Food Wars, my food not only glows!

　"Yes, but you need to have exceptional talent in this area and undergo particularly rigorous training to awaken the corresponding superpower."

　After glancing at Alice Nakiri and then looking at Ikumi Mito, Shirabuchi spoke.

　The human body is amazing; it has a strong ability to adapt. If you improve a little bit every day, eventually the quantitative change will lead to a qualitative change, and you can achieve...

　Awakening of Kung Fu.

　In the world of MasterChef, almost every master chef has one or two special skills, and those who are even more skilled will develop super senses.

　However, this ability gradually declines with age, which is the real reason why some chefs who were far more skilled than their peers when they were young are not as good as their peers when they get older.

　People like Logan, the pastry king, are ultimately a minority.

　"Mito's cooking seems to be finished."

　Suddenly, Hisako Shinto pointed in the direction of Ikumi Mito and spoke.

　At the same time, the other three looked over and saw that Mito Ikumi was cutting up food that had just been taken out of the oven on a food preparation board.

　The baking tray was lined with onions, the meat was brushed with marinade while baking, sprinkled with rosemary, and then brushed with honey just before it came out of the oven.

　"What an amazing taste! This feeling is truly wonderful, combining parts of three different creatures! Ahh! It's strange, but so delicious!"

　The more you chew, the more fragrant it becomes.

　This is their most direct feeling.

　"Suddenly, I feel that the dish Mito made seems to be related to the theory that Professor Shirabuchi mentioned earlier."

　Take the best parts of the same ingredients and piece them together to create the most perfect dish.

　As Mito Ikumi was removing the cotton thread, Shinomiya Hisako's voice was tinged with emotion. She carefully observed the other's cooking techniques, which were remarkably similar to what Hakugen had taught her.

　This is the best example of truly applying what you've learned to cooking!

　"Actually, there are some differences. When I taught you, I used the same animal as the ingredient, but Mito used meat from a different animal."

　Lamb ribs, pork tenderloin, and beef fat—combining these three to create a piece of meat unlike any other in the world—is quite an idea.

　Bai Yuan's eyes were filled with admiration. Regardless of the taste, the creativity alone was enough to make him give it a thumbs up, and he decided to try it when he got back.

　One advantage of teaching apprentices is that you can reinforce what you've learned through teaching.

　One or two problems may not be very useful, but when there are many, solving their problems every day is also a way to identify and fill gaps in one's own foundation.

　His strength is improving every day.

　Chapter 175 The Battle for Eighth Place

　"I wonder what it will taste like. Pork, beef, and lamb are arguably the three most common medium-sized livestock, and to combine them together..."

　Erina Nakiri swallowed hard, wondering what Mito Ikumi's dish would taste like. Combining these three ingredients—could it be a culinary disaster...?

　At the same time, the audience in the front row also focused their attention on Mito Ikumi, or more accurately, on the bowl in front of her.

　As she cut and divided the food, the staff members came forward one after another, carrying the food she had divided to the audience in the first two rows below.

　"I never imagined I'd be a judge one day."

　In the front row, a viewer looked at the bowl in front of him and couldn't help but sigh. Then he picked it up with his chopsticks, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

　On the steak, lamb, pork tenderloin, and beef fat are layered and stacked, creating a unique texture and color contrast.

　The bottom of the bowl is lined with a thin layer of roasted onions, which are used to line the meat during grilling and give the steak a rich aroma.

　Furthermore, the golden color of the onions contrasts sharply with the brown color of the steak, making it very appetizing.

　"I'm gonna start now."

　Looking at the delicious-looking dishes in front of them, the audience put their hands together in a gesture of respect before eating, then picked up their chopsticks, put the food in their mouths, closed their eyes, and savored it.

　The savory flavor and unique aroma of mutton become even richer after marinating.

　At the same time, it intertwines with the spices in the marinade, such as minced garlic, minced ginger, and shredded onion, to create a deep and complex flavor.

　"The lamb is firm yet tender, with a natural savory aroma. The addition of pork tenderloin adds a delicate and tender touch to this dish."

　The use of beef fat is the finishing touch to this dish. As it melts, it permeates the other two types of meat, giving the entire dish a rich, oily aroma and a silky smooth texture.

　As viewers savored the rich flavors on their tongues, they couldn't help but exclaim that the addition of beef fat at the end not only enhanced the overall aroma but also made the meat more tender and juicy, melting in their mouths.

