Chapter 407 Returning the Favor to the Small Temple
"This tofu," Elbert started with a knowing grin, "isn't your everyday dish."
He pointed to the piece of tofu that looked like a jade stone. "First, I gathered pine nuts and apricot kernels from the mountains, roasted them until they were golden and fragrant, then ground them together with soy milk in just the right proportions. The stone mill in the backyard ran for four hours to make sure everything blended perfectly."
He let the aroma fill the room. "What you're smelling is more than just tofu. It's a mix of three flavors: the buttery warmth of pine nuts, the cool sweetness of apricots, and the earthy base of soybeans. Three flavors coming together. The taste is rich and deep, yet refreshingly sweet."
The temple cook was mesmerized, suddenly slapping his forehead. "So that's it! No wonder the aroma has such depth... It's the roasted nuts! Genius! Pure genius!"
At that moment, a young monk, unable to resist any longer, crawled under the table. A small hand darted out, grabbed a piece of warm tofu, and quickly stuffed it into his mouth.
The next moment, his eyes rolled back, and tears of joy streamed down his face. He looked at the elder monk and choked out, "Master... this... this is the best thing I've ever eaten!"
"Don't rush," Elbert said with a calm smile. "The best is yet to come."
Rachel stepped forward and lifted the lid of the first large pot.
Inside was a vibrant green, like emeralds. Fresh cabbage hearts were quietly bathing in what appeared to be clear, boiling water.
The monks were stunned. This was just... vegetable soup? But why did it smell so incredibly rich and savory?
Elbert explained. "Using chicken, duck, and pork bones, I made a broth, then clarified it for hours until it was crystal clear. This broth was used to blanch the cabbage, making it seem like a simple soup, but it's incredibly flavorful. However, since this is a Buddhist temple, we have another method."
He paced slowly. "Over the past few days, I gathered five types of wild mushrooms: shiitake, lion's mane, honey fungus, oyster mushrooms, and the rare bamboo fungus. I simmered them for hours, extracting the essence of each mushroom, then filtered the broth until it was as clear as crystal. The cabbage hearts were awakened in this mushroom essence, finished with a drop of fragrant olive oil."
He pointed to the pot. "So, while you see no herbs or vegetables, this soup is the soul of an entire forest. The tender cabbage is merely the vessel that delivers this soul to your mouths."
"Ultimate freshness, ultimate purity."
Gulp.
A synchronized swallowing sound echoed through the crowd. The elder monk's hands, holding his utensils, began to tremble. He had lived over a hundred years and had never heard of such a thing! To taste it once in his life, he would die without regret!
"Master, please be patient," Elbert said with a hint of a smile in his eyes. "The next dish is a stir-fry."
Rachel lifted the lid of the second pot. Inside was a stir-fry, a mosaic of black, white, and green, shining under the light oil, exuding an intoxicating, primal aroma.
"This dish celebrates the gifts of the wild," Elbert said. "Wild black fungus, fiddlehead ferns, crisp mountain yams, honey fungus, and a sweet, energizing root I found deep in the forest. Cleaned, chopped, and stir-fried quickly in olive oil, seasoned with just a pinch of salt. Adding anything more would be a desecration of nature's perfection."
"Ancient people spoke of delicacies from the mountains and seas. This," he declared, "is a pure gift from nature!"
The monks closest to the pot felt their souls being drawn by the aroma. The complex fragrance was otherworldly. Each wild ingredient's unique scent was distinct yet harmoniously blended into a natural symphony. Several mouths were already watering like waterfalls.
The elder monk swallowed hard again. How could this be... he had lived in these mountains all his life and never knew such flavors existed! His chopsticks seemed to have a will of their own, moving towards the pot.
Elbert gently stopped him. "Master, don't rush. There are more dishes to come."
As he spoke, Rachel lifted the lid of the third pot.
The crowd gasped. This dish was not only fragrant but breathtakingly beautiful. In the clear, golden broth, countless pure white chrysanthemums bloomed.
"Tofu is a versatile ingredient," Elbert said, standing with his hands behind his back. "This soup tests the ultimate knife skills, called 'Chrysanthemum Tofu.'"
"To cut a piece of tender tofu into 88 horizontal and 188 vertical slices without breaking it, transforming it into thousands of hair-thin strands. Once in water, each strand remains distinct, like blooming chrysanthemums, not sticking, not breaking. This is the ultimate test of knife skills, concentration, and strength."
He paused to let them absorb his words. "For an ordinary chef, it would take ten years of practice. For me... It's just a twenty-minute meditation."
The monks were completely stunned. Ten years... versus twenty minutes? This man wasn't showing off; he was from another dimension!
But their philosophical thoughts were quickly overwhelmed by the sight before them. Thousands of tofu strands floated and swayed in the clear broth, like an ethereal dream.
"Knife skills are a flavor in themselves," Elbert said slowly. "Because the tofu strands are cut to such extreme fineness, they are both silky and refreshing. Before you realize it, they have slipped into your stomach, leaving only a delicate, unparalleled aftertaste, making you sigh with satisfaction."
Gulp!
This time, the swallowing sound was almost like a thunderclap. Everyone's eyes were now glowing green.
With a satisfied smile, Elbert personally lifted the lid of the final pot. "I never waste ingredients. The five mushrooms used for the broth, I finely chopped them, mixed with some plant-based meat, five-spice powder, and salt, and made these."
Inside the pot were plump, steaming ravioli.
"I guarantee, after eating, you will be completely satisfied and full of energy!"
Ah!
A silent, agonized cry erupted in every monk's heart. They had been fasting for days, and now before them was a feast so exquisite it seemed heavenly.
This wasn't just cooking! It was the sweetest form of torture!
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