"It looks pretty good."
Looking at the Secret Recipe Braised Fish placed before her, Taki Tsunozaki twitched her nose, inhaling the wonderful fragrance wafting from it. She couldn't help but praise it softly.
"Let's taste it first."
Fuyumi Mizuhara swallowed, a faint blush on her cheeks. As she spoke, she picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of fish, and closed her eyes to savor it carefully.
As the fish entered her mouth, the first sensation was its extreme tenderness. After being prepared through several processes, the texture of this fish could be described as tender to the absolute limit!
With a slight chew, the fish melted in her mouth, leaving only a rich, savory flavor.
"The addition of orange juice brings a distinct fruitiness and tanginess to the fish. This sweet and sour flavor not only effectively neutralizes the fishiness but also adds a touch of fresh, refined elegance."
Hinako Inui's voice echoed through the hall. Everyone saw her covering half her face, a look of pure enjoyment overflowing, clearly captivated by the dish's flavor.
"After being clear-fried, the fish skin is crispy, yet the inside remains tender and smooth. This crisp, clean texture, contrasted with the tartness from the orange juice, means that every bite is filled with an intense sense of satisfaction!"
Gin Dōjima's voice rang out. His eyes were slightly narrowed, and his hands had risen at some point, as if embracing the heavens and the earth.
With every chew, the flavor of the fish spread throughout the mouth, and as the chewing continued, all the tastes were released.
The large scallions and dried chili peppers, having been blanched, had their aromas fully released, intertwining with the scent of orange to form a deep, rich fragrance that stirred one's appetite.
"It looks so delicious, and it smells so fragrant. What a wonderful taste! I wish I could go up and have a bite to see how it tastes!"
"What an amazing dish! Even from so far away, it makes you feel an uncontrollable craving, a desire to go up there and devour it completely!"
"I really want to…"
Discussions rose and fell throughout the venue, especially when the judges used their chopsticks to break apart the fish, releasing even more of the aroma inside.
Many spectators had looks of longing on their faces, wishing they could go up and take the judges' places. Only the experienced chefs and gourmands could maintain their composure. However, their constantly shifting gazes revealed their true thoughts to a certain extent.
"Actually, the most satisfying part is the final layer of sauce, made with scallion oil, dark soy sauce, and the fish braising liquid, plus the steamed scallions and the slurry. I remember the sauce was brought to a boil in the wok before being thickened with a light cornstarch slurry. This spoonful of sauce not only makes the color of the fish more appealing and its flavor richer, but it also firmly locks all the flavors from the braising process inside the fish, releasing them only at the moment you take a bite!"
As the dish entered her mouth, Sonoka Kikuchi's body trembled slightly.
Immediately after, a complex yet orderly flavor slowly spread through her mouth. The fish was delicate, without any bones to be found.
Clearly, all the bones had already been removed by Huang Mei before cooking.
The number of bones in a grass carp is about average among fish; its main spines are large and obvious, while the intermuscular bones are smaller and distributed throughout the flesh. Removing them without damaging the meat requires extremely high skill.
"Every bite is a symphony of the fish's tenderness and the sauce's mellowness. Crispiness and softness intertwine in the mouth. It's truly unforgettable!"
Gin Dōjima's voice was filled with satisfaction.
"This dish... it should have already touched the threshold of Special Grade!"
Taki Tsunozaki gave Huang Mei a deep look, her voice tinged with disbelief.
In the year since graduation, she had participated in Japan's Special Grade Chef examination, and with her formidable skill, she became a Special Grade Chef with incredible ease. Even so, her probability of creating a Special Grade dish wasn't very high, maybe one out of every two dishes, and that was only when giving it her all.
And now, the young girl before her had presented a Special Grade dish in a competition. Although it was just barely touching the edge of Special Grade, it was already an incredible feat. At the very least, she couldn't do it when she was Huang Mei's age.
"Indeed. But to be more precise, it's somewhere between a First-Grade dish and a Special Grade dish. Let's call it a Quasi-Special Grade Cuisine for now. To be able to create a Quasi-Special Grade dish at this age... her future is limitless!"
Gin Dōjima nodded, giving a more accurate assessment. At the same time, his gaze towards Huang Mei was full of admiration.
What an outstanding talent!
"To be able to make a Special Grade dish as a first-year is truly remarkable.""
Sonoka Kikuchi also spoke up in praise. Through her all-night conversations with Dylan, she knew that he had sent a group from the Dark Cooking Society to take root at Totsuki, and the person before her was one of them.
