101: Chapter 101: Special Hospitality (Part 2) 101: Chapter 101: Special Hospitality (Part 2) “Miso” is actually a mold-fernted product made primarily from soybeans.
White miso fernts for a shorter period of ti, so the broth has a faint sweetness, but more so the flavors of soybeans, rice, and barley.
With every sip of the soup, Xia Yu felt his appetite awaken, unable to resist grabbing a few more slices of sashimi, dipping them in soy sauce, and pairing them with rice.
Soon, the table was swept clean of food, and the kimono-clad maids tily cleared the emptied utensils.
A few maids then brought over a small charcoal stove, already equipped with a cooking pot containing food that was elegant in color and light in taste.
“Simred dishes?” Xia Yu was astonished and thought back to the appetizers, first course, and main soup he had previously consud.
Suddenly, he guessed—it was a Kaiseki banquet and in Tiqie Mansion’s kitchen, there was a master well-versed in Kaiseki cuisine!
Kaiseki cuisine has the concept of “one soup, three sides” with the simred dish being the second course.
Everyone shared the simred dishes, and, sure enough, following the light-tasting main course, ca salty fried fish and grilled dried fish.
Xia Yu picked up a piece of the grilled dried fish, chewed it and thought, “Dried bass?”
The salty flavor had a hint of bitterness, and the texture was thick.
Had this dish been eaten directly, it might have felt abrupt.
However, with the light flavors of the first two dishes as a backdrop, enjoying this dish was unexpectedly refreshing, and his taste buds fully awakened.
Thus ended Kaiseki cuisine’s “one soup, three sides.”
The maids cleared away the dishes, but the serving continued, and each person received a plate of “mixed stew.”
Mixed stew, rich in ingredients, included pumpkin, prawns, lotus root, okra, as well as small taros, stead octopus, and was sprinkled with delicious yuzu powder for flavor.
Just the scent wafting through the air made one’s mouth water and appetite surge.
“The finishing touch is here!”
Xia Yu savored the mixed stew but anticipated the last step in Kaiseki cuisine.
This step is called “Hassun,” which involves a large lacquered platter filled with various delicacies from the mountains and sea, paired with unique side dishes, arranged as a mixed platter.
“Gururu~”
Xingping Chuangzhen stared at the large platter before him, swallowing his saliva.
The tender inside, well-cooked Floating Pavilion Egg.
Char-grilled Marinated Mackerel Sushi.
Roasted barracuda wrapped in pickled fish roe powder.
There were also rock pears, deep-fried river shrimp, pickled young ginger, and more.
The variety was dazzling, and even Xia Yu couldn’t help but swallow secretly.
However, Xia Yu felt a bit strange.
Despite the skilled craftsmanship, the food itself was “plain,” relying heavily on the surrounding environnt—dishes, seating, garden, and hanging paintings and vases—to create a Zen-like atmosphere of tranquility.
Many people from Neon believe that to taste truly delicious traditional Neon cuisine, one should go to an old restaurant in Capital City, enjoy the beautiful garden while sipping tea, and savor Kaiseki cuisine there to experience the essence.
Originally, “Kaiseki” derived from the Zen path, evolving from light Zen tea snacks to als offered to guests during the tea ceremony, and now it’s a common high-end cuisine in Neon.
Nevertheless, the extre attention to detail in Kaiseki banquets, the nearly artistic requirents for dish presentation and utensils, remain unchanged.
Xia Yu picked up a piece of Marinated Mackerel Sushi with his chopsticks, tasted it, and with the food swallowed, he sighed in relief, feeling refreshed.
No fanciful food fantasies.
Just plain and simple.
His mind and spirit were as clear as the twilight sky, untainted by dust.
“Could this be the chef’s heart?”
Xia Yu wondered.
He wove fanciful food fantasies with chef’s heart, letting his imagination run wild, while the preparer of Kaiseki cuisine opted for a realistic approach, imrsing the diner in the environntal surrounds, ascending and understanding through nature.
Which realm was stronger, Xia Yu couldn’t say for sure, but at least he knew, this chef was profoundly skilled, far surpassing him in culinary arts.
