A single bite, and the meat juice instantly spread across the tongue. The unique aroma of deer meat enveloped the mouth, making one unable to stop themselves, unable to resist cheering and leaping.
"The meat juice exploded in my mouth! This feeling is so strange, it's my first time experiencing the flavor of deer meat so vividly!" The bald old man couldn't help but exclaim in praise.
The deer meat, having been blanched in ice water before stewing, and then stir-fried with deer oil, had its moisture firmly locked within the meat, naturally resulting in a burst of juice with every bite.
"Such a pure taste! All the spices must have been used to enhance the flavor of the deer meat, and that unique wildness belonging to deer has also been brought out."
"This dish uses cassia bark, angelica dahurica, star anise, and more... And there's one last ingredient... If I'm not mistaken, it should be deer antler gelatin."
Deer antler gelatin is a solid gelatin made from deer antlers through boiling and concentration. Given the limited time during the competition, you must have prepared it in advance.
Dylan spoke to Hisako Arato with a slight smile, a hint of admiration in his eyes, his attitude completely different from how he treated Ryo Hayama just moments ago.
After all, Hisako Arato was a disciple he had personally trained, so naturally, he was fonder of her.
"That's right. Yesterday evening, I conducted numerous culinary experiments, but the flavor was always slightly off, so I decided to focus on the deer itself. I processed deer antlers into deer antler gelatin, which has the effects of warming and tonifying the liver and kidneys, and nourishing essence and blood. Additionally, deer antler gelatin has a mellow and sweet taste, mixed with a savory freshness, and its addition makes the soup richer and its texture more mellow."
Seeing Dylan recognize her clever culinary trick, Hisako Arato suppressed the excitement in her voice, trying her best to maintain a calm demeanor.
At this moment, she felt as if Bo Ya had met Zhong Ziqi, like "High Mountains and Flowing Water" had found a kindred spirit. It was hard not to like such a knowledgeable teacher!
Cassia bark, angelica dahurica, star anise, and deer antler gelatin – this stewed deer meat dish was made with these four medicinal ingredients. In other words, this was the essence of the "Four-Part Origin-Returning Deer Meat Stew."
Having understood the source of the complex flavors in the dish, the old man in the pink-brown suit exhaled a long breath, his face filled with rapture.
"The key is still the deer meat. Through this cooking method, that hint of wild flavor in the deer meat was perfectly released. It can be said to be very suitable for the theme."
The bald old man chimed in. Although Hisako Arato's dish only used a few spices, the taste of the deer meat had fundamentally improved.
Paired with its juiciness, one bite made you crave another, and the satisfaction it brought during chewing and swallowing almost made you swallow your tongue!
"Indeed, if Ryo Hayama's dish was a feast of aromas, then Hisako Arato's dish was a carnival solely belonging to deer meat!"
Senzaemon Nakiri looked at the young girl waiting before him, exhaled a long breath, savoring the taste in his mouth, and then began to praise.
"The victor is already clear."
Putting down the spoon in his hand, Dylan glanced at the two people waiting before him, then at Senzaemon Nakiri, and slowly spoke.
At the same time, the audience below quieted down upon hearing his words. Most of the hubbub disappeared, and expectation showed on everyone's faces.
"Indeed."
Senzaemon Nakiri nodded, speaking at the same time, a hint of astuteness appearing in his aged tone of voice.
Ryo Hayama.
Jun Shiomi pressed her hands to her chin, her lips trembling slightly, her beautiful face filled with nervousness, her heart beating violently.
"Ryo Hayama, your dish is incredibly original. You used cherry wood charcoal, crushed black pepper, rosemary, thyme, and mint-infused fragrant oil to create a triple flavor profile, making the taste of the deer chop rich and varied."
"Hisako Arato, your Four Qi Return to Origin Deer Meat Stew skillfully utilized cassia bark, angelica dahurica, star anise, and deer antler gelatin, these four medicinal ingredients. They blended together, bringing out the full deliciousness of the deer meat."
"Both of your dishes are excellent, but the theme of this round is 'Deer.'"
As he spoke, the large screen in the sky suddenly displayed the character "鹿" (deer). The audience on site was puzzled, wondering why the Director suddenly brought this up.
Both of them clearly presented deer meat, so could there be some difference between them?
"Have you still not understood?"
Looking at the confused and baffled Ryo Hayama, Senzaemon Nakiri sighed.
"One of you chose to showcase complex aroma combinations, while the other presented the purest taste of deer meat. Simply taking 'Deer' as the theme, Hisako Arato's dish is undoubtedly more suitable!"
