Chapter 55

The taciturn shop owner began to cook.

However, Isaac's expectations were greatly disappointed. It seemed that the dish had already been prepared, and he was now reheating it in a slightly smaller pot.

As the pot was placed on the fire, a sweet aroma began to rise, accompanied by a bubbling sound.

It smelled like well-cooked beans, but it was different.

"Shinobu, what is that dish?"

"Yes, it's beef tendon baked in a mound."

"Beef tendon baked in a mound, huh. Hmm."

It was a name he had never heard before.

The meat rolling in the pot seemed to be beef, but it wasn't a part that was usually eaten. It was probably the tendon, a part that rarely appeared on the dinner table.

If it wasn't cooked very carefully, it would be too tough to eat.

"What are you cooking with the beef tendon... and what else?"

"It's konjac."

"Konjac...?"

Another unfamiliar name came up.

He was quite knowledgeable about the cuisine of the Empire, the Eastern Kingdom, and the three northern territories, but he couldn't think of any ingredient that matched this description.

It looked soft, almost like an organ.

Organs are difficult to keep fresh, so they don't circulate much, and often have unique local names. Even familiar parts might be called something unexpected, making them hard to recognize.

This dish, using beef tendons and organs, was probably born out of poverty.

Still, this aroma!

As the pot heated up, the tickling scent grew stronger.

The sweet, rich fragrance, along with the bubbling sound of the pot, hit his stomach directly. Despite having just eaten tempura, he felt a strange illusion of hunger.

"Here you go, I kept you waiting!"

Chopped green onions were sprinkled on top.

The beef tendon baked in a mound, served in a small plate, was a dish of meat and konjac in a light brown, rich sauce.

Up close, the meat was indeed tendon.

He knew of dishes where tough parts of meat were cooked or grilled to enjoy their chewiness, all of which emphasized the natural flavor of the meat.

However, the aroma was what caught his attention.

The rich, sweet scent was intense.

Would it overpower the meat's natural flavor?

While worrying about this, Isaac took his first bite.

It was soft!

He had imagined the tendon would be tough, but it was surprisingly tender.

Yet, the meat's flavor was not lost. The seasoning, which was more like a sauce, went very well with the meat.

And the konjac.

It was just squishy, but the texture was interesting.

When eaten with the meat, it became irresistibly fascinating.

"When it gets cold, I crave baked mounds."

Shinobu poured him a small earthenware cup, not the usual lager mug. The clear, transparent liquid emitted a fragrant aroma.

The cup was slightly warm to the touch.

When he took a sip, his mouth was washed with a refreshing, delicious taste.

"It goes well with hot sake, doesn't it?"

"Hot sake, you mean this drink?"

He was also told the brand, but he had never heard of Aizu Homare or Iide. The names had a mysterious, foreign ring to them.

Eating the baked mound and drinking the hot sake, happiness spread from the bottom of his stomach.

"Tell me, this meat is beef tendon, right? How do you make it so tender?"

The answer came not from Shinobu but from the shop owner in the kitchen.

"At our place, we cook it for three days."

Three days.

The words made him feel dizzy.

This was a tavern, not a royal kitchen. The owner was a tavern keeper, not a royal chef.

Yet, three days.

Isaac was speechless at the intensity of the dedication to a single dish.

It wasn't just time. The cost of firewood and charcoal was also significant.

Still, this was the taste.

To achieve this taste, the owner cooked the meat.

No one could mock this.

Indeed, such a delicious dish had been created.

"Truly, I am impressed. To be honest, I thought I could steal the recipe, but it seems it's not that easy."

"Baked mounds require a lot of preparation. After boiling the meat for three days to make it tender, we cook it to infuse the flavor and let it rest overnight."

"That's quite a process. Adjusting the flavor must be challenging."

"We have an excellent taster at our shop."

The owner looked at Shinobu, who stuck out her tongue with a happy smile.

This was a warm, inviting atmosphere. He wanted to make this place his regular haunt.

"Conversely, I still don't understand the cuisine of the ancient capital."

"In that case, I'll introduce you to a few places that serve lunch. Visiting them during the day might be a good way to learn."

"That would be very helpful."

At this time of year, the inns and taverns of the ancient capital were busy developing new dishes for the grand market. Experiencing this atmosphere would only benefit his shop, not harm it.

After the owner told him the names and locations of the recommended places, Isaac remembered one more thing he had to do.

"By the way, Shinobu, I have a request."

"W-What is it?"

Shinobu became serious, perhaps intimidated by Isaac's serious face.

"Another serving of beef tendon baked in a mound, please. If possible, a large portion. And some hot sake, too."

"Sure!"

What kind of poem would Alnu read after eating this dish?

For some reason, eating the beef tendon baked in a mound made him want to hear that bad poem.