'How can you dislike bell peppers if you've never even eaten one?'

Once Hurt has calmed down, I ask him again about the part that has been bothering him.

I am sure that there must be some images that you think you don't like, no matter how much you don't like them.

If not, it is impossible for me to think that I am not good at it.

Hmmm, what should I say? I've never eaten it before, so I don't have any big reason, but people have always said it's bad and hated it.

'...... is that, by any chance, a story from when you were a kid?'

Sheikh, who had been listening attentively to Ralph's reminiscences, says with a quizzical look on his face.

Yes, that's right. Back then, we all used to say that green peppers tasted bad.

You, how long ago did that story come true and how long have you been dragging it on?

'Shut up! You said it tasted bad too, so I decided to avoid eating it as much as possible!

'That's just a story from when I was a kid.

Not knowing Ralph and Sheikh's childhood or the village, Hurt and I were a bit left out, but we had a general idea of what the situation was like.

'Perhaps the word 'tasteless' that was said to them when they were young has made an imprint on them and they are not very good at it.

'Sadly, that's probably the reason.'


It is not the same as being forced to eat something that made you dislike it, but it is an excellent cause.

If you ask me if it was the child's fault for talking about the fact that green peppers are bad, it is inevitable that everyone's tongue is not developed enough to feel that way at that time.

It is not anyone's fault.

But if I had to give one reason, it would be that Ralph was more honest than I had imagined.

I never thought he would take such an old saying and drag it out for so long. .......

'But if that's the cause, it may be easy to overcome.

'Don't say it, but can you get over it now?'

Sheikh, who had been listening to Hult's words, asks.

Ralph also looked as if he did not know how to overcome the problem.

'Yes, I can! If it is because of an image that is imprinted on your mind that it is bad, then you can actually eat it and make it taste good!

'You're going to blow away your dislike of green peppers by making people realize again that they're delicious.'

'Geez, you're going to make me eat green peppers after all. ......'

Ralph frowned as if he had heard my conversation with Hurt and understood the flow of the conversation.

I hope you will give up on that problem, which my father will deal with sooner or later, even if Hurt doesn't come.

He's worried about Ralph's frequent vegetable leaving.

But do you have any idea how to make Ralph think that green peppers are delicious?

''Yes.''

Hurt nodded confidently, which was the important part I was trying to figure out how to do.

I wondered what kind of green bell pepper dish he would feed Ralph, who hates to eat green peppers.

'As I recall, Ralph likes hamburger patties, don't you?

'Yes, because I like meat. I especially like hamburgers!

When the stall is open, Ralph comes to eat there every day. Hurt, who comes to the stall to stock up and check on things, must have been aware of this.

Ralph smiles and Hurt nods his head in satisfaction.

Hm, then there is no problem. I'll make a green bell pepper dish for dinner that Ralph will like. Tori, let's go to the kitchen.

'Oh, I'm going with you?







I thought Hurt was going to make a green bell pepper dish for Ralph all by himself, but then he took me to the kitchen too.

In the kitchen, my father is already preparing dinner, and Hurt calls out to him from the entrance.

Mr. Abel, can you lend me the kitchen for a minute?

Oh? Hurt. What the hell are you doing?

'To teach a man who hates green peppers a little how wonderful they are.

'I had a problem with that guy. I don't mind if you do.

Dad grinned at Hurt's words and gave his permission.

Ralph's dislike of green peppers bothered him the most.

'Hey, do I need to help too?

'Yes. Because this dish can only be made by Tori.

Something you can't make without me? As I was pondering whether there was such a dish, something popped into my mind.

A hamburger steak, perhaps?

'Yes, that's right. Only Tori can make Ralph's favorite hamburger.

In fact, Carlo can make hamburgers too, but with a slightly different seasoning for the ones he serves to Ralph. Hurt is not wrong.

It's kind of weird that I taste like Ralph's mom.

So you mix chopped green peppers in the hamburger!

Mix chopped green peppers into your favorite hamburger. To overcome a dislike of something, eat it with something you like.
It is a royal strategy of housewives around the world.

But this was immediately denied by Hurt.

