After arranging the potato slices neatly, Dylan didn't rush to add the filling. Instead, he sprinkled a layer of pepper and a light dusting of salt to enhance the flavor.
He repeated this layering process three times before adding a mixture of milk and cream in a 1:2 ratio. As he did this, he looked up at Nakiri Alice and said, "The ratio you used for this part was also incorrect. If my taste buds aren't mistaken, your milk to cream ratio was 1:1, right?
From a technical standpoint, if you add too much milk, the final cheese-baked potato dish will be too watery and lack sufficient aroma after baking."
As he spoke, Dylan covered the prepared potatoes with a sheet of parchment paper, placed a heavy object with a large surface area on top to press it down, and then wrapped the entire dish tightly in another layer of foil. Only then did it meet the standard for going into the oven.
He opened the nearby oven, feeling the wave of heat rolling out – no significant temperature discrepancy. Dylan promptly placed the baking dish inside.
For making cheese-baked potatoes in this type of dish, preheating to 180°C for both top and bottom elements and baking for 40 minutes is optimal!
Sensing the change in aroma as the cheese-baked potatoes began to bake, Dylan nodded with satisfaction before looking back at Nakiri Alice.
The annoyance and anger previously in the young girl's eyes had completely vanished, replaced by astonishment, admiration, and a touch of anticipation.
Putting everything else aside, the sheer skill Dylan had just demonstrated was already worth learning from. The person before her was definitely a formidable Special Grade Chef!
"Just wait a moment," Dylan said, seeing the admiration in Nakiri Alice's eyes. He instantly knew she had taken the bait. Smiling, he stated his request, "Do you happen to have any cookbooks featuring popular dishes from the surrounding region? I'd like to research the local customs and tastes a bit."
He wanted to understand the preferences of the local residents, partly to prepare for potentially opening his own eatery later on.
"Wait here, I'll go get it for you."
Hearing Dylan, Nakiri Alice immediately scampered back to her room and retrieved the book she had been reading by her bedside the previous night.
"Are you a Special Grade Chef? Why have I never heard of you? To reach the level of a Special Grade Chef at your age... that's incredible!"
As a descendant of the Nakiri family, Nakiri Alice had a discerning eye. She had met many skilled Special Grade Chefs and watched them cook.
However, none of them possessed knife skills as superb as Dylan's.
While knife skills alone couldn't determine a chef's overall ability, that glimpse of technique, more impressive than special effects in movies, was definitely not something an ordinary chef could achieve!
At the very least, she couldn't do it. Not just her, but the teachers at Totsuki Academy and the other Special Grade Chefs she had met – none of them could!
Making ingredients fly into the wok immediately after being cut, all in less than a second... it was hard to imagine how Dylan managed it.
Furthermore, now that he had eaten, Dylan carried a peculiar aura about him, an air that immediately marked him as extraordinary.
"I haven't taken any relevant examinations," Dylan replied modestly, despite needing to showcase his value, "But if you had to assign a rank, calling me a Special Grade Chef wouldn't be inaccurate."
Based on his actual abilities, even if he hadn't reached the level of a Dragon Chef, he wasn't far off.
Of course, he had no impressive achievements here yet. Plus, the title 'Dragon Chef' existed primarily in the world of Chuuka Ichiban!. Unsure if it even existed in this world, Dylan naturally wouldn't mention it casually.
"I thought so! I've never seen such amazing skill from any other Special Grade Chef! The ingredients seemed like obedient sprites, and the aroma filling the air is already a level above mine from earlier."
"The taste won't disappoint you either."
Encountering Dylan, whose skill far surpassed her own, Nakiri Alice dropped her 'Young Miss' airs. More importantly, his level truly convinced her, something evident just from the aroma wafting from the oven!
·
·
Time trickled by. Dylan picked up the cookbook Nakiri Alice had given him and began to flip through it, his eyes greedily absorbing the knowledge within.
Due to his young age, although Dylan had learned all the techniques of the Dark Cooking Society, his knowledge of foreign cuisines was limited.
Part of this was because he was still young and hadn't begun traveling extensively, but more significantly, there weren't many formidable foreign chefs in China back then, providing few opportunities to exchange culinary experiences.
He only knew about this cheese-baked potato dish because he had once tasted French escargot prepared by a French chef.
He had deduced Nakiri Alice's method and ingredients based on the aroma in the air, ultimately reaching his conclusions.
His own cooking method stemmed from what he observed just now, combined with his personal experience.
"Tsk tsk, truly eye-opening."
Dylan clicked his tongue in amazement as he read. His greatest pleasure in life was reading cookbooks written by others. If he could learn something from them, it was even more delightful!
Half an hour passed in a flash. As the oven timer let out a 'ding!', Dylan quickly moved to the front of the oven. On the table beside it sat the already prepared mozzarella cheese.
He lifted the baking dish partially out, grabbed a handful of cheese with his other hand, and sprinkled it over the top until the surface of the potatoes was completely covered, then slid it back into the oven.
Bottom heat off, top heat set to 240°C, bake for 6-10 minutes.
Dylan didn't leave during this process. Instead, his eyes were glued to the oven, observing the state of the melting cheese and sensing the changes in aroma, ensuring it reached the most perfect state for tasting.
Seeing Dylan's intense focus, Nakiri Alice clenched her small fists, standing beside him without a word. The serious young man possessed a distinct charm, making her steal a few extra glances.
"Now!"
Suddenly, Dylan's gaze sharpened. He swiftly opened the oven door. In that instant, a dazzling golden light surged out from within.
"Light? The food... it's glowing!?"
Nakiri Alice rubbed her eyes in shock, muttering disbelievingly. By the time she recovered, the light before her had gradually faded, revealing the dish's true appearance.
"Was it my imagination? Or..."
Looking at the dish, Nakiri Alice couldn't help but swallow hard. An incredibly rich aroma permeated the air, transforming into countless invisible hands constantly beckoning her.
'Eat me quickly, eat me quickly.'
A voice seemed to whisper incessantly in her mind. Nakiri Alice instinctively picked up her knife and fork. Dylan cut the dish in the pan into six equal portions and placed one onto a white porcelain plate, handing it to her.
"Try it. Feel the difference between the cheese-baked potatoes I made and the ones you made with your heart. This is my advice to you."
Without needing further encouragement from Dylan, Nakiri Alice had already used her fork to scoop up a small piece, closing her eyes as she brought it to her mouth.
With the first bite, the richness of the cheese and the softness of the potatoes served as the opening notes of the flavor symphony in her mouth.
In that moment, she felt as if she were adrift in a vast, boundless lake of viscous gold.
As a gentle breeze wafted past, a rich cheesy aroma drifted with it. Looking closely, the lake was made entirely of cheese!
The instant Nakiri Alice registered this, tendrils of cheese surged from the lake, wrapping around her body, threatening to pull her down forever into this exquisitely wonderful golden cheese abyss.
Just as she was about to sink to the bottom, individual potato pieces surfaced from the lake, granting her a brief respite. They exuded the fresh, earthy scent unique to soil and nature, joining the cheese lake to carry her towards distant shores.
However, this sensation didn't last long before a deeper layer emerged – the distinct smoky aroma of bacon intertwined with the sweetness of onions!
They were like a sudden, rousing melody introduced into an ancient musical score, awakening deeper expectations within her taste buds!
The freshness of the white wine acted like a cleansing breeze, weaving through these complex flavors, not only balancing the overall taste profile but also adding an indescribable touch of elegance to the dish.
____________
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