Chapter 5, The Divine Pearl

After a brief pause, Lan Jue smiled at the barista and said, "So, have you had coffee in the past three days?"

At this point, he turned his gaze towards Lan Jue and said, "You have a good eye; this bottle of Romanée-Conti is just at its drinking period."

He is right, and of course there is a reason. The sommelier does not speak out to avoid hurting you. However, I can tell you, this serves as a retaliation for the provocation you just made

Lan Jue gazed at the wine, while the gourmet fixated on the large ham before him; their expressions were equally entranced

Lan Jue placed his wine glass on the table, but his gaze turned towards the sommelier, "You mustn't steal it. He was asking me, who told you not to speak just now"

The sommelier remained silent, grasping the long crystal stem of the goblet before him. He raised it above his head, allowing the light to illuminate the bright, translucent red liquid within the glass

The piece you have taken out is a prime example of Iberian ham, made exclusively from acorn-fed, 100% purebred Iberian pigs, which can be aged in a cave for as long as seventy-two months. Even during the Yuan Dynasty, it was a luxury item that could not be purchased regardless of wealth

The gourmet unexpectedly found a slender yet thin knife in hand, and with a gentle stroke, a slice of ham as thin as paper floated down onto the plate

The gourmet said: "What you refer to as black-haired pigs should actually be called Iberian pigs, which are typically raised in the forest pastures located in the central-western region of Spain during the Upper Paleolithic. This area features a typical Mediterranean natural environment, comprising vast pastures and woodlands dominated by holm oaks and Spanish cork oaks. The primary food source for the pigs that roam freely in these expansive pastures is the fruits of these trees, acorns. Acorns are an essential condition for obtaining authentic acorn-fed Iberian ham."

The barista replied with a wry smile, "Of course I have."

Lan Jue also took a sip, lowered his head, lightly inhaled, producing a faint sound of water in his mouth, and then raised his head again to swallow the wine.

After a while, the sommelier's expression finally returned to normal, "The halo of pomegranate red is distinctly layered; it has the typical aroma of Romanée-Conti, with hints of sweet pepper and rose petals; it is light and harmonious, with a relatively restrained intensity on the palate, and an extremely long finish."

His hand created trails in the air, and soon, dozens of thin slices of ham were spread across the platter

The following steps are involved in the production: cut the pig; freeze the pork to six degrees Celsius; marinate; rinse and rest; once the marination is complete, the ham is rinsed with cold water to remove salt crystals, and then stored in a warehouse for two months to allow for even distribution of salt; naturally dry. It is then hung in a natural cave to rest for at least twenty-four months before it can be consumed, with top-quality Spanish Iberian ham requiring even up to forty-eight months of resting.

The sommelier's hands showed no tremor at all, and the four glasses of wine were poured with utmost uniformity, each at a height of exactly two fingers horizontally, making it impossible to discern any difference with the naked eye

The gourmet retrieved the plate that was being roasted over the candle flame, placed it on the table, patted the barista on the shoulder, and said: "This is the jeweler's revenge. This guy holds a grudge."

The sommelier sighed softly, gently swirling the glass in his hand and bringing it to his nose for a delicate sniff. Instantly, the seriousness in his eyes vanished, replaced by intoxication and immersion.

The barista said somewhat bewilderedly: "What kind of reason is this?"

Twenty candles were arranged densely and evenly, just slightly smaller than the square empty disk. The gourmet's right hand swept over the candles, and the twenty candles almost simultaneously ignited, the flames not high but bright

"Why should we roast it first?" the sommelier asked the gourmet

However, this ham has a problem: it is excessively rich in fat. Although the flavor is exquisite, the aroma is somewhat overshadowed by the fat. While the taste can be discerned during chewing, it ultimately falls short. I first preheat the plate, then slice the ham and place it on the plate. The temperature of the plate will cause the fat to melt, allowing it to permeate the lean meat, fully revealing all the aromas. Look, the white fat has already become transparent.

Lan Jue smiled faintly and said, "To seek knowledge, one must pay a price. Give me the wine in your cup, and I will tell you; otherwise, what would it be called but revenge"

The barista, somewhat unconvinced, said: "Why is it impossible? I don't believe it! Sommelier, is what he said true?"

In fact, the reason is quite simple: because you are a barista. Although you have a deep understanding of fine wines and gourmet food, you are ultimately a barista

Lan Jue smiled and said: "But this is not enough to persuade him, for he could claim that his thirst for knowledge is stronger than his taste for fine wine"

The barista and the librarian turned their heads and glared fiercely at Lan Jue

The barista looked at their expressions and couldn't help but say: "Is it really that exaggerated? Sommelier, give me a little more."

