kind of food, they also symbolize the warmth of home and the comfort of travel.

In "Autumn Thoughts in Tian Jingsha" by Ma Zhiyuan of the Yuan Dynasty, "The ancient road is in the west wind, the thin horse, the sunset is setting, and the heartbroken people are at the end of the world", although sesame cakes are not directly mentioned, but if the traveler walking on the ancient road has a hot sesame cake in his hand, it may be able to reduce the pain of "heartbreak" a little.

…

“No… I can’t…”

At this moment, while eating horse meat porridge and lamb tripe pancakes, Managi was struggling with the remaining rationality in her heart.

But the desire for food surged like a tide, completely drowning her.

“Ah!”

“Mmmmm…”

Managi ate with big mouthfuls.

At this moment, the whole world seemed to be still.

As the oil residue entered, a strange light flashed in Managi Nakiri’s eyes.

Her mind began to become blurred, and all her rationality and self-control disappeared like fallen leaves swept away by the wind.

There was only an infinite desire and dependence on the food in her heart, as if the whole world only had this delicious bite, which could give her the meaning of survival and living.

She couldn’t help it.

She ate more frantically.

Desperately, she wanted to take more.

Those foods, those things, seemed to have magic power, gradually eroding her mind, turning her into a puppet who only knew how to chase food instinctively.

Obviously, behind this madness, there is a profound warning:

When desire loses control, even the most ordinary food can become a shackle that binds the soul.

…

"Huh?"

"Can Zhang Fan's food still control Managi's mind?"

Seeing this scene, Leonora next to her understood and was shocked.

"Hiss!"

"These dishes are indeed..."

Senzaemon took a bite of the lamb belly pancake, and all his clothes burst.

Then, the dam of reason collapsed, replaced by a kind of almost primitive desire and fanaticism.

His eyes, originally clear and bright, turned red at this moment, like a gem ignited by flames, flashing a strange light, revealing a desperate urgency and fanaticism.

Sweat slid down his frowning brows and dripped on his hands holding the tableware.

But he was completely unaware, all his attention was attracted by the seemingly ordinary but endlessly tempting food in front of him.

Slowly.

His breathing became rapid and heavy.

Every breath seemed to be accumulating strength for the upcoming swallowing action.

The noise around him gradually faded away, and in Senzaemon's world, there was only the suffocating desire and the delicious food that was about to be touched.

His mouth trembled slightly.

It was as if he was praying silently, praying that this delicious food could completely satisfy his inner emptiness and hunger.

Finally, he couldn't hold back anymore, and he pounced forward and put the food into his mouth.

At that moment, all reason and restraint turned into nothingness, leaving only pure enjoyment and satisfaction.

Such a scene.

If you don't see it with your own eyes, you will definitely think it is very exaggerated.

But!

This is the fact.

Zhang Fan's "Eight Demon-Breaking Formations" cuisine can directly make a person lose control when facing delicious food, and the obsession and enthusiasm for food that cannot be resisted!

...

Finally, it is the wine trough crucian carp and pork.

The sweetness and intoxication of the wine trough are perfectly integrated with the deliciousness of the crucian carp.

It not only removes the fishy smell of the fish, but also adds a unique wine aroma.

Crucian carp.

The meat is tender.

It melts in the mouth, and every bite is the ultimate indulgence of the taste buds.

The addition of pork adds a richer taste and flavor to this dish.

The pork is carefully selected and cooked, maintaining its original meaty aroma and juiciness, and interweaving with the aroma of the wine trough, forming an indescribable wonderful taste.

The fat of the pork slowly seeps out during the cooking process, penetrating into every inch of the crucian carp's texture, making the fish meat more tender, and also adding a bit of fat fragrance and satisfaction to the whole dish.

In terms of taste, this dish is even more praiseworthy.

The crucian carp has a delicate texture, which melts in a sip, and contrasts with the mellow taste of the wine trough.

The pork, with its unique chewiness and juiciness, adds a sense of layering to this dish.

Every bite.

You can feel the interweaving and collision of fish and pork in your mouth.

The delicate and tender fish meat and the mellow and juicy pork complement each other and create an unforgettable delicious dish.

In addition, various spices and seasonings may be added to this dish during the cooking process, such as ginger slices, scallions, and chili peppers. They not only enhance the aroma and flavor of the whole dish, but also add a bit of spiciness and spiciness to the dish, making the taste fuller and more three-dimensional!

…

Magi, her mind has become very fuzzy.

In her mind, pictures related to this dish keep emerging:

Childhood laughter!

Family happiness!

The bitterness of failure!

The curse of the tongue of God!

These emotions and experiences, like a tide, come in, making him = her unable to extricate himself.

She realized that this dish was not only satisfying her appetite, but also controlling her mind, immersing her in a world built by taste.

