Food Wars, my food not only glows!

　Although I haven't tasted it, the aroma is so rich that I can only imagine this dish must be something special.

　In other words, there is a lot of suspense in this competition.

　Now it all depends on how Alice Nakiri performs in the end...

　Chapter 123 Alice, come to my room tonight to receive your punishment.

　"Finish!"

　Watching the molecular honey-glazed char siu pork gradually reach its peak in the oven, Alice Nakiri clenched her fists slightly, an excited expression appearing on her face.

　Opening the oven and feeling the sweltering heat inside, Alice Nakiri picked up the tongs and pulled out the oven rack.

　The next moment, the char siu was completely exposed to the outside world, and the aroma reached its peak at this moment, rushing in all directions the instant it left the oven.

　"What an intoxicating aroma."

　Looking at the freshly baked molecular honey-glazed char siu, Alice Nakiri took a deep breath with a look of pure enjoyment, savoring the wonderful aroma.

　Ignoring the scalding heat, she placed the grill on the counter, took the meat off, and quickly sliced ​​it into equal-length pieces with a cleaver, arranging them on a plate.

　But that wasn't all. She picked up the pot from which she had been making the syrup and used a spoon to drizzle the emulsified honey sauce she had prepared onto the char siu.

　"Try it, Master. This is the best I've done in a while."

　This product combines emulsification technology from molecular gastronomy with traditional char siu cooking methods to create a molecular honey-glazed char siu.

　Wiping away the thin layer of sweat from her forehead caused by the heat, Alice Nakiri placed the dish in front of Shirayuki as if presenting a treasure, her eyes filled with anticipation.

　"Actually, you made a fatal mistake."

　Before even tasting it, just looking at the color of the molecular honey-glazed char siu, Bai Yuan suddenly spoke up.

　"Huh? What error..."

　Upon hearing Bai Yuan's words, Alice Nakiri's excited expression suddenly froze. She then swallowed hard, her initial anticipation turning into nervousness, and her heart began to pound.

　"I think I told you before that oven temperatures are different from oven to oven, and there are many factors that affect them. The specific temperature can only be determined through repeated experiments by the chef."

　At the same temperature, home ovens run at lower temperatures, while hotel ovens run at higher temperatures.

　Because the hotel's large oven has a more powerful heating element, and because of its larger size, it also has better temperature control.

　As a chef, I don't want you to make such a basic mistake.

　Bai Yuan's tone was serious.

　Although the midterm exam focused primarily on Chinese culinary techniques, with very little use of the oven, it's somewhat understandable that Alice Nakiri didn't notice this.

　However, he did not accept this reason.

　He had asked a similar question to Alice Nakiri when she was eight years old.

　At that moment, Alice Nakiri patted her not-so-ample chest and solemnly promised him that she would remember it forever.

　Furthermore, such a basic mistake should not have occurred to a master chef.

　Even if he didn't say it, he shouldn't have shown up.

　"sorry..."

　Alice Nakiri lowered her head, like a defeated rooster, her voice filled with frustration, and a chill ran down her spine.

　Only after Bai Yuan pointed it out did she realize just how basic her mistake had been.

　"Don't apologize. If you make a mistake this time, just correct it next time. But you still need to be punished, otherwise I'm afraid you won't learn your lesson."

　Come to my room tonight, and I'll see you've gotten a bit carried away lately!

　Looking at the dejected Erina Nakiri in front of him, Bai

　Yuan continued speaking.

　"okay, I get it."

　His words made the girl blush, but she still nodded and replied softly.

　"Eh..."

　On the other side, Erina Nakiri was already taken aback by the scene. Why was the usually kind Hakugen-sensei suddenly so angry?!

　Thinking of this, Erina Nakiri turned her head to look at Alice Nakiri again and found that the girl had her head down and looked dejected.

　"If that's the case, then my chances of winning this match are pretty high!"

　Thinking of this, Erina Nakiri couldn't help but feel excited. If Shiro Awakening and Alice Nakiri hadn't been there, she probably would have burst out laughing.

　It seems that this time she can not only take the top spot on the leaderboard, but also get rid of the shameful nickname "Sister Alice"!

