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Simple Cook
SC1 17.2 – The Menu

SC1 17.2 – The Menu

SC1 17.2 – The Menu

After dinner I studied the draft from Owner Tokuma. It was pretty much like what he had told me. My dishes would be sold through his store. Each menu had net price no higher than 3.50 monn after my profit. That way, Owner Tokuma had maximum margin for the profit and operational cost about 1.50 monn per dish, and the retail price for the most expensive dish would go no higher than 5 monn.

As for the store management, I could give some advice but Owner Tokuma had the final say. On the other side, I didn’t need to hand over my recipe. The draft also mentioned that Owner Tokuma could provide me a kitchen located in the Sotora’s backyard, but I didn’t need it. I would cook in working kitchen in the balcony.

In summary, my part was cooking mostly. It wouldn’t be enough for some cook, but for me it was an ideal offer. Then, I went to arrange the menu. My initial plan was to go with Japanese cuisine. Unfortunately, until now I still had not found soy sauce and mirin that could satisfy my standard. I also had not produce dashi, the soul that gave most Japanese cuisine its unique flavor.

Therefore, I postponed my plan to offer Japanese cuisine and switched to Chinese cuisine. There were five Chinese seasoning staples I could not find locally. Oyster sauce, Chinese black vinegar, Shaoxing wine, Sichuan pepper, and doubanjiang. However, it was a problem I could solve with ease.

I already produced home-made oyster sauce, so it was not a problem anymore. As for Chinese black vinegar, I could replace it by mixing equal amount of balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar, and water. This improvised black vinegar worked very well for most Chinese dishes, while for certain dishes I could use a combination of lemon juice and honey.

As for Sichuan pepper, I would replace it with combination of dried orange peel, lemon leaf, and Cheyenne pepper flake. The flavor was not exactly the same, but it was closed enough.

To substitute Shaoxing wine, I could just use cooking sake. While for doubanjiang or broad bean chili paste, I could replace it with combination of chili oil, ground red pepper, brown sugar, and 2-year-old miso paste with high percentage of soybean.

And so, I arranged the menu. They were Chinese cuisine mostly, along with some Asian cuisine. Then, I calculate the production cost before pondering the name for the store.

The chef who taught me Chinese cuisine and other Asian non-Japanese cuisine was Taiwanese, so I wanted the name for the store have Taiwan on it. Not to mention, every time I recalled my experience of exploring street food in Taiwan, it always motivated me to cook delicious dish.

It deeply engraved in my mind that the small but great country of Taiwan managed to preserve both their native and Chinese culinary tradition in its best shape. They even evolved it further and absorbed other culinary tradition from around the world. I wanted this spirit became the soul of my first store.

And the result was:

The Great Country of Taiwan

Affordable delicacies by Simple Cook

Noodle Dishes

2.70 Monn/bowl Spicy Chili Garlic Pork Noodles

2.70 Monn/bowl Spicy Chili Garlic Shrimp and Squid Noodles

2.50 Monn/bowl Soy Sauce Oyster Noodles

2.50 Monn/bowl Soy Sauce Chicken Noodles

2.50 Monn/bowl Chicken Chow Mein (Chinese stir fry noodles)

2.50 Monn/bowl Squid and Shrimp Chow Mein

2.10 Monn/bowl Vegetarian Chow Mein

Rice Bowl

2.00 Monn/bowl Mapo Tofu Bowl

2.00 Monn/bowl Kung Pao Chicken Bowl

2.00 Monn/bowl Kung Pao Squid Bowl

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2.00 Monn/bowl Squid and Green Chili Bowl