The barista said: "Three cups"

The sommelier sighed and said, "Originally, that plate of white bread was prepared for you, to cleanse the palate of any lingering flavors, and combined with the robust taste of Romanée-Conti, you could have managed to savor it. However, your own has already been lost to the jeweler, and I had only intended to share that one glass with you. Therefore, I apologize, but there is none for you today"

Lan Jue's gaze was also fixed on the wine glass, his movements almost identical to those of a sommelier, holding his cup and observing the crystal red within it

He picked up the cup and took a sip of warm water. Lan Jue's gaze finally turned to the barista

The barista said: "Are you tired? Can't you handle your own fire?"

The gourmet pinched the edge of the disk, placing it flat over the candle flame, allowing the outer flame to scorch the bottom of the plate

Thank you. Lan Jue elegantly picked up the cup in front of him and poured all the liquid from his cup into his own. The empty cup was returned to him.

Drinking coffee has become the most important habit in your life; the better the coffee, the more lingering and rich its aroma. However, it can also occupy your taste buds. Before tasting a top-quality red wine, in order to fully appreciate its rich fragrance, you must refrain from consuming any strongly flavored foods for at least three days. Coffee, tea, and chocolate are strictly prohibited. Otherwise, your taste buds will be compromised, and even attempting to cleanse them with white bread will leave some residual flavors. This will affect the elevation of the fine wine to your soul, which is a desecration of it.

Lan Jue signaled to him, and the barista's expression returned to calm. "However, I won't just leave like this. Although I didn't get to drink the wine, I still want to eat this ham."

The sommelier sighed, "The fact that he is willing to part with a glass of Romanée-Conti is already a very good reason in itself"

"Alright, you speak," the barista said, feeling unconvinced.

Lan Jue took another sip of the divine liquor, the exquisite essence of the heavenly pearl. "Miss Carmel visited my shop that day; although she did not make a purchase, I could tell from her gaze what she liked."

The barista said somewhat indignantly: "Alright, if your reasoning can convince me why you do not deserve to drink Romanée-Conti, I will give you this cup."

The sommelier also took a bite, almost as moved as Lan Jue, and then smiled wryly, saying: "It seems that my previous way of eating has left it in the dust"

Indeed, the originally red and white marbled slices of ham have turned the white fat translucent, resembling crystal jelly. A faint aroma wafts from the plate, lingering in the air.

The barista turned to look at Lan Jue again, "The gourmet despises me! What reason does he have to say that?"

The gourmet, enjoying his ham and sipping fine wine, smiled and said: "To eat your food, drink your drink, and still be praised by you, is truly a wonderful thing"

Lan Jue You Ran sighed, "The divine pearl paired with top Iberian ham, sommelier, I will be coming here often in the future"

The barista also wore a苦 face, the rich aroma of Iberian ham exceeded the imagination of the图书, but unfortunately, he no longer had the天神遗珠 to pair with it

Lan Jue exhaled lightly, "The fusion of floral and spicy aromas is elegant and delightful; it reveals an astonishing fluidity and harmony on the palate, with notes of red fruits and cherries, and rich, delicate tannins. The finesse and presence of this wine is a surprise for us! Truly, it deserves its reputation as the divine gem of the wine world! I believe that for the next three days, my taste buds and even my gums will be filled with its wonderful flavor, making it impossible to drink any wine for three days."

The sommelier did not look at him, yet there was bitterness in his eyes. He knew that the jeweler was not an ordinary person, but if he were to act casually...

The bright red wine flowed smoothly into the glass, without causing even the slightest ripple. The aroma of the wine was not overly strong, as if all the flavors were locked within the crystal-clear liquid, resembling a pigeon blood red ruby.

He took a rather large sip, savoring it slightly in his mouth before swallowing

The gourmet did not even glance at him and said: "This is why you lack taste. If it weren't for extraordinary luck, you would not be able to drink today's wine and eat such ham. My fire is yang fire, hot and fierce. Candlelight is yin fire, gentle, warm, and even. What I need now is the latter"

Blue Absolute said: "This is certainly a reason; compared to red wine, you prefer coffee more. May I ask, how many cups of coffee do you drink each day?"

Lan Jue raised his hand to pinch a piece, sending it to his mouth. In an instant, he was moved by the rich and pure aroma, which lingered endlessly in his mouth. After taking another sip of Romanée-Conti, he was already intoxicated

The barista's expression stiffened, and with a faint sigh, he said, "You win."