"Indeed, what an incredible dish! Medicinal ingredients usually have a peculiar taste, but you skillfully neutralized it by leveraging their properties, demonstrating your profound understanding of their medicinal effects."
Looking at the vibrant young girl before her, the lean old woman seemed to see her younger self. Her voice was gentle and soft, full of tenderness.
"My body is getting warmer."
Hinako Inui swallowed the lamb in her mouth, half-opened her eyes, and leaned lazily back in her chair, revealing an expression of pure enjoyment.
Because it was summer, and hot outside, the venue was air-conditioned.
They had dressed lightly for the journey, in short-sleeved shirts and divided skirts. After two hours of air conditioning in their seats, they had started to feel a slight chill.
And this bowl of Eight Treasures Medicinal Lamb Soup had perfectly dispelled that chill.
"This is my medicinal cuisine, Eight Treasures Stewed Lamb Soup!"
Hisako Arato extended her hand towards the five judges before her, her fingertip pointing at the medicinal lamb soup, her voice imbued with a touch of assertive playfulness.
"It's really boiling! The medicinal energy within my body is boiling!"
Feeling the lamb meat he had eaten, warmth rose from deep within his body, and the Mediterranean man let out a cry of admiration.
"So delicious! The aroma of the lamb is even richer, enhanced by the medicinal ingredients. The exquisite flavor infused in the soup, makes the taste... so gentle."
"Thanks to the effects of the Eight Treasures Stewed Lamb Soup, with every bite, the body becomes even warmer."
"That's right, the medicinal effects strengthen kidneys and replenish vital energy, and I hear it can even dispel toxins from the body."
"The way the flavors are presented, and the balance of various tastes—the completeness is truly too high! It doesn't seem like a dish made by a student at all!"
The judges spoke one after another, all the while savoring the lamb soup. After finishing the soup, they picked up the lamb meat inside, greedily not letting go of even a trace of meat remaining on the bones, until they were completely clean, only then did they breathe a satisfied sigh.
Hinako Inui took a napkin and wiped her mouth.
"So, Hisako Arato's score is..."
With so much praise, Urara Kawashima keenly perceived the judges' attitude, so she took the microphone and began to hype up the atmosphere.
The next moment, the scores appeared on the large screen in the sky.
18, 16, 17, 17, 19
"87 points! Hisako Arato received 87 points!"
Urara Kawashima couldn't conceal the excitement in her voice. Looking at the equally enthusiastic crowd below, she suddenly felt her blood boiling with passion.
"They've reached the 80-point platform!"
"As expected of a chef recognized by the God's Tongue, they effortlessly ascended to first place!"
At the same time, fierce discussions erupted among the audience below. It was clear that their faces were filled with excitement, even happier than if they had scored themselves.
However, Hisako Arato didn't mind. She simply looked up, and the moment her eyes met Dylan's, a smile appeared on her face.
It seemed to say: "See, I did it."
"Hmph, what's there to be proud of? It's just having a good teacher. If it were me, I could do it too!"
In a dark corner somewhere, Nao Sadatsuka stirred the dish in her pot, muttering to herself, her head hanging low, her eyes filled with resentment.
"Achoo."
Hisako Arato rubbed her body, her gaze sweeping around, her expression a little perplexed.
Finding nothing amiss, she left the competition venue, preparing to make lunch for Lady Erina as usual, and also bring a portion for Teacher Dylan; he might even be touched.
Imagining them not having eaten lunch while watching the competition, and Dylan's surprised expression upon receiving the meal, Hisako Arato's lips curved upwards, and her steps became a little lighter. She quickly vanished from the competition venue.
Watching Hisako Arato's graceful retreating figure, Nao Sadatsuka continued to stir the dark purple, unidentifiable dish in her pot, while muttering sinisterly to herself.
"It stinks..."
The people around her furrowed their brows upon seeing her like this, but since she was a girl, they couldn't complain, so they could only pray for the dish to be finished quickly.
Meanwhile, at B Venue.
"Next up, Miyoko Hojo takes the stage. So, what's the scoring situation like?"
Yua Sasaki held the microphone, stepping into the center of the venue. Cameras projected her face onto the large screen, but her voice held a hint of nervousness.
Although this wasn't her first time hosting, each time she seemed like a rookie, appearing very inexperienced and speaking stiffly.
17, 16, 16, 17, 18
"It's out! 84 points! Currently the only one in B Venue to exceed 80 points, temporarily holding first place!"
