Food Wars, my food not only glows!

　"Ahhhh!"

　Jesse's voice suddenly grew louder, and his fists rained down on the dough, constantly squeezing and deforming it before returning it to its original state.

　"Jersey is using the power of his fists to pound the dough! This makes the dough more elastic and improves the texture of the bread. It's a great kneading technique."

　Having already witnessed Alice Nakiri's incredible dough-kneading skills, the host seemed uninterested in introducing Jessie's impressive techniques, even though they were quite impressive in general.

　Compared to Alice, this dough-kneading technique is far inferior in terms of both performance and practicality!

　Soon, the dough became pliable and elastic under Jesse's constant pounding, and then it was covered with a large bowl, allowing it to slowly expand in the darkness.

　After the dough is ready, all that's left is to cook the hamburger patties.

　As another signature dish of the [Nuoyu] restaurant, this dish is naturally of the highest quality, mainly using halibut, shrimp, and squid.

　The halibut meat is precisely cut off and then marinated with salt for a base flavor.

　Remove the shrimp veins and mince the shrimp into shrimp paste. Add diced squid to enhance the texture. Season simply and freeze to set and lock in the moisture.

　Place the marinated halibut meat on a cutting board, then pipe the frozen shrimp paste and squid cubes onto it using a piping bag, folding it in half to form a wrapped shape.

　And so, a hamburger patty with a hidden surprise is complete.

　Wrap the hamburger patty in plastic wrap to set its shape. If it's made like the restaurant's signature dish, you must keep it in the refrigerator until it's completely set. Then cut it into small pieces, place them on a plate filled with sauce, and garnish with smoked eel eel sauce to give it a final layer of flavor.

　But now, looking at the halibut meat cake wrapped in a plastic bag, Jesses simply placed it in a cool place and then began to prepare the outer coating. Usually, breadcrumbs are used, but he wanted to do something different today!

　Watching Alice Nakiri humming and slurping, her face relaxed as she simmered the broth and prepared the sea bass, Jesse's lips curled into a smile.

　This little girl thinks she can beat him?

　impossible! Absolutely impossible!

　He'd stake his reputation as a top-tier chef on winning this competition. He wanted to show his senior brother that he, Jesse, wasn't a waste! He was a genius!

　"

　Both use fish? That's a bit surprising, but if they're both fish burgers, the contrast is even more striking.

　Chihiro Natsume touched the corner of her mouth with her finger and watched Nakiri Alice leisurely cooking. Her expression was somewhat disappointed. She had thought that this girl would give her a surprise after she had performed so well.

　While the fish burger was decent, it ultimately fell short, not breaking out of the realm of conventional cuisine, and the taste was probably similar to the others.

　"Even though they're both fish burgers, a burger made with precise proportions is definitely better than one made based on a chef's experience. This large, high-precision machine isn't just for show; perhaps the essence of molecular gastronomy is refined scientific cooking!"

　Chihiro Orie said this, clearly indicating that she favored Nakiri Alice more than the other. There was no other reason; she just had a strange feeling that Alice would win.

　She has always trusted her intuition.

　"Keep watching, this competition is much more interesting than you think! Molecular gastronomy is also more interesting than I expected."

　Watching the two contestants cook and listening to the two sisters' discussion beside her, Lancy Jon's eyes occasionally flashed with a sharp light. She was sure she had made the right choice by coming to this competition.

　Everything related to that guy is complicated!

　With such a brilliant chef, how could his apprentices possibly be mediocre?

　Lancy Jon thought to himself, then looked at the preparation area, where Bai Yuan had been standing there since the beginning, like a wooden or stone sculpture.

　Such perseverance...

　·

　·

　Time ticked by, and the audience watched Jancis intently as his hamburger-making process came to an end.

　The hamburger buns were already emitting a rich aroma from the oven, and he was currently frying fish fillets.

　"It smells so good, um...could it be..."

　The rich fragrance in the air made Chihiro Natsume raise an eyebrow in surprise, her cheeks flushing slightly. This scent...

　"That's right, it's persimmon seeds. He was busy with this in the wok just now, and then he used a rolling pin to crush them into small pieces and wrap them around the fried fish fillets."

　At this moment, Lancy Jon spoke up, taking over what Chihiro Natsume was about to say.

　I have to say, Jancis has a lot of ideas. Using persimmon seeds as a coating for fried fish fillets must have a unique texture and flavor.

　I'm really looking forward to the taste of this burger!

　On the other side, at Jancis's cooking station.

　Quickly place the stuffed fish fillets, coated with small pieces of persimmon seeds, into the boiling oil. After they have set slightly, remove them, let them cool, and then deep-fry them a second time.

　This ensures the crispiness of the fish fillet, reduces its oil content, and enhances its color and aroma.

　"The heat is just right, we can start assembling now."

