Chapter 55

Since it's a seasonal ingredient.

Well, I received bamboo shoots from my parents' house, and I felt like eating them...

※The importance of freshness for sashimi is based on the author's experience of growing up in a landlocked prefecture and then moving to a coastal prefecture where they could finally enjoy sashimi.

※From the author's experience, bamboo shoots become more bitter if boiled after a long time has passed.

※This is based on personal experience, so different people may feel differently. Please keep that in mind.

※Also, I'm not saying that dried fish, smoked fish, or katsuobushi are bad. Please don't misunderstand.

"Ah, wait a moment."

"Huh?"

Yuri, who had just finished her daily shopping, was beaming with joy after getting the item she had been hoping for—deep-fried tofu. The small shop in the corner of the market, run by an old lady as a hobby in her retirement, sometimes sold unusual items. Among the items that were not commonly available, there were sometimes familiar ingredients for Japanese cuisine that Yuri knew well.

Today, she had finally managed to buy the deep-fried tofu she had reserved earlier. With this, she could make miso soup with wakame and deep-fried tofu. Plus, it would add more flavor to the broth when cooking leafy vegetables.

"Do you know about some of the rarer ingredients? Do you know this one?"

"Bamboo shoots!"

"Ah, I see you do know it."

In the bowl of water the old lady brought from the back, there was a white object. It was bamboo shoots that had already been boiled, de-bittered, and peeled, ready for cooking. Of course, Yuri knew about bamboo shoots and liked them.

Bamboo shoots start to develop bitterness the moment they are dug up. If they are not boiled and de-bittered immediately after digging, they become extremely bitter. Often, you can find freshly dug bamboo shoots with the skin still on in supermarkets, but even if you boil them at home with rice bran, they will already be bitter by the time you get them home. To be honest, in terms of freshness, they are already past their prime.

Think of it like sashimi. Freshness is key. The freshest sashimi is the one that the fishermen eat right after catching it. Similarly, the freshness of bamboo shoots is crucial before boiling. Just like how tuna can become overcooked and less delicious over time, fresh fish must be killed and prepared properly. For this reason, it's best to boil bamboo shoots immediately after digging them up.

The bamboo shoots that Yuri was looking at today were:

—Boiled bamboo shoots.

Freshly dug this morning and immediately boiled.

Excellent in both aroma and flavor. The bitterness has been completely removed.

The root part is also packed with umami and is highly recommended.

As always, the description was a bit exaggerated. However, this might be due to Yuri's skill or the playful nature of the [God's Eye], so it shouldn't be taken too seriously. For Yuri, such exaggerated descriptions were a common occurrence, and she had come to accept them as part of the process.

The fact that others couldn't see her appraisal results was a great relief to both Yuri and other appraisers (specifically, the guardian representative, Ali).

"Old lady, where did you get these bamboo shoots?"

"A friend picked them in the mountains. They gave them to me after boiling them, but they couldn't eat them all. If you want, you can take them home."

"Is that okay? Oh, the money—"

Yuri, who had instinctively taken the bowl, hurried to get her wallet, but her hand was gently stopped by the old lady. She smiled warmly at the bewildered Yuri. The wrinkles around her eyes crinkled in a very gentle smile.

...Quietly, the old lady was strong and would hit customers she didn't like with a broom, but Yuri was very much in her good graces, so she had never seen her angry face.

"No need. It's a thank you for always accompanying an old lady in her hobbies. If you like, bring some delicious sweets next time."

"Got it. I'll make something."

Yuri had become accustomed to receiving such gifts, so she smiled and replied. She carefully placed the bamboo shoots in her magic bag without spilling any water. She was elated to have gotten such a great catch. As she left the market, her back view was very, very happy.

After returning to the hideout, Yuri put away the ingredients she had bought and started preparing. She wanted to do the preliminary cooking of the bamboo shoots she received from the old lady right away.

The bamboo shoots she received from the old lady were a few in a bowl. There were some large ones, but they were not quite enough to be used as a side dish. After all, all the members were gathered today. The "Scarlet Lynx" had 20 members plus Yuri, making a total of 21 people. However, it was extremely rare for all of them to be present. Usually, someone was on a trip. After all, they were treasure hunters.

So, Yuri decided to use the bamboo shoots to make bamboo shoot rice. She had just gotten the deep-fried tofu, so it would work well. Even if the amount wasn't enough for a side dish, it would be fine when mixed with rice. Plus, the biggest reason might have been that she really wanted to eat bamboo shoot rice. With deep-fried tofu in one hand and bamboo shoots in the other, there was no other choice but to make bamboo shoot rice, at least for Yuri.

"Yuri, what are you making?"

"Ah, Cule, welcome back."

"Hey. Just got back. What's that?"

"Bamboo shoots."

"Wow. It's rare to find bamboo shoots. They're not very common, right?"

"Huh? You know about bamboo shoots? The old lady said they're not very well-known."

"I grew up in the mountains."

"I see."

Yuri nodded at Cule's grin. Today, Cule was off except for delivering a request to the guild, so he was excitedly peeking into the kitchen from the counter. His expression was full of anticipation, just like the junior apprentices. ...In reality, he was an 18-year-old adult, but his attitude was no different from the kids.

...If he kept quiet, Cule had a rather handsome appearance. If he stood there with a serious face, he would probably be the type of handsome guy that girls would look up to. However, once he opened his mouth, he was just a regular teenager, and his overall aura was such that no one found him attractive or thought he was handsome. Yuri, too, hadn't noticed that Cule had a handsome face.

"So, what are you going to do with that?"

"I was thinking of making bamboo shoot rice. There are a lot of people today, so this won't be enough, right?"

