Placing the dish on the judges' table, Okabe lifted the lid from the platter in front of everyone. Steam billowed out, revealing the Yuxiang Shredded Pork to the three judges.
"As brilliant red as an autumn sunset, like flowing gold speckling crimson jade."
"The color of this Yuxiang Shredded Pork is the best I have seen in many, many years."
Gazing at the brilliant red Yuxiang Shredded Pork, Senzaemon Nakiri's eyes narrowed slightly with a hint of inquiry, before he let out a heartfelt sigh of admiration.
Setting aside the taste for a moment, the color of this dish alone was enough to whet one's appetite.
But could one truly ignore the taste?
"I... can't wait... another second!"
Beside him, Leonora Nakiri's voice was strained with suppressed desire. Her cheeks flushed as she picked up her chopsticks and reached for the Yuxiang Shredded Pork. A mix of glistening pork, golden bamboo shoots, black wood ear fungus, and crisp peach shreds was lifted into her mouth.
"Ah!~"
An invisible ripple emanated from her body, making the clothes of those around her flutter loudly.
As the source of the ripple, Leonora Nakiri had already closed her eyes. In the vision in her mind, she was stark naked, receiving shockwaves of flavor from all directions!
The stimulating sensation made her let out an involuntary moan.
"The yuxiang sauce uses scallion and ginger as a base, which is then mixed with a hawthorn paste. The flavor of the hawthorn gradually seeps into the tongue, further emphasizing the tender texture of the pork. A lively fruit acidity gently envelops it all in the process—what a stunningly perfect combination!"
The words poured out of Leonora Nakiri's mouth. Her head was tilted slightly upward, a blush of unknown origin on her cheeks. This time, however, she didn't stand up as before, but remained seated, her long, fair legs squirming slightly as she spoke.
"Hawthorn and crisp peach shreds.
These two ingredients shouldn't be in Yuxiang Shredded Pork, yet here they are, cleverly replacing the vinegar and sugar in the yuxiang sauce to create a superb new flavor profile."
Looking at the dish before him, Senzaemon Nakiri did not rush to taste it. Although the rich aroma emanating from the dish made it hard to restrain his hands, he couldn't help but ask a question—a question that made his expression turn serious.
"While you were making this dish, did you feel anything peculiar in your heart?"
"If I had to say, I felt very happy. The kind of happiness that comes from 'wanting to see more people smile when they taste my food.' That emotion just uncontrollably surged from the depths of my heart!"
Hearing Senzaemon Nakiri's words, Okabe's expression faltered for a moment. He then described the most direct feeling he had while cooking—that sincere joy and determination to make his food delicious.
"I can feel your dish cheering. It's as if it's shouting at me, telling me to eat it quickly. That is the fundamental reason why Leonora couldn't resist it."
Glancing at Leonora Nakiri, who was lost in the deliciousness of the Yuxiang Shredded Pork, Senzaemon Nakiri silently picked up his chopsticks, took a bite, and brought it to his mouth.
A bright, lively, and mellow sourness spread across the tip of his tongue.
Unlike the sharp and direct tang of vinegar, this acidity carried the gentle sweetness characteristic of ripe mountain fruit as its undertone, instantly whetting his appetite.
Next, the unique flavor of the yulazi began to release itself slowly. It brought not just a simple spiciness, but a complex, savory umami.
This savory umami firmly anchored the vibrant fruit acidity, miraculously taming it and allowing it to merge with the pork and other ingredients.
"For this Yuxiang Shredded Pork, you didn't use ordinary pickled chilies, did you? Regular pickled chilies have a pure taste, dominated by a prominent sourness and a direct heat.
But in the dish you've presented, the deeper flavor beneath the yuxiang sauce has not only the heat and sourness of pickled chilies, but more crucially, an irreplaceable, mellow and complex fish umami and an incredibly rich fermented bean aroma. This is not a flavor that pickled chilies can possess."
His eyebrows raised slightly as he looked at Okabe standing before him. Senzaemon Nakiri had a suspicion, but he wanted to hear it from the boy's own mouth.
"That's right, I used yulazi.
Small crucian carp are placed in a pickling jar with fresh Erjingtiao chilies, fermented glutinous rice, cooking wine, salt, and various spices. After several months of sealed fermentation, the chilies fully absorb the various flavors produced by the decomposing carp, resulting in this incredibly unique taste."
Before they parted ways, Master Yang had specifically given Okabe the recipe for making yulazi.
According to him, he was getting old and didn't have much time left. It was better to pass these things on to someone who needed them than to let them be buried with him.
"So it is yulazi. Compared to the straightforward heat of pickled chilies, the spiciness of yulazi is gentler and more layered, allowing it to command all the other flavors perfectly.