　Looking at the bright orange fried fish fillet in front of him, Jancis muttered something to himself before setting it aside for later use.

　At the same time, the oven dinged, indicating that the fresh hamburger buns had reached the perfect baking temperature. Jancis cut one in half with a knife, prepared the other ingredients, and began to assemble it.

　First, place a layer of lettuce at the bottom of the burger, then add the fried fish fillet, tomato slices, pickle slices, and onion rings in that order.

　And just like that, a delicious-looking and satisfying burger is complete! All that's left is to repeat the process to make three more.

　"Please enjoy, judges."

　Looking at the old man smiling at him, Jesse subconsciously shrank back, somewhat unable to meet his gaze.

　After all, the chef at his restaurant had tried to beat up the old man, but thankfully he didn't succeed, otherwise it would have been a huge blunder.

　The head of the Nordic Cuisine Research Society was beaten up by his own chefs? And by a group of them?! This seems a bit too far-fetched...

　"This burger looks really good, especially the fried fish fillet in the middle, it looks so golden and appetizing!"

　Reaching out, Chihiro Natsume picked up the fish fillet burger in front of her, parted her lips slightly, and took a bite. Immediately, an endless array of flavors exploded in her mouth, making her cheeks blush even more.

　Under the table, her fair and straight legs began to rub together slightly, as if a strange sensation was rising and surging from the depths of her body.

　"The hamburger buns are baked to perfection, with a slightly crispy exterior and an extremely soft interior. The golden-brown fried fish fillet is tender and juicy, complementing the slight chewiness of the persimmon seeds. Every bite is an ultimate temptation for the taste buds!"

　The filling of halibut is a perfect blend of umami, delicate shrimp paste, and chewy squid cubes, complemented by the crisp lettuce leaves, the sweet and sour tomato slices, and the slightly tangy and crunchy pickles...

　Words flowed from her mouth incessantly as Chihiro Natsume praised her with a face full of rapture, her breathing becoming heavier with each word.

　At this moment, she had closed her eyes, as if she had completely sunk into the ocean of delicious hamburgers!

　"The purple onion rings are the perfect finishing touch; their spiciness is tempered with a hint of sweetness, igniting endless fantasies about the burger! Mmm..."

　Chihiro Orie's cheeks were also flushed. She raised her head to the sky, her feet slightly curled up, clearly suppressing her emotions to the extreme.

　If there hadn't been a large audience present, they would have undoubtedly followed their most primal desires and emitted incredibly alluring sounds.

　Even so, they still...

　She couldn't control herself; her fair legs under the table were moving back and forth, and she was swaying unsteadily, looking very uncomfortable.

　"A good dish, using halibut meat, shrimp paste and squid cubes to form the core patty of the burger."

　Each layer is individually prepared, and with one bite, the juices of the shrimp paste and squid cubes burst forth, complementing the unique richness of the bread and the freshness of the vegetables—clearly a carefully selected combination.

　The persimmon seeds used to wrap the fried fish fillet, in particular, not only add a base flavor but also bring a unique crispiness; it's a pretty good idea.

　In a fair assessment, Lancy Jon believes that Jancis's professional level as a master chef is beyond question.

　"The outer coating encases the halibut fillet, concentrating the flavor within. Thanks to the natural taste of the persimmon, you can experience its exquisite deliciousness even inside the coating!"

　In addition, there's the sauce used in the burger, a combination of egg yolk gravy and sprout sauce! It perfectly harmonizes the flavors of the fish fillet and vegetables.

　Adding salt and chopped sprouts (specifically, the sprouts of Sichuan peppercorns) to the egg yolk sauce adds a refreshing touch to the fried fish fillet, reducing its greasiness and creating an exceptionally elegant flavor!

　Beneath its crispy exterior, you can clearly feel a creamy, moist texture that whets your appetite!

　Dissecting the hamburger and analyzing it in detail, Chihiro Natsume exhaled a breath of hot air and began to offer her evaluation. The fried fish fillet stood out the most, so it was the subject of her particular evaluation.

　"The persimmon seeds tightly wrap around the fresh halibut, it feels like being warmly embraced by a pure mermaid! I must say, it's a truly wonderful experience!"

　Chihiro Orie followed closely behind. At this moment, she had already been drawn into the illusion. The mermaid's hot embrace made her feel as if she was going to drown here!

　Gasping for breath, gasping for air, accompanied by a strong sense of relief, Chihiro Natsume and Chihiro Orie's legs were tightly pressed together, as if they had reached some kind of critical point, but because the audience was there and the cameras were rolling, they could only grit their teeth and keep quiet.

　"Two of the three judges gave it extremely high praise. He truly deserves to be a master chef! This dish looks delicious!"

