Nodding, Kobayashi Rindo gently scooped out a mouthful with a spoon.
She blew on it while carefully observing, and just as Sosuke had said, the freshly prepared bear paw indeed had a dark brown, trembling, gelatinous consistency.
The gravy looked like it was rich in collagen, exceptionally thick.
She took a deep breath, and the feeling was just one word:
Fragrant!
...
Pure meat aroma, mixed with the fragrance of many spices.
However, the specific spices were not distinguishable, but Kobayashi Rindo guessed that saffron might be present.
Perhaps it was a psychological pre-conditioned assumption, but Kobayashi Rindo always felt that Sosuke's Orchid Bear Paw dish was surprisingly full of wild flavor, perhaps... because it was bear paw?
Finally, Kobayashi Rindo stopped thinking and quickly began to taste it.
The moment it entered her mouth, the rich flavor instantly filled every part of her tongue.
The excessive spices did not mask the taste of the bear paw.
On the contrary, the more she chewed, the more fragrant it became, especially the perfect slow-stewing method, which allowed the bear paw to restore its most authentic flavor as much as possible.
That taste, only those who have eaten it would know, was the unique richness belonging to bear paw, unlike pig trotters or beef tendons, and not like exceptionally thick premium fish lips.
Upon closer chewing, the small muscle fibers inside were particularly soft, tender, and delicious.
Then, because of the excessive gelatin, the entire mouth felt very sticky immediately after swallowing.
Seeing this, Sosuke, being observant, handed her a towel dipped in hot water, signaling her to wipe her mouth.
Kobayashi Rindo did not respond, but took the hot towel and wiped her mouth.
"Using a slow-stewing method and thick, insulated vessels."
"Then, the bear paw undergoes different initial processing, and all the ingredients are put into the pot together."
"Then, heating it over a low flame for a long time, completely forcing out the gelatin and flavor of the bear paw."
"Incredible, truly incredible!"
"By relying on time, perfect heat control, and various ingredient combinations, you can make bear paw so delicious. I, Kobayashi Rindo, truly have no choice but to be impressed!"
...
Many people's stewed bear paws are delicious and rich in flavor.
But those are all made with auxiliary ingredients and sauces, completely lacking the original taste of bear paw.
In fact, the originally tough and thick bear meat, after such processing, has naturally undergone a complete transformation. Even if Kobayashi Rindo herself were to process the bear paw, she would unintentionally destroy its original appearance and taste.
But in this plate of Orchid Bear Paw, every piece of meat has actually absorbed the thick sauce.
Therefore, it's effortless to chew with teeth, and the texture is close to chewy veal, making it very satisfying to eat.
Perhaps for Kobayashi Rindo, who can't go a meal without meat, this kind of bear paw dish can be considered a delicious meal worth anticipating.
Of course, don't forget the most essential gravy!
Just a tiny sip, and a feeling of pure bliss arises.
Paired with a mouthful of the pickled lingonberries from the plate, the sweet and sour sensation instantly makes one intoxicated and unable to extricate themselves.
So much so that Kobayashi Rindo began to enter a particularly wonderful realm of fantasy.
She saw herself as an adventurer, traversing alone through a deep mountain wilderness, the profound silence and stillness around her making her very uneasy!
She could only follow the winding path, silently keeping alert to everything around her.
Suddenly, a rustling sound came from not far away, forcing her to stop immediately and listen intently.
Next, a huge black bear darted out, its fur all black, with a conspicuous white patch on its neck and shoulders, staring intently at Kobayashi Rindo.
She tried to remain calm, but fear was inevitable in her heart.
And in this situation, Kobayashi Rindo knew that any slight movement could startle this black bear.
So she could only tightly grip her trekking pole, trying her best to remain calm.
"Roar, roar, roar ~"
The black bear, however, roared a few times at this moment.
Finally, it raised its two huge bear paws high and swatted at Kobayashi Rindo.
"Huh? This is... Ah... I can't take it anymore!"
However, at this moment, Kobayashi Rindo, having regained consciousness, directly tilted her head back and rolled her eyes! (End of chapter)
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