　Long live!

　"Actually, the problem of excessive temperature is not unsolvable. As long as you keep an eye on the oven and observe the color change of the malt syrup on the surface of the char siu, you can still find the problem."

　Cooking requires a balance of tension and relaxation. If you take a break here during the cooking process, that's relaxation, and I won't criticize you for it.

　However, you also need to be flexible when the time is right. From the moment the char siu goes into the oven to the final product coming out, there are only a few minutes in total.

　"It's not difficult for you to keep an eye on the oven."

　While instructing Alice Nakiri, Bai Yuan picked up a piece of char siu with his chopsticks and held it up to the light to examine it closely.

　Looking at the varying shades of honey glaze on the surface of the char siu, I couldn't help but shake my head slightly; this was a sign of improper heat control.

　This girl has always been number one and has never had any rivals in Totsuki Academy, so it's no wonder she's become arrogant, which is why this problem has arisen.

　They need to be given a good talking-to, otherwise things could easily spiral out of control. Arrogance is the sharpest knife that kills a chef!

　"I'm sorry..."

　I understand! I will never make such a silly mistake again.

　The words of apology were about to leave her lips when, remembering Bai Yuan's earlier words, Nakiri Alice clenched her fists and swallowed them back. The next moment, she raised her head, looked directly at him, and spoke with a firm expression.

　"Very good, that's the kind of spirit we need!"

　Although this mistake wasn't big, it can lower the quality of your cooking by a level. You should be more careful when cooking in the future.

　Seeing Alice Nakiri's determined expression, Bai Yuan finally nodded in satisfaction and then put the char siu pork on his chopsticks into his mouth.

　The char siu pork undergoes a meticulous slow-cooking process at low temperatures, allowing the deep aroma of the sauce to blend perfectly with the freshness of the pork shoulder, resulting in exceptionally tender meat while retaining its original chewiness and texture.

　Under the gentle embrace of sous-vide cooking, every spice in the sauce seems to transform into a magician.

　The aromas of onions, shallots, garlic, ginger slices, and raw scallions permeate every fiber of the meat, blending perfectly with the meat's flavor to create an indescribable, rich aroma.

　The rich aroma of cooking wine and the umami flavor of oyster sauce are gradually released during the slow cooking process, perfectly blending with the pork shoulder and adding an incomparably unique umami and sweetness.

　The addition of dark soy sauce not only gives the pork belly an enticing reddish-brown coat, but also makes its flavor richer and more layered.

　The addition of white sugar harmonizes the flavors of the dish, making it neither too salty nor too sweet, achieving a perfect balance.

　This is the most essential flavor of this molecular honey-glazed char siu, a flavor accumulated through the technique of slow cooking at low temperatures!

　"The slow cooking method at low temperature makes the char siu meat tender and juicy with a slight chewiness. Compared with the common char siu, its texture is more delicate and the meat is more tender."

　Beside her, Erina Nakiri also picked up a slice of char siu pork, put it in her mouth, and couldn't help but praise its unique texture.

　"At the same time, the char siu sauce, after complex processing, presents a complex and incredibly rich aroma, and has an exceptionally smooth texture."

　"It must be the machine's performance; what did you do to make the char siu sauce so smooth!"

　Erina Nakiri savored the taste in her mouth and couldn't help but look at Alice Nakiri with curiosity.

　Beyond the core flavor of the char siu pork, there's also the honey glaze that coats its surface, which, after weathering, forms a protective film.

　This protective layer prevents the char siu from drying out too much during roasting and retains its internal juices, which is the ultimate secret to the tender and juicy taste of char siu!

　"That's the emulsification function in a molecular gastronomy machine, which can speed up the emulsification of sauces."

　"emulsification?"

　Hearing Bai Yuan's words, Nakiri Erina was a little confused. She knew the term, but she didn't know if the other person was referring to the one she understood.

　"Emulsification technology allows the oily and watery components in char siu sauce to form tiny droplets and disperse evenly."

　When tasting the emulsified char siu sauce, diners can experience a smoother, more creamy texture.

　Bai Yuan's voice rang out from the side, explaining what Nakiri Alice had just done.

