The beginning is only when you become a chef

Chapter 12: Dishes of a Different Level
The judges' first reaction to having their sweet dreams disturbed was annoyance.

Can't you just wait?
Do we have to serve the food at this time? Are we in a hurry to lose or be reborn? Are we forcibly interrupting our journey in the food paradise?
Just a little bit, and their tongues will receive enough information to construct vivid fantasy pictures in their minds.

But now the spell was abruptly interrupted!

“This is my dish.”

Xia An directly moved the still hot casserole from the stove to the judging table.

After saying that, he wrapped a towel around the handle of the pot lid and gently lifted it up.

boom!
White mist vented out.

The amazing garlic aroma swept across the judges' seats like a tornado.

The three judges, who originally had unhappy expressions, suddenly felt their hearts tremble violently and their bodies became rigid.

Hojo Miyoko, who was only half a step away from Xia An, had her pupils trembling:

"Ah, this level of fragrance?"

Xia An said slowly, "Wait, my dish still needs the final finishing touches."

He picked up a small bowl from the tray.

He picked up finely chopped green onion and chopped green and red pepper and sprinkled them on the fish pieces surrounded by hot mist in the casserole.

In order to prevent too much heat from dissipating, Xia An used very fast hands. It only took him two or three seconds to doodle and evenly dot the green color on every piece of fish.

Then, Xia An put the lid back on the pot.

But the three judges, and Hojo Miyoko.

Seeing that Xia An did not stop there and actually had the next move, his eyelids twitched.

Isn’t it over yet?

Xia An looked calm, and his movements were quite casual. He grabbed the Erguotou that was served on the tray together with the casserole, unscrewed the bottle cap, and poured the high-proof liquor on the lid of the casserole.

"Click!"

At the same time, the lighter in the left hand made a sound.

The flames suddenly shot up into the sky!

Hojo Miyoko, the sporty and strong girl, couldn't help but open her mouth in amazement.

Tong Kun and the others didn't perform much better. They lost their composure and stared blankly at the casserole with flames coming out of it. When the flames disappeared, Xia An once again opened the lid of the casserole.

"Boom——"

The surging aroma was like thunderclap from a clear sky. The judges and Hojo Miyoko only took a small breath, and their brains exploded.

Four pairs of eyes were fixed on the casserole that was emitting mist and aroma.

half an hour.

Hojo Miyoko just opened her mouth, her lips moving:

"The fragrance has been elevated to a whole new level?!"

She turned her head suddenly.

Beautiful eyes looked at Xia An in disbelief:

"Why is that? The dishes are already on the table, and all that's missing is the finishing touches!"

"But at this final stage, you can still force the quality of the dishes to continue to improve!"

Xia An smiled:

"Just now, when you saw me pouring the strong liquor into the casserole lid and lighting it, would you think that this was a gimmick like a juggler, something fancy?"

Hojo Miyoko nodded and said truthfully:
"That's exactly what I was thinking."

"After all, this process, in my opinion, is just fancy and has no practical significance!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Xia An corrected him and said:
"No, you are wrong."

Hojo Miyoko looked at the casserole that was still emitting a strong aroma like a volcanic eruption, and said sincerely:
"Correct!"

"I was wrong!"

"May I ask what is the meaning of this move, Chef Xia?"

At this time, Hojo Midori changed to using honorifics, which showed that she was humble and submissive, and made it clear that she accepted defeat.

Of course she knew very well that there was no need to compare.

When the lid of the pot was opened for the second time and the aroma was sublimated, Hojo Miyoko knew that her "Oil-drenched Fish" could not beat it.

In fact, they are not even on the same level of dishes!
Xia An showed a teachable smile and said:

"When the alcohol is ignited, the temperature of the casserole lid rises. Isn't that also a sign of heat?"

"This step is equivalent to reheating the pan, which heats up the chopped green and red peppers and chopped green onions I just sprinkled, making the dish absolutely integrated with the previous and next steps!"

Hearing this, Hojo Miyoko's expression was wonderful. After thinking for a moment, she bowed deeply and sincerely:
"Been taught a lesson!"

the other side.

While two food battle contestants were conversing among themselves.

The judges also have their own thing to do, which is to enjoy delicious food!

No kidding, after the pot was opened for the second time, the strong aroma was enough to disqualify the three judges. They ignored the standard procedures and picked up their chopsticks to join the battle for food.

The pieces of fish are baked in a casserole cooker, and the juice on the surface is still sizzling.

The point is, every piece of fish is so pretty.

The heat is just perfect, the meat is baked just right.

Moreover, each piece of fish is evenly decorated with chopped green onions, minced green and red peppers, and chopped pickled peppers and pickled ginger that are stirred in during the marinating process.

of course!

Xia An’s own [Garlic Crisps] are the soul seasoning of this baked garlic fish.

After being baked in a casserole, these originally crispy [garlic crisps] have absorbed the water vapor and softened slightly, almost clinging to the fish meat and completely blending into the fish meat.

Tong Kun picked up a piece of fish, chewed half a bite, and suddenly froze in his seat.

The rich garlic flavor spreads in the mouth like a whirlwind.

At this moment, Tong Kun's vision blurred, and it seemed as if a river full of garlic crumbs appeared in front of him. He was the fisherman paddling a bamboo raft on the river, and his fishing net had caught a plump swordbone fish. So Tong Kun's face was filled with a happy smile, and he hugged the swordbone fish tightly, smelling the sweet and garlicky aroma emanating from the fish.

"Huh? What's wrong with this fish? The fish meat actually has the original garlic flavor? Is there something wrong with me..."

Tong Kun murmured like in a dream and gradually came to his senses.

hiss~
After waking up, Tong Kun looked at the half-eaten piece of fish on the chopsticks. He didn't say anything, but gave Xia An, who was sitting at the judging table, a thumbs up and said:

"Okay, you've drugged me."

Tong Kun, a four-star chef, was captivated by this dish and gave sincere praise.

What’s more, the two judges, Liu Hong and Liang Guiqin, have little cooking skills.

They took one chopstick after another.

A hungry tiger devours.

"Wow...it's so hot!"

"I, I can't stop at all!"

"What kind of premium fish dish is this? It's sour and spicy, and has a strong aroma of garlic. The freshness and sweetness of the fish meat itself is not covered up at all, but is highlighted by it!"

Seeing that his two colleagues did not comment or say anything, Tong Kun picked up his chopsticks and started eating with relish.

This scene made Tong Kun so angry that his eyes widened and he almost vomited blood:

"Let me go!"

"You all ate so much!"

Tong Kun threw away his reserve as the chief judge and demonstrated the art of team battle with a pair of chopsticks. He accurately cut into the battlefield and took away the last piece of fish in the casserole directly from the bottom of Liu Hong and Liang Guiqin's chopsticks.

After a while.

Tong Kun had a beaming face and was wiping his mouth with a napkin with satisfaction.

Liu Hong stared at him.

Liang Guiqin also looked unhappy.

"Ah."

Tong Kun had the attitude of a winner:
“Do you have anything to add to the review?”

Liu Hong then calmed down his anger and seriously asked Xia An at the review table:

"What's the name of your dish?"

(End of this chapter)