Food Wars, my food not only glows!

　Soon, the basic idea of ​​the dish was formed in Tadokoro Megumi's mind, but this was far from enough. She needed to taste more loach dishes to continue to improve it.

　"You should get some rest early tonight."

　Putting down the bowl in her hand, Tadokoro Megumi had an idea in mind. She decided to go to bed early that night and get up early the next morning to see if there were any new loach dishes.

　As Ms. Kitakaze said, Gunma Prefecture is famous for its high-quality loach, and she is passionate about loach and has the best loach cooking skills in all of Japan.

　"Bang bang bang."

　However, just as Tadokoro Megumi was pondering her schedule for tomorrow, there was a knock on the door, bringing her back to her senses.

　"Ms. Tadokoro, I'm here to collect the dishes. Please open the door."

　"Okay, come right away."

　Tadokoro Megumi stood up and let Kitafuuen in. Looking at the empty loach hot pot in front of her, the girl smiled and said, "How is it? Isn't our Gunma Prefecture loach hot pot delicious!"

　"The food was quite good; the loaches were large and plump, and the flavors were distinct. However, I'd like to try more loach dishes. Where's a good place to go?"

　Seeing Kitafuuen coming over to clear the dishes, Tadokoro Megumi had a sudden inspiration.

　The other person was a local and seemed to be a fan of loach dishes, so they might know which restaurants in the area serve the best loach.

　"Where is the best place to eat? There are many options. Each restaurant has its own unique flavor, and to be honest, I think they are all equally good."

　Upon hearing Tadokoro Megumi's question, Kitafuuen looked conflicted, unsure which restaurant to recommend, since the food at each one was quite good.

　"Could you tell me everything? I'll be staying here for a while, and then I'll visit each family one by one."

　Compared to Kitafuu's dilemma, Tadokoro Megumi's eyes lit up.

　She needs a large number of high-quality shops, and it's good that they have unique features. Otherwise, it would be too boring if the streets were full of identical shops.

　“There is a shop in the east of the county called ‘Loach Flavor’. That shop has been making loach dishes for over 20 years and has its own understanding of loach.”

　There is a company to the west called...

　When asked, Beifengyuan didn't hide anything and talked non-stop, telling everyone he knew about good loach restaurants.

　"I'll remember that, I'll go check it out then."

　Closing her notebook, Megumi Tadokoro nodded seriously, deciding to visit all the stores during this time to learn from their experience.

　"Then you should get some rest. I'll be going now."

　After clearing the dishes from the table, Kitafuu nodded to Tadokoro Megumi, then left the room and went to the kitchen to wash the dishes.

　Business at their shop wasn't good. Only she and a chef were working there. The chef was her childhood friend who came to help out.

　inside the room.

　Instead of immediately crawling into bed, Megumi Tadokoro sat at the wooden table, took out a notebook, and wrote down all her thoughts from earlier.

　This is something she does every time she develops a new dish.

　Because human memory is limited, even if something is vividly remembered now, it will gradually fade away after a few days.

　Only by recording these experiences and verifying them with each other can culinary research be advanced more effectively—a method unique to her.

　"It absorbs broth very easily, and its meat is tender and flavorful. Let's take advantage of that to make its flavor even richer!"

　Putting down her pen, Tadokoro Megumi murmured to herself, then closed her eyes and began to further develop the recipe in her mind.

　I sat there for an hour.

　Chapter 214 Kitchen in Another Location, Accepting the Challenge

　"This is the taste!"

　In the kitchen, Liu Yu tasted the freshly cooked loach dish in the pot, and her face lit up with ecstatic joy.

　His expression was strained, and his fists clenched unnaturally.

　After two and a half days of practice, I've finally seen some results!

　"Congratulations! If this flavor were available on the day of the finals, we would definitely be able to defeat them!"

　Wang Jing also scooped up a spoonful of the loach dish in front of her, and a look of amazement appeared on her face. She obviously did not expect that loach could be made so delicious.

　It can be said that the flavor of the loach itself is brought to its fullest potential; the freshness and the tender texture of the meat are simply the best funeral song for the loach!

　"I'm really lucky. I didn't expect chili peppers and loach to be such a perfect match. As long as I continue to control the ratio of chili peppers and loach to make it perfect and reach the level of a top-grade dish, it will be hard to lose on the day of the finals!"

　Liu Yu was quite spirited. After visiting restaurants and doing research for a while, she had gained a deep understanding of loach as an ingredient, which led her to develop a new dish.

