Pokémon Detective Case Files

Chapter 379 Feast - Soup Main Course 1

Chapter 381 Feast - Soup and Main Course

The glistening fish roe bursts open between your teeth, its instant sweetness creating a wonderful contrast with the unique crispness of the freeze-dried kelp.

As the kelp softens, a mineral-rich saltiness follows, intertwining with the nectar-like aftertaste of fish roe, lingering in the throat. "This truly is a delicacy that can only be tasted in spring."

Even the picky Guscalf couldn't help but relax his expression at this moment, narrowing his eyes in enjoyment like a Snorlax enjoying a delicious meal—

"Using fish eggs, which are destined never to hatch into pearl oysters, to depict the theme of 'new life' is a commendable ingenuity. Furthermore, the way the seaweed is prepared is just right; I don't recall seeing a similar way of eating it anywhere else in Unova."

"This is a culinary custom from the maritime region." Shimi elegantly wiped his mouth. "The Ionian Hotel in the Galar region seems to have developed similar dishes. However, they used locally grown aromatic mushrooms for freeze-drying."

"You're right."

Tian Tong was serving the guests a new round of drinks when she heard this and smiled with delight.

"After tasting the dishes at that restaurant in Galar, Cohen was inspired to create this dish, incorporating his unique insights into seafood cuisine, and ultimately developed this unique fish roe sashimi."

"The appetizers were delicious; now it's time for the chef to shine, isn't it?"

The food editor picked up the straight glass handed to her by the sommelier; the cold-brewed oolong tea inside emitted a pleasant aroma.

Guscalf knew very well that drinks like this, which had a mouth-rinsing effect, often represented the end of a phase at a banquet.

So, he turned his gaze with great interest to the "Flaming Kitchen" at the far end of the restaurant.

"No, it's not Bert's turn to appear yet."

Kohn's voice flowed like a clear spring. He pushed the food cart slowly over once again, and the cold-water monkey beside him moved in perfect harmony with its master.

The food cart was decorated with exquisite celadon soup bowls, the lids still on, yet a faint fragrance wafted through the air.

"This dish, 'Bamboo Shoots in Clear Broth with Maitake Mushrooms,' uses oolong tea as a transition, allowing the taste buds to find a balance between seafood and mountain delicacies."

He elegantly lifted the lid of the bowl, and steam rose like a thin mist. The soup was clear as amber, with tender yellow bamboo shoots and brown maitake mushrooms appearing and disappearing in the broth, like a freehand ink painting landscape.

"The bamboo shoots are wild bamboo shoots that grow in the forests of Karakusa Town. Although they are a common variety, thanks to the proximity and modern logistics system, they can be picked and harvested on the spot. From breaking through the soil to being added to the soup, it takes no more than six hours, thus preserving the crispness and flavor of the fresh bamboo shoots to the greatest extent. The maitake mushrooms come from the white forest in northern Sanyo City and are marinated in vegetable broth before being stewed."

"Wow! It smells so good!"

Azure unconsciously leaned forward, and Eevee also perked up its ears, its small nose twitching slightly.

A hint of a smile flashed in Kohn's eyes. "I'm glad you like it. This soup base is made by slowly simmering the egg whites of Chansey eggs, and we've also added Kanto's specialty scallions to enhance the flavor, so it has the same nourishing effect on elves."

He bent down and placed a small soup dish in front of Ibrahimovic: "This is a portion that was specially set aside when preparing the meal, please enjoy."

Seeing Eevee eagerly burying its head in its soup, the Water-type Gym Leader's lips curled up slightly in a happy smile.

He turned to the other two guests, his voice gentle yet professional: "Mr. Guscalf, King Zimi, would you like some for your elves as well?"

The former shook his enormous head: "Elves and humans have different tastes, so I won't bring my Pokémon with me when I review restaurants. I'll trouble you next time I visit as a customer."

The demanding editor popped a bamboo shoot tip into his mouth with his fork, savored it briefly, then took a sip of the soup before swallowing. He said, "This soup has a strong local flavor, simple yet substantial, quite bold on another level. While I have no prejudice against it, it's just—"

With a thick index finger lightly tapping the edge of the table, he said, "The presentation of the dish is too simple. I'm worried that some people who lack the ability to appreciate fine food might think that this dish doesn't match the style of the restaurant."

"I don't think there will be such a problem."

Shimi also declined to let the Pokémon try the soup—most Water-type Pokémon don't like soup.

He then said to Guskaf -

"You probably haven't tried that maitake mushroom yet, have you? Go ahead and try it; it will completely change your perception of this soup."

"Oh?"

Mr. Giant raised one eyebrow, picked up the pine cone-shaped mushroom from the small bowl with some skepticism, and tried to take a bite.

The next instant, his usually downcast eyes lit up, and he took another big gulp, swallowing the whole mushroom. Then, as if he still wasn't satisfied, he drank the entire bowl of soup without leaving a drop.

"Wow! Mr. Cohen, is this really a mushroom?"

Azure, standing nearby, also asked with sparkling eyes, "It's like eating, eating... It's indescribable and unimaginable how delicious it was originally a mushroom."

"These are 100% freshly picked White Forest Maiden mushrooms."

Master Koun replied mysteriously, but couldn't hide the smile on his face.

Just as to answer Azure's question, Shimi commented at this moment, "It's a really surprising flavor. Although this marinated maitake mushroom is soaking in the soup, it has been processed a second time using the method of grilling Slowpoke tail meat, so it is full of rich spice aroma and umami flavor from the caramelization."

