To keep the plates from being empty when the New Year's Eve dinner began, Squirtle was banished from the kitchen, and Meownei took over as Xin Mu's assistant.
With no one sneaking bites, the empty plates were soon filled again.
"Come taste this. See if the seasoning's right."
The flavor of food made with these "Legendary Cooking Utensils" wasn't fixed. If Xin Mu deliberately added more salt, it would turn salty.
Still, the utensils included tools for measuring seasonings, which kept the flavor within a fairly consistent range.
Xin Mu had seasoned the crispy fried pork beforehand. It was good eaten plain, but dipping it in pepper salt or other sauces tasted nice too.
Since cats' tongues were sensitive to heat, Xin Mu specifically picked out a few pieces from the bottom of the plate that had already cooled down.
"Meow... (Just right. It'll probably be a little bland for Lucario, though. Get her some Berry sauce and it should be fine.)"
Berry sauce was a common condiment here. Despite being called a fruit sauce, it came in every flavor: sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, and astringent.
Even the most expensive chili sauce on the market contained Berries.
"Let's go with that, then. Take these to the dining table first, then bring me the long platter for fish from the cupboard."
"Meow~"
When Meownei turned to fetch the platter, she suddenly noticed Squirtle standing in the doorway. There was even a trace of resentment in his eyes.
"Meow?"
"Squirtle! (Why are you allowed to sneak bites when I'm not?! This is unfair treatment! This is discrimination against elderly turtles! I protest!)"
Squirtle tended to focus on rather unusual things. Right now, for instance, he was fixated on how Meownei tasting Xin Mu's cooking was perfectly acceptable, while his own taste testing