"Yeah, if you're using it as a side dish, it won't be enough."

Cule nodded seriously. Even if there were half the number of people, it probably wouldn't be enough. The clan members were big eaters. As adventurers, their bodies were their capital. Who would believe they were light eaters?

While talking with Cule, Yuri started chopping the bamboo shoots into small pieces. Smaller than bite-sized, so they wouldn't be too noticeable when mixed with rice. She kept chopping, and Cule was impressed by her knife skills. Today, her cooking skill was working as usual.

She tossed the chopped bamboo shoots into a deep frying pan, where kelp broth was already prepared. She brought the broth to a boil with the bamboo shoots, then added a little salt and soy sauce to adjust the flavor. However, she didn't make it too salty. The idea was to cook the bamboo shoots in a light, clear broth, similar to a clear soup, on low heat. That's it.

"So, why are you cooking the bamboo shoots first?"

"Because bamboo shoots don't have any flavor."

"Right."

"Unflavored bamboo shoots won't absorb any flavor if you cook them with rice."

"Really?"

Technically, they might absorb some flavor, but they wouldn't absorb enough soy sauce to make a difference. At least, that was Yuri's experience. The way her mother taught her to make delicious bamboo shoot rice was to cook the bamboo shoots first. If you chop and cook the bamboo shoots and then freeze them in small portions, you can easily make bamboo shoot rice whenever you want. It's convenient.

The bamboo shoots were cooked on low heat until the broth was almost gone. While waiting, Yuri did the laundry, cleaned, and did mending with the apprentices, making it a very productive day. This was her usual routine.

She turned off the heat just before the broth was gone and let the bamboo shoots cool naturally. As they cooled, the flavor would seep in even more, which is a common practice for simmered dishes. While preparing other side dishes, Yuri smiled in satisfaction at the well-flavored bamboo shoots. She finished washing the rice a little earlier than usual and added sake, soy sauce, salt, and kelp to the rice. Since she didn't have granulated broth, she used kelp as a substitute.

She mixed everything and checked the flavor, then added the bamboo shoots and chopped deep-fried tofu. She checked the contents of the rice cooker, which were now covered in bamboo shoots, and closed the lid. All that was left was to wait for the rice to cook. She returned to the kitchen to finish the main dish.

...When she returned, more members had gathered at the kitchen counter, sensing the unusual food.

"...What are you all doing?"

"Huh? I've been here the whole time."

"Ah, Yuri, don't mind them!"

"I can wait! I promise!"

Besides Cule, who had been there from the start, and Camille, who was in charge of meals, there were also Rere, Yak, Mag, and Urgus. Even Tifanna and Jake were there, drinking tea and smiling. Yuri was puzzled. They had gathered in the dining room, unable to resist the delicious smell coming from the rice cooker.

Cooked rice, with its added seasonings, fills the air with a delicious aroma. The smell of soy sauce from the rice cooker was making everyone eager.

"...Hey, Camille."

"Hmm?"

"Is it going to be a big fuss if the rice is ready and we don't start preparing dinner right away?"

"Probably."

"...Oh no. I'll hurry!"

"Right!"

If they didn't start preparing dinner when the rice was ready, they would be in trouble. They hurried to make the side dishes. With so many people, it was already a challenge, and more kept coming. It was clearly Yuri's fault for deciding to make bamboo shoot rice. She had only herself to blame.

As soon as the rice cooker announced that the rice was ready, everyone's attention turned to it. ...In a world where bread was the main staple, the concept of cooked rice was rare, so it was also a novelty. The smell of the freshly cooked bamboo shoot rice spread with each stir, and the anticipation was palpable.

The dinner, consisting of grilled fish, miso soup, stir-fried vegetables, and simmered dishes, was a purely Japanese meal. The arrival of the bamboo shoot rice seemed to boost everyone's enthusiasm. They all said "Itadakimasu" in unison (somehow, everyone had gathered, which was a bit scary) and reached for the bamboo shoot rice first.

And then.

"The flavored rice is so delicious!"

"Wow! These bamboo shoots are amazing!"

"...Delicious."

"Yuri! It's so good!"

"Sure, sure, there's more, so don't fight and eat quietly. You'll get in trouble with Ali if you make a fuss."

Rere and Cule shouted while holding their bowls, Mag quietly ate after a brief comment, and Yak pounded the table in excitement next to Yuri. While calming the noisy group, Yuri also enjoyed the freshly cooked, delicious bamboo shoot rice.

The rice was seasoned with soy sauce but not too strongly, so it could be eaten with side dishes. However, the bamboo shoots, which had absorbed the flavor, and the deep-fried tofu, which had soaked up the broth, added a nice touch.

While carrots might be a common addition, in the Kugimiya household, the only ingredients were bamboo shoots and deep-fried tofu, with the bamboo shoots densely packed. It was a luxury made possible by receiving bamboo shoots from family. Bamboo shoots are actually quite expensive.

"...So, where did you get the bamboo shoots?"

"From the old lady at the shop in the corner of the market."

"......You got something from that old lady?"

"The old lady is very kind."

"......I see."

Sighing as if to say "You got a big catch," Ali looked at Yuri, who was completely puzzled and continued eating, tilting her head in confusion. Everyone felt the same way, but Yuri had no idea why.

...Maybe this guy has some mysterious aura that takes away people's hostility, the group wondered.

Personally, I've only eaten bamboo shoots from my parents' house, so I don't know the taste of supermarket ones.

But I've heard that they are more bitter compared to freshly dug and boiled bamboo shoots from my home.

Bamboo shoots are also delicious in tempura, miso stew, and筑前煮, and they are great with spinach and pasta!

I look forward to your comments and feedback.