The Dark Cooking Society was a force controlled by Dylan. The more geniuses there were in it, the happier she was, so her face was currently full of smiles.
Just then, Liu Yu's voice came from below the judges' table, attracting many gazes. The young woman was seen approaching slowly, carrying a clay pot dish.
Placing the dish on the judges' table, she reached out and lifted the lid. A rich, savory aroma hit them in the face, causing all five judges to swallow at nearly the same time.
"This aroma! Just smelling it creates an intense feeling of craving!"
"Indeed! The rich umami and the golden color of the soup... it looks incredibly delicious. Everything about it is desperately luring you in!"
Her pink tongue lightly tracing her lips, Hinako Inui's face held a faint flush. The persistent aroma of the dish made her body tremble uncontrollably.
The Yu Yang Xian soup had a tempting golden color, possessing both the freshness of fish and the richness of lamb, the two perfectly combined and mutually enhancing one another.
"Time to eat!"
Faced with such a dish, although she wanted to maintain some restraint, her hands acted a step ahead of her brain. By the time she came to her senses, the dish was already in her hands.
Without any ceremony, she raised the bowl to her ruby lips and began to drink with a "Gulp, gulp."
As the savory soup entered her mouth, the freshness of the crucian carp and the richness of the lamb ribs intertwined, creating a unique savory flavor that was neither overpowering nor lacking in subtlety.
Then, the nuance and layers of the soup gradually revealed themselves. The sweetness of the fish and the richness of the lamb permeated each other. Every sip of the soup was full of rich layers, possessing both the gentleness of fish and the warmth of lamb.
"The addition of ginger, with its unique spiciness and aroma, effectively balances the warming nature of the lamb and the cooling nature of the fish. Angelica root adds a touch of freshness and elegance to the soup. Goji berries alleviate the soup's heat. And the pepper added at the end brings a subtle spiciness to the soup, like a bolt of lightning that instantly illuminates the taste buds, making the overall flavor of the soup more distinct and three-dimensional!"
After taking a sip, Gin Dōjima elaborated on what Hinako Inui had left out—namely, the few medicinal ingredients in the soup.
If it were just fish and lamb, although the taste would be delicious, it wouldn't be so balanced. It was the ginger, angelica root, pepper, and goji berries added during the stewing process that truly brought this soup into balance.
"This is a genuine, bona fide Special Grade Cuisine."
A flash of amazement crossed his eyes. After closing them to savor the aftertaste for a moment, Gin Dōjima stated his conclusion.
The dish before him, both in its details and as a whole, was handled perfectly. The amount of each ingredient added was just right, making the soup's flavor completely natural, without a hint of any off-tastes.
A dish like this could already be called a Special Grade Cuisine. From here, as long as the details continue to be perfected and polished, it could step into the realm of star-rated dishes.
"Yes, the final winner can be announced."
Liu Yu nodded, unsurprised by Gin Dōjima's evaluation. She knew her own cooking well; it was very conventional.
However, because her fundamental skills were strong, and she was in good form today, producing a Special Grade dish to win this match was basically a sure thing.
"Huang Mei's dish made excellent use of the orange's flavor, supplemented by various spices to ultimately create a Secret Recipe Braised Fish with rich flavors. Its flavor has plenty of impact, the fish is fresh and delicious, and she thoughtfully removed the bones, ensuring the customer's dining experience. That point is very good."
As he spoke, an image seemed to appear before everyone's eyes: a Huang Mei dressed in coarse cloth, holding a knight's longsword, looking heroic and imposing.
"As for Liu Yu, although your dish is conventional, its flavor is very harmonious. There isn't a single flaw in the entire dish, like a shield defending a city."
In a flash, the illusion before everyone's eyes changed. An armored Liu Yu, holding a large shield, suddenly appeared, looking provocatively at the sword-wielding Huang Mei before her.
And upon seeing her appear, Huang Mei's originally spirited gaze instantly firmed. She stood her ground, let out a great shout, and then charged forward with her longsword, the tip aimed directly at Liu Yu's unprotected throat, hoping for a fatal blow!
However, Liu Yu, armed to the teeth, was naturally not so easily defeated. She held up her large shield, blocking the attack, a faint, disdainful smile appearing on her face.
"Clang!"
The sword, representing impact, and the shield, representing defense, clashed. On the surface, it seemed neither could overcome the other, but the moment the sword, having used all its strength, was still blocked, the outcome of this match was already decided.