'You idiot! That would ruin the goodness of green peppers. I don't want to push them with hamburgers, but I want them to like green peppers after they recognize how delicious they are.

'Yeah, isn't that being too greedy?'

I'm not being too greedy. Anyway, make me a hamburger. I'll prep the peppers.

Ralph would be able to communicate just by putting green peppers in a hamburger, but it seems that the ideal that Harte is pursuing is much higher.

At any rate, I do as he asks, taking out pork and pounding it into mince with a knife.

The sound of pounding meat echoes through the kitchen.

Ah, I asked Dodogal for a meat chopper because it's too much trouble to mince hamburger steak, but now I have to do it like this again.

I hope Dodogal will finish the meat chopper soon.

While I was mindlessly pounding the meat with such thoughts in my mind, I heard a sound like boiling water coming from Hurt who was nearby.

When I turned my attention to him, I saw him looking at the pot on the fire with his arms crossed.

Hmmm? Do the peppers need hot water for preparation? Boiling, perhaps?

While I was having these doubts, Hurt put two tablespoons of oil into the hot water.

What? What are you doing?

I don't understand the point of putting oil in the water if you are going to boil it in hot water.

'Prep the peppers for Ralph. It's oiling.

'Oiling?'

I tilt my head to the side, having never heard the word before.

It means to dip them in hot oil for a short time. This helps to reduce the bitterness of the peppers.



'Heh, I see.

I knew that raw fish and meat were quickly dipped in boiling water, but I did not know that there was such a thing as dipping them in heated oil.

In addition to the above, the hot-water-dipping method can prevent the loss of ingredients such as water, nutrients, and flavor, and can also trap them in the water. This makes it more delicious, so it is recommended as an extra step before stir-frying.

I see, you are indeed the son of a green grocer. That's a good reference.

I noticed that my father, who had been preparing the food, was taking notes while listening to the conversation.

As a chef, Hurt's words must be very helpful for him, as he boasts the best knowledge about vegetables.

It would be better to use oil only, but that would require a lot of oil consumption and time and effort.

'Ah, the kitchen gets dirty more easily, and it's more difficult to keep the fire going.'

If we consumed oil every time we used vegetables, we would run out of oil very quickly.

But it is enough to just add a little oil to boiling water.

That's easy and convenient to do at home. Let's try it with today's stir-fried vegetables: ......'

While listening to Hurt and my father's discussion about vegetables, I was working on the minced vegetables and added seasonings to the minced vegetables.

Hurt, what do you want to do with the minced hamburger steak?

'Stuff the peppers I cut up.'

'I see, stuffed peppers.

'It's a simple but good name. I'll call it that from now on.

I had a vague idea from the fact that you didn't mix it with hamburgers, but I knew it was this.

It is true that the crunchiness and bitterness of the green pepper matches with the hamburger, and you can enjoy both flavors.

I think Ralph might like it too.

I stuffed the minced meat into the green pepper that Hurt had prepared and pan-fried it.



I stuffed the minced meat into the bell peppers that Hurt had prepared and pan-fried them.



When the green bell pepper dish was finished, I asked Ralph to come to the cafeteria for dinner, even though it was a little early.

'Ah, it's depressing to think that dinner will be green peppers,' he said.

'I get free food from Tori and her friends. You should be more than happy.

'That's right. Tori and Hurt's original dish?

Ralph sighs, and his fellow partygoers Sheik and Hermina are naturally seated at his table.

I guess they are amused by Ralph's reaction, and they are also trying to take advantage of the fact that the food we are serving is free.

In case you are wondering, I am offering to cook for them the bell bell pepper dish, which they don't like, because of my and Harto's meddling. We will not force them to pay for it.

If you're looking forward to it so much, you guys can eat it, can't you?

'I'd like to, but this time it's for Ralph's sake, so I won't say anything like that. Tori and the others have gone to such great lengths for your sake that you're too old to eat.

Ralph looks a little offended when Hermina rebukes him.

I'd be happy if you could at least take a bite. If it's not good, I'll think of something else.

We do not intend to force them to eat.

Since people's tastes in food are inevitable, we have no choice but to offer another vegetable dish or to give up on it.

If possible, we hope that even Ralph, who does not like vegetables, will be able to eat something.

