Within France.
A small town below Mont Blanc, the main peak of the Alps.
Here, in winter, it is the best place to admire the snow scenery, but now it is summer, and there is no snow scenery on the high mountains.
But even so, a five-star hotel in the town named "Chamonix Mont Blanc" is still doing a booming business, with a particularly large flow of people.
From the outside, the hotel is a building with golden turrets, resembling a classical castle.
At the base of the four sides of the front, there are the twelve zodiac signs made of bronze, symbolizing loyal guards protecting the king, ready to resist invading enemies at any time.
Walking in, one can see that the entire spacious lobby is magnificent.
The exquisite chandeliers make guests who have just entered the hotel feel as if they are in a palace.
At the same time, the dark decor, wooden high stools, various delicate tableware, and listening to music, intoxicating with love.
Romance, charm, elegance...
Everything you can think of that represents France is embodied here to the fullest.
At this moment, when a freshly made onion soup was served to a noble diner, he couldn't help but be stunned and said, "Is this onion soup? Have you changed Chefs here?"
"Yes, esteemed guest, our hotel has recently welcomed a world-class Chef."
"Oh?"
"A world-class Chef?"
Immediately, the diner could not hide his curiosity, quickly picked up a spoon, scooped a small mouthful of onion soup, and savored it!
Unexpectedly, as soon as it entered his mouth, he showed a look of utter shock.
"The flavor of the soup depends on the caramelization."
"Before adding bread to this onion soup, there is only soup and onion."
"Therefore, only by making the soup base delicious can this dish be successful."
"Hmm, let me think, oh oh, it turns out that after the onions start to soften, a little salt and sugar are sprinkled, and then the heat is turned up to elevate the soup to another level."
"And sugar helps with the caramelization process, which is why it needs to be stirred constantly until the onions turn this beautiful golden-brown."
"Jōichirō?"
"Could this be Joichiro Saiba's dish?"
"He must have returned, the Chef I've been longing for has finally returned."
"Wuwuwu... I really didn't expect that at my age, I could still experience Jōichirō's cooking again. My life is truly without regrets!"
The diner's excessive reaction immediately caused a sensation.
After all, who among those present had not heard of Joichiro Saiba's reputation?
And many diners had also tasted his dishes before, so they all followed suit, getting excited and cheering.
...
At the same time, in the hotel's back kitchen.
Joichiro Saiba, who had just been appointed Chef, was busy.
He was seen using a knife to chop raw beef, then adding lemon juice, olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, chili peppers, salt, and pepper to the meat for seasoning.
Mixing the ingredients evenly, placing a round mold on the plate, and putting the mixed ingredients into the mold.
In the middle of the meat patty, he dug a hole and placed an egg yolk, finally placing chopped parsley, chopped onions, and capers soaked in vinegar next to the meat patty.
As well as chopped pickled cucumbers, ketchup, mustard, and his own specially formulated Worcestershire sauce.
After all the ingredients were prepared.
The next step was mixing.
Paired with freshly fried French fries, a authentic French beef tartare was completed!
"As expected of Senior Jōichirō, he can make raw beef so amazing, it's truly admirable." A Chef next to him looked down at the beef tartare a few times and couldn't help but exclaim.
"Where is Jōichirō?"
"Quick, have him make me a curry chicken cutlet rice."
Suddenly, a monk from India directly pushed open the door and entered the kitchen.
He was skinny and dark-skinned, but his eyes, full of vicissitudes, were filled with greed.
When he saw Jōichirō in a clean white Chef's uniform over there, he was stunned, then overjoyed, wishing he could fly to him like a little bird.
"Master Alba, this is a restricted area of the kitchen. Please do not enter without a special invitation."
Seeing him about to approach Jōichirō, the kitchen staff stopped him.
"Master! Please calm down!"
"You are one of the world's renowned leaders in environment and development."
"You once publicly promised to be a vegetarian for life and protect the ecological environment through your own actions. Yet, you... you are now going to eat curry chicken cutlet rice?"
Another monk, who followed closely behind, also hurriedly pulled Alba back and advised him.
"I don't care."
"I've practiced asceticism for so many years, can't I enjoy myself a little?"
"Now Jōichirō is here at this hotel, right in front of me, and if I can't taste the curry chicken cutlet rice he made, wouldn't I regret it for the rest of my life? Wouldn't I die with unfulfilled wishes?"
"No, absolutely not, I absolutely don't want that."
"What protecting the environment, what animals are spiritual, all go to hell."
The Alba monk, seeing himself being stopped by so many people, immediately became more anxious and actually shouted loudly in public, regardless of his image.
...
If a person gives up all enjoyment.
And then is willing to persevere and embrace all hardships, then he is moving towards being a saint.
However, unfortunately, in this society full of greed, there is no need for saints at all, only capitalists, farmers, scientists, engineers...
But in India, ascetics are the most respected.
Their appearance often gives a kind of encouragement and perseverance to a large number of ordinary people, and their actions can even be called "saints."
For example:
This Master Alba once traveled many places on foot.
He had been to China, to Japan, to Southeast Asia, and even to Europe...
On such a long journey, he always had only one bag filled with dry food, carried no money, and when tired, he would simply find a place to sleep.
With the sky as his blanket and the earth as his bed, when hungry, he would ask kind-hearted people for alms, and he was never picky about food, only asking for a bowl of water and a piece of bread to fill his stomach before continuing on his journey.
All worldly pleasures held little meaning for him.
Others might not understand his actions, perhaps all his actions were for the most sincere belief in his heart?
But it was precisely because of this purity that Alba was able to complete his "pilgrimage" with difficulty, despite most people not being optimistic.
Finally, due to the continuous spread of information, he gradually became known to the world and gradually gained the admiration of many people!
However, who would have thought?
Such an ascetic worthy of praise and commendation.
Was ultimately conquered by Joichiro Saiba's curry chicken cutlet rice. (End of Chapter)
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