"Brother Dylan, is there something you wanted to talk to me about alone?" Enjoying the blowing of the evening wind, the two walked aimlessly
"Brother Dylan, is there something you wanted to talk to me about alone?"
Enjoying the blowing of the evening wind, the two walked aimlessly, eventually finding a high point on the mountain at the edge of the city.
From here, leaning on the railing and looking down, one could overlook the entire city. After admiring the beautiful scenery for a while, Joichiro Yukihira turned to look at Dylan, a hint of confusion in his expression.
"Do you think the scenery here is beautiful?"
Instead of answering Joichiro Yukihira's question, he asked him another one in return.
"It's quite nice. You can see more than half of the city from here. How did you find this place? I've lived here for so many years and never knew this place existed."
Faced with the inquiry, Joichiro Yukihira nodded, guessing in his heart that this was likely not Dylan's first time here; otherwise, how would he know about this place that even few locals knew?
"I heard two kids talking on the way. It seems to be their secret base. Kids can always find places like this. Didn't you hear them?"
"Was there such a thing? Then perhaps I wasn't paying attention..."
Hearing Dylan's answer, Joichiro Yukihira couldn't help but feel a bit puzzled. Then, as if he thought of something, he suddenly fell silent.
He had super hearing; Joichiro Yukihira did not.
Thinking about it carefully, this guy was just an ordinary person.
For a mere ordinary person to be able to reach the level of a Five-Star Special Grade Chef before the age of forty, one had to admit, this guy's culinary talent was astonishingly strong.
At this rate, breaking through to Six-Star Special Grade, or even creating 'Flowing Light' cuisine in this lifetime, was not an impossible feat.
"If you stand at this height, this is all the scenery you can see. But what if you stand even higher?"
After saying this, Dylan said no more and continued to advance up the mountain path. Joichiro Yukihira, looking thoughtful, followed closely behind him.
One after the other, the two soon arrived at a higher place. Looking down, one could clearly feel that the view before them had become much more expansive.
Before, they could only see a small part of the city, but now they could take in more than half of the city at a glance. The pedestrians were the size of ants.
"Looking at everything before you, what do you feel?"
"Only by standing on the shoulders of giants can one see further and go farther?"
Joichiro Yukihira was no fool. The comparison between overlooking the city from two different heights immediately made him understand what Dylan wanted to tell him.
Climb high to see far. The higher one stood, the farther one could see. If he continued to stay in this small place, even with excellent talent, he would only be buried.
"So, what is your choice?"
Looking at the contemplative Joichiro Yukihira, Dylan asked.
"Do you want to take Soma as your disciple? I'd be relieved to entrust him to you, but why?"
Joichiro Yukihira said, meeting his gaze.
"Huh?"
"No, you've misunderstood. I have no intention of taking on a disciple. I want you to join the Dark Cooking Society, to become one of its members. There are many powerful chefs there you can exchange ideas with. Do you want to ascend to the absolute summit, Joichiro?"
After a two-second silence, Dylan knew Joichiro Yukihira had misunderstood, so he explained.
"The Dark Cooking Society? What kind of organization is that? A power that specializes in making 'dark cuisine' (terrible food)? If that's the case, it feels quite suitable for me."
Stroking the beard on his chin, after hearing Dylan's words, Joichiro Yukihira couldn't help but become interested.
It wasn't that he was interested in the Dark Cooking Society having many powerful chefs, but he was very surprised that they were like-minded.
He would also make some 'dark cuisine' when he was stressed, competing with his son to see who could make something more disgusting.
The organization Dylan mentioned should be of that nature, right?
"An organization that aims for the pinnacle of culinary arts. It should be able to elevate your skills a notch in a short amount of time. If you're interested, give me a call later. I'll tell you the location of the Dark Cooking Society."
Looking at the moon hanging high in the sky, Dylan spoke slowly. He had genuinely taken a liking to Joichiro Yukihira's talent.
If he was cultivated well in the future, he might become a decent rival.
He had been at the peak for too long, and it was truly cold at the top. He wanted someone to come up and accompany him. The days without a rival were simply too lonely.
"Aim for the pinnacle of culinary arts..."
