Final installment of the translation, with improved formatting and attention to detail as requested.
"In that case, let's make that dish."
Looking at the lively grass carp in the basin, Dylan stroked his chin in thought, then took the Seven-Star Knives from his back and placed them on the cooking station.
Seeing Dylan enter his cooking state, the few people around fell silent, and Alice Nakiri also moved to a cooking station beside him.
"Seven-Star Instant-Severing Knife Dance."
Looking at the lively special carp before him, a cold glint flashed in Dylan's eyes, and he let out a soft cry.
The next moment, Yuki Yoshino and Ryoko Sakaki only saw Dylan pick up the Lianzhen Knife from the table, assume a stance, and then a white light flashed. One by one, fresh and tender fish fillets flew out from the basin where the carp was, landing in the plate in his hand, neatly filling it to the brim.
"Holy crap."
Seeing the scene before her, even though she was mentally prepared, Yuki Yoshino couldn't help but swear. She ran forward to check on the special carp in the basin, and looking at the sight, she was at a loss for words.
"Is this something a human can do?"
Ryoko Sakaki's mouth twitched, also unsure where to even begin her commentary. The fish in the basin was still swimming, but its flesh had completely vanished.
The scales, bones, and internal organs were clearly visible, while its skin and flesh had been sliced—one piece slightly thicker, one piece slightly thinner—and arranged on a plate.
Alice Nakiri, focused on her own cooking, didn't notice any of this.
But even if she had, she wouldn't have said anything.
Because over the years, she had seen Dylan perform even more incredible techniques.
What she saw now could only be considered routine.
"Is Dylan Sensei planning to make sashimi? But looking at the thickness of the fish fillets, that possibility seems low."
Looking at the fish fillets of varying thickness on Dylan's plate, Yuki Yoshino couldn't help but mutter.
If one wanted to quickly cook a fish dish, sashimi was indeed the best choice.
However, river fish contain many parasites, and even with special treatment, some might remain. Coupled with the uneven thickness of the fillets, the possibility of sashimi was not high.
What's more…
After obtaining the fish fillets, Dylan didn't immediately prepare a sauce. Instead, he added starch, egg white, and scallion oil to the fish fillets, stirring them vigorously in one direction until they firmed up. He then took a thick fish fillet and placed it in the palm of his hand.
"Look, the fish fillet is being rolled up! It looks like something was put in the middle..."
Ryoko Sakaki pointed at Dylan's hand, exclaiming with some surprise.
Yuki Yoshino followed her gaze and saw Dylan rolling the fish fillet into the shape of a flower.
And in the middle of the fish fillet was, surprisingly, something resembling a flower's pistil.
Because the item was too small to see clearly, Yuki Yoshino squinted to observe for a while, then said with some uncertainty, "That should be shredded red pepper."
"I see, using shredded red pepper to simulate the pistil? And the fish fillets are made into the shape of a peony. I guess the next step is either steaming or deep-frying."
Looking at the fish fillet peony in Dylan's hand, Ryoko Sakaki rubbed her chin in speculation, saliva uncontrollably pooling in her mouth.
With such an exquisite dish, the taste certainly couldn't be bad!
He used the same technique to make six fish fillet peonies, then brought over a clay pot.
He washed a dozen small green onions, laid them to cover the bottom of the pot, and placed the shaped fish fillet peonies on onion rings for simple stability.
Then, he arranged the stabilized fish fillet peonies sequentially in the clay pot and turned on the heat to steam for six minutes.
At this very moment, Alice Nakiri had just finished processing her fish.
All the fish bones were removed, the fish meat was cut into thick slices, then she added MSG, salt, pepper, and other seasonings, tossing them evenly before adding yellow wine and sweet potato starch, stirring in one direction to firm them up.
"Planning to make Bobo Fish? This dish is quite similar to mine in concept, but the ingredients here are not quite sufficient..."
Looking at the dish Alice Nakiri was making, Dylan couldn't help but shake his head.
He had also considered this dish just now, but because one of the steps required a lot of time, which didn't fit the competition rules, he didn't make it.
As for the dish he was currently cooking, its advantage was that as long as the ingredients were fresh enough, the final product wouldn't be bad, and it took little time.
