Home > Work > 食戟のソーマ 36 [Shokugeki no Souma 36] (Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma, #36)
1 " Princess... er, Erina.""I'm aware this is terribly belated, but please allow me to offer my sincere condolences on the death of your mother.Now then, do you have any plans for what you'll be doing from here on out?""Huh? Plans? Me?Um, I don't really have anywhere left to go...""Really? That's perfect. We were just searching for a chef of exceptional talent.Satisfying the Book Master's exceedingly refined palate is no small feat.We can have no shortage of highly capable chefs on hand to accomplish this task.Besides...If everyone wasn't present for our cozy family meals...... it'd reflect poorly on the venerable Nakiri Family's good name.And you are family.Isn't that right...... elder brother Asahi? "
― , 食戟のソーマ 36 [Shokugeki no Souma 36] (Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma, #36)
2 " The moment I put it in my mouth and bit down...... an exquisite and entirely unexpected flavor exploded in my mouth!It burst across my tongue, rushed up through my nose...... and rose all the way up to my brain!""No! It can't be!""How is that possible?! Anyone with eyes can see there's nothing special to that dish! Its fragrance was entirely inferior to Asahi's dish from the get-go!""That there. That's what it is. I knew something wasn't right.""Asahi?""Something felt off the instant the cloche was removed. His dish is fried rice. It uses tons of butter, soy sauce and spices.Yet it hardly had any aroma!""Good catch. The secret is in one of the five grand cuisine dishes I melded together...A slightly atypical take on the French Oeuf Mayonnaise. .""Ouef Mayonnaise, or eggs and mayonnaise, is an appetizer you can find in any French bistro. Hard-boiled eggs are sliced, coated with a house-blend mayo and garnished with vegetables.Though, in your dish, I can tell you chose very soft-boiled eggs instead.Hm. Very interesting, Soma Yukihira.He took those soft-boiled eggs and some homemade mayo and blended them into a sauce...... which he then poured over his steamed rice and tossed until each and every grain was coated, its flavor sealed inside!To cook them so that each individual grain is completely covered...... takes incredibly fast and precise wok handling over extremely high heat! No average chef could manage that feat!"" Whaaa?! Ah! It's so thin I didn't notice it at first glance, but there it is, a very slight glaze!That makes each of these grains of rice a miniature, self-contained Omurice! The moment you bite into them, that eggy coating is broken...... releasing all the flavors and aromas of the dish onto your palate in one explosive rush!" No wonder! That's what entranced the judges. That sudden, powerful explosion of flavor!"Yep! Even when it's served, my dish still hides its fangs. Only when you bite into it does it bite back with all it's got.I call it my Odorless Fried Rice. "
3 " This rich pork flavor, which lands on the tongue with a thump... It's Chinese Dongpo Pork! He seasoned pork belly with a blend of spices and let it marinate thoroughly...... before finely dicing it and mixing it into the fried rice!""What? Dongpo Pork prepared this fast?! No way! He didn't have nearly enough time to simmer the pork belly!""Heh heh. Actually, there's a little trick to that.I simmered it in sparkling water instead of tap water. The carbon dioxide that gives sparkling water its carbonation helps break down the fibers in meat. Using this, you can tenderize a piece of meat in less than half the normal time!""That isn't the only protein in this dish. I can taste the seafood from an Acqua Pazza too!""And these green beans... it's the Indian dish Poriyal!Diced green beans and shredded coconut fried in oil with chilies and mustard seeds... it has a wonderfully spicy kick!""He also used the distinctly French Mirepoix to gently accentuate the sweetness of the vegetables.So many different delicious flavors...... all clashing and sparking in my mouth!But the biggest key to this dish, and the core of its amazing deliciousness...... is the rice!""Hmph. Well, of course it is. The dish is fried rice. If the rice isn't the centerpiece, it isn't a...""I see. His dish is fried rice while simultaneously being something other than fried rice.A rice lightly fried in butter before being steamed in some variety of soup stock...In other words, it's actually closer to that famous staple from Turkish cuisine- a Pilaf!In fact, it's believed the word "pilaf" actually comes from the Turkish word pilav.To think he built the foundation of his dish on pilaf of all things!""Heh heh heh! Yep, that's right! Man, I've learned so much since I started going to Totsuki.""Mm, I see! When you finished the dish, you didn't fry it in oil! That's why it still tastes so light, despite the large volume and variety of additional ingredients.I could easily tuck away this entire plate!Still... I'm surprised at how distinct each grain of rice is. If it was in fact steamed in stock, you'd think it'd be mushier.""Ooh, you've got a discerning tongue, sir! See, when I steamed the rice...... I did it in a Donabe ceramic pot instead of a rice cooker!" Ah! No wonder! A Donabe warms slowly, but once it's hot, it can hold high temperatures for a long time! It heats the rice evenly, holding a steady temperature throughout the steaming process to steam off all excess water. To think he'd apply a technique for sticky rice to a pilaf instead!With Turkish pilaf as his cornerstone...... he added super-savory Dongpo pork, a Chinese dish...... whitefish and clams from an Italian Acqua Pazza...... spicy Indian green bean and red chili Poriyal...... and for the French component, Mirepoix and Oeuf Mayonnaise as a topping!*Ouef is the French word for "egg."* By combining those five dishes into one, he has created an extremely unique take on fried rice! ""Hold it! Wait one dang minute! After listening to your entire spiel...... it sounds to me like all he did was mix a bunch of dishes together and call it a day!There's no way that mishmash of a dish could meet the lofty standards of the BLUE! It can't nearly be gourmet enough!""Oh, but it is.For one, he steamed the pilaf in the broth from the Acqua Pazza...... creating a solid foundation that ties together the savory elements of all the disparate ingredients!The spiciness of the Poriyal could have destabilized the entire flavor structure...... but by balancing it out with the mellow body of butter and soy sauce, he turned the Poriyal's sharp bite into a pleasing tingle! "
