Anby was still getting situated, while Belle couldn't wait and had already started eating.
As she plunged her spoon in, it slid through the dish as smoothly as silk. Without any effort at all, it sank straight to the bottom of the bowl.
With a gentle scoop, the mashed potatoes and the minced beef underneath were lifted out together, the melted cheese stretching into a long, fine thread in mid-air, teasing one's appetite.
The seal of mashed potatoes holding the minced beef below was broken, and a rich, meaty aroma burst forth as if it had finally found an escape.
The fragrance stimulated Belle's palate, and under the dual assault of sight and smell, her mouth began to water uncontrollably.
She blew on it hard to cool it down a bit, and then, unable to wait any longer, Belle immediately stuffed the still-scalding spoonful of pie into her mouth.
Hissing from the heat, Belle waited until the food reached a tolerable temperature before closing her mouth and chewing. The first thing she tasted was the rich, milky flavor of the cheese.
Following that was the creamy aroma of the mashed potatoes, which had been mixed with butter and cream.
The buttery flavor was delicate and soft, mingling with the long-lasting sweetness of the cream, all complementing the thick, smooth texture of the initially baked cheese.
This triple-layered combination created a complex flavor profile that was incredibly rich yet harmonious, with no hint of conflict. The complementary tastes, paired with the fine, smooth texture of the mashed potatoes, formed a perfect flavor bomb.
And as she continued to chew, the fried minced beef delivered an even more perfect experience.
A purely creamy taste can become overwhelming after a while, but the presence of the minced beef completely changed that.
The sautéed beef carried not only its own natural fragrance but also the special aroma of rosemary.
When eaten with the beef, the mashed potatoes weren't the least bit out of place. The fat from the beef had rendered out fully during the second baking, fusing with the potatoes and infusing them with its rich, meaty flavor.
The combination of creamy and fatty aromas was quite heavy, and under normal circumstances, it would quickly become cloying.
This is where the added side ingredients—tomato paste, carrots, and onions—came into play.
The sweet and sour notes of the tomato paste were incredibly appetizing and quickly cut through the richness of the fat, while the carrots and onions added a subtle freshness and sweetness.
As she chewed, the carrot and onion swiftly broke through the heaviness of the fat, leaving behind only the pure, mellow taste of the meat.
The masterful combination allowed every ingredient in this special cheese and mashed potato pie to complement each other perfectly. The layers of flavor made it impossible for anyone who tasted it to resist another bite.
After eating a quarter of the dish in one go, Belle reluctantly put down her spoon. After all, she knew very well that this was just a side dish Andrew had brought out early; the main course had yet to make its appearance.
Watching Belle happily run off with the cheese and mashed potato pie to where the other Silver Squad members were, Andrew returned to his stove.
Perfect timing. The marination time for the Wagyu chuck was more than enough, maybe even a little over.
The red wine used for marinating was filtered out and set aside in another clean jar. Andrew picked out all the beef from the basin.
He sprinkled the large chunks of beef with salt and black pepper, and the next step was to sear them in the pot.
Having absorbed the red wine, the marinated beef would retain more of its juices when seared. The well-marbled chuck sizzled in the hot iron pot, the Maillard reaction between the meat and the flame releasing a captivating aroma.
The rendered fat from the chuck also left behind a richly flavored beef tallow, which radiated an alluring scent under the high heat of the flame.
Honestly, Andrew felt that the beef was already delicious enough to be eaten right now.
He poured the several kinds of vegetables that had been marinating in the basin into the pot as well and stir-fried them. The moisture released from the vegetables would deglaze the pot, absorbing all the flavorful residue left from searing the beef. Once they were stir-fried until they softened, he added the previously seared beef into a clay pot for stewing.
Because Andrew was preparing such a massive quantity, this step had to be repeated four times to be completed.
The clay pot was already on the stove over a roaring fire, but the next step wasn't to add broth and start stewing directly. Instead, he added a spoonful of flour to the pot and stir-fried it.
The toasted flour would thicken the stew's gravy without destroying the flavor of any other spices. During the stewing process, it would also act as a medium, allowing the various flavors to meld more quickly and smoothly.
This was the main reason why the dish, despite having so many uniquely flavored spices, could taste so harmonious and well-integrated.
Next up was the soul of the stew: the red wine.
The red wine used for marinating was far from waste; Andrew poured all of it into the pot and brought it to a full boil.
Boiling the red wine allows the alcohol to evaporate completely. Once the sharp taste of alcohol was gone, all that remained was the wine's unique flavor and rich fruity aroma.
However, using only red wine would be overkill. Adding beef broth afterward would ensure there was enough liquid while diluting the wine's flavor, preventing it from being too overpowering.
And then came the final, and longest, step—stewing.
This part took just as long as the marination, requiring a full two hours of simmering.
Looking at the two pots—which were more like barrels—Andrew calculated that it would be more than enough to feed thirty or forty people, and he finally relaxed a bit.
After all, the most crucial work was already done.
After confirming that he could leave the stew pots on the stove to do their thing, Andrew took out the dough he had proofing earlier.
The fully proofed dough was quickly portioned into small balls in Andrew's hands, waiting for their second proof before being shaped.
His methodical work left no room for others to help. Seeing Andrew so engrossed in his task, the others didn't want to disturb him, allowing him to enjoy a moment of peace to himself.
With the tasks at hand finished and only waiting time left, the carcass of the Vicious Claw Wyvern that had died at the oil refinery was transported to Blazewood by the other workers.
Its massive size left everyone in Blazewood speechless. Although they had heard descriptions from others who had seen it and were somewhat mentally prepared, the shock of seeing it in person was something else entirely.
While everyone else was reeling from the shock in their own way, Burnice had, at some point, slipped out of the workshop and sidled up to Andrew, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him.
"Andrew, Andrew! Can you eat this monster?! The meat cut from it must be huge! It'll look so spectacular when it's cooked!"
Burnice grew more excited as she spoke, her pigtails bouncing with her movements, her mind already picturing the magnificent feast.
Although he really didn't want to spoil Burnice's mood, Andrew still placed a hand on the excited girl to calm her down.
"I don't mind sharing the meat with you for cooking. After all, the meat can't be used as crafting materials, so it's normally meant for eating..."
But then, Andrew's tone shifted.
"But, Burnice..."
Hearing Andrew's initial agreement had made Burnice even more thrilled, and she was already starting to stomp her feet in anticipation. But when she heard that 'but,' her body froze.
She knew this tone all too well. It meant trouble. Every time she had a bright idea that needed help from Big Boss or Lighter, this is exactly what they would do!
In a last-ditch effort for her brilliant idea, Burnice clasped her hands together in front of Andrew, making one final attempt.
"Please, Andrew? I'll treat you to my ultimate Burnice Special later, okay? All you can drink!"
Andrew's resolve, which wasn't very firm to begin with, quickly wavered at Burnice's words.
Under any other circumstances, he wouldn't have given in so easily, but... this was dragon meat barbecue!
Even if it was from a scavenging Odogaron, it was still dragon meat!
After his previous successful hunt, Andrew, in a fit of disbelief, had tried to cook it, only to be forced to throw away his beloved pot along with the disastrous meal.
But... this was still dragon meat, damn it!!
The legendary chef Xiao Dang Jia once said...
"Listen to the voice of the ingredients with your heart! They will tell you how to compose a symphony of deliciousness!"[G...]
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