"This is my Ratatouille, please… please have a taste."
Megumi Tadokoro's voice was filled with noticeable anxiety. As she spoke, she presented the dish, her eyes filled with anticipation.
"Mm."
Roland Chapelle nodded slightly.
The next moment, with an indifferent expression, he picked up a fork, brought a piece of the ratatouille to his mouth.
"It's standard. No particularly standout flavors, but every part is handled properly. Even the minor flaws are within an acceptable range."
"I can give you an A-grade, a pass."
"All of you, come and have a taste. This young lady's dish is the passing line for this exam."
"Anyone whose dish doesn't reach this level need not bring it up. Even if you do, I will not pass it."
Gently setting down his fork, Roland Chapelle looked at the simply dressed girl before him, roughly guessing her upbringing. To be able to create a dish that meets his passing standard under such circumstances was truly rare.
"Eh, eh eh eh??"
"How can this be? My dish is so ordinary, how can it be used as the standard…"
Hearing Roland Chapelle's words, Megumi Tadokoro first showed a look of pleasant surprise, then an expression of being overwhelmed by the favor. Her dish as the passing line? Could such a great thing really happen to her?!
"It is precisely because your dish is ordinary that it can be used as the standard."
"This is not to say your cooking is poor. To have reached this level with your current circumstances is already very good. The rest you can work on after entering Tōtsuki."
Looking at Megumi Tadokoro's expression, Roland Chapelle knew exactly what she was thinking.
In the past, there had been too many commoner geniuses like her who were extremely unconfident before enrolling, yet once they entered Tōtsuki, they began to shine brightly not long after. This was mainly because their family backgrounds generally led to a lack of educational resources, resulting in a generally lower level of skill.
However, to have grown to this point even with limited educational resources showed just how strong their talent was. Such geniuses only needed to be provided with resources to soar into the sky.
Among them, the one who left the deepest impression on him was Kojiro Shinomiya, who had graduated eight years ago, his prized student. Born into a working-class family, he had risen abruptly within just a few short years of entering Tōtsuki to become the First Seat of the Elite Ten.
Despite specializing in French cuisine, he could defeat the Second Seat of the Elite Ten, Fuyumi Mizuhara, who was skilled in Italian cuisine, in an Italian dish. He could be called a once-in-thirty-years genius.
"Alright, you can go and rest now."
"There are still many unwilling challengers behind you who want to test your dish."
His memories fading, Roland Chapelle looked past Megumi Tadokoro's shoulder at the examinees walking toward the judges' table.
"Yes!"
Sensing the cold aura from the male and female examinees behind her, Megumi Tadokoro answered nervously, then trotted away from the judges' table.
By the time she returned to her cooking station, she immediately began to breathe heavily in relief, the corners of her mouth rising in an unnatural smile. Regardless, she had successfully passed the entrance exam and become a member of Tōtsuki.
"Mom, everyone from home, I did it."
Clutching the good luck charm her hometown folks had given her before she left, Megumi Tadokoro murmured to herself emotionally. A large part of her pressure came from this. Everyone had placed their hopes on her. To not let them down, she could only do her best.
"Okabe-kun, thank you for your encouragement."
Tucking the charm back under her collar, Megumi Tadokoro looked at Okabe beside her and thanked him from the bottom of her heart.
"This is all your own skill and hard work. If you must thank someone, thank the past self who quietly put in the effort."
Plating his ratatouille, Okabe heard Megumi Tadokoro's words from next door and shrugged nonchalantly.
"No matter what…"
Megumi Tadokoro was about to say more, but Okabe ignored her and walked forward, leaving her standing there at a loss. After a moment's thought, she followed him.
She was a little curious. Facing such a picky Chef Chapelle, what kind of evaluation would Okabe's dish receive?
"Mediocre, a dish with no special features can actually pass."
"But I have to say, although it has no special features, there are no mistakes in it either."
"The charred flavor of the bell pepper was handled a bit too much but it doesn't affect the overall flavor, and the heat on the onion and garlic was also a bit off, but again, it doesn't affect the whole…"
"It's like every part is right between 'pass' and 'good.' Though it has no merits, it has no faults either, so the taste has reached a perfectly adequate level…"
Tasting the dish Megumi Tadokoro had served, the heirs who had previously expressed doubt were all plunged into self-doubt. They had all wanted to make the exam's theme outstanding and brilliant, so they had spent more time on the areas they were good at.
This also led to many unexpected problems gradually appearing in their dishes. If they had been like Megumi Tadokoro, solidly polishing every detail and not focusing on so-called strengths, would they have been able to pass this exam smoothly?
A moment of confusion flashed in their eyes as the heirs of various restaurants fell into deep thought.
"Make way."
Just then, Okabe's voice came from not far away, accompanied by a series of firm footsteps. Looking over, he was holding a plate of ratatouille, clearly about to serve his dish.
"You should taste her dish first, and then decide whether to serve yours."
Watching Okabe walk through the crowd to stand before him, Roland Chapelle pointed at Megumi Tadokoro's dish.
