So, they eagerly picked up their bowls, first habitually smelling them, and finally, one after another, poked the hot spring egg with their chopsticks, allowing the runny yolk inside to mix with the rice, beef, onions, and other ingredients.
…
Inexpensive, unassuming—these were the characteristics of Sōma's cooking.
Although this kind of cooking was completely unpresentable at Totsuki's Shokugeki competition venue,
But the melt-in-your-mouth beef texture, the sweet and soft rice, the sweet and sour pickled plums… In short, all ingredients were "protagonists."
In everyone's mouths, a wonderful story was unfolding!
"Hiss!"
"This… this…"
"The fatty beef is so rich and tender, it tastes exceptionally fresh!"
"Yes, it's full of deliciousness with every bite; to be able to taste such a dish in this lifetime is truly a feast for the palate!"
"Even without seasoning, I could eat several bowls of just the rice from this dish."
"Huh?"
"These small brown specks are… pickled plums?"
"I see, the ingredients used are all very ordinary, very common, even some scraps."
"But with proper pairing, and an inspiration from sukiyaki, using a hot spring egg to neutralize the greasiness of the beef and enhance the freshness of the onions and the stickiness of the rice, it can reach a refreshing and delicious state."
"No, no, no, I think the most important thing here is the pickled plums."
"Yes, the pickled plums are simply a stroke of genius!"
At this moment, the judges were all burying their heads, wolfing down the food, praising it as they ate.
Before long, the donburi Sōma had made was completely devoured by them, not even a single grain of rice left.
…
White wine!
White sugar!
Rice vinegar!
Beef juice!
And the a5 grade beef like rose petals.
When Mito Ikumi's beef donburi was presented, it seemed to glow under the light.
So much so that all the judges were stunned.
They had just finished Sōma's donburi, so their stomachs were inevitably a bit full.
However, upon seeing such a donburi, a strange sense of hunger reappeared. Finally, they could no longer resist and took several bites of the beef rice with their chopsticks.
The moment it entered their mouths, they felt the beef was smooth and rich.
With a gentle bite of their clean teeth, they could instantly feel a rich burst of meat juice, which "popped" in their mouths.
And the fragrant onions, the soft and sticky rice, the special sauce, and the mirin created by the combination of white wine and white sugar…
Hmm, just two words:
Absolutely amazing!
…
"Incredible!"
"Is this… is this still the beef donburi I remember?"
"I thought the highlight would be the a5 grade beef, but when I tasted it, I realized that wasn't the case."
"The caramelization reaction of the white sugar made the beef even more delicious after the Maillard reaction."
"And judging from the softening of the onions and the complete cooking of the beef, the heat was controlled very accurately."
"Then, at the most appropriate moment, white wine was added, instantly bringing out all the flavors of the ingredients, making them harmonize and blend."
"This dish looks plain, but it contains an endless aroma within!"
"Satisfying!"
"Truly satisfying!"
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