"It's sliced so thinly it's practically translucent. The sight alone is enough to make your mouth water.
No wonder he insisted on pushing that tank of live Botan Shrimp over earlier. It was to ensure the absolute freshness of this ingredient.
freshness.
"Isn't that obvious? Look at that golden, brilliant sauce next to it. It's definitely not something a regular crab roe sauce can compare to!
Even through a screen, you can feel the light, airy texture of the sauce in that bowl. It's bound to be a perfect match for the Botan Shrimp sashimi!"
"Hey, did you guys notice how he handled the Butter Crab? If I'm not mistaken, this sauce is very likely made from the meticulously rendered roe of that Butter Crab.
In the audience, everyone was discussing animatedly, full of curiosity and anticipation for the sauce Ryo Kurokiba was about to present. After all, the essence of sashimi is largely reflected in its dipping sauce. Whether the sauce is delicious or not directly affects the overall flavor of the sashimi.
He gently gripped the shrimp's tail, slowly dipping the paper-thin slice of sashimi into the crab roe sauce before bringing it to his mouth. He closed his eyes, chewing slowly, immersing himself in the wonderful flavor.
"This is…!"
Gin Dōjima's eyes flew wide open.
At this moment, it was as if countless bubbles were tumbling in his mind. With every gentle tap of his jaws, these bubbles burst, one by one.
POP! POP! POP!
"The roe from the Butter Crab, after being carefully stir-fried, emits a rich crab aroma that perfectly melds with the fresh deliciousness of the shrimp meat, creating a truly intoxicating flavor.""
Fuyumi Mizuhara savored it carefully, speculating, "You added minced ginger, minced garlic, soy sauce, salt, and pepper to the sauce as a base seasoning. However, I'm very curious as to why the flavor is so mellow, as if it holds some endless depth…"
Her tone carried a hint of doubt, clearly puzzled by the sauce's rich mouthfeel.
"Indeed, that's something I'm very curious about as well."
Gin Dōjima looked up, his gaze fixed on Ryo Kurokiba.
Ryo Kurokiba didn't hide it. Faced with the judges' curiosity, he candidly revealed the secret of his crab roe sauce:
"I added lard to the sauce. It not only significantly enhances the sauce's aroma but also adds a mellow richness to the texture, improves the sauce's stability, and promotes a perfect fusion between the ingredients."
Lard. That was the core secret of his sauce.
"Can just a spoonful of lard really have so many effects?"
Taki Tsunozaki was slightly taken aback, a faint trace of doubt on her face. The flavor of this sauce was far beyond her expectations. Could adding a single spoonful of lard really achieve such an effect?
"Yes, just one spoonful of lard."
Ryo Kurokiba's voice was firm and confident. This was his ace in the hole.
"What a clever young man."
"Lard exhibits extremely high stability at high temperatures, allowing it to excellently preserve the original flavor of ingredients and perfectly release the mellow aroma of the crab roe.
of the roe.
Furthermore, lard's lubricating properties and strong penetrative power allow it to easily seep into the ingredients, thereby greatly promoting the fusion between them."
In the audience, Zhou Tai's voice rang out, filled with no small amount of praise.
As expected of a young chef; a fresh mind is a useful thing.
Beside him, however, Alice Nakiri wore a peculiar expression.
Because this very method was a technique she had first developed during their duel three years ago, which Dylan had then further perfected. To think that Ryo Kurokiba had actually absorbed this technique and cleverly applied it to his own cooking.
"No wonder they say that even a small insight casually revealed by a master can be of immense benefit to the younger generation."
Alice Nakiri mused to herself.
It seemed that even without Dylan actively teaching him, Ryo Kurokiba had learned quite a lot over the years through his own efforts.
plenty.