1.65 Monn/bowl Chicken and Broccoli Bowl

1.65 Monn/bowl Sardine and Tomato Bowl

1.50 Monn/bowl Egg and Tomato Bowl

Rice Burger

1.80 Monn/piece Ginger Pork Burger

1.80 Monn/piece Chicken Burger

1.50 Monn/piece Egg and Ham Burger

Soup

0.35 Monn/bowl Potato Soup

0.20 Monn/bowl Egg Drop Soup

Others

0.20 Monn/130 gr Cooked White Rice

0.08 Monn/small plate Kimchi (South Korean pickled-napa cabbage)

0.08 Monn/3 pcs Spinach Crackers (Garlic / Chili / Seaweed flavored)

Drinking Snack

0.90 Monn/small plate Chili & Garlic Shrimp / Squid / Smelt / Pork Ribs

0.90 Monn/small plate Oyster Omelet

0.90 Monn/small plate Spicy Anchovy

0.75 Monn/3 pieces Egg Dumpling

0.75 Monn/6 pieces Fried Quail Egg

0.75 Monn/3 pieces Stuffed Fried Tofu

0.75 Monn/6 pieces Stuffed Steamed Tofu

Ordinary Snack

0.20 Monn/small plate Chili & Garlic Tofu / Potato

0.10 Monn/small plate Roasted Peanut (Garlic / Chili / Seaweed flavored)

0.10 Monn/small plate Potato Chips (Garlic / Chili / Seaweed flavored)

Hot Beverages

0.12 Monn/cup Lemon and Ginger

0.12 Monn/cup Warm Orange

0.12 Monn/cup Warm Lemon

0.08 Monn/cup Lemon Tea

0.08 Monn/cup Ginger Tea

0.08 Monn/cup Black Tea

0.05 Monn/cup Warm Water

Cold Beverages

0.15 Monn/glass Ice Lemon and Ginger

0.15 Monn/glass Orange Juice

0.15 Monn/glass Apple Juice

0.15 Monn/glass Lemonade

0.12 Monn/glass Ice Lemon Tea

0.12 Monn/glass Ice Ginger Tea

0.10 Monn/glass Ice Tea

0.05 Monn/glass Ice Water

And finally it was done. A moment later, Kato came out from resting hut and went straight to dining hut. As soon as she arrived before me, she put several piles of warrior clothes, masks, and personal hygiene supply on the table.

“I have ordered your robe through Sotora and will take a few days. I will also need a few days to make the second red demon mask,” Kato said. “As for the rest, here they are.”

“Thank you.”

Wasting no time I checked the goods. The personal hygiene supply consisted of two toothbrushes, a box of tooth paste, a pack of two soap bars, and a box of washing detergent. The masks were accordingly to my clone name, with the section on the mouth and chin was uncovered so they could wear it when they eat and drink.

As for the warrior clothes, I instantly creased my brow as I found there were two types. The first type was ordinary warrior clothes, while the second one was black warrior clothes with black head cover.

“The ordinary ones are for daily use. The black ones are for when your clones carry covert errand,” Kato explained.

I nodded and said, “I see.”

I had to admit, Kato’s attentiveness was beyond my expectation. It was good thing that she decided to stay around.

“Are Yunno and Yui already sleeping?”

“They are.”

Wasting no time I asked my clones to come out and handed over the goods. Without many words they put their mask on and store everything else in their spatial storage. The exception was Sanno-01, as he didn’t need to wear mask. As for Deitoro-01, he had to wear the black head cover until Kato finished the red demon mask.

“Find a quiet place to train. Come back only when you reach Level 2,” I said to Deitoro-01

“Got it.”

After receiving all essence cubes I had, Deitoro-01 left the hut. At the same time, I asked my other clones to prepare the sample dishes for Owner Tokuma. After receiving the ingredient and equipment they needed, they went to working kitchen in the balcony and started the work right away.

As for me, I stayed in the dining hut and explained the deal I have with Owner Tokuma to Kato. She listened to my explanation attentively to the end, and then turned her gaze to me.

“Do you need my help?”

“On the contrary,” I firmly said. “I want you to stay out of the business I run.”

“Why?”

After taking a deep breath I said, “A lot of great businessman meet tragic fate because their very own family makes a deal behind their back. Therefore, I want to ensure people have business talk only with me or no talk at all.”

“I see,” Kato casually replied. “I will focus my attention on Yunno and Yui then.”

“If you can find spare time and want to start your own business, I won’t forbid you.”

“Nope,” Kato firmly replied. “Run a business is not my thing. I just want to train myself to be the best warrior I can be, while helping you taking care of Yunno and Yui.

When it’s time to leave, I will fake my death and leave, and start my adventure in martial world.”

‘I hope what Kato said is truly her wish. That way we will get along very well,’ I muttered before taking out the marriage certificate. “Here, I have register our relationship.”

“Okay.” Kato happily smiled before putting the marriage certificate into her spatial ring.

“Well, let’s start the night training.”

Without delay, I and Kato started our night training. It was tough and rather violent, but Kato preserved as usual.

*****