Indistinctly, Xia Yu also sensed a touch of feminine delicacy.
Perhaps, this Kaiseki cuisine master was also a female chef.
“Rock pear, huh…”
Xingping Chuangzhen muttered as he picked up a thumb-sized, orange-yellow fruit with its skin peeled off.
“Do you also know about rock pears?” Tiqie Helinai glanced over in surprise, “This delicacy is a native fruit of Neon, growing on the most dangerous cliffs.
The fruits ripen every sumr, have the aroma of pears, and as for the price…”
She paused there, stopping mid-sentence.
The crowd devoured the delicacy platter and proceeded to the pickles and desserts, entering the final stages of the al.
Female attendants in kimonos disappeared cleanly.
The room grew even quieter, and the guests, having enjoyed a hearty dinner, either closed their eyes or stared at the dishes on the table, savoring the al endlessly.
Bang!
A tall, mature woman in a kimono burst through the door, carrying the dessert for the finale.
After placing the dish on the table, she smoothly shut the door and kneeled at a lower seat.
“Uh…” Xia Yu scratched his face, eyeing the woman in the kimono at the lower end of the table, almost failing to recognize her.
It was Liangzi Lina, the main general of the Neon Departnt of IGO.
This ti, she wore a black embroidered traditional dress, poised and elegant, with her black hair neatly bundled up behind her head.
Xia Yu paid attention to her kimono, which was a type of furisode commonly worn by unmarried won in Neon at important events.
Their gazes inadvertently collided in mid-air, and Xia Yu winked at her.
“Main General Liangzi!”
It was Tiqie Helinai who, showing great respect, greeted Liangzi Lina earnestly.
Xingping Chuangzhen and Morioka Makki did not recognize this elite female chef.
During the two days Liangzi Lina visited Xia’s shop, Morioka Makki had been busy researching recipes and the two had never t.
Liangzi Lina sat down without uttering a word.
Dojima Yin finished a dessert and said with a refreshed expression, “Thank you for the hospitality, Miss Liangzi.”
“Thank you, Liangzi,” the Far Moon Commander also nodded to the woman at the lower end of the table.
Hearing this, Xia Yu was filled with questions.
It was strange enough that such a main general of IGO appeared at the Tiqie Mansion, and from the tone of the Far Moon Commander, it was very likely that Liangzi Lina was invited here.
“Do you enjoy the Kaiseki Banquet?” Dojima Yin asked with a smile.
Xia Yu spread his hands, “I had heard before that Main General Liangzi excels in ‘Kaiseki,’ and today I was fortunate enough to taste it.”
Speaking, he smacked his lips and said with resignation, “However, I found the flavors a bit bland for my liking.”
No one expected him to speak so candidly, imdiately stating his dislike for the elite chef’s Kaiseki Banquet.
Tiqie Helinai abruptly stood up, looking insulted as if she herself had been slighted, “Commoner, do you realize how much Main General Liangzi’s high-class Kaiseki Banquet is worth?
How many celebrities crave it yet cannot have it?!”
Xia Yu shrugged, “What I ant by bland was not the flavor of the food, but that the spirit of the dishes was too faint; it didn’t resonate with .”
Hearing this, Tiqie Helinai widened her eyes, “Are you saying Main General Liangzi didn’t put her heart into preparing this Kaiseki Banquet?”
“No!” Xia Yu waved his hands, “It’s hard to explain it to you!”
Her attitude infuriated Helinai, “You, you…”
The chef’s spirit and whether one cooks with heart are completely different concepts.
When Liangzi Lina prepared the Kaiseki Banquet, she clearly held back her ‘chef’s spirit’, which was what Xia Yu found regrettable.
A professional chef’s dish, when truly made with no holds barred, what would it taste like?
“I didn’t enjoy it fully either.
So here’s an idea; since Miss Liangzi has already shown her skill, let’s each head to the kitchen and prepare a dish of our own to treat everyone.
How about that?”
Dojima Yin eyed Xia Yu finally revealing his own ulterior motive.
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