Sonoka's Pancakes

As noon approached, the sky began to display a deep, rich blue.

A few fluffy white clouds drifted lazily, resembling soft cotton candy.

A gentle breeze blew by, carrying the faint fragrance of distant flowers and grasses!

The people on the street were either hurrying along or leisurely sitting in roadside cafés, enjoying this rare, beautiful moment.

At that moment, Zane, who had gotten up early, opened the window and immediately inhaled the fresh, fragrant air.

…

After freshening up, he headed to the kitchen, intending to make himself some breakfast.

"Huh?"

"Sonoka, you're up?"

But just as he stepped into the kitchen, he spotted a familiar and graceful figure.

Ever since the Shunkatei restaurant closed down, leaving Sonoka and Taki without a place to stay, they had both been temporarily living in the tavern.

So it wasn't surprising to see her in the kitchen, but it still left Zane a bit puzzled.

"Zane, you're awake?" 

Hearing the deep male voice behind her, Sonoka quickly set down the tools she was holding and turned to smile at Zane.

"Just woke up! What are you making?" Zane asked curiously as he approached.

"I'm planning to bake some pancakes," Sonoka said softly, pointing to the unfinished pancakes on the counter.

…

Pancakes originated in England.

The ingredients and method are simple, the success rate is high, and they're delicious. Whether paired with honey, cream, or fresh fruit, they can bring out different flavors.

During afternoon tea, pancakes play an indispensable role as a sweet treat.

After all, the mixture of flour and water creates a substance with good stretch and elasticity.

When making pancakes, flour is the main ingredient. When mixed with water and stirred, the resulting wet gluten expands during baking due to the steam generated.

Typically, the higher the baking humidity, the greater the steam pressure, and the greater the expansion force on the wet gluten.

Thus, layer by layer, the pancake batter expands with the heat until the moisture in the gluten is fully baked out.

In truth, many people's understanding of baking pancakes remains at a rather basic level!

…

"Zane, the pancakes are ready. Would you like to try one?" 

While Zane was lost in thought, Sonoka picked up a freshly baked almond pancake and waved it slightly in front of him.

The freshly baked pancake exuded a rich aroma of eggs and milk.

At the same time, there was a faint, enticing almond scent, as gentle and sweet as a spring breeze brushing across your face.

"Alright," Zane replied, snapping out of his thoughts.

He took the pancake from Sonoka's hand and couldn't resist taking a small bite.

"Huh? This flavor…"

It was fragrant, soft, and sweet!

The pancake had a soft, fluffy texture when bitten into.

Even though the ingredients were somewhat simple, Sonoka's careful baking brought out all the flavors of the pancake!

The unique sweetness of the almonds lingered in his mouth, echoing pleasantly.

Without exaggeration, even though Sonoka wasn't particularly skilled in making desserts, this level of pancake could easily be among the best in Japan's dessert scene.

…

"What do you think of the taste of these almond pancakes?" 

Seeing Zane close his eyes to savor the taste, Sonoka couldn't help but ask.

"Let me think."

"Overall, they're good."

"The control of the heat was perfect, so the pancakes turned out neither burnt nor undercooked, bringing out all the flavors."

"But there's still a small flaw—the ratio of flour to water isn't quite right, which makes them lack a bit of chewiness… Also, just almonds alone might not be enough!"

"You could consider adding some honey, or maybe some sugar," Zane suggested after swallowing the bite.

"Really?" Sonoka asked, blinking in surprise. "I didn't know there was so much to consider when making pancakes."

"Can you make a batch of almond pancakes your way for me to try?"

"Of course!" Zane replied without hesitation.

…

First, he prepared low-gluten flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt, mixing them in a bowl.

He stirred them evenly and set them aside.

Then, he cracked eggs into another bowl, added milk and oil, and stirred until the mixture was smooth and free of oil streaks.

Next, he sifted the flour mixture into the liquid mixture.

He used a whisk to stir until smooth and then let the batter rest for 10 minutes.

With the batter ready, Zane opted for a traditional pan-cooking method since he lacked an oven.

He heated a skillet, spooned the batter, and poured it from about 20 centimeters above the pan.

The batter naturally formed a circle as it spread.

After pouring, he turned the heat to low, letting the pancake cook slowly. When bubbles began to form on the surface, he flipped the pancake, letting the other side brown evenly before removing it from the heat.

To make the next pancake, he cooled the pan by rinsing it under cold water, then poured the batter and cooked it as before.

Once all the pancakes were done, he plated them.

Zane garnished each pancake with a drizzle of honey, then added a fried egg and bacon as toppings.

And just like that, the fragrant, golden pancakes were ready!

…

"Well?"

"How do they compare to the almond pancakes you made?" 

Zane, now finished with the pancakes, wiped the sweat from his brow and turned to look at Sonoka, whose eyes were filled with curiosity.

"To be honest, I can't tell the difference just by looking," Sonoka confessed, blushing with embarrassment.

Seeing her shy and confused expression, Zane paused, then realized what she meant.

"Go ahead and taste it."

"I think you'll be pleasantly surprised."

"Alright."

Sonoka obediently picked up a pancake and took a bite.

…

Just from the appearance, Zane's pancakes were noticeably different from the ones Sonoka had learned to make from a recipe.

Zane's pancakes not only looked better but also had a rich aroma of eggs and milk, with a hint of savory bacon. Perhaps because they were pan-fried, they had a stronger flavor, and the steam evaporated faster.