"Besides that, you also added caviar, didn't you? Based on the texture and flavor, it should be sturgeon caviar. The entire dish…
The entire dish…
The freshness of the seafood, the richness of the roe, the saltiness of the sauce, and the unique briny flavor and savory taste of the caviar all entwine in the mouth… entwine in the mouth…"
At the judges' table, Gin Dōjima's voice was clear and insightful. He had solved the mystery of the bursting bubbles in one's mouth—it was the work of the sturgeon caviar!
of the sturgeon caviar!
"That's right. The granular texture of the sturgeon caviar creates a contrast with the mellow consistency of the sauce, adding to the dish's complexity."
Ryo Kurokiba nodded. In addition, the briny and salty flavor of the sturgeon caviar perfectly complemented the aroma of the Butter Crab and the freshness of its meat.
freshness.
"The texture of the sashimi is as fine as silk, incredibly smooth and tender, as if it melts on the tongue with the slightest chew.
melts on the tongue with the slightest chew.
Paired with the sauce made from Butter Crab meat and roe, the two achieve a perfect balance in terms of texture, creating a perfect equilibrium.
Hinako Inui was completely intoxicated, her eyes shut tight, as if her entire being had been submerged in a vast ocean of crab roe.
of crab roe.
The crab roe was like a gentle wave, softly surrounding and tightly embracing her, bringing a wonderful feeling that was both restrictive and liberating, leaving one utterly captivated.
"Truly excellent. This dish showcases the freshness of the Botan Shrimp and the richness of the crab roe to perfection, leaving a profound aftertaste.
profound aftertaste."
Sonoka Kikuchi ate the last piece of Botan Shrimp, the blush on her face refusing to fade. This dish, in terms of both texture and flavor, was flawless!
flawless!
The ingredients are the best, and the chef's technique is superb. What kind of dish must his opponent present in order to win…?
in order to win…?
Just as Sonoka Kikuchi was lost in thought, she suddenly looked up, her gaze piercing through Ryo Kurokiba's back and locking onto Megumi Tadokoro.
onto the figure of Megumi Tadokoro.
At this moment, Megumi Tadokoro was slowly approaching, holding a platter of colorful, assorted vegetables.
a platter of colorful vegetables.
A vegetable salad?
Ripples of doubt stirred in Sonoka Kikuchi's heart, questions washing over her like a tide.
washing over her like a tide.
Faced with Ryo Kurokiba's top-tier seafood dish, Megumi Tadokoro was actually planning to respond with a plate of vegetable salad?
with a plate of vegetable salad?
It wasn't just Sonoka Kikuchi; the other judges also lost interest when they noticed Megumi Tadokoro was making a vegetable salad.
After all, Ryo Kurokiba's dish was already a feast of top-tier cold seafood, with carefully selected ingredients and an ingeniously crafted crab roe sauce.
crab roe sauce.
Overall, it had practically touched the threshold of a Special Grade Cuisine.
of a Special Grade Cuisine.
"Please enjoy my Maple Lemon Vegetable Salad."
Glancing at Ryo Kurokiba, who had stepped aside, Megumi Tadokoro distributed the dish to the judges. At the same time, she glanced at his dish, a faint smile on her face.
his dish, a faint smile on her face.
"Maple Lemon?"
Taki Tsunozaki looked at the dish before her and drew out the words, her eyes full of curiosity.
full of curiosity.
"It really is a vegetable salad!"
Sonoka Kikuchi muttered under her breath. A moment ago, she thought she had seen wrong. Now that the dish was in front of her, the last of her hope died.
the last of her hope died.
"A vegetable salad certainly is a type of cold dish, but compared to the Botan Shrimp sashimi we just ate, it feels like it's on a completely different level.
on a completely different level.
But what's more important is the taste…"
Looking at the vegetable salad before her, Hinako Inui didn't have high hopes either. She skeptically brought the salad to her mouth to taste it.
to taste.
If judged solely on the standard of a 'cold dish,' there was nothing wrong with Megumi Tadokoro's entry. But because Ryo Kurokiba had gone first, the bar had been raised.
the bar had been raised.
"In any case, let's taste it first."
