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Totsutotsu Dish
「……could that painting be, a painting by the painter Lefyria?」
As soon as we arrived at the dining room and sat down, Reid mutters while staring unblinkingly at the painting.
It seems that he knows about Lefyria, being well-informed.
「Yes, it was a painting I received from her」
「I knew! I thought that was the case since the use of color was not something that could be imitated by an ordinary person!」
Nodding his head, Reid says and looks at the painting with a passionate gaze.
Helena looks at that Reid with a cold look, somehow.
「What? Is this painting that amazing?」
「You can’t even appreciate such an artistic painting!?」
「Err no, it certainly looked good, but I don’t understand any more than that」
「……I think it’s beautiful 」
Hearing Helena and Arna’s impression, Reid shakes his head as if he finds it sad.
Everyone has their own opinion when appraising a work of art. Some people will show interest, while some don’t. You probably can't blame Helena on this.
「By the way, one of such paintings looks like it can sell for more than hundreds of gold coins」
「……that much!?」
「Amazing!」
When I try telling them the market price I’d heard from Emilio, Helena, and Arna’s eyes light up.
But, they react as if they find a valuable treasure rather than admiring the painting. Such an easy-to-understand reaction is also adventurous.
「Excuse me. We have brought the food」
Just as we are having such an idle talk, Elza, Lulus, and Arche, come in, pushing wagons.
The maids move smoothly as they each start serving the food.
The food served in front of us is dishes that use totsutotsu.
「Uooohhhh! Awesome! They’re all made using totsutotsu!?」
「Yes, deep-fried totsutotsu without batter, salt-boiled, chicken gratin totsutotsu, and totsutotsu paste」
Elza explain while pointing at the dishes.
「……amazing. All made of totsutotsu」
「Even if you order them at the Guild’s tavern, they will only bring salt-boiled or deep-fried 」
「Umm, they all look delicious」
Arna, Reid, and Rox also exclaim in wonder.
Every dish is made using totsutotsu, making them extremely fancy.
The colors of the dishes are also pretty, making me hungry just by looking at them.
「We also have bits of everything for the drink, but what do you have any preferences?」
「What kind of liquor goes well with totsutotsu?」
Rox tilts his head when he was asked what he would like to drink.
「……red wine」
「I have picked red wine that pairs well with totsutotsu dish, what do you think about this?」
Elza casually handed a glass of wine to Arna’s immediate reply.
Perhaps she had anticipated this and had bought a red wine that would go well with the food.
「……this please」
「Then, me too!」
After Arna nods, Helena and the others follow suit.
I’m not exactly knowledgeable about wine, so I simply go with a red wine.
Once everyone’s glasses are filled with wine, they all raise their glasses and look at me.
This means I have to take the lead here.
「Good work, everyone. Please take your time and relax today. Cheers」
「「Cheers!」」
After making it brief, Helena and the others raise their glasses and echo the cheers even while having wry smiles on their faces.
A refined scent spread after I gulp down the liquor, and a honey-like sweetness shoot through the back of my throat.
Although it is a very sweet wine, it has a refreshing taste, without that cloying heaviness that lingers at the back of the throat; it feels clean and refreshing instead.
First, the deep-fried dish without batter nearby. It's somewhat larger in size compared to the one in my previous life, but I wonder how it tastes?
The inner skin is crispy and the texture is very satisfying.
The inside is soft and flaky, and has a strong sweetness.
「The sweetness of the totsutotsu is amazing!」
「As expected of a seasonal ingredient」
It's a simple dish that was only fried in oil, but perhaps it's because the totsutotsu itself has highly praised qualities that it was simply delicious.
「Delish! It’s completely different from the rough taste you get when eating at a tavern! 」
Helena seems to be eating gratin as her eyes open wide at the taste.
It seems like Elza had been making the dish together with Lulua recently, but I think they are delicious, they can even open a normal restaurant.
「This goes perfectly well with the wine!」
Rox enthusiastically drinks the wine while eating the deep-fried dish without batter.
I also tried it and drank the wine afterward.
The wine’s fragrant aroma and sweetness complement and envelop the totsutotsu’s sweetness perfectly.
This certainly matches well with totsutotsu. I can tell just by taking a sip.
Just as Rox said, I can keep drinking this over and over.