Yua Sasaki's voice rose, tinged with excitement. This was the first contestant in B Venue to exceed 80 points. How touching!
I wonder how things are going on Urara Kawashima-senpai's side.
"Onions, carrots, cumin, Sichuan peppercorn powder, salt, etc., through skillful pairing and proportion adjustment, not only highlighted the original flavor of the lamb but also endowed the delicacy with a unique spicy aroma. Ah! Even recalling it now, I can still feel the sweetness of the onion, the natural flavor of the carrot, and the deliciousness of the lamb intertwined."
With hands clasped, leaning slightly to one side of her face, Hinako Inui's face showed excitement, as if savoring the taste from moments ago, her brows filled with enjoyment.
"Iron Arm Unrivaled! Her posture, like a martial arts master clad in a fire dragon! Iron Arm Fire Dragon Lady! As expected of the heir to a famous restaurant leading the Chinese culinary world! This is a profound strike that doesn't lose to any man! A powerful blow!"
The plump old man closed his eyes, imagining himself being kicked over by Miyoko Hojo. That immense impact truly made him feel shaken to his core.
"Truly extraordinary! To receive such high praise, as expected of the person who went to Guangzhou with Teacher earlier. However, I'm not bad either!"
Watching Miyoko Hojo descend from the judges' table, full of arrogance, Ryōko Sakaki's expression was serious and solemn. As Miyoko descended, Ryōko walked up, carrying her own dish.
"The sausage has been stripped of sinew and impurities, retaining only the most essential parts. The ratio of lean meat to fat is just right, ensuring the sausage is tender and juicy without being overly greasy."
The rich flavors in her mouth made Hinako Inui's eyes widen, and she then clicked her tongue, savoring the aftertaste.
It looked like a completely ordinary lamb sausage, but upon tasting it, it seemed to be something else entirely, didn't it?
How strange. A subtle sensation.
"You used Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus to ferment the lamb, didn't you?"
The plump old man looked at Ryōko Sakaki, his eyes filled with shock and complexity, revealing the key to the subtle taste Hinako Inui had found.
"The use of fermentation agents causes the sausage to develop a unique sour and aromatic taste during the fermentation process. Fermentation agents like Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus not only help remove the gamey smell of lamb but also impart to the sausage a subtle sourness and a wine-like aroma. This taste intertwines with the deliciousness of the lamb, creating a resonance, ultimately forming an ineffably wonderful mouthfeel."
The top-tier flavor on his tongue made the plump old man's taste buds cheer, and his eyes sparkled with appreciation, as if he were looking at a piece of fine jade.
Setting everything else aside, the fact that she could use fermentation techniques to elevate the sausage's texture and flavor to a higher level proved she was definitely an expert in this field.
"Exactly. I primarily used Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus to ferment the lamb, and after fermentation, I sent it into the oven for baking."
The flavor of the lamb sausage was further concentrated after baking, and I also added spices like garlic and pepper powder. These flavors merged with the flavors produced by the lamb and the fermentation agents, effectively enhancing the lamb sausage's taste.
Hearing someone understood her dish, Ryōko Sakaki's face lit up, and she began to speak voluminously.
"The meat is delicate yet chewy, with sour and meaty aromas intertwined. This sausage, made from fermented lamb, is truly an unforgettable delicacy."
Taking another slice of sausage and putting it into her mouth, Hinako Inui's face showed satisfaction, her eyes filled with pleasure.
16, 15, 15, 16, 16
A total of 78 points, ranking second in Group B.
Looking at her score, Ryōko Sakaki let out a sigh of relief, but then her expression quickly turned complex as she looked at Miyoko Hojo, who was also looking at her.
She couldn't believe that despite her hard work, she still hadn't reached 80 points.
It seemed that Miyoko Hojo's 84 points, though only 6 points higher, actually represented a significant gap.
She would go back and train harder!
This thought surfaced in Ryōko Sakaki's mind as she clenched her fist, her eyes filled with a hint of unwillingness.
As Teacher Dylan's student, she refused to admit she was inferior to others, especially when the other person was also Teacher Dylan's student.
"Please taste, Halal Hand-Pulled Lamb."
At the same time, transfer student Wang Jing walked up, placing a plate of lamb and a dish of garlic paste before the judges, while simultaneously making an inviting gesture with her hand.
"The previous contestant presented Hand-Pulled Lamb Rice, and you've brought Hand-Pulled Lamb. Initially, I thought they were quite similar. But now that it's actually served, the difference is quite clear, unlike what I expected."
