The Wasabi Bibimbap

Haruka stood beside Kazuya with a small dark face, holding a sharp and long fish-cutting knife in her hand. She asked softly: "Is this the help you said?"

In the past four days, Kazuya arranged for her, Haruna and Akiho to take turns going to the hospital to take care of Naotaka. while he himself did nothing but was playing with radishes in the store.

She had been patient for four days. At first she thought Kazuya had some fantastic ideas, but now she saw it was pure nonsense and finally couldn't help but ask.

The store was now a mess, with radishes piled up like a mountain and the pungent smell of radishes permeates the entire space, making people sick to their stomachs. The whole family tried their best to eat them or make pickles, but more than 50% were still wasted. 

If Kazuya couldn't give a reasonable explanation, the knife in her hand would be inserted into his butt the next moment. The family was already very difficult and this guy still wanted to waste money? Was he here to help or to cause trouble?

"I'm improving my cooking skills for becoming an excellent chef." Kazuya didn't hide anything from Haruka. He explained over and over again. Like there was someone who watched the river flowing by and gained enlightenment in ancient times, there was someone who cut radishes and master the essence of cooking today. It can be said that the past and present are the same and each has its own merits.

Haruka was not mentally retarded, so she naturally didn't believe it and her face turned even darker: "Improve your cooking skills by chopping radishes?"

This is just the basic skill of a chef, isn't it? It's equivalent to Suburi in swordsmanship! If you could improve your cooking skills in this way, there are as many famous chefs as dogs on the roadside.

Kazuya laughed and picked up the knife again. Suddenly his whole aura changed. It seemed that the entire kitchen had become his territory. Anyone or anything that went against his will would be vaguely ostracized. He believed that his skills were now no worse than those professional chefs who have been in the industry for many years. With the new available skills, he could also compete with those famous chefs who have unique skills.

Confidence comes from strength! He smiled at Haruka and the others: "I have completed my cultivation, what do you want to eat? Come on, feel free to test my skills!"

Haruna sat in the corner of the kitchen, holding a white radish in one hand, burping and shaking her head repeatedly: "No, Kazuya, I really can't eat anymore. I now... no, I won't eat radish in the future. "

Today it was Akiho's turn to go to the hospital. Haruna's mood has been very low recently, in addition to that Haruka felt sorry for her and those wasted radishes, so she allowed her there to eat whatever she wanted in the kitchen. 

Haruna turned her grief into appetite and ate all she saw, but no matter how big her appetite she was, she was still a human being and would eventually have enough. She was bringing two "rabbits" with her, but she was not a real rabbit, so she couldn't stand eating radishes every meal.

Kazuya was slightly embarrassed. Did her develop radish phobia? He walked over and said to Haruna: "We don't want these radishes anymore. Don't force yourself to eat them. For a change, is there any dish you want to eat the most?"

Haruna looked very pitiful sitting among the radish pile in the corner of the kitchen. She lowered her head and thought for a while, then said aggrievedly: "I want to eat the wasabi bibimbap made by my mother. I haven't had it for a long time. I used to be able to eat ten bowls. But you can't do it. Mom has a unique secret recipe."

He smiled, took the radish in her hand and agreed: "It's okay, today we eat the wasabi bibimbap."

Haruna raised her head and shook her head, "Mom's wasabi bibimbap is really special. Even dad can't do it. You've never eaten it before. If you can't make it well, it's better not to make it."

"Let me try." Kazuya laughed again and went to wash rice.

Haruka followed him with a dark face and said angrily: "Are you going to continue to mess around? Didn't you say that you want to continue running this store? There is not much money left anymore, do you understand? There is not much money left!"

In fact, there was some more, but Haruka was now extremely nervous and regards money as her life. Every one yen she spends was a knife to cut out her heart. Any behavior that made the money disappear in her hand were all killing her.

She regretted trusting Kazuya, but she couldn't reopen the business without Kazuya. Akiho was too young to be the chef, and she didn't think it was reliable to hire someone from outside. But now she began to wonder whether to drive away Kazuya or not.

Kazuya didn't care about her worry and comforted: "No problem. We have another day to prepare. We will restart business tomorrow."

Haruka hesitated for a moment and could only choose to endure it for one more day. If Kazuya was still messing around like this tomorrow, she would united her sisters to beat him out directly.

In the past few days, the younger ones continued to go to school without knowing the truth. The older ones had temporarily taken personal leave. Now she had nothing to do and just stood next to Kazuya to watch him make wasabi bibimbap. 

But after looking at it for a while, she felt something was wrong and reminded him: "You shouldn't use this kind of rice. Mom didn't do this before."

If you want to make good bibimbap, the choice of rice is very important. You even need several kinds of rice to match each other so that you can have a perfect taste. If you choose it randomly, it may become sticky and unpalatable.

Kazuya chose three kinds of rice to match each other according to the method he learned. It was indeed different from Sakura's mother's recipe. Haruka must think that her mother's was the authentic one.

But he ignored her and didn't explain: "I know it well."

Haruka glanced at him sideways and rummaged through the refrigerator, "There is no fresh wasabi at home, and it is very expensive. Don't waste the ingredients!"

The wasabi in the izakaya is prepared for those diners who occasionally order sashimi. But Naotaka is very particular and doesn't provide horseradish with them. He provides freshly ground wasabi, but ordinary diners can't tell the difference.

Actually, many people can't tell the difference between mustard, wasabi and horseradish. Wasabi in Japanese cuisine actually refers to wasabi, and the toothpaste-like mustard paste is not real mustard but horseradish. As for real mustard, it is a traditional spice. The wasabi bibimbap that Haruna wanted to eat actually refers to freshly ground wasabi bibimbap.

Wasabi is a very delicate plant which has extremely high requirements on water temperature, water quality and soil salinity. It doesn't like light and only grows in moist and shady places at the roots of large trees. Even so, it will take a year or two before the flesh is mature. The longer the growth time, the more delicate and high-quality the meat is. The artificially cultivated ones are the fast-growing ones of average quality.

As far as cooking is concerned, wasabi is the authentic one, and horseradish is a substitute, whose taste is two or three grades worse. It is a cousin of wasabi. As for mustard, it is a traditional spice around the world. It is made from mustard seeds ground into powder and even worse than horseradish.

Haruka was still concerned about the lack of fresh wasabi. If it didn't taste good, it would be better not to make it and keep it to sell for money. However, Kazuya ignored her and just grinded the wasabi after taking it.

Wasabi itself is not spicy or irritating to the nose when eaten. Only during the fine grinding process, the myrosinase enzyme will react with glucosulfide, presenting a unique food style with a refreshing fragrance.

Kazuya worked methodically, using quick-freezing to lower the steaming rice to a temperature that could be eaten. After filling more than half a bowl, he spread a thin layer of freshly ground wasabi on the rice and poured the prepared soy sauce and umami juice around it. Then he served it to Haruna.

Haruna stretched out her nose to sniff it carefully and said with some confusion: "This is not the smell what mom makes. Can it be delicious?"

Kazuya turned to serve the second bowl: "You will know after you try it."