There's Always a Higher Mountain

After chatting on the phone for over an hour, Alice reluctantly ended the call and refocused on creating new dishes.

Solidifying water itself is quite a "cool" thing. The simplest way is to freeze it, but how can you solidify water at temperatures above freezing, like at 15℃? Think of jelly or the popping pearls in bubble tea. These use different methods to completely stop the flow of water! 

It should be said that gelation and spherification are driving the revolution in molecular gastronomy. Making caviar from fruit juice is almost the same as "solidifying" water.

...

"It's still not right. It seems Zane was correct," Alice thought. "Molecular gastronomy often focuses too much on technique and overlooks the essence of flavor."

"Yes, I'm so foolish."

"No matter how well I make caviar from fruit juice, it will always taste like fruit."

"And if my opponent uses real caviar in a cooking competition, what's the point of my fake caviar?"

"Ugh, will my cooking always be inferior to Erina's?"

"Zane, if you were to use other ingredients to make caviar, how would you do it?"

Looking at her disappointing failures, Alice felt exhausted and increasingly lost.

"Alice, you're already back to experimenting with new dishes?"

"Although Totsuki is highly competitive, you need to balance work and rest."

A familiar voice behind her reminded Alice of her days in Europe when her mother often said the same things. Alice frowned slightly, annoyed, "I know, Mom! Wait, could it be...?"

Turning around slowly, she saw her mother, Leonora Nakiri. The silky silver hair added a touch of grace to the elegant woman in her thirties. Her milky, white skin and gentle smile, along with her noble and elegant aura, often left people captivated.

"Alice, are you surprised to see me?"

Seeing her daughter's wide eyes, Leonora laughed lightly.

"Mom, why are you here? No, wait, did you come back early for the Autumn Selection?"

Alice was both surprised and delighted.

"Yes, knowing your situation here, I couldn't help but worry."

Leonora's words touched Alice, who rushed into her mother's arms, "Mom, you really are the one who loves me the most!"

"Alright, tell me everything about Totsuki and the training camp."

Holding her daughter, Leonora's eyes were filled with doting affection.

"Mom, you wouldn't believe..."

As time passed and the sky darkened, Leonora, engrossed in the conversation, suddenly asked, "What about the tavern? You haven't mentioned it."

"Zane's Tavern?" Alice blushed. "There's not much to say. I've only been there twice since school started."

"Only twice? I thought you had a close relationship with him, judging by your praises on the phone!"

Leonora finally understood.

"Mom, there's nothing like that."

Alice's face turned red. "We only met once. We're not that close."

"Feelings can be hard to explain. Sometimes, a single encounter is enough to captivate you."

"Actually, I visited the tavern a few days ago. The owner, Zane, is indeed as charming and skilled as you described."

"Honestly, if I were 20 years younger, I might not have been able to resist him!"

Leonora's heart fluttered slightly as she spoke.

"I just want to improve my cooking and win the Autumn Selection. I don't have time for romance."

Alice's voice hesitated briefly as Zane's image flashed in her mind.

"Alright, how about we go to Zane's Tavern for dinner?"

Leonora suggested, noticing Alice's expression.

"Sure, it's been a while since I last went."

Alice agreed.

...

A good bowl of ramen represents all the beauty in life.

This quote from director Juzo Itami resonates with most Japanese people. In the Polar Star Dorm, Soma served a bowl of black garlic tonkotsu dipping noodles with a thick slice of roasted chashu on top.

"Senior, this is Yukihira Style Two-Bladed Dipping Noodles!"

Despite the flashy name, Senpai Megishima remained calm. Unlike regular ramen, dipping noodles are served with separate soup and noodles, allowing the noodles to retain their firmness without getting too hot, making them a popular choice in Japan.

Megishima carefully examined the golden noodles and the rich pork-bonito broth, noting the meticulous preparation.

Without hesitation, he picked up the noodles, dipped them in the black garlic tonkotsu broth, and began eating.

The broth wasn't as hot as expected, keeping the noodles firm and chewy. This unusual texture fascinated Megishima. The chashu and pork belly had different flavors, the chashu being firm but not dry and the pork belly slightly sweet with a hint of sake. The bamboo shoots added a stimulating taste, balanced by the black garlic.

"The broth is rich yet light in seasoning, not too salty or sweet."

