"She... is she pouring lard directly onto the taro paste?!"
Suddenly, someone in the audience cried out in alarm. Then, many gazes fell upon Hisako Arato—or more accurately, on what was in front of her.
Hisako Arato was seen scooping several spoonfuls of lard and drizzling them over the taro paste, giving its surface a glossy sheen. The taro paste was now arranged in the shape of a Tai Chi symbol on the plate, adorned with two almonds.
"What is she doing? Isn't that a waste of ingredients? Adding so much lard at once, can a dish like that really taste good...?"
A spectator muttered to himself, his eyes filled with confusion. Just looking at that amount of lard being poured on was unbearable to him; how could it possibly taste good?
"What the hell do you know? Taro is high in starch, and lard is very oily. It has a lubricating texture that can effectively enhance the smoothness of the taro."
The person next to him had clearly cooked with taro before and retorted without hesitation upon hearing his words. Taro with lard is delicious—that's common sense!
"But you don't need that much, do you?"
The person who spoke first was clearly not convinced and began to mumble. No matter what, adding so much lard at once had to be a problem!
"It's necessary. Adding lard serves another very important purpose: balancing the flavor. Taro itself has a relatively light taste, while lard carries a certain savory, fatty aroma that can stimulate the appetite. For this quantity of taro paste, this amount of lard is just right. Not only will you not taste the greasiness of the lard, but it will also make the taro paste's texture silky and smooth."
Another spectator spoke up. His words were forceful and provided a more comprehensive explanation of the benefits of adding lard. He was clearly a skilled chef as well.
Scenes like this were happening all over the audience. After all, not everyone was a master chef; many were just there for the excitement.
"Half of the steamed taro paste is passed through a high-mesh sieve, while the other half is left in its normal state, creating two layers of texture. The two embrace each other in the form of a Tai Chi."
In the audience, Dylan was seated.
Watching Hisako Arato's cooking process, Dylan nodded silently to himself, then began to explain to Alice Nakiri, who was sitting beside him.
"Red bean paste and taro paste—both are excellent ingredients for making desserts. Their flavor is sweet and fragrant, a wonderful combination. I feel like it will be delicious!"
Tapping a finger against her lips, a look of craving appeared on her face. The faint fragrance wafting through the air made Alice Nakiri feel irresistibly intoxicated.
"Later, I'll have those two make a version at home to see how it tastes."
Looking at Alice Nakiri's expression, Dylan was about to raise his hand to pat her head, but she anticipated his move and naturally pressed her face against his hand.
"Mm, this looks delicious just by looking at it!"
Alice Nakiri praised, her curiosity piqued by the dishes of the two contestants before her.
While they were chatting, Hisako Arato had already completed her dish. One side was white, the other black, arranged in the embracing posture of a Tai Chi, topped with crushed almonds and raisins.
"Please have a taste, honored judges."
After finishing her dish, Hisako Arato turned her gaze to the judges before her and made a respectful gesture to invite them to eat.
"Is this a dessert you've made? It seems the theme of the previous round gave you some inspiration."
Looking at the exquisitely shaped Tai Chi Taro Paste before him, Gin Dōjima nodded. He was somewhat surprised that Hisako Arato had chosen to make a dessert.
"That's right. Because taro itself has a soft, glutinous, and delicate texture with a sweet, rich flavor, and it contains a large amount of starch, it's very suitable for making desserts."
"Among them, the Lipu Taro from Guangxi, China, is the best. It has an extra layer of a crumbly, sandy texture. Even with minimal cooking, its flavor can be called superb."
"With such a taro, adding more ingredients would instead ruin its inherent sweetness, so I chose this method to purely showcase the ingredient itself."
Hisako Arato's voice echoed through the venue.
She had originally planned to make a more complex dish, but she found that after making the dish more complicated, the taro's fragrance was suppressed, which didn't fit the theme.
Therefore, after several failed attempts, she changed her approach, choosing to express the flavor of the Lipu Taro itself and let it shine with its own dazzling brilliance.