"No need. I have absolute confidence I'll pass the exam. You can start tasting directly."
As he spoke, Okabe set the dish down and handed a knife and fork to Roland Chapelle.
[So arrogant.]
This was what everyone on site was thinking.
"Such confidence is a good thing. I hope your dish doesn't disappoint me."
Roland Chapelle's brow furrowed slightly upon hearing his words, but then it relaxed. He put down the thermos he was drinking from and looked at this extremely confident young man. Sharp brows and starry eyes, with a high nose bridge—a proper handsome lad.
"Don't worry, my dish is definitely the best of the day."
"Tsk."
The moment Okabe's voice fell, Erina Nakiri, who had been secretly watching from a distance, couldn't help but scoff lightly.
"This flavor!"
The next moment, his calm expression changed, and his eyes widened in an instant.
"Did you add porcini powder to the sauce?"
Feeling the rich umami of the porcini mushrooms on the tip of his tongue, Roland Chapelle exclaimed in surprise. The moment the sauce entered his mouth, he felt the ultimate combination of salty, savory, sour, and sweet.
"That's right. I added it as a seasoning when I was sautéing the onions."
"The rich flavor of the mushrooms can greatly enhance the depth and umami of the sauce without affecting its savory nature. In addition, when I was cooking the tomatoes, I added a small spoonful of balsamic vinegar. Its rich fruity acidity and sweetness can balance the sourness of the tomatoes well and bring a more complex flavor."
Okabe gestured towards the sauce in front of him and began to speak eloquently, explaining that the umami of porcini mushrooms paired very well with ratatouille. And the grape acidity in the balsamic vinegar could better combine with the sweetness and sourness of the tomatoes. Adding both to the sauce significantly enhanced its flavor.
"In addition to that, you also pan-fried one side of the eggplant until golden brown."
"After being braised, the golden-brown surface combined with the sauce, absorbing all the flavor and becoming the most flavorful of all the vegetables. That's why you cut it the thickest, isn't it?"
Using a fork to single out the eggplant, he looked at its golden-brown surface. Even after braising, its slightly resilient texture hadn't diminished. Chewing it revealed a soft, moist, almost melting flesh inside.
An appreciative look appeared on Roland Chapelle's face.
"Correct. Traditional ratatouille requires a consistent texture, so the slices are basically the same thickness."
"But I wanted this dish to have a richer texture, so I layered the slices."
"While the eggplant is pan-fried to a crisp on one side, the other side maintains a relatively crisp texture. That's why I cut it 2 millimeters thicker than the other vegetables, which also gives the inside a soft, waxy texture."
Okabe stood to the side, explaining. He had only changed two things in this dish. The sauce and the eggplant.
"It's truly rare for you to consider so much. To take individual details and improve upon them, and have the final flavor be so harmonious—it's remarkable!"
Picking up a spoon, he ate the remaining ratatouille from the plate. The freshness of the summer vegetables was perfectly stimulated by the sauce.
Closing his eyes, he felt as if he had arrived in the middle of a chirping summer, with the calls of his childhood playmates in his ears. They had very few forms of entertainment back then, but their spirits were easily satisfied. Catching a single cicada could make them happy for an entire summer.
"At first, I thought you were being arrogant, even a little disrespectful."
"But after tasting your dish, I understand that what you said was just confidence. Judging from the few dishes I've tasted, yours is indeed the best of the day."
"It's a pity I only have the authority to give an A-grade, otherwise I'd really like to give you a higher evaluation."
Returning from his reverie, Roland Chapelle looked at Okabe with an unreadable expression. It had been a long time since he had seen a genius of this caliber.
On the surface, he had just added a few new things to the ratatouille sauce, but in reality, everything he added was a reflection of his grasp and consideration of the dish's flavor.
Just like when Erina Nakiri added Japanese dashi to her sauce, the intention was to use the umami of the dashi to stimulate the umami of the sauce, allowing the two flavors to fuse completely through the heat of the oven.
And Okabe used porcini powder and balsamic vinegar, along with his treatment of the eggplant's texture, to significantly enhance the flavor and mouthfeel of the dish. Its essence, apart from becoming more distinct, was no different from ratatouille. This kind of innovation based on an understanding of the raw ingredients was very comfortable to eat.
"Let me have a taste."
The moment Roland Chapelle finished his evaluation, Erina Nakiri arrived at his side, her eyes locked on the dish before her.
Seeing her approach, Okabe said nothing more and handed her a new fork.
Roland Chapelle also stopped his movements and looked at the imposing Erina Nakiri. He understood that his words just now had provoked her, which was why she was so eager to try it.
He might as well let her. Only a chef who can accept failure can one day grow to stand on their own.
"I see. Frying one side of the eggplant while keeping the other crisp and tender? The porcini powder and balsamic vinegar also make the flavor of the sauce stand out more… what a cunning fellow!"
Feeling the flavors on her tongue, a blush appeared on Erina Nakiri's face.