Joichiro Yukihira had also just been joking, knowing in his heart that Dylan couldn't possibly be inviting him to join some bizarre organization.
However, this phrase 'aim for the pinnacle of culinary arts' also made his heart beat a lot faster.
There were numerous chef-related powers in this world, the largest of which was the World Gourmet Organization, WGO.
It dominated the rating of chefs in this world and the judgment of Shokugeki outcomes.
It could be said to be an organization that every chef chasing fame and fortune could not bypass.
And even such an organization had never had the idea of reaching the pinnacle of culinary arts, but the Dark Cooking Society did.
Combined with Dylan's magnificent words earlier, it was really hard not to feel one's heart race and blood boil!
"I will consider it seriously when I get back. I will give you my decision tomorrow morning."
However, making such a hasty decision was not his style. Moreover, he still had that rascal Soma at home; he really couldn't rest easy.
Joichiro Yukihira said seriously after some hesitation.
That kid at home had also reached the age of independence. Old man Nakiri had visited more than once, wanting him to attend Tōtsuki Academy.
That might be for the best! He would go to the Dark Cooking Society to further hone his culinary skills, while Soma Yukihira would enter Tōtsuki Academy to duel with other young chefs.
Only through constant battle could he truly grow.
And the skills he had accumulated over these years could only be digested in battle!
"I'll be waiting for your good news."
Seeing Joichiro Yukihira's interest, Dylan wasn't in a hurry. After saying this, he glanced at the scenery below again.
He had to admit, living in a remote place had its benefits. At least there were no tall buildings here. Looking down, he could overlook the whole city, and looking up, he could see a sky full of stars.
It was already past ten at night when they returned from the mountain. As soon as they reached the entrance of Restaurant Yukihira, Dylan and Joichiro Yukihira smelled the aroma wafting from inside.
"Let's go. I didn't eat much tonight, and after a walk outside, I'm getting hungry again."
Rubbing his stomach and feeling the hunger, Dylan spoke to Joichiro Yukihira, then stepped forward and pushed open the shop door.
In an instant, a rich aroma rushed out. After entering, Dylan went to the seat they had sat at last time.
He then looked at Soma Yukihira, who had a bandage wrapped around his head, his gaze fixed on the pot, as if he hadn't noticed their arrival.
Unlike Joichiro Yukihira, who was already a Five-Star Special Grade Chef, this fellow had not yet matured and was not worthy of being invited to the Dark Cooking Society.
However, as the protagonist of this work, he did have some value for cultivation.
Hopefully, he would grow up quickly, so Dylan could see the strength of a world's protagonist. The feeling of being invincible in the world was simply too lonely.
There was a faint sense of emptiness.
"Dylan Sensei, you're back? The food will be ready in a few minutes. I tried more than ten times and finally found the best heat control!"
Hearing the commotion outside, Kikuchi Sonoka looked up at the dining tables outside. Seeing the familiar figure, a look of pleasant surprise appeared on her face.
"Take your time, there's no rush."
Compared to Soma Yukihira, who didn't even lift his head, focusing solely on his cooking, Dylan saw a lack of seriousness in Kikuchi Sonoka as she greeted him.
Although there was indeed a large gap in skill between the two, it was not a good thing for Kikuchi Sonoka to look down on her opponent like this.
An arrogant army is doomed to defeat! He had to make her realize this.
But what was a good way to do it?
Dylan fell silent for a moment, his mind conjuring up the methods he usually used to deal with Alice Nakiri.
Each time he implemented them, the other party would learn her lesson. The effect could be said to be surprisingly good, so he had an idea.
"It's done! Steamed Bowl of Beef, Shrimp, and Tofu!"
And just at this moment, Soma Yukihira shouted excitedly, then lifted the pot lid, and a rich aroma immediately wafted over.
"Dad, Dylan Sensei, you're back! Come and try my dish."
Because of Kikuchi Sonoka's form of address, Soma Yukihira also started calling Dylan 'Sensei.'
The moment he saw him, he nodded respectfully, held the dish from the pot with a towel, and placed it in front of the two of them.
"Using beef and shrimp to make a tofu dish? That's indeed a very good choice, but the most important thing about a dish is still its taste."