Looking at the exhausted Huang Mei, Liu Yu didn't hesitate. She quickly drew the scimitar from her waist and, with a single slash, slit her throat.
The heroic swordswoman fell to the ground, unwilling to accept defeat.
"The final winner of this match is… Liu Yu."
As Gin Dōjima's voice fell, Liu Yu's name appeared on the large screen in the sky. 5:0. She had defeated Huang Mei with an absolutely crushing victory.
Looking at the name on the big screen, Huang Mei's lips trembled slightly, beads of sweat still on her forehead, and a flicker of disappointment crossed her eyes.
Although she knew her fundamental skills were lacking and her chances of winning were slim, when she truly lost, she still couldn't help but want to sigh.
But never mind. After all, she had already given the match her all. Losing was simply due to a lack of ability. She just needed to try harder next time.
"Congratulations on advancing to the semi-finals."
Looking at Liu Yu, whose expression hadn't changed, as if she had already guessed the outcome, Huang Mei stepped forward and extended her hand. Liu Yu also smiled and shook it.
"You performed very well, too. To be able to compete with me to this extent after only a year of studying cooking, your talent and potential are truly astounding!"
Liu Yu's voice carried a hint of emotion.
Although Huang Mei was not her equal now, given her current growth rate, she would probably surpass her in every way in less than two years.
"You are the last one standing from our Dark Cooking Society. It seems the championship of this Summer Selection will have to be won by you. Good luck!"
With her Quasi-Special Grade skill, as long as Liu Yu performs normally, her chances of winning the championship are very high. The others are no match for her.
"A chef who can create Special Grade Cuisine... what a troublesome opponent. It seems, Hisako, that it won't be so easy for you to win the crown this time."
In the audience, Erina Nakiri looked at Liu Yu, a serious expression on her face.
From her performance this time, her opponent's skill seemed to be on par with her own current level. In other words, Liu Yu was very likely the biggest dark horse in this Summer Selection!
"A Quasi-Special Grade chef, only one step away from Special Grade. Such an opponent is indeed not someone an ordinary person can handle."
"But, even if I really do face her, I will definitely win!"
Glancing at Dylan, who was chatting with Zhou Tai and Senzaemon Nakiri not far away, occasionally breaking into a smile, Hisako Arato's eyes filled with determination.
Even if it's just for Master Dylan, she is determined to win the championship of this Summer Selection! After all, she has studied by his side for so long. If first place is taken by a transfer student in the end, wouldn't that be too much of an embarrassment to Master Dylan?!
"I will help you during this time, too."
As if thinking of something, Erina Nakiri suddenly turned her head and said to Hisako Arato.
"Thank you, Lady Erina!"
"You are my secretary. If you lose too badly, I will lose face as well.""
Hearing Hisako Arato's thanks, Erina Nakiri's face turned a subtle shade of red. She then turned her head away, pretending that she wasn't concerned about her, but was just looking out for her own reputation.
And because Hisako Arato had long been familiar with Erina Nakiri's tsundere personality, she kept a smile on her face, and even found her rather cute.
Although her words were a bit harsh, she was genuinely concerned for her. Everything that had happened in the past made Hisako Arato hug Erina Nakiri's arm.
Feeling the softness pressing against her arm, Erina Nakiri's face blushed slightly, and she didn't quite dare to look at Hisako Arato. Finally, she feigned displeasure and said.
"We will be best friends for life."
Hisako Arato's voice, filled with strong emotion, came through, instantly causing the shyness in Erina Nakiri's heart to recede like the tide. She, in turn, hugged her back.
"We will be best friends for life!"
Staring fixedly into Hisako Arato's eyes, Erina Nakiri grasped her hand. Despite her usual inability to express herself, the tide had gone out, and she hugged her back.
"We will be best friends for life!"
Staring fixedly into Hisako Arato's eyes, Erina Nakiri held her hand. Despite her usual inability to express herself, at this moment, she still spoke with determination.
"A Quasi-Special Grade powerhouse, huh? I really want to compete against her! If I win this match, there's a one-in-three chance I can face her in the next round!"
Although he wore a bandana, the moment he saw Liu Yu present her Special Grade dish, Ryo Kurokiba became excited, the blood in his entire body starting to boil.
He had always dreamed of a good match against a Special Grade chef. What Alice Nakiri did two years ago, he wanted to do as well!
_____
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