Through this dish, she seemed to have returned to her childhood, to that wonderful time when she, Okabe, and Alice Nakiri picked vegetables in the fields. Those carefree days were truly happy.
"You win. What an infuriating guy."
Understanding that her dish had lost completely on a conceptual level, Erina Nakiri showed a dejected expression. But she was also unwilling to accept it, so she shot a fierce glare at Okabe.
Okabe was already used to this. Erina Nakiri was always like this whenever she lost to him.
She was clearly not as good as him, yet she was never willing to admit it, stubbornly believing that she would definitely win next time. But honestly, Okabe quite liked this kind of personality.
Compared to those who admitted defeat before even competing, every contest with Erina Nakiri was an all-out battle, because a moment of carelessness could lead to an unexpected defeat. During their three years at Ryōzanpaku, such things had happened quite a few times.
"Congratulations on passing the entrance exam, Okabe-kun!"
"That was amazing, to get such high praise from Chef Chapelle!"
Just as Okabe and Erina Nakiri were interacting, Megumi Tadokoro had come up to him at some point, congratulating him with a bright smile on her face, seeming even happier than when she had passed the exam herself.
"I told you it was a piece of cake. The entrance exam isn't that hard. From now on, we'll be classmates. I'll be in your care."
Hearing Megumi Tadokoro's congratulations, Okabe came back to his senses, looked in her direction, and extended his hand with a smile.
"I'll be in your care, Okabe-kun."
Seeing Okabe's outstretched hand, Megumi Tadokoro blushed, wiped her hand on her clothes a couple of times, and then shyly shook it.
"Hey, hey, speaking of which, you haven't introduced her. Who is this?"
Looking at Okabe's actions, Erina Nakiri couldn't help but complain. Then she turned her gaze to Megumi Tadokoro, her voice tinged with curiosity and a strange sense of crisis.
Hearing her, Okabe turned to look at Erina Nakiri: "Megumi Tadokoro, a young lady I met earlier. She's a very interesting person."
"Hello, I'm Megumi Tadokoro. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Seeing Okabe introduce her, Megumi Tadokoro immediately gave a slight bow towards Erina Nakiri and Hisako Arato, then introduced herself with some unease. She had seen how the two of them had performed just now.
Both of their dishes had received high praise from Roland Chapelle. They were undoubtedly genius chefs from the Tokyo area.
"Erina Nakiri."
"My name is Hisako Arato. It's an honor to meet you, too."
"Erina and Hisako… I'll remember that…"
She silently repeated Erina Nakiri's and Hisako Arato's names in her heart, as if to commit them to memory completely.
"Let's go outside. Now that we've all passed, it's pretty boring to stay here."
Glancing at the examinees who had returned to their cooking stations wailing, Okabe said to the others. Since the exam began, only six candidates had passed, and four of them were from their small group. It had to be said that the standards for this year's entrance exam were terrifyingly high.
If there were no surprises, this was probably related to the so-called Generation of Jade.
"Mm."
Hearing Okabe's words, Megumi Tadokoro replied. After gesturing to Roland Chapelle, she followed Okabe and left the examination site.
The moment they stepped out of the main gate, they were surrounded by the examinees for the next session.
"Excuse me, how was it inside? Was the exam easy?"
"The people who came out before said the passing rate for this entrance exam is very low. Is that true?"
"Ah! I'm so nervous!"
Nervous yet curious voices came from the young men and women. They looked at Okabe and the others eagerly, asking about the difficulty of the exam, their hearts filled with unease.
"Don't worry, the entrance exam is on Ratatouille. It's very simple. The few of us passed without a hitch. You all will definitely be fine too. But we're hungry and going to eat now, so could you all please make way?"
After meeting up with Ikaros, who was waiting outside, the group of five went to a family restaurant at the foot of the Tōtsuki mountain. Upon hearing that Megumi Tadokoro was a girl from a fishing town in Tohoku, Hisako Arato showed a surprised expression and then asked with a curious look.
"At the time, a tall middle-aged man with thick eyebrows and black-rimmed glasses came to my house. He said I had good culinary talent and then gave me an admission notice for Tōtsuki Academy."
"After my mom found out, she immediately asked for my decision, asking if I was willing to go."
"Because I wanted to learn better cooking skills to go back and help ease the pressure on my family, I came over."
Thinking back to when the middle-aged man arrived at the inn, and her mother called her out of the kitchen for a brief three-way meeting in the tea room, Megumi Tadokoro spoke in a gentle voice.
"Learning skills to help at home, that's a very traditional way of thinking."
"But the person you described, why does he sound so much like Uncle Sōe? He can't be so idle as to go to a small fishing port town to recruit an ordinary girl, right…"
Hearing Megumi Tadokoro's answer, Erina Nakiri nodded slightly. The reason she came to Tōtsuki was no different from most people.
The only thing that surprised her was the person who recruited Megumi. The description sounded a bit like Alice Nakiri's father, Sōe Nakiri. But such a trivial matter, shouldn't it have been handled by staff members…
____
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