4 " This hollandaise sauce that's been generously drizzled over the whole dish... I can taste yuzu kosho and soy sauce in it.That's a decidedly Japanese twist on a typically very European sauce!The heavy savoriness of thick sliced pork grilled to a crusty golden brown...... balances perfectly with the briskly tart Shio Konbu seaweed and shiso leaves mixed into the rice!Then there's the centerpiece of his dish, the tempura egg! It's crispy on the outside and delectably soft and gooey on the inside!Instead of freezing it, he must have poached the egg before deep-frying it this time!The whites are unbelievably tender, and the soft-boiled yolk is so creamy you might not believed it's cooked!To batter and deep-fry a poached egg that delicate without crushing it...... you'd need skill and a touch bordering on the superhuman!Just how much has he trained?! How hard has he practiced...... to make this single dish?!"Sure does take you back, doesn't it? This Eggs Benedict.I switched the muffin out for some seasoned rice, a family-restaurant staple.Then there's the poached egg that I deep-fried. Pork chops for the bacon. Japanese-style hollandaise sauce. "
5 " If we train her, honing her skills as a chef to the very utmost of her considerable ability...... then it's possible we could delay the day the storm takes her. We must raise Erina to be the greatest chef the Nakiri Family has ever produced! And to do so, we must find them! Find the perfect rocks that will polish her to a mirror shine...A Veritable Generation of Diamonds!Professor Hayama. I hear your student Shiomi has found an intriguing boy overseas.""S-Sir Senzaemon! How did you...?!""Oh, I simply happened to overhear it.Have you thought of bringing that boy to Japan and enrolling him here?""What?! B-but, sir! Not only is Akira a foreigner, he's an orphan of unknown origins! Is such a thing even possible?!""I will speak with the Ministry of Justice. Whether it be through bribery or sheer force...I will see to it that they grant Akira Hayama Japanese citizenship.""Darling... You know that boy from the harbor pub?Now Alice is insisting that he come with her back to Japan, and she won't listen to reason.Father is right. For Mana's sake...... I will help him with his plan.If Alice wants to bring Ryo Kurokiba, then so be it! He will learn at Totsuki alongside her!I've heard all the rumors about them, you know. So you have not one but two highly talented nephews?How wonderful! Their futures look bright indeed.Say... have you thought of sending them to our Institute? I'm sure the Aldini Brothers would do well there.""Okay, okay. You win. Geez. Stubborn old coot.But don't come crying to me...... if Soma flips the tables on your grandkid and uses her as a steppingstone."Competing against Erina just may destroy the confidence of these children, but so be it! I'm fully aware that this plan is an imperious use of my power for personal gain...... but I'm willing to make any sacrifice!I will do whatever it takes to make Erina into a light of hope!Then I will show her to Mana...Through her own daughter she will see...... that there is yet hope and promise in cooking!" "
6 " Wait a minute...that dish.I've seen it before!It's the Tempura-Egg Rice Bowl he served me before! "Now, I've made two servings of this. One for you, of course, Book Master.The other one... how about you taste it, Nakiri.""Yukihira?""Don't confuse this for the dish I served you that other time.See, that old dish wasn't enough to make you say it was good...... so I've been secretly working on some new twists I could add to it.Eat!Erina Nakiri!Dig in. I call it my Soma-Style...... Eggs Benedict over Rice...... fit for a Queen. "
7 " Someone you want to cook for more than anyone else.Someone special.Someone you want to dedicate the best food you've ever made to...forever.I think that special someone..."I'm home! How ya been, Nakiri?""Welcome home. Well?I made time in my busy schedule to be here, Yukihira. Don't you have anything else to say to me?"Oh yeah, sure. Thanks. You won't believe this recipe, though. It's amazing!""Sheesh. It's always recipes with you."But... it's strange.Somewhere along the line......I've come to look forward to tasting your dishes...To look forward...... to seeing you. "
8 " Once again, I find myself looking forward to your cooking...... Erina.But don't worry. I have already prepared a bucket for when it fails to reach my standards.""Oh, you needn't worry about that, Mother. I will be serving you a large slice of humble pie to go with dinner. "
9 " Back when we were both still third-years...... and I found the note you left saying you were suddenly going abroad...... I was absolutely infuriated. I think I now know why that was.I always thought you'd be there with me, cooking and competing whenever we wanted...... but instead you left without a word to anyone, not even me.To me, that was...Y'know, back when he and I first met...What was it he said to me?Something about how the trick to being a better chef...... was finding someone who means so much you want to give them the best food you've ever made?Something like that, anyway. "
10 " Hey, Tamako? It's not like you could cook anything good even if your life depended on it...""You lookin' to start somethin'?""So why do it? What's so fun about cooking?""There's no one thing, really.I do what I want, that's all. Always have, always will. Though...I do like seeing big smiles on our customers' faces. Can't that be enough?"When I saw that smile, I felt the cold knot in my gut loosen...... and something soft and warm spread through my body. It was eye-opening."Huh. Man, you went through all that in school?That had to be rough.But even after all that, you're still cooking. That tells me it's something you can't live without.Y'know... when you're cooking, you get this look on your face...It's a look I really like seeing.Oh, and you aren't just a member of the gang anymore.I think I'll give you a little promotion. Up to, well...... my special someone. "
![食戟のソーマ 36 [Shokugeki no Souma 36] (Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma, #36) QUOTES](/image/933981.png)
