NOVEL WEB Chapter 79.1
Snacks With Fried Tofu, Bacon, And Cheese
“Hmm, I guess this will do for today.”
Yuuri, who was rummaging through the fridge, pulled out three ingredients that caught her eye and muttered quietly. It was already early evening. Dinner had been eaten and cleaned up. Even so, the reason Yuuri was in the kitchen was that he thought of making some snacks for the adults who were having drinks. The drinking group had already been served simple snacks like salted cucumber, salted cabbage, and crackers topped with grilled cheese. Those were sufficient as easy and simple snacks. However, everyone seemed unusually tired today, so Yuuri thought he’d make one more dish for them.
…This thought process was completely like a mom’s, but since he was originally this kind of person, it wasn’t a problem. Even back home, Yuuri often made snacks for his parents who enjoyed drinking, so he stood in the kitchen without feeling anything unusual.
“First, let’s open up the fried tofu.”
Normally used as a soup ingredient or for simmered greens, fried tofu has various uses. With a bit of creativity, it can become a proper dish. Cut the rectangular tofu in half, then carefully open it from the cut. Be careful not to tear it; if it rips, it becomes a hassle. Once opened, Yuuri stuffed thinly sliced bacon along the sides of the tofu. Since bacon cooks quickly, thin slices were best. You could use ham, but bacon’s saltiness suits drinks better, so bacon it was. After stuffing bacon into both ends, he placed thin slices of cheese in the center. Since there wasn’t any pizza cheese, Yuuri sliced regular cheese by hand. But cheese is cheese—it melts when heated, so no problem. After all, you don’t see the contents when eating this dish, so appearance doesn’t matter. As long as the bacon and cheese are properly inside and can be cooked through, it’s fine.
“How many do I need?”
Tonight’s drinkers were Ali, Frau, and, unusually, Brook. Brook usually drank alone in his room, but tonight, he joined Ali and Frau. Tifaana had been with them earlier but had already returned to her room. Jake didn’t join at all, and Rihito, who couldn’t drink, was out of the question. The other adults weren’t the type to enjoy drinks with their instructors, so there were just three people.
…By the way, Lelei had borrowed a bottle of alcohol and dragged Kurresh to the living room, but Yuuri pretended not to notice. He had already sent Yakk with a platter of cherry tomatoes and salted cucumbers, so the two were probably drinking together. …Or rather, it was likely Lelei enjoying the drink while Kurresh was just keeping her company. Anyway, that was none of Yuuri’s concern. He was focused on the adults, who seemed exhausted and were having something like a complaint session with their drinks. Since they’d already had dinner, he figured they wouldn’t need too much, so he made three pieces per person. He added one extra for herself to taste. The trainees were either causing a ruckus in the living room, back in their rooms, or in the bath, so no need to make extra. If more showed up, she’d deal with it then.
After preparing the number he needed, it was time to grill. He warmed the frying pan a little and placed the tofu stuffed with bacon and cheese inside. Without oil, she cooked it slowly over low heat. Once the tofu developed a nice browning, she flipped them and cooked the other side the same way. That was all it took to complete the dish. The bacon and cheese were thinly sliced to ensure everything cooked through even over low heat. Though the tofu wasn’t sealed, it wasn’t stuffed so full that it would spill out. The melted cheese acted as a glue, so there was no need for toothpicks. The sound of the tofu sizzling and the savory aroma filled the kitchen. Yuuri took one piece for herself, put it on a small plate, and tried a bite. The crispy texture of the fried tofu and the melted cheese blended perfectly in her mouth. The bacon enhanced the flavor. Bacon and cheese are a perfect match, so it was delicious without a doubt. The fried tofu acted as a neutral wrapper, not asserting its flavor too much, just holding everything together. Crispy outside, melty inside—a curious texture. Eating it hot, with the cheese melting in her mouth, was a delightful experience.
“Yeah, the saltiness of the bacon and cheese is just right—no need for extra seasoning. That’s convenient.”
Yuuri appreciated how simple it was with no need for added seasoning. This dish could work as more than a snack—it could be a side dish. It might not satisfy the ever-hungry kids, but for the women with lighter appetites, it could definitely serve as a main dish. Maybe not for dinner, but for breakfast, it would be just right, Yuuri thought idly.
Once he’d plated the cooked tofu, Yuuri headed to the dining room with the dish in hand. The three adults were sipping their drinks, chatting this and that. Half of the snacks Yuuri had served earlier had already disappeared. It seemed like they were eating faster than usual.
“I’ve brought some more snacks for you all~”
“Huh? More snacks?”
“You all seemed a bit tired today.”
“”… … … … “”
Yuuri smiled wryly as the three of them averted their gazes. They had been instructing the trainees today, and their reaction said it all. There had definitely been some kind of trouble, but Yuuri didn’t ask about it. He wouldn’t understand even if they told her. He placed the large plate in the middle of the table, and the three gave it curious glances.
Well, no wonder. It looked like nothing more than grilled rectangular tofu. Not the most appetizing presentation for a snack. Yuuri calmly handed each of them a small plate and chopsticks. Chopsticks would be easier to handle than forks. These three were adept with chopsticks and silverware, so that was helpful. Some people were less comfortable with either, but not them. For the record, Yuuri didn’t know the proper way to use silverware. Table manners were irrelevant to a high school boy.
“The tofu is stuffed with bacon and cheese and grilled. Please enjoy it as is.”
“”Thanks for the food.””
Yuuri’s brief explanation was enough to get them to try it. They picked up the tofu with their chopsticks and brought it to their mouths. The crispy texture of the grilled tofu gave way to the savory blend of melted cheese and bacon, and their expressions softened. Though grilled tofu alone wouldn’t make much of a snack, the saltiness of the bacon and cheese gave it plenty of flavor to pair with alcohol.