Food Wars!: Delicious Food of the Heavens

Chapter 111 Wild Duck Aria

People tend to emphasize what they lack most!

Lin Yu gently stroked the girl's soft hair and said in a calm tone, "Relax, Yuuki, don't be intimidated by others' bluffing!"

"Bluster? Me?" Takumi could hardly believe what he was hearing.

"Okay~"

Takmi revealed a rather fierce expression.

"In that case, I'm going to get serious!"

Takumi opened a suitcase and took out a strangely shaped item, which immediately drew gasps from the audience.

Not only the many students watching, but also Yoshino Yuuki didn't recognize her at first.

"What is that?"

"It's [Mezzaluna]!"

Lin Yu provided an answer to Yoshino Yuuki's question.

Yoshino Yuuki looked at Lin Yu in surprise, "You know Lin Yu-kun?"

"Um!"

Lin Yu nodded and explained, "This word means 'crescent moon'."

"That's a crescent-shaped cleaver used by Italian chefs, held in both hands."

"kitchen knife?"

Yuuki frowned, staring at the oddly shaped kitchen knife in Takumi's hand. "With a shape like that... will it even be usable?"

"It's really difficult for beginners to use!"

Lin Yu smiled faintly: "However, for chefs who have mastered special skills, this kind of uniquely shaped cleaver can greatly improve the efficiency of cutting and preparing food."

As if in response to Lin Yu's explanation, a noise came from the stove as soon as he finished speaking.

"Tritare! (Chop it up!)"

Takmi let out an angry shout, his hands pressing down and waving at an extremely fast pace.

The peculiarly shaped kitchen knife in Takumi's hand, with its crescent-shaped blade, instantly transformed into a blurry afterimage, dazzling the eye.

The crisp, rhythmic thud of the blade falling was continuous, without pause or break, forming a single, unbroken line, as if a single strike had been frozen in time countless times.

Times.

The ingredients on the cutting board were chopped into a smooth paste almost instantly by takami.

"Brother, the duck will be roasted almost done!"

Seeing his brother's high spirits, Isami spoke up to remind him.

"clear!"

Takmi put down the crescent-shaped cleaver in his hand and breathed a sigh of relief.

"There's enough time; the salsa sauce can be made at the same time."

"Understood, I'm ready." Hearing Takumi's words, Isami focused, ready to unleash full power at any moment. "Very good."

Isami released one hand and handed over the crescent-shaped kitchen knife.

Isami skillfully grabbed one side of the handle of the crescent-shaped cleaver and took it from him.

"bring it on!"

With a furious roar, Isami swung his crescent-shaped cleaver wildly, the blade flashing across the cutting board, leaving a blinding afterimage.

The ingredients on the cutting board turned into a smooth paste in the blink of an eye.

On the other side, Takmi also dared not relax for a moment.

The dish was nearing completion, but precisely because of this, his mind was highly focused.

Not only did his hands not tremble at all due to nervousness, but he also felt that he was in better condition than ever before!

Time seemed to slow down at that moment.

In this magical state, Takumi not only moved his hands quickly and steadily, but he could even clearly hear the sound of his own breathing and heartbeat.

"We can't lose!"

Takmi's words struck a deep chord within his own heart.

"We absolutely cannot lose!"

Takmi's expression gradually turned into one of gritted teeth.

"I'm a professional chef who spent eight years on the front lines of the fierce battle in the kitchen!"

"I absolutely refuse to accept that I could lose to a chef my own age!"

With gentle movements, the kitchen knife was slowly pressed down, and the blade sliced ​​through the golden and tempting duck breast, revealing the tender and pink flesh inside.

"Perfect!"

Seeing this, Takmi smiled with satisfaction.

Arrange thinly sliced ​​duck breast on a plate and drizzle a spoonful of bright green, thick sauce over it.

"It's done!"

Takmi breathed a sigh of relief and gave Isami a high five. Both brothers wore relieved smiles.

Takumi picked up the food and walked towards Hinako Inui at the front of the classroom.

Lin Yu could sense that Takumi's eyes involuntarily glanced at him as he passed by.

Yu Guangzhong's expression carried an indescribable air of smugness and provocation.