Senzaemon Nakiri slowly spoke. The difference in their culinary skill levels wasn't significant; if not for their different focuses, it would have been truly difficult to determine a victor.
Normally, a dish should reflect the delicious fusion of spices and deer meat, and this is what ordinary people would do. Ryo Hayama indeed did so.
However, Hisako Arato took an innovative path, using the spices as nourishment to jointly stimulate the aroma of the deer meat, thereby perfectly fitting the theme.
"Triple Flavor Roasted Deer Chop utilized the deer to awaken deeper layers of deer meat aroma. The other spices then built upon this foundation, further shaping the dish's flavor, causing its layers to stack up, ultimately creating a deliciousness that surpassed mere deer meat."
"But, frankly speaking, how much of the original deer meat flavor remained in it?"
Looking at the now silent Ryo Hayama, Senzaemon Nakiri's voice was light, yet it resonated powerfully, like a clap of thunder exploding in his heart.
So that's it. He seemed to have focused too much on the proportion and flavor of the spices, thereby overlooking the inherent taste of the deer meat.
This dish wasn't testing the use of spices, but rather the enhancement of the deer meat's inherent flavor. From the very beginning, he had deviated from the theme...
Ahhh!
"May I taste your dish?"
Thinking this, Ryo Hayama looked at Hisako Arato beside him. There wasn't much change in her eyes, she merely nodded faintly.
"Originally, I planned to pack it up to review the taste and summarize for future improvement, but since you want it, I'll give it all to you."
As she spoke, Hisako Arato returned to her original spot, picked up the remaining portion of the deer meat stew from the stove, and then walked over to Ryo Hayama.
Hearing Hisako Arato's words, Ryo Hayama didn't stand on ceremony. He nodded in thanks, took her deer meat stew, picked up a piece of deer meat, and began to taste it.
"Cassia bark has warming and pungent aromatic properties; it stimulates the natural aroma in the meat, causing the meat to emit an alluring fragrance during the stewing process."
"Angelica dahurica, as a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, possesses a unique fragrance and a slightly pungent sensation, and it effectively removes the gamey odor from deer meat."
"Star anise is known for its rich aroma and is an indispensable ingredient for stewed meat, adding rich layers to the deer meat stew."
Closing his eyes, feeling the flavors emanating from deep within the deer meat stew, Ryo Hayama's mind's eye saw a lush and thriving forest, and within it, a group of free-roaming deer.
The deer foraged in the forest, crossing high mountains, passing through great rivers, running and playing freely in the forest.
Everywhere they went, they consumed large quantities of food, including the medicinal ingredients and spices that Hisako Arato used in the competition.
"Most crucially, it was the deer antler gelatin. Deer antler gelatin is rich in collagen protein and various amino acids, making the final broth thick and smooth, adding a unique nourishing aftertaste."
Opening his eyes, a bitter smile appeared on Ryo Hayama's face. He looked up at the sky, his eyes filled with unwillingness.
His dish was absolutely not bad in taste; he only lost on the understanding of the theme.
Ryo Hayama muttered to himself. His greatest pride was his use of spices, but he never expected that this time he would be outsmarted by his own cleverness.
Seeing Ryo Hayama's expression, Senzaemon Nakiri said nothing more, turning to speak to the attendant staff member beside him.
Before he could say more, the person had already prepared the paper, then wrote down the five large characters: "Hisako Arato."
Hisako Arato exhaled a turbid breath, looked towards Dylan, and gave him a bright smile. With this, she had entered the quarter-finals.
Next, she only needed to win three more matches to seize the championship. However, the one she truly needed to watch out for was still that black-haired guy.
Looking towards the audience seats, seeing Ryo Kurokiba watching the scene with a calm expression, fighting spirit appeared in Hisako Arato's eyes.
He was the second-place finisher in Group A's preliminaries. It was rumored that before coming to Totsuki, he was in Northern Europe, and was considered a neighbor of Teacher Dylan, often dropping by to audit his classes.
However, even now, whenever Ryo Kurokiba had a problem, he would visit. He even dared to challenge Alice Nakiri after she became a Special Grade Chef.
It could be said that he was her biggest obstacle to winning the championship this time.
"Let's go back."
Coming back to her senses, she found Dylan patting her shoulder. Hisako Arato nodded, obediently following behind him.
Soon, the two left the competition venue.
"Let's go back too,"
Alice Nakiri said to the others in the audience seats, watching Dylan and Hisako Arato leave. Then she also moved her steps and departed from Tsukiten-no-Ma.
Japan, Tokyo Airport.
A young man in casual wear stepped off the plane. The man appeared to be sixteen or seventeen, with his hands casually in his pockets, looking nonchalant.