"I see. However, the most important thing about a dish is still its taste..."
Hearing Hisako Arato's words, Hinako Inui nodded in understanding, then picked up a spoon and scooped from the white edge of the dish.
"This flavor... Because it was simply steamed, the taro's natural sweetness has been preserved, blending with the savory aroma of the lard to form a unique and endlessly memorable flavor."
"Also thanks to the lard, the taro paste's texture is incredibly silky and smooth, as if it's dancing on the tip of the tongue, making one feel a delicate touch."
Feeling the supreme flavor on her tongue, Hinako Inui couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
Although it was simple cooking, it perfectly showcased the flavor of the Lipu Taro. One could say this was a dish that specialized in a single point of attack.
"The crushed almonds and raisins on the surface add a touch of sweet and sour flavor and a rich nutty fragrance, making it more vibrant!"
Sonoka Kikuchi praised softly. The crushed almonds and raisins could be considered the finishing touch of this dessert, preventing its flavor from being too monotonous.
"Because it was chilled beforehand, it's very cool and refreshing to eat. Furthermore, the red bean paste on the other side of the Tai Chi symbol is soft, fragrant, and sweet, with a faint bean aroma that intertwines with the sweetness of the taro..."
Hinako Inui covered one cheek, feeling the sweet,膩, and cool sensation. Her expression was filled with happiness.
Eating an icy dessert in summer is truly a pleasure!
"Indeed, the deliciousness of the taro and the red bean echo each other, interspersed with the occasional flash of nutty fragrance and the sweet and sour taste of raisins..."
Closing her eyes, the wonderful taste in her mouth gradually became tangible. The feeling was like being sandwiched between taro paste and red bean paste—exceptionally satisfying!
"A truly fine dish, very fitting for this theme! The Lipu Taro is worthy of its status as a tribute food in ancient China. Simply bringing out its original flavor is enough to rival a top-tier dish!"
Sonoka Kikuchi's praise made the corners of Hisako Arato's mouth curve upward.
Her dish was entirely centered around the theme of taro; it could be said that she had brought out the deliciousness of taro to its ultimate state.
"Megumi, let's see how you win this! Dylan-sensei's attention should be more on me..."
Hisako Arato thought to herself with great confidence. The ingredient she used was the best in the world, and the purpose of her cooking was to bring out the essential flavor of the ingredient. No matter how she looked at it, there was no possibility of losing!
On the competition floor.
Megumi Tadokoro was unaware of her thoughts. At this moment, her gaze was focused on the clay pot in front of her, her nose twitching from time to time to smell the aroma within.
Suddenly, someone noticed her brow twitch. She then reached out and, with extreme speed, lifted the lid of the clay pot, her eyes shining with a sharp glint.
The top layer was the pot lid, below it was a towel—don't misunderstand, there was a plate covering it beneath that. The towel was added to prevent excess flavor from escaping and to increase the temperature inside the pot!
This was a little trick Megumi Tadokoro had learned two days ago in the countryside. The older generation in the villages all cook this way, as it can effectively lock in the flavor of a dish.
And after lifting the plate on top, a rich aroma shot up into the sky, instantly causing the spectators in the front row to be dazed, their mouths watering profusely.
"What a domineering aroma, it's enchanting!"
Someone murmured softly, their Adam's apple bobbing involuntarily. If it weren't for the considerable distance between them and the competition floor, and the barrier in between, they would have desperately wanted to rush up immediately!
"Just a simple combination, yet it can produce such a rich aroma! The complex flavor of the sauce and the fragrance of the taro itself have resonated with each other."
Gin Dōjima murmured softly as he smelled the aroma.
He noticed that in Megumi Tadokoro's clay pot, taro was layered with slices of pork belly, and underneath were various spices, from which the aroma was being released.
"If I could just have one bite of that, I'd do anything!"
A girl cried out, her legs pressed together and her face flushed. Some even couldn't resist biting their fingers, imagining it was the dish in the clay pot.