As Gin Dōjima's words fell, the surrounding discussions came to an abrupt halt. Everyone's gaze simultaneously focused on the vegetable salad before them.
vegetable salad before them.
It had to be said, this vegetable salad was exceptionally beautiful.
It had to be said, this vegetable salad looked exceptionally good.
The vibrant red of bell peppers, the bright yellow of bell peppers, the deep purple of red cabbage, the fresh green of cucumbers, and the orange of carrots.
the orange of carrots.
In addition, chopped nuts like peanuts, almonds, walnuts, cashews, and macadamia nuts were scattered throughout like stars, emitting a rich aroma.
emitting a rich aroma.
"The nuts in here have been toasted, haven't they? The aroma they're giving off is exceptionally rich. It's a unique flavor that combines deep caramel, toasted notes, and a creamy fragrance.
and a creamy fragrance.
Sonoka Kikuchi twitched her nose, her gaze locked on the star-like specks of chopped nuts. Then, she gently stirred the salad with her chopsticks.
As she stirred, the aroma of the nuts gradually intertwined with the freshness of the vegetables and the sweetness of the maple syrup. They blended together, yet remained distinct, forming a more complex and captivating flavor profile.
flavor profile.
"What a refreshing feeling."
Meanwhile, Hinako Inui brought the vegetable salad to her mouth, and her eyes lit up.
her eyes lit up.
A golden river seemed to appear before her—it was the lemon and maple syrup, emitting a fresh, sweet-and-sour aroma.
and-sour aroma.
"Ah~ How comforting!"
"If the previous scene was like a magnificent waterfall, then this moment is like being in a clear, gurgling mountain stream.
mountain stream.
The gentle, fine current caresses the skin. This indescribably wonderful sensation makes one unable to stop themselves from sinking into it!
into it! Ah!
At this moment, she was standing in the middle of a golden stream. The water was like liquid gold, flowing quietly, slowly seeping into every inch of her skin.
This unique experience made her let out an involuntary, pleasant moan.
This unique experience made her let out an involuntary moan of pleasure.
"The most amazing part is that it's as if it knew we had just endured a waterfall, so it chose a stream instead. It's like the tranquil respite one craves after a fierce battle.
a fierce battle."
Taki Tsunozaki leaned back lazily in her chair. Ryo Kurokiba's dish had given her an unprecedented shock, while this current delicacy was filled with a calming, peaceful atmosphere.
"That's right! This is a gentle flavor.
This is the taste of gentleness.
It's like the safe harbor the soul craves most after a violent storm, and this dish is that perfect place of rest."
of rest."
Fuyumi Mizuhara nodded in agreement, her eyes filled with surprise. It was as if this dish had already anticipated that a tempest would come before it, so it chose to be the calm after the storm!
calm after the storm!
"The sweetness of the maple syrup and the natural sweetness of the vegetables intertwine, creating a flavor that is both sweet and not cloying.
flavor.
The clever addition of lemon juice strikes a perfect balance between sweet and sour, creating a layered taste experience that is simply intoxicating."
intoxicating."
Hinako Inui enjoyed it with her eyes closed, her movements leisurely. By the time she came to her senses, the large plate of vegetable salad in front of her was completely gone.
"The refreshing crispness of the vegetable salad, the sweet allure of the maple syrup, and the addition of the chopped nuts give this salad a unique textural experience.
a unique textural experience.
These elements fuse together, collectively weaving a magnificent feast for the taste buds!"
a magnificent feast for the palate!
Opening his eyes, Gin Dōjima slowly spoke these words. At the same time, he looked at the two contestants before him, a complex expression on his face.
a complex expression on his face.
If judged on the dish alone, Ryo Kurokiba's was superior, thanks to the advantage of his ingredients.
If one were to judge the dishes in isolation, Ryo Kurokiba's would have the upper hand due to his superior ingredients.
But Megumi Tadokoro's dish integrated perfectly with Ryo Kurokiba's, using the flavor of his dish to elevate her own to new heights!
to a new level!
