Upstart Pastry Chef ~Territory Management of a Genius Pâtisserie~ - Chapter 81

Chapter 81: How to Make Delicious Custard Pudding?

The dessert I made for today is… custard pudding.

You might be more familiar with calling it pudding.

And it’s served warm.

In Japan, when you say pudding, it’s usually cold pudding, but overseas, warm pudding is more common.

Personally, I think warm pudding allows you to taste the richness of the eggs better and enhances the smoothness.

“Hmm, Kurt-kun. This is a dessert I’ve never seen before. It’s a vibrant yellow, very appetizing. And the aroma is delightful.”

“It’s fascinating how it jiggles like that. It has a lovely scent of eggs. But that’s not all. I smell rum and herbs.”

The two of them gaze at the pudding I made with great interest.

“This is called custard pudding. Please, give it a try.”

Making custard pudding is simple.

First, you make the caramel sauce. Normally, you just caramelize sugar, but I add rum to give it depth of flavor.

Then, I add some herbs to the caramel and pour it into the mold.

Next, I mix together eggs and sugar, then add milk and cream.

The key here is to balance the egg yolks and egg whites.

Using only egg yolks can make it too rich, but using whole eggs may make it lack depth.

This time, I used five egg yolks and two and a half egg whites.

The balance depends on the flavor of the eggs. It requires skilled hands.

As a secret ingredient, I add a very small amount of lemon juice. It freshens up the aroma and flavor.

Then, I thoroughly mix it and strain it multiple times to make it smooth.

Finally, I bake it in the oven.

Cooking it just right is crucial.

If you miss the perfect moment, you’ll lose the smoothness.

Pudding is an extremely simple dessert, but that’s precisely why it showcases the skill of a pastry chef.

The balance of eggs, the quality of the cream, the heat control—any slight mistake in any of these can ruin it.

It’s a fine line between becoming a top-tier dessert and a mediocre snack.

Even in Japan, where it can be made with such simple ingredients and processes, there are few shops known for their pudding.

Without top-tier skills, perfect pudding is impossible to make. It’s a dessert that exposes the true skill of a pastry chef.

If I were to serve custard pudding in my shop, I couldn’t entrust it to anyone else. I would handle every step myself.

This time, I cut and served the pudding that I had taken out by flipping the mold.

For decoration, I used only whipped cream around the edge of the plate.

Since I kept the sweetness moderate, if it’s not satisfying enough, people can adjust it with the whipped cream.

“What a gentle sweetness. It’s so comforting.”

“Yes, it’s so melt-in-your-mouth. What is this? I’ve never experienced this texture before. Is ‘melt-in-your-mouth fluffy’ a good way to describe it? I can’t help but be completely captivated by it. It’s lovely, I want to eat this every day.”

“This is a dessert that only you, Kurt-kun, could make.”

“Yes, that’s the kind of dessert it is. No one else could make custard pudding like this except for me.”

Anyone can imitate the form of pudding, but to make top-tier pudding requires top-tier skill.

“This dessert is my answer.”

“Hmm, what do you mean by that?”

After finishing all the custard pudding, Count Fernande directed a sharp gaze at me.

“This custard pudding is made with nothing but eggs, milk, and sugar. That’s all it takes.”

“Oh, so such a splendid dessert can be made with just that?”

“Yes, although this time I added rum, spices, and lemon juice to enhance its luxury, but that’s just an extra. Ultimately, it’s a simple dessert where eggs, milk, and sugar take the spotlight. Now, another serving, please.”

At my signal, another serving of pudding was brought over.

It looked the same. …But upon closer inspection, one would notice it’s slightly firmer and darker in color.

“Oh, how delightful! One piece wasn’t enough for me.”

“I also wished for a second serving!”

With renewed joy, they tasted the newly brought pudding.

Then, their expressions twisted.

“What do you think? Is it delicious?”

“It certainly is, but…”

“The taste has significantly dropped compared to the previous one. And the texture, it lacks the smoothness.”

“That’s right. This was made by someone else following the same recipe I used earlier.”

With just one bite, I could tell.

The egg yolks are too dominant. There was a miscalculation in the egg ratio. Additionally, the smoothness of the cream was inadequate. Furthermore, it’s overcooked, making it too firm.

Each of these was just a slight mistake.

However, it turned what could have been a top-tier dessert into mere candy.

“Count Fernande, the second dessert presented is also indeed custard pudding. It’s somewhat enjoyable, at least.”

“What are you trying to say, Kurt?”

Count Fernande questioned me, seeking my true intentions.

“I believe that noble behavior should be consistent. Indeed, with the right ingredients and recipe, anyone can create something. However, what is produced may lack substance despite its appearance. Even with just eggs, milk, and sugar, such as in this dessert. If this is what constitutes noble behavior, what would become of it? The pudding I presented earlier, the reason I could create something of that caliber is the result of accumulating knowledge and experience, one step at a time. I couldn’t have made it from scratch with just the ingredients and recipe handed to me. As the heir of the Arnoldt family, I don’t want to create such mediocre pudding. I aspire to make the finest pudding possible.”

Count Fernande stared directly at my face.

Then, he laughed.

“Kurt, you really are quite articulate. Even though it’s just sophistry, serving something like this makes it hard to outright dismiss your ideas. Alright, fair enough. You should continue to gain experience gradually as a noble. I’ve been too hasty. I won’t push you up artificially from now on. However, the shop I’ve given you and the appointment as a baron, you should accept them properly.”

“Yes, of course. I’ll do my best to create the best pudding possible.”

That’s my pride. I won’t neglect it just because it’s inconvenient.

If time is short, I’ll make up for the lack of it with a short time and show the best cooking.

“Hmm, truly, watching you is nerve-wracking. Even I feel that way. Farne, what about you? Can you keep up with him as his fiancée? Aren’t you constantly worried?”

“What do you mean by that? There’s no one as steadfast as Kurt-sama. Moreover, there’s no one else who can embody their beliefs through action like him. Kurt-sama will eventually surpass even his father. It’s a daily privilege to be by his side and savor that.”

Farne is putting too much faith in me.

But I don’t deny those words.

If she believes in me, I even want to give it a try.

“By the way, can this custard pudding be served at your shop?”

“I do intend to offer it, but in limited quantities. We won’t always have it in stock; I’ll only make it twice a day, and once it’s gone, it’s gone. After all, it doesn’t keep well, and it’s quite delicate… Plus, I’m the only one who can make it.”

Pudding is a product that we want to handle in quantity because it has a low cost and high profit margin, but the drawback is that we can’t make large quantities without refrigeration facilities in this era.

“Well, then, I’ll have my servants go buy some. I find myself wanting more.”

“Yes, I’ll be waiting for you.”

I smile warmly.

After that, our conversation mostly drifted into small talk.

Or rather, it was an explanation of the noble situation directed towards me through small talk.

I can feel Count Fernande’s concern for me.

He intends to gradually help me grow as a noble.

He has done so much for me. I want to repay him someday. As I thought about this, the night grew late.

To repay him, I’ll start by making the shop in Eclava a success.