Chapter 100

Yakko stood by the cutting board, tilting his head as he looked at the raw salmon fillets lined up in front of him. Usually, he would sprinkle salt on the salmon and grill it, but for some reason, Yuriko was not sprinkling salt. Instead, she was making a saltwater solution by adding a small amount of sake to a bowl. The amount of salt was just enough to taste salty when licked, meaning it was a fairly strong saltwater solution.

She began to drop the raw salmon fillets into the saltwater one by one. Today's lunch was for ten people, so there were ten fillets. Yakko watched the raw salmon being dropped into the saltwater with a puzzled look on his face.

"Yuriko, aren't you going to grill them?"

"I will."

"Then why are you soaking them in saltwater?"

"When you sprinkle salt and grill, doesn't the surface end up too salty sometimes?"

"It does!"

In response to Yuriko's question, Yakko nodded vigorously. When grilling salted fish, if the salt is not evenly distributed, the taste can be uneven. For example, the skin might be crispy and salty, but the flesh might be bland. Yakko had experienced this before, so he nodded in agreement. Yuriko had also experienced this. Sprinkling salt on the surface is inherently difficult to balance. However, this method solved that problem. By soaking the fish in a strong saltwater solution, the salt would penetrate and distribute evenly.

"By soaking them in saltwater like this, the salt flavor will penetrate all the way through, making the taste even."

"Wow."

"Then, no matter which part you eat, it will taste the same, making it easier to eat."

"That's really great."

"Right?"

Yakko's face lit up, and Yuriko remained as carefree as ever. It was a familiar scene. After soaking the salmon in saltwater, they moved on to other preparations. Since they were making grilled salmon, the mood was Japanese-style, and rice was preferred over bread. Based on this, Yuriko prepared various Japanese dishes like miso soup, simmered dishes, and boiled vegetables. Incidentally, Yuriko always made sure to include at least three ingredients in the miso soup to enhance the flavor.

When all the other preparations were done, they checked the salmon in the saltwater. This part was more about intuition, so it was hard to explain. The timing varied depending on the number and size of the fish. It was a bit tricky to judge without actually grilling and tasting it. Anyway, they lifted the raw salmon from the saltwater, placed them on the cutting board, and gently patted them dry with a towel. It was important not to rub, as it could damage the fish.

"Alright, let's grill the salmon."

"It doesn't look much different, though."

"Well, you'll see when you taste it."

"True."

While chatting casually, the two of them efficiently prepared lunch. By the time the salmon was done grilling, everyone had gathered in the dining room, drawn by the smell. They served the grilled salmon on individual trays, one for each person. It was essentially a grilled salmon set meal, but such details were unimportant. What mattered was that it was delicious.

Everyone said "Itadakimasu" in unison before starting to eat. Yuriko took a bite of the freshly grilled salmon. The salmon was of high quality, and the flesh flaked apart beautifully. The heat was just right, and the bones came out easily, which was very convenient. The contrast between the crispy skin and the tender, light pink flesh was very appetizing.

Yuriko took a bite of the flaky flesh. The warm, salty flavor of the salmon spread in her mouth. The salt was not too strong, so it didn't make her thirsty. The flavor was evenly distributed, making every bite delicious. Personally, Yuriko was very satisfied with the result. Compared to sprinkling salt and grilling, this method was less salty, had a better flavor, and was all-around better.

"Grilled salmon is really delicious."

"Yuriko, this is delicious no matter where you eat it."

"Did you like it, Yakko?"

"I did! Can we do this with other fish too?"

"Sure."

"Then I want to try it with something else next time."

"Got it."

Yakko and Yuriko, sitting next to each other, smiled and continued eating. Brook, who had been eating quietly, glanced at them.

"Is there something special about this grilled salmon?"

"Not really, I just soaked it in saltwater instead of sprinkling salt."

"In saltwater?"

"Yes, it helps the flavor distribute evenly."

"I see."