'...... So, if Ralph keeps saying that the food tastes bad, he can keep eating the prototype forever!

'Ralph, take a bite and tell me it's not good.

Here's a bad adventurer trying to take advantage of my kind words.

Hermina, where did you leave your words of rebuke for Ralph?

'I think it's not so bad since it contains some of Ralph's favorite foods.

'Is your favorite food a hamburger steak or ......?

Hearing my words, Ralph's cloudy expression brightens up.

Laughing at his innocent reaction like a child, I call Hurt over.

Ralph brings a plate of stuffed peppers.

'Stuffed peppers!

Wow, this looks delicious! That's a hamburger stuffed with hamburger, isn't it?''

Yes, it is. The meat is Tori's hamburger steak.

This is definitely not a good guy!

'It's simple, but I think even Ralph could eat this!

Well, we all looked at the bell bell pepper hater to see what his reaction would be, and Ralph was trying to separate the bell pepper from the hamburger with a fork.

'Hey! Don't try to peel the meat off the peppers!

'Because it's a hamburger! It's definitely better to eat it by itself!''

Ralph talks like a child.

'It's only when you eat the hamburger and the peppers together that you can appreciate the taste! Don't separate them, eat them properly!''

'Wow, I get it.'

Reluctantly, Ralph sticks his fork into the stuffed pepper after being scolded by Hurt.

He looks at it carefully and smells it.

He is very wary of the food, as he hates to eat it.

'...... at least it doesn't smell green...' he says.

The smell and bitterness are suppressed by special treatment. You will hardly feel the greenness and bitterness that people used to say.

Hurt said this, and Ralph slowly brought the stuffed peppers to his mouth.

Ralph chews with fear in his eyes.

I can hear the crunching sound of the peppers in his mouth.

'...... how do you like it?

'Eh, what's that? What's this? It's not that it's normal, it's just that it's delicious, or that it's edible at all.'

Hurt asked, and Ralph looked surprised himself.

He ate a green pepper, which he did not like, and said it was delicious.

For those of us who cooked for Ralph, this was the highest compliment we could have received.

Hurt and I couldn't help but laugh and clench our fists together.

'Oh, no! What kind of thing is that?

'Let us eat too!

Surprised by Ralph's reaction, Hermina and Sheik extend their forks and eat, too.

'Wow! Delicious! These peppers don't smell green, and the slight bitterness matches the flavor of the hamburger!

'I like how the peppers are crispier than usual!

'Hey! This is mine! You're eating too much!''

'You said I could eat it earlier, so it's invalid.'

'That's right, that's right.

The three of us ate the stuffed peppers together, and in no time at all the plate was empty.

Ralph looks somewhat satisfied with his meal, and Hurt asks him.



'Are you going to be able to eat bell peppers from now on?'

'Yeah, I don't know if I'm suddenly asked to eat them raw, but at least I can eat stuffed peppers, and I think I have less of an aversion to them!

'If I'm not so bad at it anymore, I might be able to eat stir-fried sweet and spicy green peppers this time.

'Oh, I like that one too!

'The bitterness of the green pepper and the meat are a perfect and delicious combination. Besides, they are inexpensive, and if I can eat them, I can save money on food.

'So that's the way it's going to be in the end, huh?

Ralph makes a real move on Hermina, and we both laugh.

The exchange makes us imagine the poverty of the party, but the faces of Ralph and the others are very cheerful.

We may be a little sad, but the three of them always seem to be having a good time.

I'm sure they will be able to go on laughing like this, no matter what they have to go through in the future.

'Well, I'm glad you've learned to eat green peppers. Alright, let's move on to the next vegetable.

''Huh?''

Ralph's face is puzzled when he hears Hurt's line.

'I hear that you don't like all vegetables. As the son of a greengrocer, I cannot overlook such a man. I'm going to show you how good all vegetables taste, just like green peppers.

'Good! Hang in there, Ralph! I hope you'll be able to eat a set meal of stir-fried vegetables or something to help keep the food costs down!''

'...... give me a break.'

Seeing Hurt so enthusiastic and Hermina cheering him on, Ralph let out a disappointed sound.