The top chef savored the taste of the soup, casting an approving gaze in a certain direction. "It seems someone deliberately had their companion lie to surprise me. They've already shown their skill in this dish, yet they've been hesitant to take the lead themselves."

"I didn't ask them to lie. I just lent a hand while the brothers were preparing the food, that's all. What follows is my real skill."

The next second, a lively voice rang out from the direction of the kitchen, and Bert, with red hair, strode out of the kitchen.

Behind him followed a giant food cart of fragrant monkeys.

The small Fire-type Pokémon pushed the cart on its tiptoes, causing the silver lid on the cart to tremble slightly as it moved, reflecting light spots that bounced like marbles on the wall. "Good! It seems the appetizers and soup are quite popular. The atmosphere is already lively; it looks like it's time to bring out the main course."

Master Bert removed his chef's hat, rubbed his hands together eagerly, took the food cart from the sizzling monkey, and pushed it in front of the guests. "Next is the first main course. Please wait a moment, though it is impolite."

Guskaf suddenly raised his hand to interrupt the fire-type gym leader's speech, at which point there were still a few soup stains on his napkin.

"About that mushroom from earlier—"

The gourmet's fingers unconsciously traced the rim of the bowl; this must be what "finger-triggering" means. "How can such an intense flavor be completely sealed inside the mushroom? It only bursts forth the moment you bite into it—this dining experience is truly amazing!"

"Wait, didn't you already eat the answer to that question?"

Bert tilted his head, and the Explosive Monkey at his feet followed suit. When Eevee tried to tilt its head too, Azure pressed its head down.

"Eaten it? What does that mean?" The food editor stared blankly at the empty bowl in front of him.

Zhimi suddenly chuckled, her fingertips tapping crisply on the table: "Is that the 'extra' foam mousse on the pistol shrimp sashimi?"

The legendary chef rarely showed an expression of appreciation. "The mousse made from the foam of the 'Froggy Frog' has a stickiness that is enough to temporarily isolate moisture after it is dried. You used this to seal in the umami and texture of the maitake mushroom, which is like a steak. If I'm not mistaken, the air mousse on the meat claw is actually the leftover material from this part."

"Yes, it's rare to make something this good. It would be such a waste to just throw it away."

Bert nodded affirmatively, which made Guscalf, who had previously subtly criticized the air mousse as "showy but impractical," break out in a cold sweat.

But he turned the boat around just as quickly—"I dare say this is the most creative soup I've had in a year. When I get back, I'm definitely going to write about it in a magazine and promote it properly!"

"Hmph, it's rare for the three of us brothers to work together on the same dish, so it's certainly not boring. But the main course that follows will be a one-man show between me and the 'Fragrant Monkey'."

The Fire-type Gym Leader placed a huge plate on the table, covered with a lid so the contents couldn't be seen. He took a bottle of brandy from Tian Tong and, with a showy flourish, poured it around the edge of the silver lid.

"While strong liquor isn't suitable for pairing with food, it can certainly create such a spectacular fireworks display."

Bert grabbed the handle of the food lid, while the fragrant monkey beside him quickly climbed onto the food cart and snapped its fingers as stylishly as a detective.

In an instant, flames rose up.

The fire-elemental restaurant owner abruptly lifted the lid of the food container, and the rich aroma of meat, along with the smell of smoke, swept through the hall.

In the flickering flames, a giant steak shaped like a Tauros' hind leg stands majestically—its caramel-colored crust is covered with flame-scorched patterns, and a bone-shaped piece of fragrant wood is inserted in the center.

"This is my proudest main course, 'Flaming Seared Kentaro Leg Steak'! The meat is imported from Aether Paradise in the Alola region, using the most advanced artificial protein synthesis technology."

Bert flicked the bottom of the plate, causing the enormous imitation cow leg to slowly rotate in front of everyone.

"In ancient times, people would shape food into the most powerful parts of a Pokémon, then bake and use them, hoping to be as powerful as a Pokémon themselves. So you could say that this ingredient is the product that takes this simple wish to the extreme."

"The colors on the two sides of the steak seem different," the sharp-eyed Azure murmured. The next second, Bert snapped his fingers in front of her. "That's right. The two sides of the steak were cooked in different ways. The left side was salt-grilled, and the right side was smoked with spicy cherry wood."

Bert took an arm-length knife from the table, trimmed the huge steak slightly, then pulled out a large piece of fragrant wood that resembled a bone and used the knife to cut the steak into pieces suitable for placing on a plate, following the cross-section of the simulated muscle.

As the sharp knife rose and fell, the enticing aroma of the synthetic meat flowed freely, reigniting the appetites of the three diners who had just had their taste buds satisfied by the appetizers and soup.

Sensing the change in her own heart, Zhimi couldn't help but nod to herself: "Indeed, besides the color, aroma, and taste of the dishes themselves, the process of making food can also be an excellent ingredient to stimulate the viewer's appetite. This is something we can learn from—"

"Now is not the time to be distracted by cooking."

As the plate was placed in front of him, Jimmy looked up and saw the owner of the restaurant, Bert, with a bright, sunny smile. "Teacher Jimmy, please experience the rapid improvement in my cooking skills under your guidance these past few days."

"I didn't teach you anything, so I don't deserve that title. The way of cooking is like the tide before the beach; we, as chefs, are merely the waves reflecting each other."

Carlos, the water-elemental king, modestly shook his head and reached for the bionic steak, which was grilled to two different colors on the left and right sides.

The moment the fork pierces the steak, the rich juices seep out like morning dew.