Brook nodded as he took a bite of the flaky salmon. Indeed, there was no unevenness in the flavor, which was very convenient. The conversation between the two seemed to have caught the attention of others, as murmurs of "I see" could be heard around the room. Yuriko continued eating without paying much attention. Deliciousness is justice.

The meal was proceeding peacefully, but a commotion occurred near the end. Yuriko, who was savoring her food, ate at a leisurely pace. She wasn't particularly slow, but compared to the adventurers who were used to eating quickly, she was a bit slower. By the time everyone else had finished eating, Yuriko still had half a bowl of rice and half a fillet of salmon left. After finishing all the other dishes, Yuriko started to flake the salmon, removing the bones more carefully than before. She then casually dropped the flaked salmon into her rice bowl and added the crispy skin, cut into bite-sized pieces.

"Yuriko, what are you doing?"

"Huh? I thought I'd make ochazuke."

"\"What?\""

Yakko's question was met with a nonchalant response. Yuriko got up, went to the kitchen, and started boiling water in a kettle. The others, who were wondering what she was doing, were shocked when Yuriko poured the boiling water from the kettle over the flaked salmon and skin in her rice bowl.

"Ochazuke?!"

They didn't have a strong attachment to ochazuke. Yuriko and Ali sometimes ate it, but in a place where bread was the norm, ochazuke was often overlooked. However, the hot water poured over the salmon ochazuke made it look incredibly delicious. The pink fat from the salmon floated in the water, and the aroma was mouthwatering. Yuriko, oblivious to everyone's reactions, blew on the hot ochazuke and took a bite.

"Hot, hot..."

Despite the heat, she slowly sipped the ochazuke. Ochazuke is meant to be sipped. The soft, water-soaked salmon and rice entered her mouth. The water had no flavor, but the salt from the salmon was enough. The occasional burst of flavor from the soft skin was also delicious. Yuriko finished the ochazuke with a slightly impolite slurping sound, then said, "Delicious," with a contented look and said, "Itadakimasu," before putting her hands together in gratitude. She then tilted her head at the sight of her friends face-planting on the table.

"Everyone, why are you so exhausted?"

"Yuriko, that looked delicious."

"That?"

"Ochazuke."

"Ah, salmon ochazuke is really delicious."

Yuriko responded with a slightly apologetic tone to Yakko's regretful words. The sound of thumping on the table made Yuriko jump, but the others didn't seem to care. They looked like they wanted to shout, "That's so unfair!" ... When you eat something delicious, it's best to let others know. Otherwise, the hungry crowd will get upset.

"Um, did everyone want to try ochazuke?"

"Well, I wasn't really interested in ochazuke, but watching you eat it made it look delicious!"

"Ah, I see. Sorry?"

"If there's a way to eat it like that, you should have told us!"

In response to Yakko's heartfelt plea, Yuriko apologized. She hadn't thought it would be such a big deal. It was just salmon ochazuke, after all. She hadn't expected everyone to react so strongly. ... She didn't know that everyone assumed whatever Yuriko ate was delicious, and that this assumption was mostly correct.

"Um, I'll make salted salmon again next time?"

"Bring rice too!"

"Okay, I got it. Yakko, don't look so resentful. Everyone..."

It's a promise! Yakko shouted, and the others agreed. Yuriko nodded. She thought everyone was a bit too curious, but decided not to say anything. Indeed, the salmon ochazuke was delicious. The salmon was perfectly grilled, and the crispy skin added a wonderful flavor. Yuriko decided to make it again. Salmon ochazuke was delicious, and mixing the flaked salmon with rice to make onigiri was also a great idea. If everyone enjoyed the combination of salted salmon and rice, she could provide it without any complaints. She might even add some garnishes to make a more luxurious salmon ochazuke.

Later, when the regulars at the bar discovered that ochazuke was a closing menu item, they started requesting it after their evening drinks. It was all in good fun.

Salmon isn't the only fish that's delicious when grilled with salt. Saltwater is great for making less salty grilled fish.

I look forward to your comments and feedback.