After finishing the meal, André put away the plate and asked: "What's your name, kid?
Do you remember why you fainted in the alley?"
Daichi explained to André what happened to him.
André was shocked and quickly helped to contact the police and found the phone number of Gin Dojima left by Kenji Dojima.
He also helped to contact Gin Dojima.
Gin Dojima, 27 years old this year, has been working at the Totsuki Resort in Japan for 9 years.
As the golden generation of Totsuki, he graduated as the first of the 69th Totsuki Ten Outstanding People.
After graduation, he rejected the invitation of 800 restaurants and chose to enter the Totsuki Resort.
He is currently the head of the Western Food Department.
At this time, Gin Dojima had just come out of the bathroom of the Totsuki Resort.
His bronze skin and strong body were shining brightly under the lights.
When Gin Dojima was thinking about the menu for tomorrow's dinner, he received a call from Tokyo.
When Gin Dojima heard that his brother's family had such a big change, his heart was suddenly clenched, and a suffocating feeling like a tide came over him.
After hanging up the phone, thinking of the little things he had grown up with his brother and his nephew who was far away, he suppressed his inner grief and called Nakiri Senzaemon, the commander-in-chief of Totsuki.
He turned down his work for the next day and rushed to André's Tavern in Tokyo.
At the same time, at André's Tavern in Tokyo, Mr. André opened his business for another day.
High-end ingredients often only require simple cooking methods, just like the meals provided by André's Tavern, which are mostly French home cooking, mainly grilled meat, grilled fish, and stews, and win in large portions.
There were many similar small restaurants on the streets of Tokyo, but André's Tavern relied on the signature dish of André's boss [Bourgogne red wine stewed beef] to carve out a path among many taverns and establish its own reputation in the surrounding blocks.
It attracted people around to gradually regard André's Tavern as a gathering place for daily life and entertainment.
Daichi, who was able to get out of bed, followed Boss André down to the second floor.
At this time, some guests were already sitting in the tavern chatting and drinking.
The air was filled with the aroma of malt liquor and stewed meat mixed with the sweat of workers, forming an indescribable smell.
Daichi was a little uncomfortable with the environment here.
Although he had lived in Tokyo for many years in his previous life, this 5-year-old body obviously could not accept the mixed smell in the tavern.
Daichi looked around and found that nine out of ten tables ordered the same dish.
A pretty red-haired girl at the bar was wiping her wine glass boredly and saw a serious-looking child walking down the stairs.
Claire immediately became interested and kept talking like a machine gun: "You must be Daichi!
You don't know that we were all scared when the boss brought you back yesterday.
Fortunately, Dr. Suzuki said you are fine.
Do you have something to do with the boss?
The boss is in the kitchen.
Go quickly."
As she said that, she pushed Daichi to the kitchen without giving him a chance to refute.
When Daichi came to his senses, he was already standing in the kitchen.
He seemed to have been picked up and carried to the kitchen.
Daichi came back to his senses and looked forward.
A slightly messy kitchen appeared in front of him.
All kinds of kitchen utensils seemed a little messy, but a closer look revealed that the placement of kitchen utensils was actually regular.
In the seasoning area of the kitchen, a broad back was busy with his head down.
Perhaps he heard the sound of the door opening behind him, André turned his head and looked at the door, but he didn't see anyone.
When he got closer, he found a little kid standing under the kitchen counter.
Daichi looked at André and asked, "What were you doing just now?"
"I'm making the signature dish of André's tavern, kid." André answered proudly.
Daichi pleaded, "Can I watch from the side?"
André was stunned for a moment and subconsciously answered, "No."
Then he realized that there was a 5-year-old child in front of him.
André relaxed his tone and asked Daichi, "Do you like food?"
Daichi looked into André's eyes and answered seriously, "No, sir, I like to cook."
André looked at Daichi's firm eyes, and his thoughts were a little distracted.
He recalled that when he was a child, he also stood in the kitchen at home and loudly declared to his parents, "I, André, will become a world-class chef and open my own restaurant."
The childhood dream has now become a bubble.
Although the restaurant has become a tavern, André's name has not become a benchmark in the chef world.
Although his parents did not take the words of a child seriously, they also joked about it with their neighbors.
And André still came to this day without his family's understanding.
The boss, André, has successfully established himself in Tokyo with his honed craftsmanship.
Looking at the child in front of him, André smiled, and this time his smile was very natural.
André squatted down and looked at the child in front of him.
Looking at the seriousness in the child's eyes, he seemed to see himself in the past.
Although the face was different, the eyes would not lie.
"Sure! I will teach you the signature dish of André's tavern - [André's secret Burgundy red wine stewed beef]."
"Burgundy red wine stewed beef is a very common dish in France.
In essence, my special version is nothing special.
The first is red wine.
It is best to choose a stronger wine with a little fruit flavor.
The second is the boiling of beef broth.
The meat flavor boiled in our store will be stronger.
The most important thing is to dissolve some dark chocolate in the sauce when making the sauce at the end.
One is to increase the thickness, and the other is to add a little flavor." André said while demonstrating it.
Daichi looked at the [Bourgogne Red Wine Stewed Beef] on the plate, recalling André's actions just now, thinking over and over again, as if he wanted to remember all the details in his mind.
For French cuisine, the control of details often determines the quality of the dishes.
If you want to make French cuisine well, you have to start from the step of selecting ingredients.
In fact, for any cuisine in the world, the more serious and dedicated people are, the easier it is to make good dishes.
The gap often exists in the details.
Time slipped away quietly.
As night fell, Daichi was thinking in the room about how to make the recipe his own.
Yes, that's right, Daichi has already started thinking about how to "localize" it just after learning it.