Comparing Miyoko Hojo's dish with Wang Jing's, Hinako Inui looked up at Wang Jing, her voice filled with a hint of emotion.
"That's right. First, the color: the former's Hand-Pulled Lamb Rice was mostly red due to the large amount of tomatoes used. Whereas this one, during its preparation, only had some spices added to remove the gamey smell, appearing very pure and natural."
A tall, thin judge wearing glasses said, swallowing a mouthful of saliva as he looked at the dish before him.
These two dishes, although they only differed by one character in name, nothing—neither their aroma, color, nor texture—was the same.
"Hand-Pulled Lamb usually involves boiling the meat in plain water, with a small amount of seasoning added during stewing, to preserve the lamb's original flavor. Its texture is tender and juicy, carrying the unique rich aroma of lamb. Paired with garlic paste, seasoned salt, or a special dipping sauce, the flavor is even better."
"Whereas Hand-Pulled Lamb Rice requires first stir-frying ingredients like lamb, carrots, and onions, then adding rice and water to simmer together. The rice absorbs the aromas of the lamb and vegetables, resulting in a soft, glutinous, and fragrant texture, while the lamb is tender and delicious. The entire dish offers rich layers of flavor."
On the large screen, Wang Jing eloquently explained to the judges and the audience. She could make both dishes, so she naturally understood the differences between them.
Hand-Pulled Lamb Rice was invented later, and mostly uses lamb ribs, while Hand-Pulled Lamb utilizes loin and leg meat. The difference is clear.
Before preparing the dish, she had considered making Hand-Pulled Lamb Rice, but given the theme was lamb, she chose Hand-Pulled Lamb, which better showcased the flavor of the lamb.
"Well then, let's taste it first."
Hearing Wang Jing's explanation, the judges exchanged glances and nodded. Then, Hinako Inui, to fit the dish's name, directly picked up a piece of lamb with her hand, dipped it in garlic paste, and put it into her mouth.
"Fresh garlic cloves are finely minced into a paste, then mixed with appropriate amounts of salt, vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, and other seasonings, creating a unique flavor that is both spicy and refreshing."
The spiciness from the garlic paste cleverly neutralizes the greasiness of the lamb, while simultaneously bringing out a deeper deliciousness from the lamb. The two complement each other perfectly.
When the lamb, dipped in garlic paste, was put into the mouth, the first sensation was the spiciness of the garlic paste, followed closely by the lamb's richness.
"Adding a small amount of salt, ginger, Sichuan peppercorns, and other simple seasonings to the water, then adding the lamb—this simple seasoning can maximize the preservation of the lamb's original flavor. After bringing it to a boil over high heat, reduce to low heat and simmer until the meat becomes tender without losing its chewiness, and the fat melts during the long period of slow stewing. Thus, the meat will become even more delicious and juicy, achieving the most perfect result!"
The tall, thin man beside her did not dip it in garlic paste. Instead, he directly grabbed a piece of lamb and put it into his mouth, closing his eyes to carefully savor the taste of the Hand-Pulled Lamb.
Without excessive seasonings, only ingredients to remove the gaminess, the original flavor of the lamb was perfectly highlighted, making one feel as if they were in a fairyland!
"This requires extremely high-quality lamb. Only then can the deliciousness of the lamb be brought out. This lamb of yours must have been slaughtered this morning, right?"
Opening his eyes, the tall, thin man said to Wang Jing.
"That's right. I ordered lamb from three butchers, but two of them thought I didn't know much and tried to fob me off with overnight meat. So I bought from the third one, lamb that was freshly slaughtered this morning."
"Then you're truly lucky. If my sense of taste isn't mistaken, this should be a Fat-tailed sheep from Xinjiang, China, which is most suitable for making Hand-Pulled Lamb."
Facing the judge's inquiry, Wang Jing smiled and explained. However, she concealed one thing: the lamb wasn't bought from outside; she had called in advance to have someone from the Dark Cooking Society deliver it.
After all, she had no foundation here. While she could make a dish with casually bought lamb, the taste wouldn't be very stable, which wouldn't align with her pursuit of culinary excellence.
"If you're going to make it, then make it the best."
This was the motto of the Dark Cooking Society. It was set by Dylan. It sounded somewhat out of place, but Wang Jing really liked this saying.
"Let's start scoring now."
Seeing that the atmosphere was just right, Yua Sasaki picked up the microphone and announced loudly to the judges before her.
