Hojo finally added the mutton. After sautéing the onions until fragrant, carrots were added, and finally the mutton itself, followed by rice wine, salt, pepper…
Tomato sauce and tomato purée? Why add both simultaneously? Watching Miyoko Hojo add tomato sauce to the pot, followed by tomato purée, many audience members showed expressions of confusion.
Because, in their view, tomato sauce and tomato purée were virtually the same in nature. There was no need to add tomato sauce only to add tomato purée again. This was utterly redundant.
"Tomato purée, with its inherent rich tomato flavor and sweet-and-sour profile, provides the foundational tomato essence for lamb pilaf. Tomato sauce, on the other hand, through its fresher mouthfeel and richer seasoning, adds more layers of flavor to the pilaf, making the overall texture complex and varied. Adding both simultaneously is not contradictory; it only perfects the dish's flavor."
At the judges' table, the judges heard the audience's confusion. They exchanged glances, and as professionals in the culinary world, Chikai Orie began to explain.
Although tomato sauce might seem like a variation of tomato purée, confusing the two would be truly amateur. It's like mistaking a father and his son for one person.
"So that's it! To utilize such subtle differences between tomato purée and tomato sauce to cook lamb is truly impressive! As expected of the daughter of the head chef of Hojo Tower, a Yokohama Chinese Restaurant!"
The praise for Miyoko Hojo soared.
"I am not just someone's daughter! I am Miyoko Hojo! An independent chef!"
Hearing the praise around her, Miyoko Hojo was not entirely satisfied. She raised the ladle in her hand and, with a strong, resounding voice, shouted to her surroundings.
As her words fell, the venue fell silent for a moment. Everyone exchanged glances, seeing the admiration in each other's eyes.
"Miyoko Hojo!"
"Miyoko Hojo!"
But soon, someone — it was unclear who — shouted, and even more enthusiastic cheers erupted.
"Looks like this one has quite a few fans out there, and they're so fond of Hojo Tower too. Are they all Chinese cuisine enthusiasts?"
Watching the cheering audience, Dylan couldn't help but clap his hands. Miyoko Hojo happened to look up at that moment, meeting his gaze.
The next moment, Miyoko Hojo broke into an aggressive, flamboyant smile, as if to say:
"Just you wait, someday I'll surpass you!"
"Young people, so full of passion."
Dylan naturally understood the meaning behind Miyoko Hojo's smile, but he wasn't angry. Instead, he felt a sense of anticipation.
Because the very reason he put so much effort into nurturing so many students was to find worthy opponents for himself. If they could truly reach that level, he would be very pleased.
However, given the current situation, it would take at least ten years for them to fully mature. Before that, he still needed to challenge the older generation of powerhouses, exchanging and honing culinary skills with them.
Watching the many people cooking in the arena, many thoughts flashed through Dylan's mind. Finally, he turned and left, returning to the VIP box of Arena A.
"Has someone already finished cooking?"
Watching a contestant approach with a dish, Dylan curiously asked Erina Nakiri. Taken aback by his sudden appearance, she stumbled for a moment but quickly regained her composure, saying: "Two have already gone up just now."
With that, Dylan looked up at the giant screen hanging in mid-air. It displayed the scores and rankings of various contestants. The top two slots already had names.
Kūjō Rin'ya, 51 points.
Aoba Aira, 45 points.
Not very high scores, but still decent.
Dylan nodded inwardly. To still achieve these scores after tasting his Whole Lamb Shumai indicated at least the skill of a top-tier Third-Grade Chef.
At the same time, for this new contestant, the judging panel led by Chikai Orie gave their scores.
10, 14, 0, 8, 10
Total: 42 points.
"Another zero? Does that person only know how to give zeros?!"
"How strict."
Watching the scores from each judge in front of the judging panel, the venue instantly erupted, as they discovered that Chikai Orie had given yet another contestant a 0.
"Completely unacceptable! While it tastes better than some small restaurant dishes, it utterly lacks character. Simply put, it's mediocre, far too mediocre."
Ignoring the discussions below, Chikai Orie propped her chin on her hand, looking down at the students, her voice revealing disappointment.
