Food Wars, my food not only glows!

　Alice Nakiri appeared at the stadium entrance.

　Because she rushed back immediately after buying the groceries, she was breathing very rapidly.

　Those around her, watching the panting girl in the contestant tunnel, compared her exit time with Wang Qing's and couldn't help but complain.

　"Starting cooking right away without taking a break? You're certainly capable of enduring hardship..."

　"Cooking requires precision; not resting will affect the ingredients."

　The precision of the reasoning. However, after such a long delay, she really couldn't rest any longer.

　"With so many unusual ingredients, let's see what kind of dishes she can make!"

　Amidst the murmurs of the crowd, Alice Nakiri returned to her work station and placed the various ingredients she had bought on it, her face full of seriousness.

　Nearby, Wang Qing, who had already entered cooking mode, couldn't help but look up when he saw Alice Nakiri return.

　His eyes were filled with confusion at that moment.

　Although focused on cooking, Wang Qing always paid some attention to Alice Nakiri and saw most of the ingredients she bought.

　To be honest, he was surprised.

　Because the ingredients that Alice Nakiri bought were scattered and there was no apparent connection between them.

　Furthermore, most of the ingredients that Alice Nakiri buys are fruits, and fruits are generally considered to be desserts in the culinary world, with very few dishes made with fruits as part of a main meal.

　Even if it exists, it's merely using fruit as a flavoring agent to enhance the deliciousness of the dish itself.

　It's rare to see someone like Alice Nakiri who uses fruit as the main ingredient in their dishes.

　"What an unexpected guy."

　Wang Qing took a deep look at Alice Nakiri, and the thought crossed his mind. He then became even more focused.

　Although he didn't think he would lose to such a 'reckless' dish, that was no reason to underestimate his opponent.

　He understood the saying, "A moment's misstep can lead to eternal regret, but caution is always the best policy."

　Moreover, the fact that Alice Nakiri was able to get this far proves that she is indeed quite capable and is not a weakling.

　Even if such an opponent behaves strangely, he would never underestimate him!

　"Spring, one of the four seasons, looks so exquisite. It utilizes the tenderness of sakura shrimp, wraps it in glutinous rice paper, and deep-fries it until it is slightly translucent like a cicada's wing."

　Around the glutinous rice paper, there were also faint green and purple hues, which, based on the ingredients this guy had bought earlier, should be tender peas and perilla leaves!

　Are these three ingredients going to make a spring dish? And as Bai Yuan-ge predicted, Wang Qing is indeed doing his best to utilize his strengths.

　After placing all the ingredients on the table, Alice Nakiri did not rush to cook, but instead observed Wang Qing not far away.

　After all, everything she did was to deal with Wang Qing. If he didn't play by the rules, she would have to change her strategy.

　"The second summer dish features a winter melon carved into a wave shape, with a layer of seaweed coating on the outside. It seems he intends to use four parts to represent the four seasons."

　High-temperature frying creates a crispy outer layer and a semi-liquid filling, while freshly ground wasabi ice cream is added on top, achieving the ultimate taste experience of alternating hot and cold sensations.

　The food is cooked for no more than 30 seconds, and the next dish is a fried food that represents autumn: ginkgo leaves wrapped in sweet potato puree and decorated with lotus root slices shaped like maple leaves.

　The two are fried separately and then combined. This method results in a sweet potato skin that is crispy on the outside and soft and glutinous on the inside, while the lotus root slices are crispy like fallen leaves.

　As for the last dish, the main ingredient used was Hiroshima oysters...

　From the first fried dish representing spring to the last fried dish representing winter, Wang Qing controlled the entire frying process within two minutes.

　This ensures that the first batch of fried food is cooled down just as the last batch is finished, so it can be eaten directly and enjoyed.

　Now that the last fried dish representing winter is finished, Wang Qing let out a long sigh and placed it in the four-compartment bamboo cage.

　"For the Four Seasons Fried Food Platter, please start with this sakura shrimp and enjoy it clockwise. Finish the entire platter within three minutes for a unique and delightful experience."

　Three platters of seasonal fried foods, each served in a bamboo basket, were placed on the judges' table.

　As Wang Qing explained, he opened the small lid on the bamboo cage and gestured for the three people in front of him to enter.

　"This is truly beautiful. Four kinds of fried food placed together, I wouldn't be surprised at all if it were called a work of art!"

　Looking at the platter of fried foods from all four seasons in front of him, Zhang Zhong couldn't help but sigh.

　Wrap the rice paper into small rolls and fry until slightly translucent, when you can vaguely see the pink color of the sakura shrimp inside.

　Furthermore, this fried dish is garnished with edible cherry blossom petals and tender pea puree, giving it an overall light pink and green spring-like hue.