18, 18, 18, 17, 17
A total of 88 points! Wang Jing's name surpassed Miyoko Hojo, leaping to first place. Upon seeing her score, she frowned slightly but said nothing more.
She understood in her heart that the Leader's dish had raised the judges' scoring standards. In reality, her score should have been higher, but she couldn't possibly blame the Leader.
She could only blame herself for not being skilled enough.
"You perfectly matched this time's theme, lamb. Through just a few spices, you perfectly showcased the richness and deliciousness of the lamb."
Looking at the girl before her, Hinako Inui spoke with an appreciative expression.
This time's theme was lamb. A pure lamb dish would undoubtedly receive some extra points, and the dish before them was exactly that.
"Thank you."
Saying thank you, Wang Jing looked at Zhang Chen, who was getting up, then said nothing more. She quietly went to the cooking station to pack her things, preparing to go to Zone A.
Liu Yu had been assigned there.
After the competition, it would be a good time to go for lunch.
There's a sushi restaurant at the foot of Totsuki mountain that's quite good. I'll go check it out with Liu Yu later.
"For this dish, I used Hangzhou pepper, fresh Sichuan peppercorns, and wild mountain chili, supplemented with various spices and vegetables to create these Battle Lamb Ribs. Their aroma is mysterious and unique. Please, have a taste."
Plating the Three-Pepper Battle Celery Lamb Ribs, and pouring a generous amount of sauce over them, Zhang Chen revealed a mysterious smile to the judges before him.
At this moment, his face sported two large dark circles, making him look like he had pulled an all-nighter, yet he had a strangely radiant demeanor.
"This... looks somewhat like an East-meets-West fusion."
"Actually, yes. I used celery, carrots, coriander, scallions, ginger, and yellow wine, simmering them for fifteen minutes to form the dish's flavor base."
"The lamb ribs were stir-fried evenly with caramelization until they underwent the Maillard reaction, which helps quickly lock in the lamb ribs' juices and nutrient ingredients."
"Then, add cooking wine and boiling water, white peppercorns, aged tangerine peel, white cardamom, Angelica root, star anise, fennel seeds, cassia bark, and bay leaves."
"After boiling, add onions, scallions, chili peppers, carrots, celery, and coriander. Finally, pour it all into a pressure cooker, adding the vegetable broth simmered at the beginning..."
Zhang Chen spoke voluminously. This dish wasn't his original creation; it was a signature dish developed by Leader Dylan.
Dylan had once showcased it during a Dark Cooking Society gathering, leaving Zhang Chen utterly captivated.
Later, he secretly consulted a chef who was exceptionally skilled at replication. Finally, after many attempts, he created this dish, whose taste was very similar to the Leader's dish that day, for the competition.
"The pungency of white peppercorns, the richness of aged tangerine peel, the freshness of white cardamom and Angelica root, the warmth of star anise and fennel seeds, and the rich aroma of cassia bark and bay leaves. The fusion of these spices is like a symphony, resonating in the mouth!"
Savoring the taste on his tongue, the tall, thin man was completely enchanted. Such a multitude of spices brought a mysterious, complex flavor to the Battle Celery Lamb Ribs.
"You used more than just three kinds of chili, didn't you? The freshness of pointed chili, the crispness of Hangzhou pepper, the slight numbness of white pepper, the numbing spiciness of fresh Sichuan peppercorns, the sour spiciness of pickled chili, and the intense heat and unique aroma of wild mountain chili."
A faint blush spread across Hinako Inui's face, and her voice conveyed a different kind of enjoyment. The combination of so many peppers made her body tremble involuntarily.
The lamb ribs were meticulously cut into tomahawk shapes. The outer skin was golden and crispy, while the meat inside was tender, juicy, and melted in the mouth. It intertwined with the spiciness of various chilies, the aroma of spices, and the freshness of vegetables, forming a complex yet harmonious flavor.
"The soup's mouthfeel is rich and thick, with saltiness as the dominant flavor, and the umami is exceptionally rich and concentrated."
The plump old man patted his belly, his face full of enjoyment.
"Numbness first, then spiciness, with an endless aftertaste! And there's a faint Southeast Asian curry flavor. What a truly creative fusion dish!"
Hinako Inui's face was full of admiration, and a hint of astonishment flashed in her eyes.
No wonder they say Totsuki's current batch of students is so formidable. In just over ten minutes, several dishes had already astonished her!
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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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