Chapter 970

"No, I still want to taste this ramen."

"But, Erina-sama, even I find the smell of this ramen not too good; with your God Tongue's sense of taste, I'm afraid you would————"

Hisako Arato's words had not finished when she was interrupted by Nakiri Erina: "It's merely a trivial stench.

"There are still many dishes in this world famous for their stench, such as our country's natto, China's stinky tofu, Sweden's surströmming, France's blue cheese, Iceland's fermented shark, etc. If one doesn't dare taste them just because of the stench, then what kind of chef am I?!"

Facing Hisako Arato's persuasion, Nakiri Erina did not give up; perhaps because she had tasted Broly's fried rice and braised dishes, she also held a certain expectation for the Nagahama-style tonkotsu ramen before her, which smelled somewhat less than flattering.

Of course, having a certain expectation in her heart is one thing, but expression management when actually tasting was difficult to completely control.

The young girl carefully used chopsticks to pick up the noodles wrapped in the thick soup, held her breath, as if about to taste something unpalatable, first extending her pink tender tongue, using the delicate tip at the very front to cautiously probe the noodles' flavor.

Broly watched from the side in a daze, feeling that Nakiri Erina was just like a tabby cat probing a strange object.

"Miss Nakiri, this kind of ramen noodles is still best eaten in big mouthfuls."

"I know, no need for you to say it."

Nakiri Erina replied with a sentence, and after confirming the taste transmitted from her tongue did not have that unpleasant flavor she had smelled, she truly put the noodles on her chopsticks into her mouth.

Her teeth only lightly bit the ramen, and the ramen seemed to come alive, bouncing once in her mouth; this texture made Nakiri Erina involuntarily let out a muffled groan: "This ramen, it's actually so chewy and elastic, how did you make it?"

"The master who taught me ramen had me select high-gluten flour, saying the higher the protein content in the flour, the chewier the noodles produced."

"I know this, I've made ramen myself before, but it never reached your level of chewiness."

"Besides flour, the ratio of flour to water is also very important, needing to be controlled between 100:30 to 100:35; water must be added slowly in three batches, adding while kneading.

During this, salt and baking soda also need to be added; 500g flour with 3-5g salt, 1-2g baking soda; salt makes the dough more elastic, baking soda also makes the gluten structure tighter————"

Broly recited by rote, telling Nakiri Erina the content the ramen master taught him when teaching him ramen last night.

However, these things, to Nakiri Erina, were merely noodle cuisine knowledge she had learned at Totsuki Academy during middle school.

"Golden ratio, I know this; some people also add eggs to replace part of the water; egg whites are rich in protein, strengthening the gluten network; egg yolks contain lecithin and fat, making the noodle texture smoother and color more golden and beautiful, but even with eggs added, I can confirm it wouldn't have noodles this chewy like yours."

"Uh, then I don't know; I just used those ingredients to make it."

Broly pointed at the ramen-making ingredients placed in the kitchen.

Nakiri Erina pondered for a moment, then said: "Then can you make noodles again right now for me to see?"

"Sure, but resting the dough and kneading both take time; re-making noodles would probably take over an hour."

"No problem, I can wait."

When Broly went to get the noodle-making materials, Hisako Arato only then asked the young girl: "Erina-sama, is your tongue alright?"

"It's fine; although this ramen smells bad, eating it doesn't have any bad taste.

On the contrary, the fat and protein of the pork bones, after boiling over high heat forming a scorched aroma, indeed have a unique flavor; paired with these incomparably chewy noodles, among the ramen I've eaten, this bowl can rank in the top ten.

Of course, if not for that smell before eating, perhaps the ranking could be even higher."

Nakiri Erina spoke, then slurped another mouthful of noodles, then picked up another chopstick of noodles, turned her head to ask the little secretary beside her.

"Hisako, do you want a taste?"

If this were someone else's invitation, Hisako Arato would definitely not even think, directly refusing.

But with it being her own Big Sister's invitation, Hisako Arato directly nodded indicating she wanted to taste.

This absolutely wasn't because she wanted to eat a bowl of noodles with Big Sister, realizing an indirect kiss kind of thing.

As Broly kneaded the dough, the Happiness Values of the two new capture targets on the Crystal Palace Panel kept jumping up continuously.

Especially Hisako Arato, jumping the fastest.

Broly turned his head to look, and saw Hisako Arato making a small motion of lightly sucking on the chopsticks with her mouth.

Letting him directly confirm this wasn't the credit of his tonkotsu ramen, but the credit of yuri.

As expected, people with this attribute, if they happen to both be capture targets, then when he farms Happiness Values, their Happiness Value increases can produce a one-plus-one-greater-than-two effect; Huangquan Sister and Tsuchimiya Kagura of the Food Spirit World are a very good example.

"First rest 30 minutes, then two more times of 10 minutes kneading and 10 minutes resting, total three kneads three rests; I see, I know the reason why this noodle is so chewy."

Nakiri Erina did not discover Hisako's small motion beside her; she watched Broly's ramen-making process, and after finishing watching had a conclusion.