　As for the one next to it...

　The winter melon is carved into a wavy shape, coated with seaweed batter, and fried to form a crispy, dark green shell. On top is a small scoop of wasabi ice cream, and the surrounding area is sprinkled with fine salt, resembling ocean waves.

　Ginkgo nuts and sweet potato puree are skewered into small pieces, deep-fried until golden brown, and topped with maple leaf-shaped lotus root slices. The bottom of the plate is covered with caramel sauce "fallen leaves," ensuring a beautiful presentation.

　Oysters coated in bamboo charcoal powder were deep-fried and placed in a salt sculpture snow scene. Bai Yuan picked up a grapefruit peel from the side, scraped off the peel scraps with a file, and used a small amount of dry ice to create a snow fog effect around them.

　Even disregarding the taste, the appearance of such a dish is enough to earn it high social recognition in the market.

　However, this is not a high-end restaurant, but the venue for the Fujian Youth Chef Competition.

　Want

　Winning the championship isn't just about good looks; taste is more important than appearance. So Zhang Zhong picked up his chopsticks.

　Fresh, sweet, and with a subtle herbal aroma, it makes you want to close your eyes and savor the taste.

　"The outer layer is a thin and crispy rice paper coating with a slightly charred aroma. The sweetness of the sakura shrimp and the refreshing taste of the tender peas intertwine. The herbal aroma of perilla leaves is released the moment it enters the mouth, and the aftertaste has a delicate pink sakura floral fragrance."

　Savoring the flavors on his tongue, Zhang Zhong offered his evaluation, his voice carried throughout the venue via microphone, making the audience swallow hard.

　"Light and not greasy, like biting into a piece of spring morning dew, it awakens the taste buds for the fried food that follows. Next up is winter melon and seaweed, representing summer...?"

　The judges for this competition were the same ones from the previous round, reportedly at the request of the two elderly men, one tall and one short, just so they could taste the contestants' dishes again.

　At that moment, the two of them closed their eyes simultaneously and began to savor the experience.

　Salty and savory, crispy, a clash of hot and cold.

　This is their first feeling after putting the food in their mouths.

　"The seaweed coating brings the salty freshness of the ocean, and after being fried at high temperature, it becomes crispy like waves crashing against rocks."

　After being deep-fried, the winter melon has a slightly charred outer layer, while the inside remains semi-liquid, sweet, and juicy, offering a rich texture.

　The tall old man spread his hands out, as if something was waiting for him to touch it.

　At this moment, the image in his mind somehow transformed into his younger self, standing on a reef, diligently pulling seaweed from the sea.

　"The accompanying wasabi ice cream is the perfect finishing touch. It doesn't just cleanse the palate, but rather provides a spicy, cold sensation that hits the taste buds, mimicking the refreshing coolness of a summer thunderstorm."

　The short old man was also trapped in the illusion, but instead of feeling the warmth of the sea, he felt a summer thunderstorm.

　Standing in the rain, feeling the thunderous roars, he strolled through the rain with a carefree expression on his face.

　"The cherry blossoms melt into waves, and the seaweed breeze brings coolness to summer. Not bad at all! Just two kinds of fried food have made me feel the amazing changes from spring to summer. What I'm eating is the taste, but what I'm experiencing is life itself. I haven't seen such wonderful dishes in a long time!"

　Savoring the flavors on his tongue, Zhang Zhong couldn't help but compose a short, impromptu poem. Though simple, it was his most genuine reflection on the dish before him.

　It's hard to imagine that such a dish could be made by a young man around twenty-five years old. This guy has really maxed out his talent!

　As for the third flavor

　It is sweet, caramelized, and has a strong earthy flavor!

　The sweet potato puree is coated and fried until caramelized, giving it a maple-like sweetness and a slightly charred flavor. The slight bitterness and glutinous aroma of ginkgo balance the sweetness of the sweet potato.

　"This feeling is warm and mellow, as if you are chewing on an entire autumn forest!"

　The taste on the tip of his tongue grew ever more profound, and Zhang Zhong's voice rang out with a hint of excitement.

　This is absolutely amazing!

　"The last part of the bamboo charcoal coating brings a rough mineral feel. It should be edible bamboo charcoal powder. After you put it in your mouth, you will be filled with the aroma of charcoal."

　The moment you open your mouth and bite into it, the oyster bursts forth with juice, its flavor exceptionally rich and savory, with a salty, oceanic quality and an unusually creamy texture!

　As he said this, Zhang Zhong stood up abruptly from his chair.

　This platter of fried foods representing all four seasons is among the top five dishes in his many years as the chief judge of the Young Chef Competition!

