As a foodie,
Rindo loves to eat, but liking it is just a basic condition!
Building on that, the further requirement is to understand how to eat!
Understand!
That's a sophisticated word.
It means understanding ingredients, understanding various cooking methods, knowing the food culture and taste habits of different countries, cities, and regions! And also knowing how much difference the same dish can have in the hands of different Chefs!
Ultimately,
in Rindo's heart,
she is always full of interest in unknown foods and dishes!
And this mindset, this heartfelt love for eating, has been silently influencing her life.
She can travel long distances or climb higher mountains for an unknown ingredient and not feel tired!
Therefore, this is why her personality is relaxed and unrestrained.
Yet, at such a young age, she has become a master proficient in rare ingredients from various countries and styles, and furthermore, she holds the Second Seat of the Elite Ten at Totsuki Culinary Academy!
...
In fact,
in Rindo's eyes,
the most important aspect of any dish in this world is its taste!
Take Mille-feuille, for example; crispiness is paramount, and the method of stacking 1459 layers of pastry inevitably smacks of grandstanding!
However, the aroma of scallions, the aroma of pastry, and the aroma of meat in the air successfully stirred her appetite.
So, after the initial shock,
she no longer hesitated and took a bite of the Mille-feuille under Sosuke's gaze.
"Ah!"
"Mmm mmm mmm!"
With just one bite, a "crunch crunch" sound was heard!
Clearly, this was the sound of the more than 1000 layers of pastry rubbing against her teeth and the air being forced out.
The first thing she tasted
was the 1459 layers of crispy pastry.
It instantly melted in her mouth, giving her an extremely wonderful taste experience!
And this crispy texture also made her feel very pleasant, as if she could feel its deliciousness during the chewing process.
Subsequently, Rindo chewed vigorously with her teeth but unexpectedly discovered that the thin, crispy pastry was actually wrapped around a substantial filling!
Taking another bite, she tasted the butter mixed within.
This rich layering immediately made the simple Mille-feuille incredibly delicious!
And every time her tongue moved, she could feel the layers of the Mille-feuille being cut in various directions.
For a moment, the most primitive dough flavor hidden inside gradually revealed itself.
Then...
Well, there was no 'then'.
She only knew that this unique aroma and taste kept forcing Rindo to chew slowly and carefully.
The increasingly rich aroma of chopped scallions began to intertwine with the aroma of the pastry, coupled with the richly layered meat aroma, instantly making her feel the true charm of this Mille-feuille!
At this moment, all her worries seemed to be cast aside, leaving only this wonderful Mille-feuille!
...
"Strange!"
"The small black particles sprinkled on the surface."
"They're not sesame seeds, but... a rare basil seed seasoning!"
"So that's it!"
"During the making of the Mille-feuille, you just need to sprinkle the basil seeds evenly on the dough, then roll and fold it."
"When the pastry is baked, the basil seeds will present a crispy texture, perfectly complementing the crispy outer layer and fragrant filling of the Mille-feuille!"
"In other words, the addition of basil seeds can further enhance the taste of the Mille-feuille."
"And the unique fresh aroma of basil seeds can also complement the crispiness of the Mille-feuille!"
"Perfect!"
"What a perfect combination!"
"This ordinary Mille-feuille really surprised me!"
Coming back to her senses, Rindo couldn't help but exclaim deeply.
To elevate such an inconspicuous snack as Mille-feuille to an unprecedented height, this Shopkeeper Sosuke is truly a rare culinary genius in this world!
...
"Shopkeeper Sosuke,"
"I dare say that this Mille-feuille you made is the only one of its kind in the world!"
"Ah!"
"How lucky."
"I, Rindo, can actually eat such an incredibly crispy pastry snack in this lifetime; my life is truly without regret!"
Finally, Rindo, chewing on the Mille-feuille, didn't forget to flatter Sosuke.
Of course, these words were somewhat exaggerated.
But overall, this Mille-feuille breakfast truly shocked Rindo!
"You're not bad either!"
"To be able to rely on your own experience,"
"to taste that the small black particles sprinkled on the surface are not sesame seeds but basil seeds."
"Indeed, as the Second Seat of the Elite Ten at Totsuki Culinary Academy, you are not undeserving of your reputation!"
Sosuke, also eating the Mille-feuille, merely looked up at Rindo slightly and said calmly.
"Hehe!"
"I just happened to learn about basil seeds once when I was hunting in the mountains!"
And upon receiving Sosuke's approval, Rindo's pretty little face instantly turned red, with a hint of joy in her heart!
"No!"
"I just praised you a bit."
"Why are you blushing?"
Sosuke looked at Rindo, whose face was flushed, and couldn't help but be a little surprised.
He thought to himself, a woman's mind is indeed very difficult to understand!
He merely stated that her strength was indeed worthy of the Second Seat of the Elite Ten, and this sentence alone could make her shy?
"Huh?"
"Where... where am I?"
Rindo touched her hot cheeks, then slightly retorted.
And just as Sosuke was about to tease her again, Rindo suddenly put on a serious face and said, "Shopkeeper Sosuke! Your culinary skills have always received my approval."
"But I still can't quite understand why you don't go to a broader platform? With your current strength, even being a Chef at a five-star hotel would be more than enough!"
However, upon hearing this, Sosuke remained calm and unhurried, finishing the Mille-feuille in his hand.
Immediately afterward, he took out a clean napkin, wiped his mouth, and then fixed his gaze on Rindo!
"Shopkeeper."
"You... why are you looking at me like that?"
Being stared at by Sosuke, Rindo became increasingly uncomfortable and quickly turned her head away.
"Rindo,"
"What is your pursuit?"
Sosuke withdrew his gaze and asked.
"None!"
"What pursuit do I have?"
"At most, in this life, I just want to explore unknown ingredients, taste all the dishes in this world, and constantly enjoy the pleasure of good food, that's all!"
Rindo was startled for a moment, then honestly answered Sosuke's question!
"Actually, I used to be a Chef at a five-star hotel."
"But that kind of life was too boring, which is why I'm now running this Izakaya by myself!"
Sosuke said calmly again.
"Huh?"
Upon hearing this, Rindo was completely bewildered again!