"But the thickness feels somewhat elusive."

"If compared to Chinese Lanzhou beef noodles, these dipping noodles are much heavier."

Swallowing, Megishima reflected on the dish.

"Senior, what's your verdict?" Soma asked eagerly.

"Compared to before the training camp, you've definitely improved a lot," Megishima nodded, praising Soma without hesitation.

...

Adding the shrimp shells to a pot, Joichiro then added the pre-made laksa paste and coconut milk, stirring them together and bringing the mixture to a boil. He added shrimp, noodles, and tofu puffs, simmering for five minutes. He placed bean sprouts in a bowl and poured the hot soup over them, letting the residual heat cook them. Finally, he garnished the dish with boiled eggs and fish cakes.

"Incredible! As expected from Joichiro, or rather, from Senior Yukihira. Your cooking is as outstanding as always!"

Megishima smiled as he admired Joichiro's ramen.

"Yes, this is laksa ramen."

"I used a total of 18 spices just for the broth."

Joichiro shrugged, smiling.

"Eighteen spices? All in one bowl of ramen?"

"Old man, with so many spices, won't it affect the flavor of the other ingredients?"

Soma was incredulous. In his experience, no ramen required that many spices.

But Joichiro just laughed, offering no explanation.

Realizing this ramen was beyond his understanding, Megishima eagerly picked up a bite with his chopsticks and slurped it up.

...

Despite soaking in the rich broth, the noodles retained their texture and chewiness. The chicken shreds had a satisfying bite, the bean sprouts were crisp, and the egg was soft. The combination of these ingredients created a complex and layered taste experience.

The initial flavors were a mix of sour, sweet, salty, spicy, and umami, each one emerging distinctly yet harmoniously. The noodles and broth felt like a complete symphony in his mouth, strong but balanced by the soothing notes of coconut milk.

"The broth has 18 spices, yet the flavor isn't overwhelming."

Swallowing, Megishima was amazed.

"Coconut milk. I added coconut milk," Joichiro explained.

"Coconut milk?" Megishima was still puzzled.

"Coconut milk acts as a mediator, preventing any single flavor from dominating while balancing the overall taste."

"Without it, the broth's many spices would be overwhelming. When I traveled in Southeast Asia, I saw locals using coconut milk to mellow out the intensity of their spices."

"I see. So this is Japanese cuisine with Chinese ingredients and Southeast Asian flavors?"

Megishima was even more astonished. It was clear that Joichiro's cooking seamlessly blended complexity and inclusivity, creating a sense of awe.

The results of the ramen contest were evident: Joichiro's ramen was superior.

"Creative, you're not as good as your old man," Megishima declared.

...

"Hahaha... Soma, this makes 499 losses to me."

Learning of his victory, Joichiro playfully patted Soma's shoulder, mocking him.

Still frustrated from his loss, Soma grumbled, "Old man, your cooking might be better, but your memory is not. This makes 498 losses, not 499."

"One more match and you'll hit 499," Joichiro laughed heartily.

Back at the Yukihira Diner, Joichiro frequently challenged Soma to cooking battles, letting customers judge the results. Naturally, Joichiro's cooking always won, and these constant challenges helped Soma improve rapidly, learning from every defeat.

Despite losing 498 times, Soma never felt discouraged. Instead, he started analyzing his father's cooking to understand its strengths.

This resilience explained why Soma never fell into despair despite numerous setbacks.

In short, no dish or rival could easily bring him down.

...

"Senior, I didn't expect."

"That you and our dorm mate Soma Yukihira are father and son, and that you even changed your surname."

"But your ramen today was truly eye-opening."

"Honestly, with my skills, I can't identify all 18 spices. I noticed red pepper, tamarind, tamarind paste, lemongrass, herbs..."

"And a strong scent of lemongrass in the broth. I'm unfamiliar with the other spices."

"Your seasoning skills are unmatched."

Megishima knew his own abilities were substantial, but he understood the vast gap between Soma, Joichiro, and himself.

"Eizan, there's a saying in China: 'There's always a higher mountain, a greater person.'"

"My cooking combines the best from around the world because I traveled extensively, learning and integrating various cuisines."

"But the true master is the owner of the Tavern, Zane."

----------

I have fixed the name errors.

For 10 advance chapters: patreon.com/angelictranslating