　"That fried fish fillet seems to be the signature dish of [Nuoyu] restaurant. I've had it once before, but it's different from the small piece of the signature dish. This one looks really impressive, and it even has persimmon added for innovation. I wonder what it tastes like!"

　In the audience, watching the enlarged fish burger on the big screen, everyone swallowed hard. If there's anything wrong with a food channel, it's that you can see it but can't eat it!

　"It seems I've won this food battle."

　Seeing the reactions of Chihiro Natsume and Chihiro Orie, Jesse's lips curled up slightly.

　The judges are now captivated by his delicious cooking, and as long as Alice's dishes aren't excessively delicious, he will always come out on top.

　This is what is known as the first-mover advantage!

　"It seems too early to be complacent. I came here carrying Bai Yuan's belief, so I cannot lose this match!"

　As she passed by Jesse, Alice Nakiri overheard his mutterings and replied in a voice only the two of them could hear.

　As she spoke, she glanced up in Bai Yuan's direction, gave him a confident smile, and then strode towards the judges' table.

　"What kind of hamburger did you bring this time?"

　Watching Alice Nakiri mysteriously conceal the dish with a silver lid, the three judges all wore expressions of varying anticipation.

　Especially Lancy Jon, because of Bai Yuan, he naturally has more confidence in Alice, which is what is called loving the house because of the crow.

　That day, Bai Yuan's shock to him was so great, it was like a power that transcended dimensions! Although he had seen glowing dishes before, he had never seen such a combination of ingredients that could be made into a glowing dish by relying on his powerful culinary skills.

　He's so amazing, he's practically from another world!

　"Please enjoy the Molecular Umami Burger."

　Opening the lid of the dish, Alice Nakiri raised her hand and gestured for the three judges in front of her to proceed.

　Her face was full of confidence; she had used everything she had learned during this time to make this hamburger!

　"Molecular Umami Burger?"

　Looking at the golden hamburger in front of me, it doesn't look special at all; it's just an ordinary hamburger, and it doesn't even have a strong aroma.

　but...

　She parted her lips slightly and took a bite. The rich flavor instantly spread across her tongue, making Chihiro Natsume and Chihiro Orie's eyes widen.

　Even Lancy Jon, who was usually completely calm in the face of Jancis's cooking, was now extremely excited.

　"This is...!"

　The fresh taste left the two sisters no time to comment; they simply devoured it with rapt attention, one bite after another, unwilling to stop.

　"The hamburger bun has a crispy outer layer and a soft, airy interior. This type of bun not only absorbs and enhances the flavor of the patty and sauce, making it irresistible, but how does it achieve this?"

　After a while, having eaten most of the hamburger in her hand, Chihiro Orie forcibly stopped herself from eating any more. She looked up and asked Nakiri Alice curiously, as she really didn't know how it was made.

　While maintaining the burger's crispiness, it also features a dense, airy interior! And...

　Fingers on bread

　The bread was pressed down heavily, but it bounced back like a sponge, maintaining its original shape no matter how much she kneaded it.

　"I added emulsifiers and enzymes to change the texture and mouthfeel of the dough, creating bread with a subtle bubble structure and a special elasticity."

　In addition, I used vacuum baking when baking these breads. This method reduces the evaporation of moisture from the dough, making the crust crisper while the inside remains soft and moist.

　Alice Nakiri held up a finger, pointed in the direction of the hamburger bun, and explained to the judges with a smile.

　Her voice rang out through the loudspeaker, leaving the audience looking at each other in bewilderment.

　"Vacuum baking? I didn't even know there was such a baking method! No wonder I think this bread tastes, smells, and is exceptionally crispy!"

　Chihiro Natsume exclaimed in surprise, clearly not expecting that such a small bread would involve so many new technologies. She had been so focused on watching her kneading performance that she had overlooked so many details!

　"What surprised me the most was this steak. If my tongue is not mistaken, you must have used both fish and lamb!"

　Mix the minced fish and diced lamb evenly, then add a suitable amount of olive oil and chicken broth. The proportions are perfect, not only blending the delicate texture of the fish with the rich flavor of the lamb, but also bringing out the full umami taste!

　Lancy Jon let out a long breath, looking at Alice Nakiri with obvious shock in his eyes. This burger was truly flawless!

　If the cooking time, seasoning, and other factors were refined a bit more, it could definitely reach the level of a luminous dish! But even so, it's already very delicious!

　"I use the golden ratio, with the fish meat having a milder flavor and a higher proportion, while the lamb chunks play a supporting role in this meat patty, mainly used to enhance the texture of the fish meat patty."

　As for the processing, I used rapid spinning and beating to develop the elasticity, while adding chicken bone broth to enhance the flavor and make the meat patties sticky.

　Alice Nakiri explained with a smile that the combination of fish and lamb is actually the earliest manifestation of umami in cooking, and also the most impactful combination!