　"Is it like whipping cream?"

　"That's the principle."

　Upon hearing Erina Nakiri's question, Shirabuchi nodded and then put a piece of char siu into his mouth.

　"The char siu pork is slow-cooked at a low temperature, allowing it to fully absorb the aroma of various seasonings, and then..."

　The char siu is coated in honey sauce, locking in its aroma. One bite leaves a lingering fragrance on your lips and teeth, making it a high-quality product.

　However, because it wasn't cooked quite right, the aftertaste was slightly bitter. Since you then poured on a layer of honey char siu sauce, this subtle flavor is generally imperceptible to most people.

　After eating a few more pieces, Bai Yuan gave a comprehensive evaluation.

　The oven issue affected the grade of this dish; if it can be resolved, this molecular honey-glazed char siu could very well become a premium one-star dish.

　If a dish is scored out of 100, then a score of 80 is considered a top-grade dish.

　A score of 95 to 100 points represents the level of "glowing cuisine," while exceeding 100 points signifies reaching a new realm: "flowing light cuisine."

　When dishes are of equal quality, those with more complex preparation steps and more harmonious flavor combinations will receive a higher overall score.

　Sometimes, an exceptionally complex dish can make up for a lack of completeness.

　Ultimately, the most important thing about cooking is the taste, not the so-called luster.

　"Indeed, there is a faint, subtle bitterness at the end, which should be the taste of maltose caramelizing under high heat."

　"But, Master Baiyuan, do you also possess the God Tongue? How can you discern even such subtle flavors? Even I have to carefully perceive them."

　Opening her eyes from her reverie, Erina Nakiri looked at Shirayuki with a complicated expression.

　She had to put in some effort to taste the subtle bitterness in the dish; an ordinary person wouldn't even notice it!

　"You haven't developed your God Tongue to its full potential yet; it's only in its initial state, so its abilities are naturally limited."

　He didn't directly answer Erina Nakiri's question, but it wasn't hard to tell from Hakugen's words that he also possessed a similar ability.

　Otherwise, he wouldn't have said something like, "Your abilities haven't been fully unleashed yet."

　"The God Tongue hasn't been fully developed yet..."

　Shiroyuki's words made Erina Nakiri think, and then she looked at him seriously: "Shiroyuki-sensei, do you have a way to make my God Tongue grow?"

　A hint of longing flickered in the girl's eyes. Her heart pounded as she asked the question, and her fists clenched nervously.

　Erina Nakiri is already incredibly powerful with her God Tongue, but she doesn't dare to even imagine what level it could reach if she could take it a step further!

　"certainly.

　I have a specialized training method, but you can only use it once you become a master chef; it's a bit too intense for you right now.

　Looking into the girl's eyes, Bai Yuan naturally understood her thoughts. Without hiding anything, he directly stated the prerequisite for teaching: becoming a top-level chef.

　"Become a master chef?"

　Erina Nakiri repeated Shirayuki's words, her feelings slightly complicated. This guy made it sound so easy, did he? Is becoming a top-tier chef so easy?!

　Even among the Elite Ten of Totsuki Culinary Academy, only Gin Dojima, who graduated with the highest score in history more than a decade ago, was able to become a Special Grade Chef before graduation.

　Most others only become master chefs several years after graduation. If it's a graduating class of low quality, it's not surprising that they never become master chefs in their lifetime.

　"Don't overthink it. With my special training, you'll become a top-tier fighter in no time, provided you listen to me."

　Looking at Erina Nakiri's melancholy expression, Shiroyuki spoke up.

　She has a good foundation, unlike Alice Nakiri who needs to be raised from scratch. In a little over a year, she can complete her transformation.

　In fact, the first year of high school is a time of transformation for these students, and there is also an interesting student who will enroll during that period.

　"Hmm, the transfer student assessment..."

　Perhaps we can make something interesting.

　Bai Yuan pinched his chin, a thoughtful expression on his face.

　"Teacher Bai Yuan, Teacher Bai Yuan!"

　Just as Bai Yuan was lost in thought, a few calls and a swaying motion brought him back to his senses, and he then looked at Nakiri Erina.