A cup of fragrant floral tea.
Within the misty steam, a hazy memory always lingered.
Just then, Erina, who was sipping some jasmine tea, suddenly saw two figures.
One was a mature and steady older sister.
The other was an innocent and curious "little loli".
The "older sister" type was, naturally, Kobayashi Rindo, a regular at the Izakaya.
And the "little loli," holding a doll and with a pair of round eyes constantly looking around, was Akikubo Momo, the current Fourth Seat of the Totsuki Elite Ten at Totsuki Culinary Academy!
Seeing them, Erina, as their junior, quickly greeted them.
"Erina?"
"I really didn't expect it!"
"Tonight, you arrived at the Izakaya before me!"
Kobayashi Rindo, who had just entered the Izakaya, elegantly sat beside Erina.
Although her personality was always carefree, a sense of authority emanated from her entire being!
At the same time, Akikubo Momo kept her hands tightly clasped around her doll, her gaze somewhat critically appraising Erina. After a while, she nodded slightly, which served as her response!
Don't let her chatter like a little bird when talking to Kobayashi Rindo, making her seem especially outgoing and lively!
However, those who knew her understood that she was generally not very talkative in front of strangers or people she was not close with.
"Heh!"
"It's pouring rain!"
"Yet, that still couldn't stop your determination to come to the Izakaya, could it?"
Zhang Fan stood up slightly, then approached Kobayashi Rindo and chuckled softly.
"Zhang's Restaurant."
"There's no need for pleasantries, is there?"
"Let me introduce you, this is my classmate, and also the current Fourth Seat of the Elite Ten, Akikubo Momo!"
"Her specialty is desserts. Don't let her petite figure and frail appearance fool you; even I sometimes fear her culinary skills!"
Kobayashi Rindo directly introduced Akikubo Momo to Zhang Fan.
"Hmm?"
Zhang Fan was stunned for a moment!
Then, he finally focused his gaze on Akikubo Momo.
Perhaps it was because she was shorter and not very lively, so Zhang Fan hadn't really noticed her at first!
But after a careful look, he noticed that this "little loli" had two large, emerald-green eyes that darted around, indicating she was a shy and timid girl!
At the same time, the moment she saw Zhang Fan, Akikubo Momo's gaze never left him; she just kept staring at him!
Hmm!
How should he put it?
Indeed, as Kobayashi Rindo said, he was quite handsome!
But as for his abilities, Akikubo Momo was definitely skeptical. After all, from the name "Zhang Fan," he should be Chinese, right?
Although Chinese cuisine was world-renowned, absolutely number one in the entire culinary world!
But!
A Chinese person.
Could he understand French desserts?
Could he make a Souffle dessert that, when freshly baked, would delay its internal collapse?
On these points, Akikubo Momo couldn't help but ponder deeply!
"Zhang's Restaurant!"
"The main reason we came to the Izakaya this time is to ask you to make a Souffle dessert. I wonder… can you make it now?"
Then, seeing the two of them appraising each other but remaining indifferent, Kobayashi Rindo had no choice but to interject.
"Souffle?"
"This is an Izakaya, not a dessert shop!"
"And on such a late night, instead of having some snacks to go with drinks or something to warm yourselves up, you want to eat dessert?"
Upon hearing that Kobayashi Rindo actually wanted him to make a Souffle dessert, Zhang Fan, who had just withdrawn his gaze, immediately felt embarrassed!
But then, he remembered that Akikubo Momo's specialty was desserts, so he vaguely understood something.
"Oh, come on!"
"I beg you!"
"I know your Izakaya also has an unwritten rule."
"That is, as long as there are ready ingredients, or if you can make it, you can prepare the dish according to the diner's request!"
"So, you see, can you…?"
She knew how absurd it was to order a dessert at an Izakaya.
But words spoken are like water poured out; it's hard to take them back. To avoid losing face in front of Akikubo Momo, Kobayashi Rindo had to put her pride aside!
"Alright!"
"Who told you to be the customers?"
"Besides, Souffle dessert isn't that difficult to make!"
Anyway, there wasn't much business tonight, and he couldn't close early for a while, so he might as well go along with Kobayashi Rindo's wishes and make a Souffle dessert.
So, Zhang Fan, having made up his mind, rolled up his sleeves again, ready to turn back to the cooking station.
"This."
"Actually, we have one more request."
"That is, the Souffle dessert you make must remain perfectly intact internally for one minute after coming out of the oven, without collapsing!"
Seeing that Zhang Fan was actually about to prepare it, the anxious Akikubo Momo quickly stepped forward and spoke.
"Huh?"
"Isn't that asking the impossible?"
Beside them, Erina almost spat out her floral tea upon hearing such an excessive request!
It was well known that Souffle earned its worldwide reputation for its airy lightness, and it was poetically described as a veil-like foam cloud.
The reason for this was that the water vapor evaporating from the batter foam during baking increased internal pressure and further expanded the air bubbles.
So, in summary, the combined action of air and water vapor created the cloud-like lightness of Souffle.
However, unlike most breads, Souffle could not rely on starch and gluten proteins to strengthen its structure; instead, it relied more on the air pressure within the bubbles.
Therefore.
As soon as the air bubbles were cut open,
the gas inside would quickly escape, causing it to collapse.
It could even collapse very quickly without being cut open.
Of course, this "contradictory" complex was both the charm of Souffle and the greatest challenge of the entire dessert!
"Hiss!"
"As expected of the Totsuki Elite Ten."
"Right from the start, she gives me a difficult problem!"
Hearing Akikubo Momo's request, Zhang Fan, who was about to start cooking, suddenly froze.
"No… is it not possible?"
"Thinking about it, it's true. After all, to have a flowing airy texture yet be able to withstand air pressure without rapidly collapsing, that in itself is a very contradictory idea."
Seeing Zhang Fan's troubled expression, Akikubo Momo couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment.
"It is a bit difficult."
"But I can still make this kind of Souffle!"
Zhang Fan thought for a moment, then said faintly.
"Ah?"
"Really?"
Akikubo Momo's eyes lit up upon hearing this!
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