"Leveraging strength against strength. It seems she already knew what dish her opponent was going to make."
"Leveraging his strength against him. It's as if she knew what dish her opponent would make all along."
Zhou Tai's words carried a hint of inquiry. His gaze couldn't help but shift to Dylan, wondering if he was the one who had secretly given her guidance.
if he was the one pulling the strings.
Either that, or someone had leaked Ryo Kurokiba's dish, allowing Megumi Tadokoro to use this strategy.
Either that, or someone leaked Ryo Kurokiba's dish, which is why Megumi Tadokoro used this tactic.
Faced with Zhou Tai's searching gaze, Dylan gently shook his head, a calm smile on his lips. His eyes then fell upon Megumi Tadokoro's confident figure, his heart filled with gratification.
his heart filled with admiration.
The timid little girl from his memories had now transformed into a radiant and self-assured young woman. It was truly a joyous sight.
young woman. Truly, a cause for celebration.
At the same time, as if by some telepathic connection, Megumi Tadokoro on stage inadvertently cast her gaze towards Dylan in the audience.
in the audience.
Their eyes met in mid-air. The young woman's smile was like the warm sun in spring, bright and warm.
The girl's smile was like the spring sun, bright and warm.
At the judges' table, Gin Dōjima crossed his arms and closed his eyes to rest; the other judges also fell into deep thought, and the entire scene came to a brief standstill.
"What are you still hesitating for? Is my masterpiece, a Botan Shrimp sashimi made with top-tier ingredients, going to lose to a common vegetable salad? Announce the results already!
going to lose to a common vegetable salad? Hurry up and announce the result!"
Ryo Kurokiba finally couldn't contain his impatience. His brows furrowed as he slammed the table, his tone filled with humiliation and indignation.
humiliation and indignation.
He used top-tier ingredients to make Botan Shrimp sashimi. Could it really not compare to a mere vegetable salad? Do these people even understand cooking?!
Do these people even know anything about cooking?!
"No need to be hasty. We already have our answer."
"No need to rush. We already have an answer."
Gin Dōjima slowly opened his eyes, the aftertaste still lingering in his mouth. He exchanged a look with the other judges and then spoke calmly to the two contestants before him.
then calmly addressed the two contestants.
As soon as he spoke, the eyes of the entire audience instantly focused on them, every single person curious about the impending result.
curious about the result that was about to be revealed.
On the surface, Ryo Kurokiba's Botan Shrimp sashimi was undoubtedly more luxurious and high-end. However, the judges seemed to give Megumi Tadokoro's dish a higher evaluation, so for a moment, they couldn't figure out whose dish would win the match.
win this match.
"Hmph…"
Ryo Kurokiba stared intently at the judges' table. Although deep down he was convinced he couldn't possibly lose, a strange sense of nervousness still crept into his heart.
a strange sense of tension still crept into his heart.
Beside him, Megumi Tadokoro also clenched her fists.
Beside him, Megumi Tadokoro also clenched her fists.
Just then, the large screen suddenly flashed with Megumi Tadokoro's name. The score was fixed at 4:1.
Just then, the big screen flashed with Megumi Tadokoro's name. The score settled at 4:1.
In an instant, the venue erupted. The cheers of the audience rose and fell. Many people stood up in excitement, their eyes shining as they eagerly awaited the judges' explanation.
their eyes shining, eagerly waiting for the judges' explanation.
"How is this possible? I actually lost? Lost to some nobody!? How on earth did you judge this!?"
How did you judge this!?
Looking at the score on the big screen, Ryo Kurokiba's face was filled with disbelief. He slammed his palm on the table, his eyes full of doubt as he stared at the judges.
full of doubt.
"To think someone actually cast a vote for Kurokiba."
"Someone still voted for Kurokiba."
"I just felt that he worked so hard. It would be too tragic if he didn't get a single vote."
if he didn't get a single vote, it would seem a bit too tragic.