Daichi's thoughts were churning in his mind, and he had many ideas, but his 5-year-old body obviously couldn't support him to try.
At this moment, a short-haired man in a brown suit pushed the door and walked in.
Daichi looked at the visitor, and a strong man with facial features very similar to his was staring at him with red eyes.
The dusty look obviously showed that he was in a hurry to come.
After coming to his senses, Daichi stood up and asked: "You are Uncle Gin Dojima, right?
Nice to meet you.
My name is Dojima Daichi."
The morning sun filtered through the tavern windows, casting warm golden rays across the wooden floor. Daichi sat at a small table, watching André prepare breakfast with practiced movements.
'Every motion is precise, every ingredient treated with respect,' he thought, his eyes following the chef's hands. 'This is what I want to learn.'
"Ding~ New Quest Available: [Breakfast Preparation]
Objective: Help André prepare breakfast for the tavern
Reward: [Basic Knife Skills] (10% mastery)
Time Limit: 2 hours"
Daichi's heart quickened with excitement. 'A chance to learn from a real chef!'
"Would you like to help me prepare breakfast?" André asked, as if reading his thoughts. "I could use an extra pair of hands."
"Yes, please!" Daichi replied, jumping to his feet. "I want to learn everything I can."
André chuckled at his enthusiasm. "Well then, let's start with something simple. Can you help me chop these vegetables?"
As Daichi took his place at the cutting board, he felt a familiar presence behind him. Turning, he saw Claire, the red-haired girl who had saved him, watching with curious eyes.
"Good morning," she said with a smile. "I'm glad to see you're feeling better."
'She's so kind,' Daichi thought, bowing slightly. "Thank you for saving me yesterday."
Claire waved off his thanks. "It was nothing. I'm just glad you're okay." She turned to André. "Papa, can I help too?"
'Papa?' Daichi's eyes widened. 'So she's André's daughter!'
André's expression softened. "Of course, ma chérie. Why don't you help Daichi with the vegetables?"
As they worked together, Daichi couldn't help but notice how natural Claire's movements were. 'She must have grown up in the kitchen,' he thought.
The morning passed quickly, filled with the sounds of chopping, sizzling, and friendly conversation. Daichi learned more in those few hours than he had in months of self-study.
"Ding~ Quest Complete: [Breakfast Preparation]
Reward: [Basic Knife Skills] (10% mastery) obtained
New Skill Unlocked: [Vegetable Preparation] (5% mastery)"
'This is amazing!' Daichi thought, feeling the new knowledge settling into his mind. 'The system really works!'
As they finished preparing breakfast, André looked at Daichi with a thoughtful expression. "You have a natural talent for this," he said. "Have you cooked before?"
Daichi hesitated. 'How much should I tell them?' he wondered. "I... I've always been interested in cooking," he said finally. "But I've never had proper training."
André nodded, his eyes twinkling. "Well, you're in the right place to learn. If you'd like, you can stay here and help in the kitchen. I could use an apprentice."
'This is perfect!' Daichi thought, his heart racing. 'A chance to learn from a real chef, in a real kitchen!'
"Thank you!" he said, bowing deeply. "I won't let you down!"
Claire clapped her hands in delight. "This is wonderful! Now I'll have someone to practice with!"
As the first customers began to arrive, Daichi felt a sense of belonging he hadn't experienced in his previous life. 'This is where I'm meant to be,' he thought, watching André greet the regulars with warm smiles.
The day continued with Daichi learning the basics of kitchen work: cleaning, prep, and simple cooking tasks. Each new skill was a step toward his dream.
"Ding~ New Quest Available: [Kitchen Basics]
Objective: Master basic kitchen tasks
Reward: [Kitchen Management] skill
Time Limit: 1 week"
'One week to learn the basics,' Daichi thought, determination filling his heart. 'I'll work harder than ever before!'
As the sun set, casting long shadows through the tavern windows, Daichi felt a sense of accomplishment. This was just the beginning of his journey, but he was ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.
The aroma of dinner preparations filled the air, mingling with the sounds of happy customers and the warmth of the kitchen. In this small French tavern in Tokyo, a new chapter of Daichi's life was unfolding, one recipe at a time.
And thus, his training began, with the promise of growth and the chance to become the chef he always dreamed of being.
Daichi and Gin arrived at Totsuki Academy, and Daichi was immediately struck by the grandeur of the place. The campus was vast, with modern facilities and a bustling atmosphere. Students hurried past, their faces filled with determination and ambition.
Gin led Daichi to the administration office, where they met with the school's director, Nakiri Senzaemon. The old man was known for his strict standards and high expectations. He had built Totsuki Academy into one of the world's premier culinary schools, and his influence in the culinary world was unmatched.
Senzaemon welcomed Daichi warmly, expressing his condolences for the loss of his parents. He had known Daichi's father, who had been a promising student at Totsuki Academy. Senzaemon was pleased to see that Daichi had inherited his father's passion for cooking.
After the formalities, Gin took Daichi on a tour of the campus. They visited the various kitchens, where students were busy preparing dishes. The air was filled with the aroma of different cuisines, and Daichi felt a sense of belonging.
Gin explained the structure of the school, including the Elite Ten Council, the top ten students who held significant power and influence. He told Daichi about the challenges he would face, the rigorous training, and the competitive environment.
Daichi listened intently, his determination growing stronger. He knew that the path ahead would be difficult, but he was ready to face any challenge. With the support of his uncle and the guidance of Totsuki Academy, he was confident that he could achieve his dreams.
As the day came to an end, Daichi felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. The journey to becoming a great chef was about to begin, and he was ready to give it his all.