　Indeed, meat tastes best when it has a good balance of lean and fat!

　"Professor Bai Yuan, please."

　Hearing the praise from those around her, Mito Ikumi raised her hand in a gesture of invitation, her large eyes blinking expectantly, hoping to receive praise in return.

　"it is good."

　Bai Yuan nodded slightly, took the plate handed to him, and picked up the three pieces of meat with his chopsticks, looking at how they had become one through the cotton thread.

　"The ratio of meat to fat needs adjustment, that's one issue. Another is the monotonous cooking techniques; all the spices are added at once, failing to create depth and complexity in the flavor..."

　As he tasted the food, Bai Yuan offered his evaluation.

　The idea is good, but it's too crude.

　To make this dish a good one, it needs further refinement. If it were him, he would probably consider using vegetables or fruits to enhance the flavor.

　"oh oh!"

　Mito Ikumi nodded and quickly jotted down notes in her notebook. (The last part, "白渊," appears to be a fragment and doesn't translate directly. It's likely part of a larger text.)

　She will try out the suggestions she was given when she gets back.

　"Besides that, there is..."

　Seeing Mito Ikumi's serious expression, Shirabuchi took another bite of the dish and continued to analyze its shortcomings, interspersed with some praise for its strengths.

　"My dish is finished too: beer-braised lamb, pineapple beer version!"

　Just then, Subaru Mimasaka finished cooking.

　Instead of immediately distributing the food to the audience, he strode over to Shiro and gave one portion each to him and Mito Ikumi.

　"Try it and see the difference between us."

　With a smug smile on his face, Subaru Mimasaka returned to the cooking station after saying this, divided the food in the pot, and had the staff distribute it to the audience below to taste.

　"What an arrogant guy!"

　Watching Mimasaka Subaru leave without saying a word, putting down the food, Mito Ikumi clenched her fist and said something with some dissatisfaction.

　Bai Yuan's expression remained unchanged as he calmly looked at the beer and mutton in front of him.

　Compared to beer, pineapple beer has a subtle fruity aroma that blends with the aroma of grilled mutton fat, creating a unique flavor profile.

　"This improvement is actually quite good. The original beer, used as the stewing liquid, brings a refreshing malt aroma and a subtle beer fragrance to this dish."

　Subaru Mimasaka's innovation lies in replacing beer with pineapple beer, which not only retains the original aroma of beer and lamb, but also adds the fruity aroma of pineapple and a touch of sweet and sour.

　The result is a more vibrant and refreshing flavor profile for the dish, combining the richness of traditional beer-braised lamb with an innovative fruity touch.

　Once the lamb enters your mouth, its flavors spread like a small bomb, the aroma of fat lingers on your tongue, and the meat becomes tender and flavorful.

　The addition of minced onion and garlic gives the dish a basic spicy and sweet flavor, while thyme and bay leaves provide a long and complex herbal aroma.

　Some spices are stir-fried to enhance their flavor and aroma. Other spices are added directly to the pot for stewing, where their flavor plays a supporting role and is more bland.

　One is rich and the other is bland, thus creating a distinct layering.

　"this..."

　While enjoying beer and mutton, Mito Ikumi seemed lost in thought, her gaze fixed on Mimasaka Subaru not far away, her eyes revealing intense resentment.

　Although I don't really want to admit it, this dish seems to taste much better than hers.

　Putting everything else aside, its distinct aroma and layers far surpass hers, although the meat flavor is slightly inferior. But cooking is about the whole dish...

　In an instant, many thoughts flashed through her mind. Mito Ikumi looked at Shiro Awakening, who was enjoying beer and mutton. She saw admiration in his eyes and felt a moment of panic.

　Thinking about it carefully, it makes sense. The other party used a recipe that Teacher Baiyuan had already perfected, and then improved upon it, resulting in distinct flavor layers.

　She had only studied cooking for the past few days, and although she had managed to make some dishes thanks to Teacher Baiyuan's guidance, it was far from enough.

　I was defeated by Shirayuki-sensei's cooking...

　It doesn't seem like they're entirely wronged.

　"Don't assume you're going to lose before the results are in, otherwise you'll be at a disadvantage in terms of momentum, which isn't a good thing."