Before coming, she had heard how incredibly talented this batch was, but this was the level they presented. Not weak, perhaps, but certainly not particularly strong.
The rumors outside were greatly exaggerated.
Of course, it was also possible that the impact of that lamb shumai earlier was too overwhelming, slightly affecting her as she tasted other dishes.
However, for her, any dish that didn't exceed ten points was undeniably a zero.
Recalling the Whole Lamb Shumai she had just eaten, Chikai Orie felt her body go weak. That impact had left her quite disoriented even now.
It was only because she had to serve as a judge that she couldn't leave.
Oh, how she wished for a comfortable hot bath!
"It's perfectly normal for a cohort of students to have both strong and weak individuals. How else can the talent of geniuses be highlighted without the mediocre? So, there's no need to wear such a look of utter disappointment, esteemed Judge."
With the appearance of the third zero, the venue fell into a brief silence.
Even those who had finished their dishes hesitated whether to step forward, worried about becoming the fourth zero. That would be utterly disgraceful.
However, amidst the silence, a young man with short hair called out, then walked up with his dish, carrying an unstoppable aura.
"Ueno Sugi, what kind of dish will you bring us this time…"
Watching the man's figure, Soma Yukihira murmured softly. As the man he'd met and challenged on the very first day of school, Ueno Sugi had left a very deep impression on him.
However, they hadn't interacted since then. Otherwise, he would have truly liked to have a good match.
"Please taste, Tajine Lamb Stew."
Placing the still-simmering Tajine pot on the judges' table, Ueno Sugi's face was alight with strong confidence. He spoke while making a gesture for them to begin.
"Oh? What grand claims. Are you implying that everyone around you is mediocre, and only you are a genius? Tajine Lamb Stew? A Moroccan-style dish, then? A tajine pot is a type of low-pressure cooking pot invented and manufactured in Morocco."
Hearing Ueno Sugi's words, Chikai Orie couldn't help but mock him slightly. Then, curiosity piqued, she leaned forward, gazing at the tajine pot before her, and took a deep breath.
"The aroma of oranges and dried fruit."
Raising her head, Chikai Orie's face showed enjoyment as she looked at the vibrantly colored orange meat atop the lamb stew. As she spoke, she picked up her chopsticks and took a piece of lamb.
"The flavor base is onion and carrot, with the final addition of orange, which imparts a fresh, fruity aroma and a subtle sweet-and-sour note to the lamb. Truly wonderful! This flavor is like a spring breeze on the face; it not only neutralizes the gamey taste of the lamb but also brings out an ineffable umami."
Sending the lamb from her chopsticks into her mouth, Chikai Orie closed her eyes. She then found herself in a manor filled with abundant vegetables and fruits, with sheep bleating contentedly in their pens.
"How did you think to use orange peel? What a unique idea!"
Beside her, another judge gazed at the diced orange peel in the pot, taking an intoxicated breath. He then picked up a piece of lamb and savored it carefully.
"During the stewing process, orange peel slowly releases its natural essential oils. However, you must carefully remove the white pith inside, otherwise it will turn bitter. And as time passes, the aroma of the essential oils gradually permeates every fiber of the meat, causing the entire pot of lamb to emit an enticing citrus fragrance."
Ueno Sugi explained with an air of pride. These were conclusions he had drawn from countless experiments, having tried various fruits.
"The addition of dried fruit, meanwhile, adds a touch of exotic flair to this dish. Moreover, during the stewing process, it absorbs the meat juices and broth aroma, becoming plump and layered, retaining its natural sweetness while also infusing the essence of meat and fruit aromas."
The third judge spoke, her voice filled with appreciation for the dish. No matter how it was evaluated, this was a very excellent lamb stew.
"Let's begin the scoring, then."
Gently placing her chopsticks down, Chikai Orie exchanged glances with the judges beside her, then wrote down her score for the dish on the scoring device.
14, 18, 11, 12, 14
Total: 69 points.
"69 points? I only got 69 points!"
His voice tinged with disbelief, Ueno Sugi parted his lips, seemingly wanting to question the judges before him, but in the end, said nothing and turned to leave.
It seemed he hadn't practiced enough; he'd go back and train harder!
