A mid-level (middle-aged) office worker's laid-back industrial revolution in another world - Chapter 145

Translator: Jasper Kadowaki | Editor: NovelMultiverse

“Now, were you able to tell the difference between the soups?” Takeo asked everyone.

“Hmm, yes. It really changes that much based on the dashi?” asked Grandpa Elvis.

“They were both delicious, but since they were so different, it was fun trying them both,” said Alice.

“I also have only ever had soup made from bouillon, so I enjoyed trying something new,” said Smith.

“It’s much cheaper than bouillon, but it packs that much flavor,” said Frederick, “I felt like I was discovering a new depth to cooking.”

The soup seemed to have gotten good reviews from all four people, as well.

Takeo smirked and said, “Elvis-san… Could you really tell the difference?”

“Hmm… I know that it tastes good, you know?”

“Ah, and that’s good enough,” said Takeo, “But let me add some general comments to add to what you already know.”

“Yes,” said both Alice and Smith.

“There are a few tastes in existence, but which ones do you know?” asked Takeo.

“Uhh… Sweetness, right?” said Alice, while thinking it through.

“Would spiciness be one?” asked Smith.

“Anything else?” asked Takeo.

Everyone was deep in thought, but no one could come up with an answer.

“Sweetness, sourness, bitterness, spiciness, dryness, stimulation, and tastelessness… Well, anyway, there are a lot, but if we were to speak broadly, we could categorize taste into sweetness, sourness, saltiness, and bitterness.”

“I see,” said Grandpa Elvis, nodding with Frederick.

“Well then, which tastes did today’s soup have?” asked Takeo.

“…Is it saltiness?” asked Smith.

“Well, then, let’s try making it,” said Takeo.

Takeo already had a soup dish and water prepared in the parlor for some reason, and he made some saltwater.

“…Why have you prepared this?” asked Alice, exasperated.

Takeo laughed and said, “When you were all headed to the dining room, I had it prepared for an explanation.”

He smirked and gave some of the saltwater to Smith.

“It’s salty,” said Smith.

“Yes, you’re right,” said Takeo, “Now, Master Smith – this is saltiness, but… is it the same as the soup from before?”

“It’s completely different!” said Smith.

“That’s right. The dashi that I served today had a flavor profile that, at first, was only present in the country I came from.”

“Hmm? What do you mean?” asked Grandpa Elvis.

“It’s simple,” said Takeo, “Other countries used the four flavors I mentioned before as the foundational tastes to use together, so they didn’t consider one other flavor.”[Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com]

“Hm? Well the flavor actually existed in other countries, though, right?” asked Grandpa Elvis.

“Apparently, it did exist there, but the chefs and the kings did not acknowledge it as a foundational flavor.”

“…That’s strange.”

“If you have the belief that your way of thinking is the most correct way, you’re bound to quash any other opinions that come along, afterward.”

“Was that not the case where you lived, Takeo?”

“No, it wasn’t, really. Where I came from, we had a culture of making dashi from small fish and shiitake mushrooms, you see? There is a flavor that is not including in the four we just talked about, but it is an important flavor that we all eat and sense.”

“I see,” said Grandpa Elvis.

“Now, this flavor is called ‘deliciousness’ (umami).”

“What is that? What kind of a name is that??” asked Alice.

“What? Is something wrong??”

“Couldn’t they have come up with a better name than that?”

“I think it’s an apt name, don’t you? It’s not saltiness, or sourness, or sweetness, but it tastes good. So, it’s ‘deliciousness’.”

“…When you put it that way… You’re right.”

“This deliciousness is present in meat stock, too. If you put salt on freshly cooked meat, it tastes good, doesn’t it? Meat and salt taste good by themselves, but when cooking it with the deliciousness, the flavors become that much better.

“I see.”

All four people nodded in agreement.

“My country has a long history of loving delicious food,” said Takeo, laughing softly.

“That sounds like a great culture,” said Grandpa Elvis, “Does it seem like we’ll be able to use that dashi again, after today?”

“Yes. It’s cheap to make, and so more money can be spent on other ingredients,” said Frederick.

“Now, how was the Chawamushi?” asked Takeo.

“It had a texture that I had never experienced before,” said Grandpa Elvis, “It was similar to pudding, indeed.”

“It was good,” said Alice.

“The whole meal was so fun,” said Smith.

“The ingredients from the ocean and those from the mountains worked surprisingly well together,” said Frederick.

It was good reviews all around.

“I think it’s best to eat Chawamushi while it’s still hot. It needs to be the last thing made for the meal, so it may be hard on the kitchen.”

“I think that kind of thing should be left up to George,” said Frederick.

“Yes,” said Takeo, “And, Lady Alice, Master Smith – how was the shrimp?”

“The meat on it was much more solid than I expected, and I thought it tasted great,” said Alice.

“It was my first time trying it, too, so I thought it went well with the flavors in the Chawamushi, and it was delicious.”

Grandpa Elvis and Frederick were very revealed to hear the good reviews from Alice and Smith.

“Is that so? Well, that’s great,” said Takeo, “I bought the ingredients on a whim for today’s meal, again, but since the prices of the ingredients to make it are a little high, I don’t think we’ll be able to serve it very often.”

“Yes,” said Frederick, “Just as Takeo-sama has just said, there is the price to consider, and so we probably won’t be able to serve it very often. When we can be a bit flexible without budget, however, I think it might good to serve with dinner.”

“I can’t wait to see what kind of cooking is in store for us, tomorrow,” said Alice, looking very happy.[Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com]