"What reason?"

Broly was a bit bewildered; he belonged to the type who only knows how to operate, but understands the principles of why to operate this way only half-heartedly.

"Naturally it's your kneading technique; your kneading technique is not only fast but also forceful; this fast and forceful kneading technique bestows the ramen with superb chewiness."

Nakiri Erina finished speaking and exhaled a breath; this ramen technique was something she herself could not learn, only someone with enough strength could learn it.

Otherwise, it would probably be very difficult to achieve fast and forceful kneading like the person before her.

Tasting Broly's finished ramen again, perhaps because she just saw the whole ramen-making process, Nakiri Erina's mind inexplicably produced some strange associative images.

With every mouthful of ramen down, it was as if she herself turned into dough, being wantonly kneaded by a pair of large hands.

Nakiri Erina's face rapidly flushed red, her body also unconsciously twisting on the chair, strange humming sounds occasionally emitting from her nasal cavity.

Broly watched this scene, a bit baffled, used Qi to scan Nakiri Erina's body several times, but also didn't discover what was wrong with her.

Of course, Nakiri Erina's reaction, Broly was not unfamiliar with; it was the situation some of his wives would show when he caressed them.

Only, he didn't know why a bowl of noodles could make the young girl before him show a reaction similar to being caressed.

【There doesn't seem to be anything strange put inside the noodles either?!】

Broly couldn't figure it out no matter how he thought, "The exam is over, let me give my evaluation of your cooking."

Finished eating, Nakiri Erina wiped her mouth with a tissue, then prepared to enter the commentary phase.

Broly stood to the side, making an appearance of listening respectfully.

"First, the fried rice is not bad; the effect of frying with overnight rice is indeed better than yesterday's fried rice.

Second, the braised dishes are excellent; they actually have a feeling of letting me taste the flavor of childhood.

As for the tonkotsu ramen, the ramen itself can score high, but the Nagahama-style tonkotsu soup is not good.

Before eating, my evaluation was no good.

Even after eating, I can only give a mediocre evaluation."

If using the same ramen noodles, there are other pork bone soups that don't smell bad for me to choose from, I would

unhesitatingly choose the pork bone soup without stench.

Of course, Nagahama-style pork bone soup also has pros, that is the charred aroma boiled out by high heat in the soup, this is a taste other normal-tasting pork bone soups can hardly have.

Hmm, my advice is, fried rice can stay the same, braised dishes add some chrysanthemum as garnish to bring herbal fragrance, pork bone ramen had best optimize the pork bone soup's taste, especially that pig big-bone taste that smells not good.

If it can be eliminated, I can give your pork bone ramen a high score."

"Yes, Miss Nakiri, after returning I will think of ways to optimize the pork bone ramen's taste, thank you for the guidance."

"I look forward to it, hmm, if there are no other matters, I'll have Hisako send you off."

"Can I add Miss Nakiri your phone number?"

Broly took out the smartphone he just bought yesterday and asked.

"Hey, you this guy, want to add Erina-sama's phone number, could it be you want to have ill intentions toward Erina-sama?"

Nakiri Erina didn't speak, instead it was Arato Hisako who became vigilant, and she guessed right, however, Broly would never admit it.

"I just want after optimizing the pork bone soup, to be able to timely contact Miss Nakiri, let her help taste-test the optimized pork bone soup taste."

Broly found a suitable excuse to explain, paused, then added another sentence: "Of course, Miss Arato you can come too, if possible, I also want to add your phone number."

", me?"

"Right, at that time, you just drink soup and eat noodles together with Miss Nakiri, taste-test my pork bone ramen."

Hearing Broly's words, Arato Hisako swallowed saliva, her face couldn't help turning slightly red, as if thinking of some scenes that cannot be known by outsiders.

"Hisako, give him your phone number."

", Erina-sama?"

"Of course, if there's nothing else, best not come bother me."

Nakiri Erina tilted up her chin, just like a proud peacock spoke.

"If there's something call me first, don't go bother Erina-sama, understand?"

Arato Hisako sent Broly to Totsuki Academy's front door, on the road instructed him like this.

"Then if there's nothing, can I call Miss Arato you?"

Broly asked.

"Nothing you call over to do what?"

Arato Hisako frowned looking at him.

"Just when I'm a bit bored, I'll want to find someone to chat."

"Then you're really bored enough."

"So, can I?"

"That's naturally not allowed, when there's nothing don't contact me, otherwise I'll directly pull you into the blacklist."

Arato Hisako warned.

"Then let me ask, what counts as having something?"

"Matters related to cooking, those are called having something, matters unrelated to cooking, those are called having nothing, understand?"

"Understood, then if there's something, I'll contact you again."

"Front door I've sent you to, after school starts tomorrow, you properly study the academy map in the Totsuki Academy manual, don't at that time get lost again yourself."

"Got it, thank you, Miss Arato."

Arato Hisako nodded, turned around and returned into the academy.

"See you tomorrow, Miss Arato."

The girl didn't respond, Broly also didn't mind.

Found a place with no people, then flew back to Yukihira Diner.