The advantage of the special carp lay in its texture, and this kind of original-flavor cooking could undoubtedly highlight its texture, perfectly showcasing its freshness.
She turned up the heat to boil a pot of fish soup, then skimmed off the fish bones, filtered the fish soup clean with gauze, and added the high-quality thick fish fillets.
The fish fillets went into the pot, boiled on high heat for a moment, then the heat was turned off. As soon as the fish fillets floated to the surface, they were immediately removed and placed in a small basin to set aside.
She added scallion oil to the pot, stir-fried minced red pepper until fragrant, then poured in the fish bone broth, adding pepper and salt and bringing it to a rolling boil.
On the other side, she placed minced red pepper and a large amount of chopped green onions on the fish meat in a serving dish, then poured the boiling fish soup over it.
The moment the scalding fish soup made contact with the minced red pepper and chopped green onions, an incredibly intense aroma was immediately released, wafting through the kitchen.
At the same time, Dylan also turned off the heat and opened the pot lid. The most essential aroma of the fish meat rushed out. Although it wasn't strong, it immediately attracted everyone's attention.
Gulp.
Such an aroma made everyone present swallow hard, their faces showing expressions of craving. They then swarmed forward, their gazes locked on the two dishes.
"Let's wait a bit. Megumi should be out soon. We'll eat after she comes out."
Looking at the alarm clock above, Dylan spoke to the two. Megumi Tadokoro had been in the bathroom for fifteen minutes now and should be coming out soon.
Sure enough, not long after his words fell, there was movement from the bathroom. Megumi Tadokoro walked towards them, drying her hair with a towel.
At this moment, she had changed into a white dress, carrying the scent of shower gel, her skin fair and rosy like a freshly peeled egg, looking incredibly pure and lovely.
"You guys... are you waiting for me?"
Looking at the untouched dishes on the table and the restrained longing in Yuki Yoshino's and Ryoko Sakaki's eyes, Megumi Tadokoro asked, feeling touched.
"Yes, we were just waiting for you! So, can we start now? Dylan Sensei!"
Yuki Yoshino stared intently at Dylan's dish, a large amount of saliva pooling in her mouth. Upon seeing Megumi's arrival, she said anxiously.
"Go ahead and eat, Big Steamed Bun."
Looking at Yuki Yoshino's expression, Dylan couldn't help but facepalm, then spoke.
"Time to eat."
Quickly picking up the chopsticks on the table and clasping them in her hands, Yuki Yoshino bowed her head and said with a devout expression.
After the ritual, Yuki Yoshino's face showed excitement. She then reached her chopsticks towards the dish in front of her, picking up Alice Nakiri's Bobo Fish...
She couldn't pick it up?!
"Use a spoon."
Seeing Yuki Yoshino repeatedly trying to pick up the fish meat with her chopsticks but failing because it was too slippery, Ryoko Sakaki handed over one of her spoons.
"Delicious!"
The moment her tongue touched the Bobo Fish, Yuki Yoshino's eyes lit up. She couldn't help but exclaim in praise, giving Alice Nakiri a thumbs up.
The fish fillets, simply seasoned with MSG, salt, and pepper, established the most basic umami and spicy foundation.
The fish bone broth was the soul of this dish. It not only retained the original flavor of the fish but also incorporated the fresh fragrance of ginger and scallions, making the soup base both savory and slightly spicy, with rich layers.
The meat is tender yet crisp, incredibly delicious. It was worth all the effort I spent raising it every day!"
Savoring the taste in her mouth, Yuki Yoshino closed her eyes, carefully exploring and tasting.
"And because it was filtered with gauze, the fish soup is clear and translucent, without any off-flavors. One sip is incredibly smooth!"
Megumi Tadokoro took a sip of the fish soup, a satisfied expression on her face.
"When the thick fish fillets are briefly blanched in the boiling fish soup, the tenderness and crispness of the fish meat reach a perfect balance. The outside is slightly cooked while the inside still retains the freshness and juiciness of the fish meat. The subsequently added minced red pepper and chopped green onions add a vibrant color and an extra layer of flavor to this dish. This is a gentle spiciness..."
Savoring the deliciousness of the dish in her mouth, Ryoko Sakaki also spoke, her face showing undisguised enjoyment.