　Seeing the emotion in Mito Ikumi's eyes, Bai Yuan raised his hand and tapped her head to bring her back to her senses. She nodded vigorously.

　"I see.

　Even if we lose, it's not terrible. As long as we're still here, we'll be able to win back someday.

　He's just a petty thief, stealing only the essentials. Even if I'm not as good as him now, I'll definitely surpass him someday!

　Upon hearing Bai Yuan's words, Mito Ikumi was taken aback for a moment, then, as if she had thought of something, her eyes grew brighter and brighter, and she spoke with a hint of excitement.

　"Um...is that what I meant?"

　"Well, it's rare to see Little Meat Charm with such high fighting spirit, so let's not talk about anything else. This is a good thing for her."

　Bai Yuan nodded without changing his expression. He then looked at the audience, where everyone had received their food and was enjoying it.

　"This beer-braised lamb is delicious! The flavor is rich yet refreshing, the lamb is tender and juicy, and it has the aroma of beer and pineapple!"

　"That's right, it not only combines the sweet and sour taste of pineapple with the aroma of malt, but also has a rich and layered flavor. It's truly a rare delicacy!"

　"Ah! That feels great! The warmth rises from my lower abdomen, soars up to my chest, and then spreads throughout my body, leaving me feeling warm and comfortable!"

　As the food entered their mouths, expressions of pure delight immediately appeared on the faces of the audience.

　The rich flavor spread in their mouths, and the warmth from the mutton made them exhale comfortably, their faces filled with contentment.

　"With this bite, a gentle warmth spreads from inside my body, throughout my entire being—it feels so good!"

　"Indeed, and most importantly, the lamb has a very strong flavor! The intense flavor makes you know you're tasting lamb as soon as you take a bite!"

　"That's right. In terms of taste alone, the two are not that different, but if we focus on lamb, the difference is huge."

　21:0

　At the same time, each audience member was given a scoring device, and the next moment, the lights came on and the final score appeared on the big screen.

　Mito Ikumi suffered a complete defeat.

　"Not a single vote was cast for me..."

　Looking at the final score, Mito Ikumi bit her lip, a pitiful yet stubborn smile on her face, looking somewhat desolate and downcast.

　The girl couldn't help but mutter to herself. She had thought she would lose, but she never imagined it would be a complete defeat.

　"There's no need to be discouraged. If you lose, you can win next time. Your dish still has a lot of room for improvement. Subaru Mimasaka's dish has almost reached its peak. Even if you improve it, it will be difficult to make it even more delicious."

　He reached out and pinched Mito Ikumi's small face, finding it slightly stiff. Bai Yuan gently comforted her, which calmed her down.

　“I’ll work harder!”

　Mito Ikumi nodded seriously, thinking to herself that she would practice hard when she got back, and never bring such a half-finished dish to the next competition.

　This is also due to limited talent.

　Although she knows a lot about meat dishes, she usually uses high-end ingredients and prefers to bring out the original flavor of the food, and this time was no exception.

　Unfortunately, the proportions of beef, mutton, and pork were not well controlled, resulting in a dish that was neither fish nor fowl and lacked a clear flavor profile.

　"Expand the proportion of lamb to two-thirds, butter to two-sixths, and pork tenderloin to one-sixth. This will deviate from the perfect ratio by about 10%. Go back and experiment with it, and make it for me next week."

　Although we could tell Mito Ikumi the exact proportions directly, that would mean missing out on the exploration process, which wouldn't be a good thing for her.

　Therefore, Bai Yuan simply helped her narrow down the scope, allowing her to make choices within that range, so that she wouldn't have to start from scratch and waste a lot of time searching for a single dish.

　"Great! I will definitely improve it!"

　Hearing Bai Yuan's words and feeling the lingering warmth from his hands rubbing her face, Mito Yumi's face flushed slightly, but she still spoke earnestly.

　"Keep honing your skills."

　Patting Mito Ikumi on the shoulder and looking at her resolute expression, Bai Yuan spoke earnestly.

　"It seems the results are in. The audience voted, and the final winner is Mimasaka Subaru, who advances to the official competition."

　As the vote count was announced, Sasaki Yua's voice rang out in the audience, declaring that Mimasaka Subaru had advanced to the official competition, and the dust had settled.

　"What a harmonious master-disciple relationship, but unfortunately, I will crush you one by one."