Who Is the World’s Strongest Appraiser? ~Living in Another World With Satisfying Meals~

Cold Pasta With Men-Tsuyu Tomato

Meanwhile, Yuuri finished frying the eggplants and placed them on each bowl. The fried eggplants, slightly soft with a crispy skin and tender flesh, looked delicious.

“Are these all the toppings?”

“Yep. Just pour the Men-Tsuyu used for the tomatoes over the top, and it’s done.”

“Why use the Men-Tsuyu from the tomatoes instead of regular Men-Tsuyu?”

“The tomatoes have infused the Men-Tsuyu with their flavor, and the tomato juice has diluted it to the perfect level for dressing.”

“I see.”

Camille, initially puzzled, understood after Yuuri’s explanation. The Men-Tsuyu Yuuri used was typically a double-concentrated type. Men-Tsuyu comes in various concentrations, but Yuuri preferred the double-concentrated version, which was also used in the hideout.

Of course, straight and quadruple-concentrated Men-Tsuyu each have their merits. Straight Men-Tsuyu is convenient for direct use, while concentrated types allow for adjusting the strength. Depending on the need, each type has its advantages.

Today, they used the leftover Men-Tsuyu from the tomatoes, perfectly balanced by the tomato juice and flavor. Yuuri found it wasteful to discard, embodying a frugal, almost grandmotherly mindset.

After plating the pasta and toppings, Yuuri drizzled the tomato-infused Men-Tsuyu over each bowl. The final step was for everyone to mix it before eating. The cold pasta resembled a salad pasta, with no meat in sight.

However, knowing the growing boys would be disappointed without meat, Yuuri added a fluffy ham omelet on the side. The ham omelet, light and not overpowering, complemented the pasta well.

“I’ll make the omelets. Camille, can you set the table and call everyone?”

“Got it.”

Understanding the importance of division of labor, Camille readily agreed. Wiping the table and setting up the meal were crucial tasks, as was calling everyone to enjoy the food while it was fresh.

By the time Yuuri finished making the ham omelets, the lunch group had gathered. The freshly made omelets steamed, while the cold pasta looked refreshingly cool. Everyone looked happily at the meal, eager to dig in.

“Today’s menu is cold pasta with Men-Tsuyu tomatoes and ham omelets. The pasta is dressed with Men-Tsuyu, so mix it before eating.”

“There’s no seconds for the omelets, but there’s extra pasta.”

“Right. The pasta, including the toppings, has seconds, so don’t fight over it. Now, let’s eat.”

“”Let’s eat!””

Following Yuuri’s lead, everyone said the pre-meal greeting. Since they didn’t follow any specific religion, the greeting was the Japanese style Yuuri had introduced. If they followed a religion, the prayer would be directed to their respective deity.

With the greeting done, it was time to eat. Everyone eagerly picked up their forks and dug into the pasta. Having tried the ham omelet before, their focus was more on the pasta.

Scooping up the pasta from the bottom, they ate it with the vegetables. The refreshing taste of the Men-Tsuyu spread deliciously in their mouths, perfect for a hot day. While unconventional for pasta, the combination with cabbage, lettuce, and cucumber made it feel like eating a salad.

The tomatoes, soaked in Men-Tsuyu, added a juicy element, while the fried eggplants, also infused with Men-Tsuyu, offered a different flavor. The varying flavors with each vegetable made the meal enjoyable, blurring the line between salad and pasta. But as long as it was delicious, it didn’t matter. Deliciousness is justice.

“Yuuri, these tomatoes are delicious.”

“Glad you like them. Arga brought a lot of them.”

“Arga did?”

“Actually, it was from Darius.”

“I see. He’s still being bossed around, huh?”

Tifaana, hearing the tomatoes’ origin, smiled nostalgically, seemingly amused by her childhood friend’s situation. She and Arga had been close since childhood, a fact well-known among the Scarlet Lynx. Even if one didn’t know, her expression made their closeness obvious.

Munching on the cold pasta, Yuuri watched Tifaana. Hearing the tomatoes came from Arga, she savored them even more. Yuuri thought they must be really close. After all, Darius had asked for menu help when he was injured, so their friendship was clear.

“I told Arga how to make Men-Tsuyu tomatoes, so maybe they’ll serve it at the diner.”

“That’s good. Many customers there enjoy alcohol, so it’ll likely be a popular side dish.”

“Men-Tsuyu tomatoes are delicious on their own too.”

Yuuri’s gentle smile was met with Tifaana’s calm one. Their conversation and atmosphere were always relaxed. The natural, easygoing Yuuri and the gentle, elder-sisterly Tifaana (though terrifying when angry) always interacted in this leisurely manner.

…Meanwhile, around them, the apprentices were enthusiastically going for seconds of the cold pasta. However, they were sharing peacefully, avoiding any fights over who got more or less. The lively banter added to the fun.

Incidentally, when other members tried the cold pasta later, its refreshing and light taste made it popular even among those with smaller appetites.