Beside him was an old man in his seventies.
"Grandfather, is that Seven-Star Special Grade Chef you're visiting really in Japan? But even if he is a Seven-Star Special Grade, you don't need to come in person..."
The young man in casual wear asked, puzzled, watching the spry old man walking ahead. Seven-Star Special Grade Chefs were certainly rare, but there was no need for him, a person of your stature, to visit in person.
"A Seven-Star Special Grade Chef can only be considered rare, but a Seven-Star Special Grade Chef in his twenties is a unique existence, even where we come from. Besides, isn't it normal to come visit him to foster connections? If you can't even understand this, Xiao Quan, your brain is truly not working well."
A girl with twintails and light pink hair, sucking on a lollipop, pouted and spoke, somewhat speechless.
"Don't call me Xiao Quan! You're three years younger than me, aren't you? Is 'Xiao Quan' something you should call me?! And we came here for business, what are you following along for?"
Looking at the young girl following behind him, the man turned his face, somewhat speechless, looking utterly helpless, his unfiltered words unconcealed.
"Am I not someone exceptional? What do you think you should call me? What's wrong with me calling you Xiao Quan? You've been a step below me since birth!"
Hearing Zhou Quan's words, the pink-haired twintailed girl couldn't help but cross her arms and point at his nose, speaking with extreme arrogance, making one want to punch her.
"Zhou Yuyu, don't push your luck!"
"Na na na, look at him, acting up again!"
Seeing the somewhat angry Zhou Quan, Zhou Yuyu nonchalantly made a face, then hid behind the old man, making Zhou Quan clench his fist even tighter.
He swore that one day he would teach her a harsh lesson.
"This time, it's mainly about getting acquainted. Since his debut, he has reached Seven-Star Special Grade at an astonishing speed, and this might not even be his limit yet."
Watching the two juniors squabbling in front of him, the old man's face showed a smile. For him, what he loved to see most was such a lively scene.
"Seven-Star Special Grade is not his limit? How is that possible? Like you, Grandfather, you're an Eight-Star Special Grade Chef, aren't you? You know, you preside over national banquets..."
Zhou Quan was somewhat surprised. One must know that above Seven-Star Special Grade was the true Realm of Gods.
Not only must one be able to consistently create Flowing Light cuisine, but also allow the taster to clearly feel the chef's emotions at the moment of cooking that dish.
Infusing emotion into cooking – this matter is neither difficult nor simple.
What's difficult is deliberately infusing emotion; what's simple is that most mothers on earth can do it, as it's a manifestation of their love for someone.
For an ordinary chef to comprehend this point on their own, a smart one would need ten to eight years, while an unintelligent one might never grasp it in their lifetime.
Therefore, upon hearing his Grandfather say that Dylan might possess the strength of an Eight-Star Special Grade, Zhou Quan reacted with undisguised shock.
"At this age, being able to create Flowing Light cuisine is already incredible; how could he be an Eight-Star Special Grade Chef? Didn't it take you a full twenty years to go from Seven-Star Special Grade to Eight-Star Special Grade..."
Zhou Yuyu's lips slightly parted, her expression equally filled with disbelief, wondering if his evaluation of Dylan was a bit too high.
"When I was young, I was considered a genius. I reached Seven-Star Special Grade before I was forty, but it took me over twenty years to take the next step. As for Nine-Star Special Grade, I estimate I'll never be able to reach it in this lifetime. In China, among those still alive, there is only one who has truly reached that level."
Old Man Zhou walked ahead with him, talking about his younger days.
Anyone who can become a Special Grade Chef was a genius in their youth, but wanting to advance further in old age only gets more difficult.
I don't know how far that young fellow can go, but what's certain is that his future will definitely be brighter than mine, an old man. At least he's still young, with a future that stretches out endlessly."
Stepping out of the airport, looking up at the sky, Old Man Zhou's voice was low, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
If before he had considered himself a genius, then after chatting with an old friend and learning about Dylan's accomplishments, he truly realized his own insignificance.
When he was twenty, he had only just become a Special Grade Chef.
Fortunately, he originated from Huaxia, not a foreign chef; otherwise, the upcoming once-in-a-century...
A few peaceful days passed.
The first round of eight matches concluded.
Soma Yukihira VS Ueno Sugi, Soma Yukihira won.
Huang Mei VS Takumi Aldini, Huang Mei won.
Hisako Arato VS Ryo Hayama, Hisako Arato won.
Liu Yu VS Ning Feng, Liu Yu won.
Ryo Kurokiba VS Li Bianbian, Ryo Kurokiba won.