Looking at the score on the big screen, the five judges began their discussion. Taki Tsunozaki was surprised that Ryo Kurokiba had gotten a vote, while Hinako Inui, who had given him that vote, spoke in a gentle tone.
spoke in a gentle tone.
"You're a little too kind."
"You're a bit too soft-hearted."
Hearing Hinako Inui's words, Taki Tsunozaki retorted speechlessly.
Hearing Hinako Inui's words, Taki Tsunozaki grumbled speechlessly.
"That dish was clearly outstanding, but because it was anticipated by his opponent, it ended up becoming a stepping stone for her to climb higher. It's truly a pity."
stone for her to reach a higher peak. It really is a shame.
Fuyumi Mizuhara shook her head gently, showing clear regret over Ryo Kurokiba's crushing defeat.
showing clear regret for Ryo Kurokiba's crushing defeat.
If Megumi Tadokoro's dish had been presented first, Ryo Kurokiba might have had a good chance of winning. However, he went a step ahead, or perhaps this was all part of contestant Tadokoro's careful plan; she had already seen through the dish Kurokiba was going to make.
the dish that Kurokiba would make.
"What do you mean, 'anticipated,' 'stepping stone'… That's just nonsense!"
"What do you mean 'anticipated,' 'stepping stone'...? That's complete nonsense!"
"Simply put, contestant Tadokoro cleverly used the high-impact nature of your dish to elevate the deliciousness of her own dish to the next level."
to the next level.
Looking at the frowning, bewildered Ryo Kurokiba, Gin Dōjima explained succinctly.
"How did you know what dish I was going to make?"
Ryo Kurokiba stared at Megumi Tadokoro with a dangerous glint in his eyes, yet he couldn't detect a hint of guilt in hers, only composure and calm.
"Because, Kurokiba-kun, your performance has been too obvious. From the day you enrolled until now, you have never attempted any dish other than seafood cuisine, and your flavors are often heavy and full of impact.
and the flavors tend to be heavy and high-impact.
Therefore, using that as my starting point, I carefully crafted this vegetable salad. It's able to cleverly utilize the impact of your dish to make those who taste my dish afterward feel an unprecedented sense of bliss.
an unprecedented sense of happiness."
Megumi Tadokoro explained with a smile. She acknowledged his mastery of seafood cuisine, which is why she borrowed that mastery to sublimate her own dish.
mastery to elevate her own dish.
After all, Ryo Kurokiba's skill was formidable. A head-on confrontation would be very disadvantageous for her. Since it was a cooking competition, it wasn't specified that she couldn't use his strength against him.
she couldn't leverage his strength.
The ability to adapt is also a crucial skill for a chef!
Adaptability is also a crucial skill for a chef!
"Master Dylan, right now, can I make you proud?"
"Master Dylan, am I able to make you proud now?"
Staring at the score on the screen, Megumi Tadokoro's gaze turned gently towards Dylan, who was seated below the stage, and this thought couldn't help but cross her mind.
and this thought crossed her mind.
"Obsessed with only seafood dishes, huh…"
"Single-mindedly focused on seafood cuisine, huh..."
Ryo Kurokiba gently untied the bandana from his head, muttering to himself. Indeed, he had rarely ventured outside the realm of seafood cuisine… because seafood was his well-practiced comfort zone.
realm of seafood cuisine… because seafood dishes were his well-practiced comfort zone.
"He's about to transform."
"He's going to transform."
Watching Ryo Kurokiba walk away from the competition stage with his head bowed and heavy steps, seemingly lost in deep thought, Dylan, from the audience, murmured softly.
thought, Dylan whispered softly from the audience.
"A single defeat in exchange for a leap in culinary growth—that's undoubtedly a very worthwhile trade."
"One setback in exchange for a great leap in culinary growth. That is without a doubt an extremely worthwhile trade."
Beside him, Zhou Tai spoke with a smile.
Beside him, Zhou Tai began to speak with a smile.
Although Ryo Kurokiba lost this match, he came to understand his own shortcomings. In a way, it could be considered a blessing in disguise.
____
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