"Heh~"

Lin Yu merely gave a cold laugh to himself.

At the front of the classroom, Hinako Inui put down her teacup and snacks.

"You two brothers are the first group to submit your dishes!"

Hinako Inui maintained her gentle expression throughout, her tone carrying a hint of surprise.

"So fast!"

"Of course!" Takumi replied with a smile, "After all, speed is one of the characteristics of Italian cuisine!"

"Chef Inui, please enjoy!"

"[Roasted duck breast], paired with [Salsa pesto], I'm sure you'll be satisfied!"

Takumi placed the plate in front of Hinako Inui, bowed slightly, and gave her a gentle smile.

Wow~

Hinako Inui clasped her hands together, a smile playing on her lips, and let out a soft sound of surprise.

"It looks really good!"

As she spoke, Hinako Inui took a gentle sniff, a look of rapture on her face.

"Mmm~ This aroma is really making my mouth water!"

"Then I'll start eating."

The golden and tempting duck breast is sliced ​​thinly, and beneath the crispy skin lies tender, pink, and steaming duck meat.

When Hinako Inui picked up a piece of duck with her chopsticks, the juices and oil from the duck were still dripping down her chopsticks into her plate.

Hinako Inui tucked a few stray strands of hair behind her ear with one hand and put the duck meat on her chopsticks into her mouth with the other.

Duck meat is rich in fat, making it ideal for roasting.

The moment it enters the mouth, the rich aroma of duck meat and fat, created by being grilled at high temperature, hits Hinako Inui's taste buds like a powerful punch.

But the next moment, the intense flavor subsided, and the tender texture of the duck meat that took its place was like a floating cloud.

As you continue chewing, you'll find a slightly crispy texture mixed in with the tender duck meat.

It was duck skin that had been finely sliced, coated with marinade, and then pan-fried in hot oil until it was crispy and fragrant.

The fat in the duck meat melts into a flowing liquid during roasting, mixing with the meat juices.

This caused a rich, fragrant, and warm current to flow freely in Hinako Inui's mouth!

Not only that!

Hinako Inui picked up another piece of steaming hot duck meat, dipped it in the emerald green sauce, and put it in her mouth.

This dish also has a key character!

The delicious taste of the duck meat hadn't even finished lingering in your mouth, and the rich aftertaste was still echoing in your mind, when the sauce made its grand entrance!

The refreshing flavor elevates the already exceptional umami of the duck meat to a whole new level!

"Ah~~"

Hinako Inui let out a soft, comfortable moan, her entire body trembling.

"The aroma of wild duck, full of wild flavor, combined with the refreshing coolness that seems to burst out of the nostrils, elevates the taste to another level."

"This bravery and elegance are like a deep bass, the sound resonating deep within the abdomen, with various flavors rising and falling, melodious and lingering!"

"This feeling... is like a 'Wild Duck Aria'!"

"Ah~ I wish I could be hugged by this wild duck and never be apart from it!"

After a long while, as the delicious aftertaste lingered on her tongue dissipated, Hinako Inui finally regained some of her senses.

When Inui Hinako, now fully awake, put down her chopsticks, she realized that the plate was already empty.

I've already finished this whole roasted duck breast without even realizing it!

Hinako Inui felt a slight sense of surprise at her own momentary lapse in concentration.

She looked up at Takumi, gave him a kind smile, and asked gently, "Takumi, you just said this sauce is 'salsa'?"

"I remember this sauce was made by mixing finely chopped anchovies and celery together, right?"

"But your sauce..."

Hinako Inui recalled the taste she had just experienced.

"They probably used catfish, not anchovies, right?"

"And it's pickled catfish roe."

"Am I right?"

After giving this answer, Hinako Inui looked at Takumi with a rather interested expression.

"That's right," Takumi admitted with a smile, "Your sense of taste is extremely accurate!"

Hinako Inui covered her mouth and chuckled softly a few times, then continued, "Normally, pickling catfish roe should take more than a week, but yours... is it freshly made?"

"Absolutely correct!"

Takumi seemed pleased that Hinako Inui's prediction had come true.

