Food Wars, My Dishes Don't Just Shine

　Standing in the rain, feeling the thunderous roars, he strolled through the rain with a carefree expression on his face.

　"The cherry blossoms melt into waves, and the seaweed breeze brings coolness to summer. Not bad at all! Just two kinds of fried food have made me feel the amazing changes from spring to summer. What I'm eating is the taste, but what I'm experiencing is life itself. I haven't seen such wonderful dishes in a long time!"

　Savoring the flavors on his tongue, Zhang Zhong couldn't help but compose a short, impromptu poem. Though simple, it was his most genuine reflection on the dish before him.

　It's hard to imagine that such a dish could be made by a young man around twenty-five years old. This guy has really maxed out his talent!

　As for the third flavor

　It is sweet, caramelized, and has a strong earthy flavor!

　The sweet potato puree is coated and fried until caramelized, giving it a maple-like sweetness and a slightly charred flavor. The slight bitterness and glutinous aroma of ginkgo balance the sweetness of the sweet potato.

　"This feeling is warm and mellow, as if you are chewing on an entire autumn forest!"

　The taste on the tip of his tongue grew ever more profound, and Zhang Zhong's voice rang out with a hint of excitement.

　This is absolutely amazing!

　"The last part of the bamboo charcoal coating brings a rough mineral feel. It should be edible bamboo charcoal powder. After you put it in your mouth, you will be filled with the aroma of charcoal."

　The moment you open your mouth and bite into it, the oyster bursts forth with juice, its flavor exceptionally rich and savory, with a salty, oceanic quality and an unusually creamy texture!

　As he said this, Zhang Zhong stood up abruptly from his chair.

　This platter of fried foods representing all four seasons is among the top five dishes in his many years as the chief judge of the Young Chef Competition!

Chapter 285 The Decisive Moment, Alice Nakiri's Cooking

　"I can't take it anymore, this smells too good! I'll have a bite of grilled pig's trotters to calm my nerves."

　The audience members in the front row swallowed hard as they smelled the extremely rich fragrance in the air.

　Some even took out pig's trotters they carried with them, their expressions showing great enjoyment, while Zhang Zhong's detailed comments made their mouths water.

　"I can't believe spring, summer, autumn, and winter can be interpreted this way! But does this count as one dish or four dishes? I'm a little confused..."

　Some viewers questioned this, because although the dish Wang Qing presented was in one box, it consisted of four different dishes.

　"Indeed, it seems that Wang Qing's cooking has quite a few problems. I wonder if the judging panel will turn against him because of this."

　The people next to him nodded in agreement. The requirement for the Youth Chef Competition was to prepare one dish, but what Wang Qing was preparing was clearly four dishes.

　Although it is labeled as a dish, whether it can be recognized still needs to be discussed by the judges before a conclusion can be reached.

　Public is public, private is private.

　Although the vast majority of those who came to the scene were Wang Qing's supporters.

　But that doesn't mean they're brainless. People who blindly support Wang Qing no matter what kind of cooking he makes are called brainless fans.

　Compared to me being his fan and therefore wanting to support him, they are more inclined to believe he does well, so they want to become his fans.

　"Although they are four separate fried dishes, their flavors are closely linked, or more accurately, they echo each other according to the theme."

　The sweetness of sakura shrimp and the fragrance of perilla, the saltiness of seaweed and the spiciness of wasabi, simulate the climate change from new bamboo shoots after rain to the heat wave at the seaside.

　The caramel sweetness of the sweet potato, the slight bitterness of the ginkgo, the salty and savory richness of the oyster at the end, and the minerality enveloping it in charcoal aroma, are like a transition from a maple forest tinged with frost to the frigid depths of the sea.

　Zhang Zhong also heard the surrounding discussion, so he quickly tasted all four fried dishes according to Wang Qing's instructions, and closed his eyes at the same time.

　Feeling...

　This is the most basic skill for a culinary judge.

　What Zhang Zhong is saying now is his entire feeling about this dish.

　"That's right. The aftertaste of each fried dish subtly influences the first impression of the next dish, creating a coherent taste montage."

　"I've lived this long, and this is the first time I've ever experienced anything like it. He truly deserves to be called a genius among the new generation of chefs!"

　The tall old man continued, following Zhang Zhong's words without hiding his admiration.

　"Not only is the flavor of the dish consistent, but the oiliness also increases in a stepwise manner, giving diners the best taste experience."

　The short, elderly man also spoke up, expressing his opinion.

　The oiliness intensifies with each season, but it is dynamically balanced by elements such as sour, spicy, bitter, and cold to prevent the taste buds from becoming numb, much like the gradual increase in volume in music.

　A master chef is one who skillfully blends a variety of flavor elements into a dish, creating a harmonious blend of tastes!

　“Each dish is a top-tier three-star dish, and with the flavors resonating between the dishes, this Four Seasons Fried Food Platter has already stepped into the realm of four-star cuisine!”

　Despite the great distance, Bai Yuan quickly judged the culinary level of the dishes presented by Wang Qing by watching the live broadcast on the big screen and hearing the judges' high praise for the dishes.

　"Wouldn't that put Alice in great danger?!"

　Upon hearing Bai Yuan's words, the girls around him gasped in surprise and then looked at the competition venue with concern.

　Now that Alice Nakiri is representing the Dark Cuisine world on the competition stage, the girl sitting next to Bai Yuan couldn't help but clutch her clothes tightly when she heard that Wang Qing's dish might reach four stars.

　They share both glory and loss, and everyone is cheering her on at this moment.

　"Don't worry, although the opponent performed very well, and even exceeded expectations in some ways, Alice is not someone to be trifled with."