Alice Nakiri's current skill had reached the Special Grade level, and the dishes she produced had already reached the ceiling among students.
Despite the simple cooking, it still easily conquered the taste buds of the three from the Polaris Dormitory.
"Alice, let me ask you a question. Do you think it's better to use chicken stock or fish stock for making Bobo Fish?"
Dylan didn't rush to taste it. Instead, he looked at the fish soup before him and asked Alice Nakiri a question.
"When making Bobo Fish, is chicken stock better or fish stock?"
"Fish stock, I suppose. 'Use the original soup to complement the original food'—isn't that what you've always taught me? Concentrating the essence of one fish into a single pot makes the flavor more delicious..."
Hearing the question, Alice Nakiri's expression froze for a moment. Looking at Dylan's inscrutable expression, she answered with some uncertainty.
"I did indeed say 'use the original soup to complement the original food,' and it's good that you listened, but it doesn't apply to this dish. To be precise, it only applies to half of it."
"Half?"
Hearing Dylan's initial words, Alice Nakiri was still a bit happy, but his subsequent words made her nervous and curious at the same time.
"That's right, just half. Using fish stock in the first half isn't a big problem. Fish bone stock is relatively richer than chicken stock. When paired directly with fish fillets, it can create a feeling of the outside being flavorful while the inside is not. You would need to add more pepper and minced red pepper to the soup to enhance the flavor, and at the same time choose fish meat with a more pronounced texture. That would make the taste much better. However, it's best to use chicken stock for the latter part. The light flavor of chicken stock can better highlight the natural freshness of the fish fillets, whereas the flavor of fish bone stock is too strong and can easily overpower the natural freshness of the fish meat. You need to remember one thing: the name of this dish is Bobo Fish. The emphasis is on the last word, 'fish.' What you need to highlight is the taste of the fish within it."
Seeing the curious gazes from those around him, Dylan didn't hold back and explained at length.
The girls also listened attentively, nodding from time to time, their faces showing thoughtful expressions.
"As expected, you can't underestimate any dish. Even if this dish's cooking time is less than twenty minutes, there's a great deal of knowledge hidden within it."
After listening to Dylan's explanation, Ryoko Sakaki let out a long breath, unable to help but sigh with emotion.
It was hard to imagine that the Bobo Fish before them was not yet in its most perfect state, and even without being in its most perfect state, it could be so delicious.
"Come and have a taste. There's no need for extra dipping sauce; the base flavor is already there. Just eat it directly. Eat its most essential freshness and crispness."
As he spoke, Dylan brought the clay pot to the dining table and beckoned the others to come forward.
"So beautiful!"
Looking at the fish fillet peony before her, Ryoko Sakaki was somewhat entranced, words of praise subconsciously escaping her lips.
Because it had been steamed, the originally tightly clustered fish fillets had slowly spread out, blooming into a vibrant fish fillet peony!
At the same time, golden light flowed across the surface of the dish, looking mysterious and solemn. This was yet another 'Flowing Light' level dish, interpreted to perfection!
The two shreds of red pepper in the middle of the fish fillet peony also became crystal clear under the steam's effect, looking just like real flower pistils!
"It feels... almost too beautiful to eat..."
The fish fillet peony emitted a faint, fresh fragrance. Looking at the dish before her, Megumi Tadokoro sighed with emotion, holding her chopsticks, not knowing where to start.
"Just eat it. I'll make it again next time after we finish this. I only used this cooking method because this grass carp is a crisp-flesh carp."
Looking at the hesitant girls, Dylan's expression was a bit helpless. He then reached out his chopsticks first, breaking the harmony of the fish fillet peony's surface.
The peony lost a petal, becoming less perfect. The fish meat entered Dylan's mouth, displaying an ultimate crispness!
This crisp texture was different from ordinary fish meat. Strictly speaking, it didn't even feel like fish meat; instead, it was a bit like lean pork.
This couldn't help but remind him of the restaurant Chef Li Xiang had treated him to back then, which was famous for its crisp-flesh fish, and the fish meat there was precisely crisp-flesh carp.
"Because a layer of green onions was laid at the bottom, the fragrance of the green onions has perfectly integrated into the fish meat, bringing a slight spiciness. The fish fillets were firmed up in advance with salt, egg white, scallion oil, and other seasonings, giving them a unique taste and a crisp texture. The various flavors are intertwined..."