So, when she picked up the pancake, it felt delightfully crispy.

"Crunch!"

With a gentle bite, the layers of the pancake broke apart, each bite feeling like a dance on her taste buds.

The crispness and the almond's unique fragrance complemented each other, making the pancake irresistibly sweet and tempting.

The filling was even richer.

The almond's dense and smooth texture slowly released in her mouth, bringing a deep and lasting satisfaction.

Moreover, the sweetness of the almond was just right.

It wasn't overly sweet, perfectly balancing the crispness of the pancake.

This made the pancake's texture more layered, with each bite offering a different flavor.

This pancake even had a hint of milky flavor that blended with the almond's scent, making the overall taste richer, as if every bite was filled with happiness!

Finally, as she continued chewing, the pancake's texture changed.

From the initial crispiness to a soft finish, this transformation not only enriched the taste but also made Sonoka appreciate the passing of time and the beauty of life.

This feeling was indeed unexpected!

Especially the crispy and sweet texture, which amazed Sonoka!

"These pancakes are so delicious!"

Light, tasty, sweet but not overwhelming, paired with a fried egg and bacon!

Sonoka had never tasted pancakes this good.

The honey brushed on the pancake's surface was wonderfully sweet, but the amount was just right, so it didn't overpower the other flavors of the pancake.

As she continued to eat, she discovered the fried egg and bacon inside. This unexpected surprise completely captivated Sonoka, and she quickly devoured the pancake in her hand!

"Did I really just finish it so quickly?"

Sonoka looked at her empty hands in disbelief and then glanced at the remaining pancakes on the table, her eyes glinting with desire. "Zane, can I have another one?"

"Go ahead!"

"I made these to be eaten. Who cares who eats them?"

"Thank you so much," Sonoka said, her eyes lighting up.

She quickly grabbed another pancake and began eating with great enthusiasm.

Soon, she was holding one pancake in her hand, eating another, and eyeing a third one on the plate.

Her ravenous eating might make someone think she hadn't eaten in days!

…

The golden-brown color on the pancakes results from a chemical reaction between the proteins and sugars at high temperatures.

This reaction is known as the Maillard reaction.

The ideal temperature for this reaction is between 140 to 170 degrees Celsius. If the color is too light, it means the temperature or cooking time wasn't sufficient.

Of course.

It could also be due to insufficient sugar.

Therefore, brushing honey on the pancakes doesn't just add sweetness.

"Ah, I'm so satisfied!" 

Having eaten several pancakes, Sonoka couldn't help but exclaim.

In terms of culinary skills, Zane was truly impressive.

His understanding of making pancakes far surpassed Sonoka's, and his knowledge and use of ingredients were something she could hardly hope to match.

…

Time flew, and it was soon time for the tavern to open.

The first customer of the day was none other than Erina's mother, Leonora, who had visited the previous night.

"Hmm~"

"When you first taste it, there's a slight bitterness, but afterward, there's a lingering sweetness that's unforgettable."

"How interesting. This wine, whether in its brewing process, taste, or flavor, is unlike any dandelion wine made by other wineries."

"In terms of quality…"

"This tavern's

 dandelion wine is undoubtedly the best in the world!"

Savoring the taste, Leonora closed her eyes in deep satisfaction.

As the head of Totsuki's international research department, Leonora excelled in molecular gastronomy, innovative culinary theories, and even methods to reduce the distillation process by using just two layers of porcelain bowls…

She could grasp the essence of these complex processes with ease.

So she knew that the tavern's dandelion wine was not made using the most advanced distillation methods.

However, the wine's unique flavor, created using a more traditional brewing method, left her utterly baffled.

"Zane, this dandelion wine… Did you brew it yourself?" 

Leonora asked, raising her head to look at Zane.

"Of course," Zane replied calmly.

"Can you tell me the secret recipe for making this dandelion wine?"

Leonora took another sip of the wine, clearly wanting more.

"First, wash the grapes thoroughly, then rinse them in warm water. Crush all the wild grapes and put them into a wine barrel. Add the dandelion roots and sugar, and stir well."

"Finally, cover the barrel and let it ferment."

"Uh-huh, and then?"

"What do you mean, 'and then?' That's it!" Zane replied with a shrug.

"That's it?"

"The method for making this wine is that simple?"

Leonora was stunned. The wine's unique flavor, crafted through such a simple process, was hard to believe.

"There's more to it than meets the eye!"

"Brewing involves a lot of knowledge."

"You have to know that brewing begins with defining the style and various parameters, and with dandelion wine, the most significant factors are the choice of hops and special malts!"

"These two ingredients determine the flavor of the wine, especially for styles like APA or IPA, which focus heavily on hop character."

"Also, the type of hops."

"Determines the aroma and complexity of the wine."

"For example, is it more floral? Or does it have a pine resin scent? Or maybe it leans toward fruity notes?"

"As for the dandelion flower, it's unique compared to its root and leaves, essentially a nectar of extreme conditions!"

"But during the brewing process, you still need some additional ingredients, like raisins and a bit of orange juice, to achieve the perfect wine."

"Only then…"

"The final product can have a sweet taste with a unique floral aroma and fruity notes."

"Oh, I see."

"So you added some unusual ingredients during the brewing process," Leonora finally understood after listening to Zane's explanation.

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