Volume 1: Transmigrating Through Food Wars, Becoming Alice Nakiri's Master: Chapter 283 The Decisive Moment, Alice Nakiri's Cooking

　"I can't take it anymore, this smells too good! I'll have a bite of grilled pig's trotters to calm my nerves."

　The audience members in the front row swallowed hard as they smelled the extremely rich fragrance in the air.

　Some even took out pig's trotters they carried with them, their expressions showing great enjoyment, while Zhang Zhong's detailed comments made their mouths water.

　"I can't believe spring, summer, autumn, and winter can be interpreted this way! But does this count as one dish or four dishes? I'm a little confused..."

　Some viewers questioned this, because although the dish Wang Qing presented was in one box, it consisted of four different dishes.

　"Indeed, it seems that Wang Qing's cooking has quite a few problems. I wonder if the judging panel will turn against him because of this."

　The people next to him nodded in agreement. The requirement for the Youth Chef Competition was to prepare one dish, but what Wang Qing was preparing was clearly four dishes.

　Although it is labeled as a dish, whether it can be recognized still needs to be discussed by the judges before a conclusion can be reached.

　Public is public, private is private.

　Although the vast majority of those who came to the scene were Wang Qing's supporters.

　But that doesn't mean they're brainless. People who blindly support Wang Qing no matter what kind of cooking he makes are called brainless fans.

　Rather than saying "I'm a fan of his, so I want to support him," they prefer saying "He does well, so we want to be his fans."

　"Although they are four separate fried dishes, their flavors are closely linked, or more accurately, they echo each other according to the theme."

　The sweetness of sakura shrimp and the fragrance of perilla, the saltiness of seaweed and the spiciness of wasabi, simulate the climate change from "new bamboo shoots after rain" to "heat wave at the seaside".

　The caramel sweetness of the sweet potato, the slight bitterness of the ginkgo, the salty and savory richness of the oyster at the end, and the minerality enveloping it in charcoal aroma, are like a transition from "frosty maple forest" to "deep-sea cold."

　Zhang Zhong also heard the surrounding discussion, so he quickly tasted all four fried dishes according to Wang Qing's instructions, and closed his eyes at the same time.

　Feeling...

　This is the most basic skill for a culinary judge.

　What Zhang Zhong is saying now is his entire feeling about this dish.

　"That's right, the aftertaste of each fried dish subtly influences the first impression of the next dish, forming a coherent 'taste montage'."

　"I've lived this long, and this is the first time I've ever experienced anything like it. He truly deserves to be called a genius among the new generation of chefs!"

　The tall old man continued, following Zhang Zhong's words without hiding his admiration.

　"Not only is the flavor of the dish consistent, but the oiliness also increases in a stepwise manner, giving diners the best taste experience."

　The short, elderly man also spoke up, expressing his opinion.

　The oiliness intensifies with each season, but it is dynamically balanced by elements such as sour, spicy, bitter, and cold to prevent the taste buds from becoming numb, much like the gradual increase in volume in music.

　A master chef is one who skillfully blends a variety of flavor elements into a dish, creating a harmonious blend of tastes!

　“Each dish is a top-tier three-star dish, and with the flavors resonating between the dishes, this Four Seasons Fried Food Platter has already stepped into the realm of four-star cuisine!”

　Despite the great distance, Bai Yuan quickly judged the culinary level of the dishes presented by Wang Qing by watching the live broadcast on the big screen and hearing the judges' high praise for the dishes.

　"Wouldn't that put Alice in great danger?!"

　Upon hearing Bai Yuan's words, the girls around him gasped in surprise and then looked at the competition venue with concern.

　Now that Alice Nakiri is representing the Dark Cuisine world on the competition stage, the girl sitting next to Bai Yuan couldn't help but clutch her clothes tightly when she heard that Wang Qing's dish might reach four stars.

　They share both glory and loss, and everyone is cheering her on at this moment.

　"Don't worry, although the opponent performed very well, and even exceeded expectations in some ways, Alice is not someone to be trifled with."

　With ample preparation, the outcome of this match is still uncertain!

　Bai Yuan looked at the expressions of the people around him and immediately understood what they were thinking.

　There were probably very few people at the scene who genuinely believed that Alice Nakiri would win.

　He was there to cheer her on mostly out of friendship, but in his heart he had already decided that she would lose the game. Even Lia, who was sitting in his lap, was frowning and silent.

　Apart from them, no one at the scene would doubt Wang Qing's strength.

　He has produced three-star dishes in several consecutive matches, demonstrating an absurdly high level of consistency.

　Now, with all his might, he has created a dish that is half a step into the top four-star level, reaching the pinnacle of dishes that have appeared in the history of the competition.