"Although the score wasn't very high, at least it wasn't a zero this time. He's the first to get a score from Chikai Orie. Now, let's see how the others perform."
"But why did one person give such a high score, while the others' scores were quite average?"
"Not quite sure. Perhaps it's a disagreement in opinion, or maybe that judge isn't skilled enough. Isn't it common? They couldn't find anyone, so they just grabbed someone to fill a spot."
Looking at the newly released scores, the audience began to discuss. Among a string of eleven and twelve points, Judge Number Two had actually given an eighteen.
"It seems the Whole Lamb Shumai did indeed have an impact."
Hearing the audience's comments, Chikai Orie also reacted, turning her gaze to the middle-aged man with a receding hairline sitting beside her.
He, too, was sweating slightly.
With four judges' scores being quite close, his score was excessively high. In a way, didn't that imply his professional skill level was lacking?
"No, I'll have to keep my scores a bit lower later."
The middle-aged man with the receding hairline thought to himself.
And at that moment, as Ueno Sugi departed, Hisako Arato, dressed in her chef's uniform, stepped forward, carrying a large clay pot.
"Please wait a moment."
Placing the clay pot on the judges' table, Hisako Arato turned back to her cooking station, retrieved five bowls and spoons, and proceeded to ladle out the soup in front of the judges.
"Next up is the secretary of the God's Tongue…"
"She's sure to present an incredibly impressive dish."
The audience below watched the large screen in front of them, which projected Hisako Arato's face. The spectators immediately began to discuss.
Because Hisako Arato was Erina Nakiri's assistant, and Erina Nakiri was Japan's rapidly rising culinary star.
As the saying goes, 'love the house and its crow' – naturally, Hisako Arato was also highly anticipated.
Receiving the bowl of soup from Hisako Arato, the scrawny judge on the far left spoke: "What a fragrant aroma! If I'm not mistaken, this must be what they call medicated cuisine, right?"
"You used black mountain lamb, didn't you? While the meat's texture is better and it's more nourishing, compared to regular lamb, it tends to have a stronger gamey taste. But it seems you've used spices to neutralize that odor."
The middle-aged man with the receding hairline stroked his chin. He had noticed the lamb Hisako Arato used while cooking, and speaking up now would perfectly demonstrate his professionalism.
"In any case, let's taste it first."
Beside him, Chikai Orie picked up her spoon. The others followed suit, some observing the soup, others directly bringing it to their mouths to taste.
"This… this is!"
Suddenly, the scrawny man seated in the furthest corner swallowed the soup in his mouth, a look of shock flashing in his eyes. His entire body froze in place.
"Mr. Andō, what's wrong?"
The middle-aged man with the receding hairline was the first to ask, worried that something had happened to him. He rose, intending to help, but halfway there, he stopped.
He saw Mr. Andō's expression contort, as if he had witnessed something unbelievable. After standing up, Mr. Andō's body began to exert force, his muscles rapidly expanding, tearing his clothes apart.
"He's always been so dry and withered, never knew what he was talking about, Mr. Andō, like a dried-up piece of wood… I don't know what happened, but he's become like an actor from a kung fu movie, brimming with power!"
Everyone's gaze converged on the judge named Andō. The middle-aged man with the receding hairline was even more shocked, watching as Mr. Andō murmured to himself, staring at the dish before him.
"Such a unique aroma…"
"This is…"
"Angelica sinensis, Codonopsis pilosula, red dates, water chestnuts, reed roots, sugarcane, Solomon's seal, and lily bulbs. A medicated dish based on these eight Chinese herbs."
"Eight-Ingredient Lamb Stew Soup."
After speaking, Judge Andō exhaled a long, turbid breath from his nose, then uttered six powerful words, his eyes filled with righteous vigor.
His voice also became full of vitality.
"Eight-Ingredient Soup?!"
"I've only heard of Four-Ingredient Soup! They say even a dying traveler can instantly regain their vitality with just one bite! It's a legendary dish!"
The middle-aged man with the receding hairline exclaimed in astonishment, recalling the Four-Ingredient Soup from the stories his mother used to tell him as a child—a legendary dish!
He never expected to see it here today!
No! This had four more ingredients than the legendary Four-Ingredient Soup, making it an advanced version of that legendary dish! Just who was this young woman?!