Tasting Dylan's dish second, a flash of amazement crossed Alice Nakiri's eyes.
Although there were only a few flavors, they were perfectly blended, collectively bringing the freshness of the fish fillets to the extreme!
This was not at all a dish Dylan made casually! This was a flawless dish cooked after careful consideration, with all aspects perfectly coordinated!
"Ah!!!"
Her palm lightly pressed against her lower body, her waist sinking, Yuki Yoshino let out an indescribable sound.
The fish fillet peony, in her mouth, directly transformed into a deep, warm current, spreading from her esophagus, impacting her entire body.
Finally gathering in a certain place below her dantian...
"Every time I eat Dylan Sensei's cooking, I feel incredibly embarrassed."
Ryoko Sakaki voiced the thoughts of everyone present. They were all more or less affected. They didn't know how Dylan did it, but every time they ate his cooking, it could make their bodies excited.
Although they had similar feelings when tasting others' cooking, it was nothing like Dylan's, where even if they were prepared, they were still left in a disheveled state.
"Looks like I need another shower..."
Getting up from the floor, Megumi Tadokoro's face was terrifyingly red.
Just now in the bathroom, because she had a strong reaction to seeing the boxer shorts, and then suddenly tasted such an amazing dish, it sent her flying...
And the result of that was.
Her body was once again in a mess; the shower she had just taken was for nothing...
"It's a rare opportunity. Before you all came, I had the Tōtsuki staff send over a lot of ingredients. Why don't you have lunch before you go."
"Okay!"
"There's new food to eat?!"
Hearing Dylan's words, the girls, immersed in the beauty of the cuisine, showed surprised expressions, but soon they looked at each other, all seeing the guilt in each other's eyes.
Just this one fish fillet peony had turned them into this... more dishes? Could they even leave Alice Nakiri's house standing today?!
Unable to control her hand, she picked up a piece of peony fish fillet and placed it in her mouth, chewing and savoring it carefully.
Pleasant moans once again erupted at the scene.
Dylan looked at the girls' flushed faces, thinking about what was happening to them at this moment, and his mood was also quite pleasant. Finally, he looked at the fridge piled high with ingredients and once again threw himself into cooking.
"Let's all help out. Just watching from the side like this feels very embarrassing, and the food won't taste as good."
Watching Dylan get busy again, Ryoko Sakaki, Yuki Yoshino, and Megumi Tadokoro exchanged glances and almost simultaneously put down their chopsticks to go and help.
Although they knew they wouldn't be of much use, being useless was one thing, and being lazy was another.
They could still do things within their ability, like chopping vegetables.
After all, they had trained for so long during the midterm assessment, including no small amount of knife skills training. Now their knife skills were already at the level of a first-rate head chef!
This was also the result of Dylan focusing on the basics. In his view, as long as the foundation was solid, any dish could be replicated; there were no technical barriers.
And replicating dishes was the starting point for a chef's career. Almost every chef started by replicating dishes; this was the root of a chef.
Only when the root was firmly planted deep in the ground could the tree growing on it be healthy, and its branches and leaves flourish. This was the importance of the foundation!
Night fell, the evening breeze slightly cool.
Dylan went for his usual night run. On his two-hundredth lap, a shirtless, muscular man suddenly appeared beside him.
"Old man, you've come."
Seeing Senzaemon Nakiri suddenly appear beside him, Dylan, as if he had long expected it, turned his head to greet him, then slowed his pace.
"From the looks of you, it seems you knew long ago that I would come to see you."
Seeing Dylan's nonchalance, Senzaemon Nakiri grunted, then said teasingly.
"The leader inspecting the work, it's very normal. I get it."
Dylan shrugged. That Senzaemon Nakiri had only come to find him now was what surprised him a little.
The period of time in between was probably spent checking with the other teachers to fully understand what he had been doing for the past month.
"The results this time are significant. Although 95% of the people were eliminated, the remaining ones have all been elevated to the level of a second-grade chef. This is a first in all the years Tōtsuki has been established! You truly are a remarkable man."
Senzaemon Nakiri's voice rang out, filled with admiration.
Clearly, the achievements Dylan had made had far exceeded his expectations!
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