Looking at the Steamed Bowl of Beef, Shrimp, and Tofu before him, a hint of surprise appeared in Dylan's eyes.
On his way back, he had guessed that Soma Yukihira would present a dish like ramen or a rice bowl, as the options in Japanese cuisine were rather limited.
He hadn't expected it to be a steamed tofu bowl.
"Because I had thought about selling teppanyaki tofu yesterday evening, there was still some tofu left in the shop. It would be a waste to leave it there, so I used it."
Dylan's words made Soma Yukihira's heart stir slightly, and he then explained his thoughts.
"I see. Then I'll dig in."
Hearing Soma Yukihira's words, Dylan picked up a spoon, scooped up a spoonful, and observed it before him. This was a must-do for him before tasting a dish.
From its appearance, this dish mainly used beef, shrimp, and shiitake mushrooms as sources of texture, and most importantly, tofu.
The silken tofu was cut into small pieces and placed in a steaming bowl.
Thin slices of beef were wrapped around the tofu, then topped with shrimp and shiitake mushroom slices.
A special sauce was made and poured over the ingredients in the steaming bowl. Then the bowl was placed in a steamer and steamed on high heat for 10-15 minutes until the ingredients were cooked through.
The steaming bowl was taken out, sprinkled with shredded green onions, then drizzled with sesame oil and a heavier sauce. This was the entirety of this steamed tofu bowl.
And the core of this dish's flavor was all concentrated in the seasoning sauce poured over it. If the sauce was delicious, then the dish would taste good.
Conversely, the dish's taste would be poor.
However, it wasn't hard to tell from the aroma wafting in the air that Soma Yukihira had put a lot of effort into it. The taste shouldn't be too bad.
"The umami of the shrimp and the richness of the beef combine, bringing flavors from both the sea and land. The silken tofu has a delicate texture that melts in your mouth, forming a sharp contrast with the chewiness of the beef and shrimp, thereby adding a layer of textural complexity."
Savoring the beauty of the dish before him, a look of enjoyment appeared on Dylan's face, and he then commented on its taste.
"As for the sauce poured over the tofu, if I'm not mistaken, it should have been made by heating the wok with cold oil, stir-frying ginger and minced garlic until fragrant, then adding miso, soy sauce, rice wine, sugar, oyster sauce, and an appropriate amount of water and bringing it to a boil to make the seasoning sauce."
The aftertaste on his tongue told Dylan the method of making the sauce. The taste of this type of sauce paired extremely well with tofu, beef, shrimp, and shiitake mushrooms.
"This is the best sauce I've concocted after trying several times! It can infuse the most flavor into the bland tofu. But, for you to tell me the recipe after just one taste, it's truly incredible!"
Hearing Dylan's words, Soma Yukihira subconsciously nodded, then looked at him with a face full of astonishment.
The sauce he had spent an hour of trial and error to create, this guy had told him its recipe after just one taste?!
"My sense of taste is more sensitive than ordinary people's. You don't have to pay it any special mind."
Hearing Soma Yukihira's shock, Dylan waved his hand and then looked again at the Steamed Bowl of Beef, Shrimp, and Tofu before him.
On the other side, seeing Dylan begin his evaluation, Joichiro Yukihira didn't comment but just took a spoon and began to taste it himself, nodding his head.
Originally, it was just an idea, but after eating this dish, he made up his mind.
He would send Soma Yukihira to Tōtsuki Academy to compete with his peers, grow stronger, and improve his skills. He, on the other hand, would head to the Dark Cooking Society!
This way, it would be good for both of them.
He had nothing more to teach Soma Yukihira. If this continued, it would just be a waste of each other's time. It was time to start a new journey.
A fledgling must always leave the nest. Although there were various risks, this was a necessary path for it to take.
"Those are the pros. Now let's talk about the areas that need improvement."
Unlike Joichiro Yukihira's dish, although Soma Yukihira had tried his best, his dish still had many flaws and points for improvement.
"Areas that need improvement?"