"It's not as exaggerated as you say. This is just an ordinary medicated lamb soup; it won't have the effect of bringing the dying back to life."
Hearing the middle-aged man's words, Hisako Arato smiled meekly. She would never be so presumptuous as to believe that what she had prepared was a legendary dish; it was just an ordinary lamb soup.
If someone were to ask who in the world was most likely to create a legendary dish, her answer would always be the same: Teacher Dylan.
Hisako Arato, an expert from a family specializing in medicated cuisine. Based on East Asian medicine, she systematically uses decocted herbs and traditional Chinese medicine for dietary health. Dishes that perfectly blend food, medicine, and pharmacology—that is medicated cuisine.
Alice Nakiri's calm voice rang out in the VIP box. Her gaze towards Hisako Arato held a hint of envy; she actually wanted a little follower herself.
Before, she'd met Ryo Kurokiba, who was quite good, and his cooking skills were decent too. It was just a pity he was a man; since she was with Dylan, she had to avoid suspicion.
"Before, Hisako's medicated cuisine was limited to the superficial aspects of the dish. Her cooking methods always revolved around those few medicated recipes, simply releasing the flavor and then leaving it at that. But ever since she started learning from Teacher Dylan, she began systematically studying pharmacology. Now she can blend her own herbs, and her cooking methods have become much more varied."
Standing in the VIP box, watching Hisako Arato below, shimmering under the lights, Erina Nakiri's face showed a relieved expression.
After more than half a year of refinement, Hisako Arato could finally stand on her own. This was largely thanks to Dylan, that thoughtful and considerate man.
"Before making this soup, I first stir-fried the lamb ribs. This is because the gamey smell of lamb primarily comes from fat-soluble, volatile substances. After the lamb is stir-fried, a browned outer layer forms on its surface. When stewed, the fat, impacted by the boiling water, forms an 'emulsified liquid,' making the soup's flavor even richer and more mellow."
On the large screen, Hisako Arato confidently looked at the judges, beginning to explain the dish's secrets. This was exactly what the audience most hoped to see and hear.
Most of the audience members here were chefs from the industry; otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to get tickets.
While their purpose here included entertainment, more importantly, it was to learn techniques. Watching skilled chefs cook significantly improved their own skills – in a sense, it was a form of 'stealing' knowledge.
"So that's it! No wonder there's only a hint of the lamb's gamey taste left when you eat it. This must be something you intentionally preserved, right? This small amount of flavor that you kept lets you know you're eating lamb, giving it that authentic lamb feel!"
Chikai Orie nodded, taking a sip of the soup. A faint warmth spread through her, nourishing her body, and a look of enjoyment appeared on her face.
Many people can't stand the gamey taste of lamb, but without it, the lamb's flavor isn't authentic. Therefore, a truly skilled chef should remove most of the gamey taste, retaining only a very small portion as a nuanced flavor.
"The secret to stir-frying before stewing shouldn't be limited to just that, right? This medicated lamb stew… It not only unlocks the lamb's inherent richness and umami but also blends with the profound depths and fragrance of various medicinal herbs. The two intertwine, together composing an essence that is both warming and nourishing."
On the far right of the judges' table, a thin woman with old-fashioned glasses and graying hair spoke.
Her eyes held a hint of sharpness.
With a mouthful of lamb, she could clearly feel her body warming up. It wasn't just the soup; the lamb itself was the true core of the dish!
"Exactly, you truly are an expert! The most important point is that after stir-frying, the lamb's surface becomes firmer, making it less likely to fall apart during the stewing process. This also allows the medicinal herbs sufficient time to release their flavors. If this step is omitted and the lamb is added directly, it's very easy for the lamb to disappear as it stewed. Not only that, high-heat stir-frying also contributes to the Maillard reaction, generating more flavor and aromatic compounds, enhancing the soup's taste and the lamb's texture and aroma."
Hearing the words of the scrawny old woman, Hisako Arato suddenly felt as if she had met a kindred spirit, and began to speak voluminously.
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Unfortunately, two of our stories were removed... so I created a new account to post them: MikuDayo.
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I'm counting on your support <3 the director was very sad and scared by what happened...
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