As the saying goes, 'an army of a thousand is easy to find, but a single great general is hard to come by.' For Yuxiang Shredded Pork, the yulazi is that rare general, possessing absolute leadership that can integrate a multitude of flavors."
Hearing Okabe's explanation, a look of admiration appeared on Senzaemon Nakiri's face. He never expected to eat such authentic Sichuan cuisine here!
Even with the addition of hawthorn paste, it was merely an innovative twist that didn't detract from its authenticity.
After all, the role of the hawthorn paste was to replace the sugar and vinegar; it didn't interfere with the flavor of the yuxiang sauce, but instead added a fruity fragrance.
"There is... a serene deliciousness!"
Slowly closing his eyes, he found himself standing in a mountain forest in autumn.
The sky was the color of a warm sunset, and the mountainside maples flowed with a brilliant red luster like fire.
Yet, on closer inspection, he realized they weren't maple leaves, but countless translucent red ribbons of light, condensed from the mellow umami of the yulazi.
They snaked through the valley as if alive, dyeing the entire world a deep, warm crimson that was breathtakingly beautiful.
The golden bamboo shoots transformed into fallen ginkgo leaves carpeting the forest floor, the black wood ear fungus became the moist soil, and the crisp peach shreds and hawthorn became fruit on the forest trees.
A gentle breeze blew past, soothing the various anxieties he felt because of the matter with Azami Nakiri.
"But this serenity..."
"It seems to be merely the calm before the storm."
Senzaemon Nakiri's voice suddenly deepened, and the sleeves of his kimono moved without a wind. The moment his words fell, the autumn mountain forest before his eyes changed color dramatically!
"BOOM!"
The ground beneath his feet trembled violently, and the red ribbons of light condensed from the yulazi's umami erupted like boiling lava. The ginkgo-like bamboo shoots were tossed into the sky, falling back down like a slow shower of golden rain.
In that instant, the colors of the entire forest intensified dozens of times over. Every wisp of air was filled with an explosive yuxiang aroma that was irresistibly immersive!
"This is..."
Senzaemon Nakiri unconsciously pressed his right hand to the collar of his garment as the scene before him changed abruptly.
The various flavors charged forward like a mighty army, carrying a force that could break through anything, yet just as they were about to burst through his throat, they were gently enveloped by a mellow fruit acidity.
The lively acidity of the hawthorn acted like a transparent barrier, masterfully confining the explosive yuxiang flavor to the battlefield of the palate.
It prevented the flavor from running rampant without completely suppressing its wild nature.
"A perfect restraint is what allows for true release."
He muttered to himself, a few beads of sweat forming on his forehead. His face was filled with utter astonishment, finding it hard to believe that a dish of this caliber could come from the hands of a mere child.
And just then, the refreshing textures of the bamboo shoots, wood ear fungus, and crisp peach shreds emerged like a clear spring.
Unlike the hawthorn, they didn't directly participate in the battle of flavors. Instead, they darted lightly through the gaps in the fierce struggle between spicy, sour, and sweet, using their crisp textures and unique tastes to create brief spaces of respite.
"Three fruits, each with its own role."
Beside them, Azami Nakiri had, at some point, also picked up his chopsticks. After tasting the dish, a flash of astonishment crossed his eyes, and he began to speak: "The hawthorn leads the sourness, the crisp hawthorn threads provides texture, and the subtle sweetness left by the fermented glutinous rice in the yulazi serves as the base...
This is no longer a simple substitution for sugar and vinegar, but a complete flavor system formed by their fusion. The dish seems like a spur-of-the-moment creation, but its logic is meticulous, leaving no room for criticism. However..."
"Thump~"
Just as he was about to point out some flaw in the dish, he felt a strange sensation from deep within his body. Azami Nakiri's sinister expression changed abruptly. This was a feeling he had never experienced when tasting the five-year-old Erina Nakiri's cooking.
"Thump-thump~"
The sound of tearing fabric reached his ears. Then, his well-tailored suit began to distort. Despite his efforts to suppress it, the pressure reached a critical point with astonishing speed and exploded!
"Uncle Azami's clothes burst! It looks like he acknowledges Brother Okabe's cooking!"
Seeing Azami Nakiri's clothes rip apart, Alice Nakiri stood up excitedly from the audience. Even Erina Nakiri, who had been expressionless the whole time, couldn't help but show a look of anticipation.
"This is an absolutely magnificent dish! Bring me a bowl of rice!"
"Right away."
Senzaemon Nakiri spoke to Okabe, who was already scooping rice. At that moment, the clothes on his upper body had also completely disintegrated, falling to the ground in tatters.
He paid it no mind, however, a wild and unrestrained smile on his face.
Yuxiang Shredded Pork truly needs to be paired with rice to reveal its ultimate deliciousness.
This kid really knows his stuff!
______
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