　With ample preparation, the outcome of this match is still uncertain!

　Bai Yuan looked at the expressions of the people around him and immediately understood what they were thinking.

　There were probably very few people at the scene who genuinely believed that Alice Nakiri would win.

　He was there to cheer her on mostly out of friendship, but in his heart he had already decided that she would lose the game. Even Lia, who was sitting in his lap, was frowning and silent.

　Apart from them, no one at the scene would doubt Wang Qing's strength.

　He has produced three-star dishes in several consecutive matches, demonstrating an absurdly high level of consistency.

　Now, with all his might, he has created a dish that is half a step into the top four-star level, reaching the pinnacle of dishes that have appeared in the history of the competition.

　“I also believe in Alice; her eyes haven’t given up.”

　After a moment of silence, seeing the intensely burning gaze in Alice's eyes, Lia's brows relaxed, and she spoke with a firm and resolute voice.

　Then, she shifted slightly in Bai Yuan's arms to find a comfortable position, her gaze remaining fixed on the large screen.

　To be precise, it's hanging on the big screen as Alice Nakiri.

　After the judges finished evaluating Wang Qing's cooking, drones in the sky circled closely around Alice Nakiri, broadcasting her cooking process live.

　Even Wang Qing, who had already finished cooking, turned his attention over, standing tall and straight not far away, watching with his arms crossed.

　After completing the dish and receiving high praise from the judges, the weight that had been hanging over him finally lifted.

　Now all that's left is for Alice Nakiri to finish cooking and present it to the judges, who will then announce that she has won the competition.

　He performed even better today than last year. Even if his final opponent is Liu Xiaotian, he is confident he can win.

　Not to mention the mere Alice Nakiri!

　Facing the gazes of the entire audience, Alice Nakiri showed no sign of panic. She simply closed her eyes slightly and began to analyze the characteristics of Wang Qing's dish based on the judges' words.

　"I see. Let's begin then."

　You use various ingredients to create fried dishes that evoke the four seasons as your selling point, so I'll use desserts as my highlight, turning your selling point into my advantage!

　After standing there in silence for several minutes, many thoughts floated through Alice Nakiri's mind. Then she opened her eyes and found the best answer.

　As she finally took action, all eyes were on her, and everyone's mouths gaped open as they watched her swift movements.

　She transformed the green apple ball into a bead, then took a...

　The elderflower, with its condensed essence placed on a round glass plate, looks exquisite and unique.

　"Green apples are used to create granules, which are then placed on an unknown flower. So what kind of flower is this? I've never seen it before..."

　Yoshino Yuuki poked her head out and voiced her doubts.

　She did see Alice Nakiri enter the flower shop, but she didn't see what flowers she bought until she came out, so she assumed that the other person had just gone in for a look.

　After all, girls love beautiful things, and it's understandable that they can't help but go into a flower shop when they see one.

　However, it now seems that Alice Nakiri did buy flowers, but only in small quantities, which is why she wasn't noticed by everyone.

　The flower that escaped everyone's notice must be the vibrant elderflower in the dish; I wonder what its purpose is here.

　Elderflower is a unique ingredient that can bring distinctive flavors and functional benefits to dishes and beverages.

　Looking at the delicate flowers on the screen, Bai Yuan remained silent for a moment, his mind racing, and soon he found relevant information about flowers in his mind.

　"Elderberry? I remember now, it seems to be a Chinese medicine, and it is described in detail on page seventy-three of the medicinal diet recipes."

　Elderflower has the properties of dispelling wind and dampness, promoting blood circulation and relieving pain, and has significant effects on rheumatic pain, back pain, edema, urticaria and other ailments...

　Hisako Shirato already felt that the little flower looked very familiar, and now, after hearing Shirabuchi's explanation, a look of sudden realization appeared on her face.

　Although the things Bai Yuan made her memorize were extremely troublesome and painful to remember, they taught her a lot.

　If it weren't for her efforts back then, she would never be able to recognize what kind of medicinal herb it is now.

　However, Teacher Bai Yuan was able to recognize the elderflower even faster than her, which meant that the books he showed her were ones he had already read years ago.

　Not only is he talented, but he's also incredibly hardworking. What can't someone like that succeed at?!

　"That's right, but you only mentioned its characteristics as a traditional Chinese medicine."

　Elderflower can also be used as an ingredient in desserts, as it has a delicate aroma similar to muscat grapes.

　Adding it to water, mixed with honey or citrus, and releasing a subtle floral aroma can elevate desserts and drinks to a more sophisticated level.

　Upon hearing Hisako Shinto's voice, Shirabuchi turned to look at her, then nodded with satisfaction, expressing his appreciation.

　The fact that the other person could mention these things in front of him proves that they have studied a lot.

　He acknowledged this effort!

　"I see. So, Alice is indeed making a dessert?!"

　Hearing their conversation, Ryoko Sakaki recalled her earlier guess. It seemed her guess was correct, although she still didn't know what role foie gras played in Alice's cooking.

　"It's hard to say. It might be, it might not be. Let's just wait and see with our doubts."

　Bai Yuan shook his head. Based on what he had done so far, he couldn't yet determine what kind of dish Alice would prepare.

　However, what is certain is that after seeing Wang Qing make a four-season fried food platter, the other party subconsciously began to make their own dishes in that direction.

　"Elderberry flowers contain natural fruit acids that can neutralize sweetness, making them suitable for pairing with oily dishes. It seems Alice has a good understanding of yesterday's training."

　Bai Yuan gently pinched his chin with his fingers, but he didn't say it aloud, as it was just his guess.