Upstart Pastry Chef ~Territory Management of a Genius Pâtisserie~ - Chapter 62

Chapter 62: Tuna Tartare Steak

“I understand that creating a fish dish suitable for the course on the spot is a reckless challenge… But I thought you’d be up for it. Shall we set the time limit at thirty minutes?”

Creating a fish dish tailored to the course for the first time. Moreover, with a time limit of thirty minutes including recipe development and cooking time. It’s terribly difficult.

There’s hardly any time to think about the recipe, and cooking itself is greatly limited within this time frame.

Not to mention, there’s already the restriction of having to consider compatibility with the course… It’s truly asking the impossible.

“Let me give it a try. Please wait a moment. However, Tina… her assistance will be required. She’s my assistant.”

Tina is not present in this place.

The servants like Volg and Chloe are having their meal in a separate room.

“That servant girl, right? Understood. I’ll instruct her to head to the kitchen.”

“I’ll leave it to you.”

Tina, who was in the separate room, meets up with me and heads towards the kitchen.

What’s requested is a fish dish.

Moreover, it should be something that considers the balance of the entire course.

Considering that a heavy menu like beef tail stew will come later, fatty ingredients cannot be used.

It will likely be a dish centered around lean red meat.

◇

“I’d like to use the leftover tuna from today’s course. I need lean red meat with low fat content. If possible, please give me the meat from around the loin.”

As I enter the kitchen and approach the cooks to prepare a new fish dish, their response is sluggish.

They only watch from afar and don’t come closer.

There are, however, the bones and skin left after filleting, which have been left out.

However, there were no proper fillets available, so I made the request for what I needed.

With no response, I repeat myself.

“I’m instructed by Duke Lenaril to prepare a fish dish. I need to use the ingredients. She should have heard from him to follow my instructions.”

Even saying that, all I receive in return are hostile glares.

It seems like I’m genuinely disliked here.

As I ponder what to do, one of the cooks approaches with a tray of tuna fillets.

“Sorry for the delay in preparation. Here you go, Sir Arnoldt, the next ‘Viscount.'”

The emphasis on ‘Viscount’ is placed by the man.

Upon hearing this, the other men smirk.

Being a viscount means having a low noble rank. In other words, they’re mocking me.

“Thank you. I’ll make a delicious dish with this.”

But there’s no point in losing my temper here.

Let’s handle this calmly.

I glance at the fillets I received and then toss them straight into the trash.

“Kurt-sama!?”

The cooks in the kitchen widen their eyes, and even Tina, who was with them, gasps in surprise.

“Tina, unfortunately, these tuna fillets have been ruined. With these, we can’t make a decent dish. It’s terrible. Even dead tuna wouldn’t deserve this.”

I smile at Tina.

She really comes through for me.

The tuna fillets handed to me have been intentionally left out without covering, causing them to dry out.

Furthermore, I sprinkled a little salt on the surface and let the flavorful extract flow out while removing the moisture.

With something like this, all you can make is a tasteless, dry dish.

“But Kurt-sama, throwing that away and making a decent fish dish…”

“It can be done. We have the ingredients right here.”

The remains left on the table after filleting, the fish scraps. So-called skin and bones.

“But isn’t this something that should be discarded?”

“Tina, this tuna is the finest. It can be turned into the best dish from any part of it. It’s just that there’s no skilled chef to handle it.”

It’s not just boasting. Judging from the size of the bones, it’s a small tuna weighing about twenty kilograms, but it’s well-fed and well-exercised, very high quality.

This tuna can make the best dish from any part of it.

Yes, the part hidden within these discarded bones and skin contains flavor surpassing even the highest-grade lean meat.

“…To think that the best dish can be made from something like this, truly remarkable, Kurt-sama.”

Tina smiles reassuringly.

Now, let’s start cooking.

But before that, I need to set one thing straight.

“To the cooks of the Lenaril Ducal House.”

The ones who tried to set me up tremble slightly.

“As fellow cooks involved in the same dish, I understand why my presence bothers you and why this incident has hurt your pride… I have no intention of informing Duke Lenaril that you deliberately handed me ruined tuna.”

Even if I were in their position, I wouldn’t feel good about it.

“But listen, as cooks, you should compete with your cooking without resorting to such tricks. And no matter what reasons you have, don’t treat ingredients like toys. You’re disqualified as cooks. It’s not just about skill; your hearts are lost.”

Upon hearing my words, the cooks fall silent and clench their fists, looking down.

It’s not just anger at the humiliation they’ve received, but also anger at themselves for straying from the path of a cook.

◇

“Duke Lenaril, the dish is ready.”

With plenty of time left within the time limit, Tina and I return to the dining table.

“You’re back so soon. I’m looking forward to your dish.”

Duke Lenaril smiles.

With a snap of my fingers, the servants start bringing out the dishes I’ve prepared.

“Oh, how beautiful!”

In the center of the pure white plate is a red circle of minced tuna meat, like a paste. Emerald-colored sauce is garnished around the edge of the plate.