Just then.

The owner of the izakaya, a sunny and handsome man, slowly came over.

He whispered: "Welcome to the izakaya. Every dish here is a key to the soul, which can open the most real emotions and desires in your heart."

"But remember, true freedom does not lie in escape or indulgence, but in whether you can maintain yourself in the face of temptation."

Nakiri Masaaki finally realized it!

So.

She struggled hard.

Trying to break free from this dream woven by food.

After some efforts, she finally regained her consciousness, and the scene in front of her gradually returned to normal.

"Huh!"

"Interesting."

"The power of food is really strong!"

...

When I first came into contact with the Japanese food industry.

The first time I saw the words "Kappo" on the business card, I thought it was the name of the store at first.

But later, this word appeared more and more, and I realized that it was not the name of the store, but a type of Japanese food.

The "Kappou" in Kappou means cutting with a kitchen knife, and "Cooking" means cooking with fire.

After eating the "Demon Breaking Eight Formations" and regaining consciousness, Nakiri Managi stopped her eyes on Saiba Chaoyang's sashimi dishes. After hesitating for a while, she ate a piece of sea bream sashimi.

But.

As soon as she ate it.

Suddenly, she felt an indescribable nausea, quietly rising.

And this feeling started from the depths of her throat, as if an invisible force was constantly squeezing her esophagus, making her want to expel the food involuntarily.

Then, a strong desire to vomit surged in her heart.

With the fine beads of sweat oozing from her forehead and the blush on her cheeks, her body began to tremble unconsciously.

Managi, with her hands unconsciously covering her mouth, tried to suppress the power that was about to burst out, but it was still difficult to resist.

With a sound of "Wow...".

A mixture of undigested sashimi and stomach acid suddenly burst out of her mouth.

At this moment.

The air was quiet again!

All the discomfort seemed to be released with this power, but what followed was physical weakness and cramps in the stomach.

"How could it be?"

"My sashimi dishes can't even be conquered by the tongue of God?"

When Caiba Chaoyang saw this scene, he was completely stunned!

…

Under the spotlight.

This competition was always filled with tension and expectation.

Every choice of ingredients, every precision of knife skills, carried Caiba Chaoyang's sweat and dreams for countless days and nights.

But.

For Caiba Chaoyang.

This stage fell from the cloud of dreams to the cold abyss of reality in an instant.

As Nakiri Masagi tasted all the dishes one by one, time seemed to freeze in the air.

Caiba Chaoyang, at this moment, clenched his hands.

His nails were deeply embedded in his palms, but he didn't feel any pain.

His eyes followed every subtle expression of the judges, trying to find a clue of affirmation or encouragement from them, but unfortunately, those faces were more contemplative and regretful.

Finally, when Nakiri Masagi slowly put down the tableware in his hand, the result of the competition was announced.

…

"Zhang Fan, you win!"

This sentence made Cai Bo Chaoyang's heart feel like being hit by a heavy hammer, and all his expectations and confidence collapsed in an instant.

He felt an unprecedented sense of powerlessness sweeping over his body, his legs trembled involuntarily, and he could hardly support his body.

He tried hard to control his emotions, but the frustration in his heart surged like a tide, completely drowning him.

The hustle and bustle and congratulations around him became so distant and vague at this moment, as if he was the only one left in the world, standing alone in the shadow of failure.

Indeed!

Cai Bo Chaoyang, who possesses a powerful supernatural power "Cross Blade", can devour and integrate the kitchen utensils and abilities of other chefs.

But his cooking always lacks his own style and soul.

He relies too much on the abilities he has gained from others, and ignores the most important "self" expression in cooking.

This kind of cooking that lacks self-style is often difficult to stand out in high-level duels.

And as a chef.

Cooking is not only a display of skills, but also a transmission of emotions.

Cai Bo Chaoyang's cooking lacks his personal emotions and stories, which greatly reduces the depth and appeal of his cooking.

In contrast.

Zhang Fan is able to integrate his emotions into the cooking, allowing diners to feel more resonance and touch when tasting.

On the other hand, Cai Bo Chaoyang is obsessed with victory, and he is eager to prove his strength by defeating all opponents.

However, this obsession sometimes causes him to be too impatient and impulsive, thus ignoring the essence and details of cooking. At critical moments, this mentality often makes him make mistakes or lose his calm.

Cai Bo Chaoyang also has a certain misunderstanding of victory.

He believes that as long as he defeats all opponents, he can become the strongest chef, but in fact, true strength is not only reflected in skills, but also in the love of cooking, respect for ingredients, and care for diners.

He misunderstood Yukihira Joichiro's teachings and expectations of him, which also led to him losing his proper mentality and judgment in the duel with Zhang Fan! (End of this chapter)