「Arna-san, how is the totsutotsu dish?」
As I continue to eat in silence, I become curious about Arna and try asking her opinion about it
「……they’re all great」
After swallowing the food in her mouth, Arna answers, looking very satisfied.
She is someone who doesn’t show that much emotion on her face, but it looks like her expression is much more relaxed than usual somehow.
That just shows how satisfied she was with the totsotsu dish Elza and the others made.
I’m glad she seems happy with them.
I resumed savoring the dish while sighing in relief that everyone is eating the food without a problem.
After the deep-fried, no-batter dish comes the salt-boiled dish.
The half-cut section of the totsutotsu reveals a light yellow color, and they look pretty.
There is a spoon next to it, so it should probably be the type of dish you eat without peeling the skin.
I can feel the faint warmth from the totsutotsu when I lift it up.
It looks like it's just boiled and still hot.
The skin was very hard when we collected them in the forest, but now it has softened to the point I can change its shape with just a push of my fingers. This change is interesting.
Staring at the totsutotsu, I try eating it by scooping the flesh with the spoon.
「Delicious」
It has a simpler taste compared to the no-butter, deep-fried one.
They were just collected at noon, so they have a wonderfully rich fragrance.
The combination of the totsutotsu sweetness and saltiness is excellent.
Just that, I personally would prefer it if it were a bit saltier.
When I sprinkle a bit of salt on it, it seems to enhance the flavor more.
This is just a matter of personal preference but I still prefer it with a bit more salt.
After eating the salt-boiled totsutotsu, next is gratin-style topped with molten, creamy cheese.
The totsutotsu are bits of mushrooms and macaroni mixed in.
I wonder if gratin and totsutotsu will go well together?
I decide to try them first while having doubts about their combination, which I have never tried before.
The savory-smelling and salty flavor from the burnt cheese complements the sweetness from the totsutotsu perfectly.
Occasionally, the rich flavor of the mushroom spreading inside my mouth also tastes good. The chicken is also soft and juicy, with excellent substantiality. Needless to say, these go well with the cheese.
The doubts I had before I ate them are completely blown away. The dish has an autumn flavor you can taste in the mushrooms.
After I finish the gratin, next is the totsutotsu paste.
It's served with crispy, baked baguettes on the side.
It's a pretty light yellow-colored paste. I’d had liver paste occasionally, but this is my first time trying a paste made from totsutotsu.
I tried eating it by spreading the totsutotsu paste onto the baguette.
It has a smooth texture and soft sweetness. It just tastes like mashed sweet potatoes with sweetened chestnuts.
It's not salty like liver paste, but its refined sweetness matches well with the fragrant baguette.
All the totsutotsu dishes Elza made are so delicious that all the plates on the table are empty.
「Fuuh, that was delicious」
「……thank you for the meal」
Helena, Arna, Reid, and Rox also seem to have enjoyed them as they all had satisfied expressions on their faces.
Lulua and Arche then cleared the dishes while Elza poured after-meal tea for us.
Still, the totsutotsu are delicious.
Let’s bring some of them for Nina and the others to taste when I return to Howling village. I’m sure they will be happy.
Nah, if anything, it might not be a bad idea to try selling it at the Harvest Festival’s stall?
It will not only let me enjoy the festival as a customer but also sound fun trying to run a stall myself.
Whether grilled or salt-boiled, they don't require that much preparation, and even I can serve them.
Let’s talk to Leroy once I return to the village.
「Kureto-san, could you please show me the library?」
Reid asks just when I'm having such thoughts.
Come to think of it, I promised to show them the books before the meal, didn’t I?
Rox - sitting nearby - is also fidgeting.
「Sure. What about Helena-san and Arna-san?」
「Hhmー, I’m fine」
「……me too. I’ll be lounging here」
It looks like Helena and Arna don't have that much interest in books and they would rather just laze around here.
It feels awkward to leave the two of them here while I only entertain Reid and Rox in the meantime.
「There is also a bathing chamber in the mansion, would you like to use it?」
「There’s a bathing chamber here!?」
「Yes. The bathing chamber is quite spacious」
「……I’ll go」
When I suggest it, Helena and Arna’s eyes sparkle, and they nod.
And after that, Reid and Rox were reading books in the library, while Helena and Arna were enjoying the bathing chamber. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
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