　"Let's keep working in this direction."

　Wang Jing nodded in agreement, her eyes sparkling with excitement. If Liu Yu could win first place, it would be a great honor for the dark cuisine world!

　Although the Dark Cuisine World is a newly established organization, thanks to its leader Bai Yuan, it has many veteran top-level chefs, and its high-end combat strength is comparable to any major power.

　Today, as long as the younger generation creates new glories, we can truly ensure a smooth transition and a solid foundation, proving to the world that it can be passed down.

　"Go into seclusion! You should go back and rest first. I want to focus on the rest on my own."

　"Okay, then you should go to bed early."

　Liu Yu whispered, then told Wang Jing to go back to her room to rest. She had already found an opportunity to move forward, and all she needed to do next was to build on that and proceed steadily!

　·

　·

　"Delicious! This is absolutely top-tier cuisine! I never imagined that a chef capable of creating top-tier dishes would be hiding in such an inconspicuous little shop. Truly, great masters are hidden in plain sight!"

　Inside a small but tidy shop, Megumi Tadokoro tasted the loach ramen in front of her and exclaimed in admiration. The intense deliciousness told her that this dish was definitely of the highest quality!

　The shop owner who created this delicious dish is a young and strong man who is not yet thirty years old. The noodles he kneads are exceptionally chewy and incredibly delicious!

　Of course, the even more delicious side dish, loach, has a tender and crisp texture. This is clearly because it's first pan-fried in oil before being served, creating a crispy outer layer, which gives it its unique flavor...

　"No, it's not frying first and then boiling, but boiling first and then frying... No, that's not right either, the texture doesn't feel like it was fried instantly, the layers are so distinct..."

　It's a process called "pouring!" After the loach has absorbed enough of the broth's flavor, the oil is heated to extremely high temperatures, and then a "pouring" technique is used to quickly crisp its softened surface.

　Savoring the taste of loach on her tongue, Megumi Tadokoro closed her eyes and began to analyze the situation in her mind. Soon, she had an answer.

　While not 100% accurate, it's about 70-80% correct. This is a unique technique Bai Yuan taught her: by focusing on the flavors of the dish, she can quickly analyze how it was made.

　If God's Tongue, or even Super Taste, were to replicate it, it could be completely copied, and could even be improved upon.

　"And this broth, it's definitely a rich broth that's been simmering for more than two days, filtered and flavored several times, otherwise it would never have given the loach such a deep flavor!"

　Megumi Tadokoro picked up her bowl and drank some soup. Her eyes immediately lit up. Broth is the soul of ramen and the key to giving loach its delicious flavor.

　It can be said that the deliciousness of loach largely depends on the flavor of the broth.

　Looking up, I noticed the manager was simmering a rich broth with lots of bones in it. The essence of the bones permeated the broth, giving it an endless delicious flavor.

　There were many people inside the shop, engrossed in enjoying the loach ramen. She had waited in line for half an hour to get in, and a realization dawned on Tadokoro Megumi.

　"Boss, check out."

　After saying this, Tadokoro Megumi silently placed the money on the table, put on her coat, got up, and left the shop.

　Half an hour later, she took a taxi and quickly returned to the hotel. She then saw Beifengyuan sweeping fallen leaves in the courtyard and immediately ran over to him.

　"Is there anything I can help you with, Ms. Tadokoro?"

　"May I use the kitchen here?"

　The girl's voice was incredibly urgent, even pleading, which left Bei Fengyuan somewhat bewildered, but he still nodded gently.

　"The kitchen is over there. You can use any of the ingredients inside. If you don't have enough, just go out and turn left. There's a supermarket there where you can buy most of the ingredients."

　Not only did he agree, he also allowed Tadokoro Megumi to use the ingredients in the kitchen, and told her that there was a supermarket nearby. He was a really good person.

　"Thank you!"

　A warm feeling welled up in Tadokoro Megumi's heart. Although she didn't know why the other person was helping her so much, she still expressed her heartfelt gratitude.

　"You're welcome. But you must be a chef, right? May I try some of your dishes? Our hotel is also looking to introduce some new dishes to attract customers."

　A girl's gentle voice came through, tinged with anticipation. She now understood why the other person had come to Gunma Prefecture; he was most likely a chef.

　"Definitely."

　Megumi Tadokoro readily agreed, as it wouldn't be a loss for her; on the contrary, she could use the shop's kitchen, making it entirely beneficial.

