"I've bought the items. Is it okay to put them here?"
"Just leave them there. I'm about to start the next step anyway."
Hearing the commotion at the entrance, Dylan turned his gaze. Jonah had returned with all the requested ingredients. Seeing this, a smile appeared on Dylan's face as he gathered all the items placed on the table.
He peeled and cored the apples, cut them into small pieces, and placed them in the low-temperature slow cooker at 80°C for 2 hours until soft and tender. Then, he blended them into a puree using a blender, adding a small amount of smoked sea salt for a base flavour.
The foie gras was seasoned with sea salt, black pepper, and a small amount of spices, then slow-cooked sous-vide at 55°C for 40 minutes to maintain its tender texture and rich flavour.
A dish centered around foie gras? That fits the Nordic theme. It seems little brother Dylan has learned quite a bit about Nordic cuisine during this time.
Watching Dylan handle the foie gras with such proficiency, Nakiri Leonora couldn't help but think this. Two months ago, Dylan knew very little about Nordic cuisine, only familiar with some widely known dishes.
Now, after reading numerous cookbooks published by Nordic Special Grade Chefs, he had undoubtedly filled this gap in his knowledge and could even innovate within it.
Time passed bit by bit. Watching Dylan busily moving between various machines, a sense of anticipation grew in Nakiri Leonora's heart.
What kind of flavour could this Special Grade Chef possibly showcase using molecular gastronomy? It was truly something to look forward to!
"Completed."
Two and a half hours later, Dylan took out a plate and began assembling the dish with a serious expression.
He placed a small piece of the sous-vide foie gras in the center of the plate, sprinkling some smoked sea salt and cracked black pepper on top to add layers to the taste.
Around the foie gras, he piped a ring of foam scented with Heather, creating a cloud-like encirclement. Simultaneously, he dotted the foam with a few microgreens and edible flowers, adding colour and vitality.
Taking a spoon, he placed a small dollop of apple puree in one corner of the plate, adding a few drops of ark clam essence next to it to create a contrasting taste experience.
Finally, he placed a small amount of caviar atop the apple puree, enhancing the dish's texture while mimicking the delicate appearance of Heather buds.
"Please, enjoy."
Wiping his hands with a warm towel, Dylan presented the dish, plated in a very European style.
European cuisine emphasizes exquisite, small portions and has extremely high standards for plating. Often, a small plate can command an exorbitant price.
This shared a similar spirit with the 'colour' aspect of Chinese cuisine's 'colour, aroma, taste' principle – the focus is on providing an excellent visual experience to heighten anticipation for the dish.
"It looks truly wonderful. If I hadn't seen you cook it with my own eyes, it would be hard to imagine this was actually made using molecular gastronomy methods."
Looking at the dish before her, the anticipation on Nakiri Leonora's face was palpable. Nakiri Alice also ran closer, her large eyes filled with craving.
"Go on, try it. It's my first time cooking this way, so feel free to point out any shortcomings."
Though his words were modest, Dylan's face was brimming with confidence.
"This foam..."
Holding a spoon, Nakiri Leonora scooped up a little of the foam surrounding the foie gras. Before tasting the main component, she wanted to experience the magic of this foam.
She remembered Dylan putting considerable effort into it.
"This is a foam base meticulously crafted from milk and soy lecithin... It lightly covers the foie gras, like a gentle ray of winter sunshine, instantly blossoming on the tongue."
"Not only that, but this foam is also infused with the subtle aroma of Heather flowers. Although the scent is faint, it pairs exceptionally well with this foam!"
What would happen if this flavour combined with the foie gras?
The thought suddenly surfaced in Nakiri Leonora's mind. Swallowing hard, a strong sense of anticipation urged her to extend her spoon towards the foie gras encircled by the foam, bringing both foam and foie gras to her mouth.
"As the foam slowly melts in the mouth, the delicacy and richness of the foie gras gradually emerge."