There are also small mounds of side dishes prepared.

“This dish is called Tuna Tartare Steak. It’s made by pounding raw tuna with a knife and mixing it with various ingredients and seasonings.”

“I’ve never heard of this dish. Let’s try it right away.”

With those words, Duke Lenaril digs into the Tuna Tartare Steak.

“What rich tuna flavor! I thought it might be too fishy, but it’s not at all. On the contrary, it has a nice aroma. Is it because of the mixture?”

Duke Lenaril continues to taste my dish one after another.

“Be sure to enjoy the sauce as well.”

I say so, and she dips the green sauce on the edge of the plate and eats it.

“I see, it becomes even more refreshing. It’s a great sauce. It clears the palate and, somehow, I feel lighter in my stomach.”

“It’s a sauce made with herbs known to aid digestion.”

This is a thoughtful gesture to both eliminate the lingering oiliness and to enhance the enjoyment of the next dish.

I glance at Count Fernande, Farne, and Chef Benaritta from the corner of my eye.

It seems like everyone genuinely enjoyed my dishes.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. Now, let’s judge. Chef Benaritta, you decide. Between your dish and this Tuna Tartare Steak, which is better?”

Upon Duke Lenaril’s instruction, Chef Benaritta hesitates.

The middle-aged man trembles, then speaks as if squeezing out his voice.

“…It’s better than the dish I instructed to be made. If left to this man, a banquet with the Four Dukes is sure to be a great success.”

Upon hearing these words, Farne beams with a wide smile.

“Thank you very much.”

I bow my head.

It must have taken considerable restraint and courage to make this judgment.

Perhaps the cooks’ harassment towards me was for this man’s sake.

“You pass. Kurt Arnoldt, the next Viscount. But could you please tell us more about this dish?”

“Yes, this dish is made by pounding the lean tuna with a knife, mixing it with various chopped herbs, onions, and a high-quality soup made from tuna bones, gelatinized and chilled, then mixing in a small amount of olive oil and shaping it.”

The cooking method is quite simple.

“I see, using onions and herbs to eliminate the fishy smell while deepening the flavor, and reinforcing the umami with gelatinized tuna broth.”

“It’s a wonderful cooking method indeed. With that method, you can truly maximize the flavor of the tuna’s lean meat. But what’s puzzling is that the tuna’s lean meat itself is so delicious. Tuna is commonly eaten in this city, and I’ve had the best tuna. Even I have never tasted lean meat this delicious. Chef, was the tuna we procured today special?”

In response to Duke Lenaril’s question, Chef Benaritta shakes his head.

“It’s just the usual top-quality tuna we always procure.”

This answer is likely due to the fact that the Lenaril Ducal House always sources the highest grade.

“In that case, could you please explain?”

“The lean meat this time is the meat clinging to the bones.”

“Bones?”

“Yes, that’s right. Any meat tastes best around the bones. What we provided this time was the meat scraped from the bones around the loin.”

For example, spare ribs, fried chicken. All of them are enjoyed for the meat around the bones. It’s delicious. Tuna is no exception, and the meat around the bones is the best. Especially the muscles around the loin are exceptional.

The best lean meat among the tuna there was destined to be discarded after filleting.

…By the way, in Japan, it’s called Negitoro.

However, the Negitoro served in markets is nothing but a degraded product, with added oil to scraps of lean meat, hardly resembling the real thing. Genuine Negitoro surpasses even the best lean meat.

“…Haha, yes, the meat clinging to the bones. That’s something I’ve never had before.”

“Does it bother you?”

“No, it’s a pleasant surprise. Yes, this is what I’m looking for from you. A new idea that we would never have considered! Keep it up for the main event.”

“Yes, I’ll certainly live up to your expectations.”

Duke Lenaril and I exchange smiles.

And then, I snap my fingers.

At that moment, another servant brings out another dish.

“What’s this?”

“Since we had some extra time, I prepared a dessert. However, considering that today is my trial and you’re having more meals than usual, I opted for something light.”

It’s a sherbet-like dessert resembling peach, served in a transparent glass.

It’s a simple concoction made by crushing fresh pinaru, adding diced fruit, a little sugar, and alcohol, then firming it up while incorporating air.

“Oh, it’s cold, tangy, and delicious. It goes down so smoothly. I’ve never had anything like this before! Oh dear, I can’t stop. …If you can whip up something like this on the spot, then I’m even more excited for the sweets.”

A simple dessert that brings out the exquisite flavor of the finest pinaru harvested in the Elven village. That’s why it’s so delicious.

The tangy and cold sherbet is a top-notch dessert.

Moreover, ice cream-like desserts don’t exist in this era, adding to its novelty.

“Yes, I’ll prepare something even more amazing for the main event. What I have in mind is a course where every dish serves the final dessert. It’s a course designed to make the final dessert truly enjoyable.”

My specialty, the sublime chocolate cake. I’ll create a course meticulously planned from appetizers to main courses, all to enhance the enjoyment of the dessert.