　"Are you going to make loach?"

　Cooking? Speaking of which, I heard that the final theme of the summer selection finals at Totsuki Culinary Academy, a prestigious culinary school, was loach...

　Kitafuu stopped speaking there, her face full of anticipation. Tadokoro Megumi knew exactly what she wanted to say; the other party probably recognized her.

　"That's right, I'm one of the contestants."

　Without much hesitation, Tadokoro Megumi admitted her identity. It wasn't anything special, at least that's what she thought.

　"Really? That's amazing! I knew it! Few young people come to Gunma Prefecture for tourism, and even fewer come to try loach dishes. You're really something else."

　With a slight sway of her ponytail, Bei Fengyuan said excitedly.

　The students of Totsuki Culinary Academy can be said to be the elite of the culinary world. Those who can participate in the summer selection held by the first-year students and successfully enter the finals are the best of the best, the elite among the elite.

　Such a talented chef living in her hotel might not be useful now, but perhaps she can use it for publicity and attract customers when she becomes famous in the future.

　"I was just lucky. I'm not as good as you think. I'm only slightly better each time, and I even used some tricks."

　Tadokoro Megumi modestly touched her nose. It was the first time she had been praised by someone other than Shiro Awakening, and she was really a little embarrassed.

　"Luck is also part of strength, and I don't think you won just by luck. Being better than your opponent is already quite remarkable!"

　You've been here for three days, and you've gone out to check out the shops every day, even in wind and rain.

　Putting everything else aside, your persistent effort alone is enough to prove your ability. Come with me, I'll take you to the kitchen.

　Noticing Tadokoro Megumi's embarrassment, Kitafuuen grabbed her hand, offered words of encouragement, and then personally led her to the kitchen.

　A few minutes later, the two arrived at their destination.

　The hotel kitchen was small, only slightly larger than a family kitchen. At that moment, a young man was sitting in a chair, leisurely playing a game with his legs crossed.

　"Ayumu, this is a chef from Totsuki Academy. He's borrowing the kitchen for a bit. I'll give you half a day off. You can do whatever you want."

　Looking at the nonchalant man in front of him, Bei Fengyuan's face flashed with helplessness.

　"Oh? You mean she's a chef at Totsuki Academy? She looks so young, is she a lower-year student?"

　Hearing the familiar call, the boy named Bu Ye put down his phone and then saw his childhood friend walking side by side with a petite girl.

　That girl had a youthful face and a small figure with braided pigtails; she didn't look like an adult at all, so it's no wonder he said that.

　"Just started graduating high school."

　Tadokoro answered truthfully.

　"You're already a senior student, that's strange. It should be time for accommodation and training now. You should be at the Far Moon Resort, being trained by previous graduates. Why are you here?"

　Oh, I see. You got eliminated. Yeah, the evaluation process at Totsuki Academy is brutal; they eliminate about half the participants almost every year during the residential training program.

　Some of those who were laid off chose to go home and inherit the family business, while others went out to relax. You must be the type who went out to relax.

　Upon hearing that Tadokoro Megumi was a senior student, the nonchalant man immediately began to talk incessantly, stroking his chin as he spoke.

　Although he was just speculating, you could still tell he was full of malice. He believed from the beginning that she couldn't pass the test and was a failure.

　"Sorry, that's just how he is."

　Ever since he was expelled from Totsuki Academy three years ago, he's been constantly complaining and blaming others, always imagining the worst for them, just for his own amusement.

　"Ouch, that hurts! Why are you pinching me?"

　Hearing his childhood sweetheart's incredibly rude words, Bei Fengyuan felt a little embarrassed and pinched him hard while explaining.

　"Is this gentleman also a student of Totsuki Academy?"

　Upon hearing Kitafuuen's words, Tadokoro Megumi's face showed surprise. This seemingly carefree boy was actually a student of Totsuki Academy.

　"It should be said that it used to be."

　Because of his lack of skill, he was ruthlessly eliminated when moving from first to second year. By the way, this guy's name is Yamagami Ayumu, and he's eighteen years old.

　Seeing the boy rubbing his waist and crying out in pain, Bei Fengyuan said irritably, then introduced him by name, before turning to look at him with his hands on his hips.

　"This little girl is one of the two finalists in the Summer Selection, unlike you who were eliminated in the second year."

　Furthermore, there was no residential training this year; the selection process went straight to the summer. As a chef, don't you care at all about Totsuki Academy?