Chapter 2-3 : Scrap Iron (part 2)
First, I soaked the leafy vegetables in water and added a bit of salt to remove the bitterness. After that, I peeled the root vegetables and cut them into bite-sized pieces.
There are no gas stoves in this world, so adjusting the fire is kinda difficult. That’s why I cut the ingredients into small pieces so that they can be heated evenly.
Next, it’s time to cut this onion-like vegetable into pieces.
「Ohh! It doesn’t burn my eyes!」(Kako)
Seems like onions in this world don’t have some kind of acid that can irritate your eyes like the ones on Earth.
Next, I peeled the edamame-like vegetable.
「Wow, it’s really big!」(Kako)
Just like the outside pods, the beans inside are three times the size of the edamame beans grow in Japan.
After collecting the beans from the pods, I put them into the pot together with the leafy vegetables.
As for the meat, I cut it into small pieces and then sprinkled it with the salt I bought in Tranto Town and the special herb powder I made by synthesizing several herbs I found in the forest.
After that, I boiled water in a pot and put the root vegetables and the onion-like vegetable I had cut into pieces into the boiling water and sprinkled some herb powder and salt in it for flavor.
After the root vegetables were soft enough to pierce with a chopstick, I added the meat, the beans, and the leafy vegetables.
After a while, there would be scum on the surface of the water, so I carefully removed it as I checked the meat.
When the meat looked cooked enough, I took a spoon and tasted the broth.
「Hmm~ It has a really strong consomme-like taste! Delicious!」(Kako)
The broth tasted very good perhaps thanks to my special herb power and the high-quality onion-like vegetable I made with my Synthesis Skill.
「It’s done! I will call it the otherworldly style pot-au-feu!」(Kako)
After I finished the dish, I prepared a wooden tray and put the pot on it along with two bowls, spoons, and forks, and then I took them to the dining hall where Nyat was waiting.
「Nyahoo! I’ve been waiting-nya! The smell makes my stomach growl even harder-nya!」(Nyat)
Nyat raised his paws as soon as he saw me approaching while carrying the tray with the pot.
「Here’s your order, Sir. I hope you enjoy it~」(Kako)
I put the tray on the table and filled Nyat’s bowl with the pot-au-feu.
「Bon Nyappetit!」(Nyat)
The first piece he put in his mouth was of course, the meat.
「Mmmm~~~!! It’s super delicious-nya!!」(Nyat)
He started swinging his tail, meaning that he was really enjoying it.
「Kako, you’re the best chef I’ve ever known-nya! This is even better than the food I got from the shopping district-nya!」(Nyat)
「Shopping district?」(Kako)
「Aa… Nevermind-nya. Anyway, I’m very happy with this food-nya! The fatigue from carrying you all the way from Tronto disappears in an instant-nya!」(Nyat)
「Hehe~ I’m glad you really like it, but don’t forget to eat the vegetables too, okay?」(Kako)
「Of course-nya!」(Nyat)
Being praised is not a bad feeling at all. I’m glad I learned how to cook from my mom.
Alright, it’s time for me to taste it~
I filled my bowl and tried the vegetables first.
「Mmm~ This is perfect!」(Kako)
The carrot-like root vegetable was so soft that it melted in my mouth.
The edamame-like one was also a perfect substitute for potatoes.
Finally, the leafy vegetables were soft and very tasty because it absorbed the flavor of the soup, making the pleasant savory taste spread in my mouth every time I chew it.
After that, I put my first piece of the meat into my mouth.
「Ngghhhh~ My lord!」(Kako)
The deliciousness of the meat was brutally good!
Because I cut the meat into small pieces, it was very easy for me to bite. It was so tender and rich in flavor.
Using my Synthesis Skill to improve the quality of the ingredients seems to be the best idea ever!
「I want more-nya!」(Nyat)
I hadn’t even finished one-quarter of my pot-au-feu, but Nyat already held his empty bowl forward, asking me to refill it.
「Alright, but you should eat slowly. I thought cats’ tongues were sensitive to temperature.」(Kako)
「I’m not a cat-nya!」(Nyat)
「Right.」(Kako)
As soon as I filled his bowl, he started eating quickly again.
I told him to eat slowly, but… Oh, well…
「Whoa… Look at that.」
「Hm? What is that dish?」
「I don’t know but it smells so good.」(people)
The other guests and the villagers who came to eat were looking at us.
No. To be exact, they were looking at the pot-au-feu in the pot on our table.
「It looks delicious! Landlady, I want the same dish as them, please!」
「Me too!」
「I want two servings of that, please!」
「I want three!」(people)
After one of them ordered the same dish, the other people started ordering it too. However…
「I’m sorry, but I can’t prepare you that dish.」(Landlady)
The Landlady refused.
It seems that pot-au-feu or dishes similar to it still don’t exist in this world.
After all, the most common dish in this world is soup with lots of broth, and my pot-au-feu has only a small amount of broth.
「Huh? Why can’t?」
「Come on, Landlady!」(people)
The people looked very disappointed when the landlady refused their order.
Seems like they really want to try it…
「That young lady borrowed my kitchen and made it herself. I don’t know how to make it.」(Landlady)
「I see…」
「So she made it herself, huh?」
「That’s too bad…」(people)
After that, they turned their gaze at me all at once.
I have a bad feeling about this…
「Say, Ojou-chan, can you make me that dish? Of course, I will pay you.」(guest)
「Uhh… I’m sorry, but I just got to this village and I’m very tired today, so…」(Kako)
To be honest, I’m not that tired since I rode on Nyat’s back, but I want to start experimenting with the weapons and scrap iron I got today as soon as possible.
「I see… If that’s the case, may I try a little of that gorgeous dish if you don’t mind?」(guest)
「Yeah, of coー」(Kako)
「ーSHAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!」(Nyat)
「ーHiiiiiiiyy!!」(guest)
Before I could even answer him, Nyat hissed and glared menacingly at him like a wild cat as if saying, “Don’t you dare touch my food!”
「N-Nevermind! I guess I’ll just order soup… Landlady, can I have the soup like yesterday, please?」(guest)
「Landlady, I’ll also have the usual, please…」
「Me too…」
「Yeah, me too…」(people)
After seeing Nyat’s scary face, the other people stepped away from us and started ordering other menus with disappointed expressions on their faces.
「Geez. You guys make it look like my food is no better than that young lady’s.」(Landlady)
The landlady sighed and entered the kitchen.
I kinda feel bad for her. Perhaps I will tell her the recipe later as thanks for lending me the kitchen.
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