Megumi Tadokoro VS Yūki Yoshino, Megumi Tadokoro won.
Wang Jing VS Zhang Chen, Wang Jing won.
The eighth day.
Miyoko Hojo VS Subaru Mimasaka, Subaru Mimasaka won.
On the large screen, the red text was particularly glaring.
Her angry eyes glared at Subaru Mimasaka. Seeing him present a dish identical to hers, or to be precise, an improved version after slight modifications, Miyoko Hojo was furious, but with her inferior skill, she couldn't say anything.
"Looks like I've won again, Teacher Dylan."
Waving to Dylan on the stage, Subaru Mimasaka inexplicably uttered this sentence. Then, ignoring Miyoko Hojo, who was kneeling on the ground in defeat, he nonchalantly left Tsukiten-no-Ma.
Watching Subaru Mimasaka's retreating back, Hisako Arato, who was below, immediately went onto the stage, quickly helped Miyoko Hojo up, a flicker of indignation crossing her face.
If he had won normally, it wouldn't have been a problem.
The crucial point was that he replicated Miyoko Hojo's dish, slightly modified it using his own methods, and then won the match, which was why it was so infuriating.
Does this guy not have a single original thought?!
"Actually, it's still because the dish lacked precision. Otherwise, even if he added a few more ingredients, the taste couldn't possibly surpass yours. You still need to keep working hard."
Looking at Miyoko Hojo, who had stood up and walked directly to him, her head bowed and abruptly silent, Dylan spoke first.
"A loss is a loss; there's no need to find excuses. If you want to win, it's simple: create a dish that Subaru Mimasaka cannot replicate."
"His tracking and replication are essentially imitation. To break it, you just need to make him reach the limit of his ability, so he can't imitate it anymore."
"I'm sorry, Teacher Dylan, my skills are imperfect..."
Miyoko Hojo muttered, clearly, this defeat was a huge blow to her. She actually lost to a dish she had personally created...
"Don't say sorry. I don't like to hear that. Since you lost, go back and practice more. Just win next time."
Hearing Miyoko Hojo's words, Dylan raised his hand and patted her shoulder. Losing a match isn't a serious matter, as long as you can get back up.
"I understand. Starting today, I will spend at least 12 hours a day in the kitchen!"
Hearing Dylan's words, a look of determination flashed across Miyoko Hojo's face. She wanted to push herself, as that was the only way to quickly become stronger!
"Be careful, you still need to balance work and rest. In your daily life, go out and see the world more often; don't trap yourself in a small kitchen."
"If you do that for too long, not only might you not improve, but your skills could even decline."
Hearing Miyoko Hojo's resolve, Dylan somewhat helplessly raised his hand and patted her head, then spoke earnestly to her.
Cooking is never something that can be perfected by working behind closed doors. It requires continuous practice, experiencing others' cuisine, combining it with your own, taking the essence and discarding the dross, only then can you hope to achieve mastery.
"I understand," Miyoko Hojo said. "So, I now need a lot of matches, to contend with formidable masters? Only then can I quickly become stronger..."
Miyoko Hojo looked at Dylan, half-understanding, half-confused. Previously, she had always honed her cooking in a corner of the kitchen, but now Dylan was telling her that this approach didn't seem quite right...
"It's not necessarily about contending with masters. Watch more, learn more, don't work behind closed doors; you can still achieve the effect you desire."
Seeing Miyoko Hojo's thinking being corrected, Dylan's clenched hand relaxed, turning into a light pat on her head, as a sign of encouragement.
"Watch more, learn more..."
Miyoko Hojo muttered softly, a different light flickering in her eyes.
Seeing this, Dylan said no more. Some things are better left not too explicit.
For cooking, everyone's understanding is different. All he needed to do was guide them onto the right path.
As for which path they ultimately chose, he did not intend to forcibly interfere. That was their own choice, and they would bear the consequences themselves.
The journey from Tsukiten-no-Ma to his home was approximately 30 minutes. Dylan walked leisurely with Hisako Arato and Miyoko Hojo.
Sunlight shone upon the three, feeling slightly hot, but no one minded.
After the first round of matches concluded, there was a one-week buffer period for preparation.
The opponents for the second round would not be announced just before the matches; instead, they would be notified by letter one week in advance.
This week was also to allow them to diligently hone their skills for the semi-finals. They could no longer be as casual as they were at the beginning.
Not long after, the three returned home. As soon as they reached the door, they were taken aback by the sight before them. Then Dylan frowned and spoke.
"Excuse me, is there something you need, standing in front of my house?"
Looking at the elder and two youths before him, Dylan's heart was filled with doubt. He didn't recall knowing such people, nor did he know what they sought him for.