"I put the cleaned fish innards into sake, along with sweet cooking wine, soy sauce, salt, and other seasonings, and simmered them together until they became a thick paste."

"That just-right, irresistible slight bitterness is what makes this special catfish roe so rich and full-bodied."

"Not only that!" Hinako Inui said with a smile.

"You also use plantain and wild onions instead of celery, chop them up and mix them into the sauce, giving the sauce a fresh green color and a refreshing taste."

"Furthermore, using yuzu pepper instead of garlic makes the flavor milder."

"If I'm not mistaken, you also added sesame oil to the sauce at the end, which added a touch of rich flavor."

"Ingenious ideas everywhere! You're amazing, Takumi!"

In the end, Hinako Inui even clapped her hands gently.

"That's right!"

Takumi was in high spirits at the moment.

"This is my Japanese-style salsa sauce, which I created by using various local ingredients and improving upon traditional Italian salsa sauce, with my specially made marinated catfish roe as the base!"

Takmi couldn't contain his inner pride, raising his hand to rub his nose, looking quite smug.

"Although this was just an impromptu performance, it still represents the best I've ever done!"

Hinako Inui's lavish praise and Takumi's rather smug words clearly broke the guard of everyone in the classroom.

"Damn! Just hearing about it makes my mouth water!"

"It's unbelievable that we were able to find so many ingredients to combine and mix within such a limited area in just two hours!"

"Ugh! Why is fishing all I can think of?!"

"Stop complaining! Instead of wasting your time, either try making it yourself or go out and find some more ingredients!"

"That's right! Let's hurry!"

I picked up my teacup and took a sip of hot tea.

The warm, fragrant tea washed over Hinako Inui's mouth and tongue, calming her down.

Hinako Inui looked at Takumi and Isami, who were packing their things, her gaze softening, a slight smile curving her lips, and a ripple of emotion stirring within her.

"Unlike Japan, Italy has a long-standing tradition of consuming wild animals, especially in Tuscany, the homeland of the Ardini brothers!"

"Various seasonal wild game, such as wild rabbits, wild ducks, wild deer, and wild boars, will be served on the table."

"Presumably, it was in this kind of culinary environment that they learned how to handle and cook wild duck, 9"

"The marinade made with soy sauce, mustard, black pepper, and honey makes the fatty and tender wild duck breast so fragrant and delicious when roasted."

"The carefully seared duck meat pairs perfectly with the improved salsa sauce!"

"Whether it's the wild duck or the sauce, both embody the essence of Japanese style, together creating a delicious Japanese dish."

"Although I deliberately set a trap and even misled people."

"But they were not blinded by the information in front of them. Instead, they broke through the shackles of preconceived notions, discovered wild duck as an ingredient, and clearly sought out materials that could complement the flavor of wild duck."

"Even with limited ingredients and time, they can quickly overcome these limitations and create exquisite dishes..."

"The Aldini brothers, you guys... are really amazing!"

Hinako Inui chuckled softly, suppressing her inner thoughts.

She stood up, looked at Takmi and Isami, and loudly announced the results.

"Takumi Aldini!"

"Isami Aldini!"

"I hereby declare you have passed the test!"

With a click, Takumi closed the briefcase containing the crescent-shaped kitchen knife.

Upon hearing Inui Hinako's verdict, a calm smile of expectation appeared on his face, and he bumped fists with his younger brother.

"Grazie! (Thank you!)"

"Hey, Lin Yu!"

Takumi looked at Lin Yu, his eyes filled with smugness and pride.

"My dish is ready!"

"Where's your food?"

Meeting Takumi's smug gaze, Lin Yu suddenly felt that the other party was just like a primary school student who lost a game and, after going home and practicing his moves, was determined to have a rematch with his opponent.

Thinking about this, Lin Yu suddenly found it a bit funny and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

But hearing Lin Yu's laughter broke Takumi's defenses.

"Can you still laugh when things are at their worst?"

"In this respect, your mental fortitude is truly admirable!"

Lin Yu's indifferent attitude, as always, made Takumi quite angry and embarrassed.

"I just don't know what kind of dish you'll make with the fish you finally caught while squeezing through the crowded riverbank."

"It's a fish dish!"

"I'll be watching!"

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