"That's right. I won't talk much about the ingredients you don't have here; it's pointless. Let's just talk about the improvements that can be made with the ingredients you do have. For example, the shrimp shells and heads after peeling the shrimp. You can simmer them to make shrimp oil, then beat an egg and briefly cook the tofu in it. This will make it more flavorful and infuse the tofu with the taste of shrimp. Besides this method, you can also cut it into small pieces and briefly boil it in salt water. This will give it a base flavor while removing the beany taste. Or..."
Looking at the Steamed Bowl of Beef, Shrimp, and Tofu before him, Dylan talked nonstop, immediately mentioning four or five ways it could be further improved.
"I see. There are so many ways to improve it further. It's been a real eye-opener!"
Soma Yukihira listened attentively, the surprise on his face growing with each word. A look of sudden realization appeared on his face. Receiving guidance from such a great chef was not an easy thing.
Dylan's words had broadened his horizons, showing him a wider world.
To get more exposure to the cuisines of other countries, learn from their strengths to make up for his weaknesses, and finally form his own cuisine.
"I will work hard in this direction!"
Seeing the young man's expression change from confusion to realization, Dylan further pointed the way for him.
Japanese cuisine originated from Chinese cuisine; the two have many similarities.
Soma Yukihira had been learning Japanese cuisine since he was a child but knew very little about Chinese cuisine. His strengths mostly lay in creative dishes.
And creative dishes usually required a lot of experimentation to create.
If Soma Yukihira was suddenly asked to start cooking, he could also make delicious dishes, but there would be many flaws.
Part of this was due to his lack of experience, but more so because of the limited cooking techniques and ingredient variety in Japanese cuisine.
He didn't have much to draw from.
This was the real reason for Soma Yukihira's rapid improvement after entering Tōtsuki and learning French, Italian, Danish, and other countries' cuisines.
Although Joichiro Yukihira knew many countries' cuisines, he knew the principle of 'biting off more than one can chew.' Plus, the surrounding customers preferred local cuisine, so the restaurant mainly sold Japanese food.
Of course, he would occasionally adapt one or two foreign dishes to let Soma Yukihira gain experience from them, thereby broadening his thinking and increasing his creativity.
"I'm about done on my side too. Come and try my dish!"
On the other side, seeing that Dylan had finished speaking, Kikuchi Sonoka brought over a plate of golden-brown bread, her eyes filled with tenderness as she looked at him.
"This is... Sesame Fragrant Chicken Cutlet? No, I smell shrimp on its surface. you replaced the chicken paste with shrimp paste, right?"
Sniffing the air, Dylan looked at Kikuchi Sonoka and then stated the innovative part of her dish.
"Besides that, the beef has also been simply cooked and stuffed into the thickly sliced bread, adding a new layer of texture."
Taking a deeper breath, Dylan smelled a deeper layer of flavor.
Kikuchi Sonoka hadn't done anything else but had integrated his dishes, concentrating them all into one.
"That's right. I was wondering what kind of taste it would bring to taste three dishes at the same time. There shouldn't be any problem with this form of cooking, right?"
Hearing Dylan's words, Kikuchi Sonoka's face turned red, because her dish, in a sense, was just copying his creativity.
"Don't worry about it. Improving on a dish is also a remarkable thing. The control of ingredient proportions in it requires a chef's rich experience. An ordinary chef, even if they improved it, would only end up with a worse taste."
Seeing the young woman's anxiety, Dylan waved his hand. Even he would improve on others' dishes; this was a very common thing in the culinary world.
Only by standing on the shoulders of giants can one see a wider world.
"Then let me taste the results of your improvement."
Without saying more, Dylan reached out and picked up the Sesame Fragrant Shrimp Cutlet before him, bringing it to his mouth and taking a bite.
"Fragrant, crispy, tender, crunchy, and savory. The lightly toasted white sesame seeds, the crispy fried bread, the small pieces of beef in the middle, and the orange has been replaced with mango. But most importantly, before you filled it with the beef filling, you first sliced the thick bread open without cutting all the way through, then quickly fried it in hot oil, and only then did you add the filling. Only in this way can the inside of the bread also have a crispy texture!"
As he spoke, Dylan looked at Kikuchi Sonoka, who was also looking at him infatuatedly, a constant smile on her face.
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