"You're Dylan? You look quite ordinary. Are you really a Seven-Star Special Grade Chef?"
Zhou Quan looked at the man who had suddenly appeared before him, his expression puzzled. He had originally thought that even if Dylan was in his twenties, he would be an 'uncle' close to thirty.
Not like this one, who looked barely twenty, seemingly even younger than him...
Someone like this, how could he look like a Seven-Star Special Grade Chef? Isn't he just a pretty boy?!
"What do you mean ordinary? He's super handsome, okay?!"
Zhou Yuyu's eyes widened when she saw Dylan. She shyly covered her mouth, then rushed over, looking him up and down, without any of the restraint expected of a young lady.
"You little—"
"You good-for-nothing! Go play somewhere else!"
Seeing Zhou Quan roll his eyes, seemingly about to say something outrageous, Old Man Zhou, who had been observing Dylan, finally reacted. He directly went over and gave him a kick, knocking him to the ground.
Still not feeling satisfied, he kicked him again, then smiled helplessly at Dylan.
"This kid has been spoiled rotten by the family; he's unruly outside. I'll make sure to discipline him properly when we get back. Young friend, please don't mind him; just consider what he said earlier..."
Old Man Zhou was somewhat uneasy. They had come to visit, and he didn't want to accidentally fail to build good relations and instead make an enemy, that would be truly...
"It's fine. So then, what can I do for you?"
Releasing the strength gathered in his arm, Dylan looked at the old man before him with a half-smile. The man's physique was well-proportioned, but from his outward demeanor, this old man should be the lean and strong type, full of power.
"Nothing major. We just heard that a new Seven-Star Special Grade Chef has emerged in China, so we wanted to pay a visit. If there's any offense, please forgive us."
Because the other party was a strong individual of comparable strength, Old Man Zhou didn't dare to put on any senior's airs. He respectfully explained their purpose, then looked at Dylan eagerly, hoping he wouldn't leave an old man who was almost in his grave standing outside.
However, even though he had mentally prepared himself before coming, when he truly saw Dylan's face, Old Man Zhou couldn't help but be startled.
There was no helping it; the other party was simply too young.
Didn't he see that his own granddaughter had already become smitten...?
Wait, Zhou Yuyu, what are you doing?!
Coming back to his senses, he remembered he had a granddaughter. He looked over and found her standing beside Dylan, poking his arm.
"Brother, you're so strong! Your muscles are so big! How do you usually train? I bet you could beat up two Xiao Quans!"
Feeling the hardness from her fingertips, Zhou Yuyu surprisingly covered her mouth. This firmness was probably more impressive than even some professional fitness trainers!
Zhou Quan, playing dead on the ground: ???
"I just exercise a little usually; nothing impressive."
Looking at the girl's adoring face, Dylan wore a helpless expression. With her looking at him like that, it was hard for him to reprimand her.
After all, no man would scold his own little fangirl.
"What do you mean 'just exercise a little'? Brother, you're too humble! If Yuyu were to get a boyfriend, she'd definitely look for someone like you, Brother. If nothing else, you provide a great sense of security! Oh, by the way, Brother, do you have a girlfriend?"
Her pink twintails bounced in the air, revealing an indescribable vitality. The girl's eyes were clear, as if she were asking a casual question.
If an ordinary young man encountered her, he probably wouldn't last a few rounds before revealing his bank card password.
But Dylan was different. He had too many beautiful girls around him; simply put, he was somewhat desensitized.
"I have someone I like."
"Oh?"
"Since you've come to visit, then come in and sit down. Hisako, make some tea."
"Okay."
Hisako Arato, who had been curiously observing from the side, nodded, then scurried into the house. More familiar with the place than Dylan himself, she took out the tea set stored in the drawer and began to brew tea with great grace.
This was something she learned while accompanying Erina Nakiri. Normally, Erina only had her brew tea when entertaining important guests.
However, now being ordered by Dylan, she showed no hint of displeasure. Instead, her heart was filled with a sense of elation, because she was needed by him!
Soon, the tea was ready, and Dylan also learned the origins of the people before him.
China, the Zhou culinary family.
The old man before him was named Zhou Tai, an Eight-Star Special Grade Chef, currently the Chief National Chef of China, with a large team of chefs under him who could create Flowing Light cuisine.
The younger one was Zhou Quan, newly entered into Special Grade, though he took his assessment in Hangzhou.
As for the pink-haired twintailed girl, her name was Zhou Yuyu, and she was a First-Class Master Chef.
Normally, she was a bit too active and playful, always appearing full of energy, but once she started cooking, she seemed to transform into a different person.
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