"The low-temperature slow-cooked foie gras retains its original tender texture and abundant fats. Every bite is an ultimate temptation for the taste buds."
Closing her eyes to savour the taste, an alluring blush appeared on her face, and Nakiri Leonora unknowingly placed a hand over her chest.
In her mind space, her clothes had long been destroyed by the powerful impact of the food. She found herself standing in a Nordic forest, sunlight warming her skin, free to enjoy the freshness and tranquility of nature.
What an absolutely fantastic experience!!
Meanwhile, seeing her mother's reaction, Nakiri Alice turned her gaze to the apple puree in the corner of the plate, deciding to taste that first.
"The sweetness of the apple puree carries a hint of smoky sea salt's savouriness, adding a unique layer of flavour to the entire dish. The addition of the ark clam essence makes the dish's taste profile even richer and more diverse!"
Closing her eyes to focus on the apple puree, she noted how the sea salt, treated with a smoking technique, added a touch of smoky aroma, while the ark clam essence made the whole dish feel purer.
An image of the ocean formed in her mind. Looking at everything before her, Nakiri Alice was deeply shaken. Molecular gastronomy could actually achieve this!
"What's the name of this dish? And how did you think of cooking it? Can you tell me the recipe, little brother Dylan?"
Nakiri Leonora's cheeks were flushed red, and her eyes, looking at Dylan, seemed to hold an extra layer of moisture; her heart rate had quickened somewhat.
"Of course. This dish is called 「Foie Gras Foam Love Song」. The flower language of Heather includes loneliness and happiness, so the theme of my dish is the transition from loneliness to happiness."
"Foie gras, as the main ingredient, symbolizes the sweetness and depth of love with its delicacy and richness."
"The aroma of Heather represents a touch of gentleness and hope within loneliness. Paired with the elements of apple puree and ark clam essence, it adds more layers of flavour and colour variation to the dish."
Dylan spun this tale without batting an eyelid. So-called cuisine often involved a bit of BS; as long as you hyped it up and it tasted good, the dish would feel incredibly impressive.
"That name... although it fits the dish's appearance and techniques, it still feels a bit strange somewhere."
Hearing Dylan's explanation, Nakiri Leonora's expression turned slightly odd. She glanced between the dish and him. Could this guy be terrible at naming things?!
But never mind, the food was more important than the name.
"Master! I want to learn this!"
While Dylan and Leonora were discussing, Nakiri Alice had somehow come to his side... wrapping her arms around his waist.
"Alright, alright. But we've run out of ingredients now, we need to go buy more first."
Looking at the small girl before him, Dylan reached out and ruffled her head, an inexplicable, strange feeling welling up inside him.
The way she acted clingy towards him really resembled a younger sister towards her older brother.
Having such an adorable younger sister, even just keeping her nearby would make one's lips curl upwards unconsciously. Hearing her call older brother, older brother, even if she made some outrageous request, one would readily agree.
"Okay, let's go together!" Nakiri Alice said, her face alight with excitement.
"Then let's go together. Let older brother teach you some techniques for picking high-quality ingredients."
Because his mind was full of older brother, older brother, the word slipped out unconsciously as he spoke. By the time he realized it, it was too late.
"Brother? Does Master like being called that?"
"It's not that I particularly like it... I just feel 'Master' sounds too formal. We can be a bit more casual between us."
Looking into Nakiri Alice's innocent eyes, Dylan coughed awkwardly twice, then quickly tried to backtrack.
"Understood! Then I'll call you Brother Dylan from now on!"
"That's... not impossible. Your teacher here doesn't care about formalities like that. Just call me whatever makes you happy."
Hearing Nakiri Alice's sweet voice call him 'Brother', Dylan was instantly hooked, the smile on his face impossible to suppress. Finally, he took her hand and led her out of the molecular gastronomy research lab.
Nakiri Leonora watched all of this unfold, a knowing, meaningful smile playing on her lips. Childhood friends are truly wonderful!
____________
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