In Yukihira Diner, the red-haired youth was researching grilled squid tentacles dark cuisine, suddenly heard a familiar sound ring out behind him.

"Soma, have you thought of how to optimize Hakata Ramen's taste?"

Turning back, saw Broly, the other party was looking at him with a serious expression.

", Broly-san, you this is from academy familiarization done returned, want to discuss optimizing Hakata Ramen matters with me?"

"Hmm, what you said this morning was right, Hakata Ramen's pork bone soup taste, indeed not so good to let people accept, I feel must optimize this taste a bit."

Hearing this, Yukihira Soma felt a wave of relief, he felt his guidance had played some effect.

【Broly-san during familiarizing with academy, perhaps was all thinking how to optimize Hakata Ramen soup's taste——

——】

Being interested in optimizing cooking this kind of thing, counts as half a foot stepped into cooking industry, there is nothing better than interest as a power source.

"Then great, let's research now."

"Wait, before I came back, you weren't researching?"

"Uh, I went to research grilled squid tentacles."

", grilled squid tentacles, what's there to research, this thing no matter how grilled, is delicious right?"

Broly doubtfully looked at him.

"Indeed, so, I'm researching how to grill it to make it more difficult to eat."

"You this is have what wool problem?"

"No wool problem, just attempting different species ingredients' pairing only, perhaps some at first glance paired together very difficult to eat dishes, after using some different cooking methods produced, can turn them delicious."

"Then you brush chocolate sauce grill squid tentacles, became delicious or not?"

"You want to try try?"

Looking at Yukihira Soma's eyes lighting up, and the ill-intentioned expression floating on his face, Broly decisively refused.

"That's truly a pity."

After being refused, Soma Yukihira sighed and didn't dare force-feed Broly dark cuisine.

After all, his sturdy physique was right there; he wasn't someone a relatively frail ordinary chef boy like him could forcefully coerce.

"The reason the flavor of Nagahama-style pork bone soup is so intense is mainly due to heat control; boiling the whole process over high heat causes the fishy smell to be cooked into the soup, but if simmered over low heat, the charred aroma of Nagahama-style pork bone soup would disappear————"

Broly and Soma Yukihira researched improvements to Nagahama-style pork bone soup together, but progress was somewhat unsatisfactory.

To maintain the charred aroma and returning sweetness of Nagahama-style pork bone soup would cause the soup itself to smell relatively strong and stinky, but if the heavier smell was removed, the charred aroma of Nagahama-style would decrease.

The two researched from afternoon to evening; soaking pig bones in running water, adding spices to mask the stench — every method they could think of was tried, yet they found no way to keep the essence and discard the dregs.

No matter how they attempted, charred aroma and no stench — a trade-off always had to be made.

"Soaking out the blood water from inside the pig bones with running water, using deodorizing spices to mask the bad taste, maintaining a rolling boil over high heat and skimming foam in time — although this could reduce that stench and retain a certain charred aroma, it still couldn't fully achieve the result of only charred aroma and no stench————"

Soma Yukihira racked his brains but couldn't find a solution.

"Ah, if only removing fishy stench and producing charred aroma could be handled separately."

Broly sighed, and before him were already placed over twenty empty ramen bowls eaten clean.

Broly sighed, and in front of him were already more than twenty empty ramen bowls.

"Handle them separately."

"Right, that's it!"

"No, can this be handled separately?"

"Of course not, but we can use another charred aroma to replace the charred aroma of Hakata ramen; hmm, first boil a pot of normal pork bone clear soup stock without fishy stench, then use high-quality pork belly slices to stir-fry and produce Maillard reaction, add these meat slices in————"

At 11 PM, a bowl of Nagahama-style pork bone ramen without pork bone stench but with sufficient charred aroma was produced.

After tasting, Broly and Soma Yukihira concluded this was the flavor they wanted, only it was still somewhat imperfect.

"Only charred aroma, insufficient returning sweetness; perhaps a bit of licorice should be added for seasoning."

"There is only charred aroma, insufficient aftertaste; perhaps a bit of licorice should be added for seasoning."

"Try again?"

Broly asked.

"It's too late today, still have to go to Totsuki Academy to participate in the enrollment ceremony tomorrow, try again later."

Soma Yukihira glanced at the wall clock and shook his head.

"Fine, you go sleep; I'll handle cleaning up here."

"Fine, then you go to sleep; I will clean up here."

"Of course, after all the main improvement work was still done by you."

"Then Broly-san, I'll leave cleaning up here to you."

After Soma Yukihira left and returned to his room, Broly in the kitchen summoned a water elemental.

Broly, who hadn't slept last night, handed the cleaning work to the water elemental and then also returned to his room to rest.

Lying on the bed before sleep, he took out his phone and sent a text message to Nakiri Erina and Hisako Arato: 【Hakata ramen smell problem improved】.

Before lying in bed to sleep, he took out his phone and sent Nakiri Erina and Hisako Arato a text message reading 【Nagahama-style Tonkotsu

Ramen Scent Issue Improved】.