Megumi Tadokoro paid no mind to the discussions of others. At this moment, her concentration was at its peak. She looked straight at the now crumbly taro before her and nodded with satisfaction, then used a spoon to scoop the sauce from the bottom and drizzle it over.
After being simmered over a low flame, the originally thin sauce had thickened. Because of the drizzling, it clung firmly to the taro. Megumi Tadokoro quickly put the lid back on.
"Everyone says the best ways to cook taro are steaming and frying, but in fact, stewing and braising are no less inferior. Take this dish, for example—the dry, savory aroma has already come out."
Smelling the subtle change in the aroma in the air and watching Megumi Tadokoro's movements, Dylan marveled internally. She had really improved by leaps and bounds during this time!
"It's ready!"
After covering it with the plate for another five minutes, Megumi Tadokoro lifted the plate. An even richer aroma rushed out in all directions, and she sprinkled chopped scallions on top.
"This is the flavor!"
Taking a deep, satisfying breath, a pleased expression appeared on Megumi Tadokoro's face. Only then did she look up at her surroundings, finding everyone looking ravenous, as if they wanted to come up and snatch her dish away.
Such a direct gaze made her feel a subtle hint of nervousness. She then carried her dish towards the judges' table, glancing at Dylan along the way. Seeing his calm expression, that nervousness instantly dissipated.
"Please have a taste, Taro Casserole."
"The aromas of scallion, ginger, and garlic have all merged and converged on the taro at the very top. What a brilliant method!"
Looking at the Taro Casserole Megumi Tadokoro brought up, although it wasn't as neat as Hisako Arato's, the color combination was very appetizing.
"Taro and pork, a perfect combination since ancient times. The taro is glutinous, the pork is fragrant. Only crumbly, savory, and fragrant can describe this taro."
Without ceremony, she put a piece of taro into her mouth. Feeling the texture, Sonoka Kikuchi spoke while chewing.
"There's also abalone in here. Taro can be considered a treasure of the mountains. The abalone releases its fragrance after being braised. The two combine to complete a feast of land and sea!"
Picking up the abalone from the clay pot and tasting it with the taro, Gin Dōjima closed his eyes. The savory freshness of the abalone and the sweet fragrance of the taro presented themselves together, intertwining in his mouth.
"What a rich flavor!"
Besides the taro and pork, the flavor of the sauce Megumi Tadokoro had prepared was also exceptionally unique.
It wasn't apparent at first taste, but as they ate more and more of the taro, and the flavors deepened, those subtle notes also began to ripple through their mouths.
"The addition of Sichuan peppercorns and dried chilies adds a touch of spicy stimulation to the overall flavor, and the mellow aroma of yellow wine runs through it all!"
At the same time, the flavors of the later-added Sichuan peppercorns and dried chilies were also released, forming an excellent three-layered foundation!
"If Hisako Arato's dish is the ultimate expression of taro, then Megumi Tadokoro's dish has surpassed the limit of 100 points."
After a moment, Gin Dōjima gave an extremely high evaluation, which caused Hisako Arato's expression to change slightly, her fist under her sleeve tightening abruptly.
"That's right. One is a perfect expression of taro, while the other uses other ingredients to give the taro a gorgeous outer coat, which is also a perfect expression of its flavor."
Sonoka Kikuchi also nodded. In terms of taste alone, there was no doubt that Megumi Tadokoro's was superior. In relation to the theme, both performed excellently.
In that case, the winner was decided.
They exchanged a glance, already having the answer in their hearts.
Finally, Gin Dōjima spoke: "Hisako, your dish is very good, but you were a bit too concerned with expressing the flavor of the taro.
"The reason a chef is called a chef is that they must add new flavors while preserving the original taste of the ingredients, thus giving customers a brand-new experience.
"This Tai Chi Taro Paste you made indeed brought out the flavor of the taro to its peak, allowing us to appreciate the superb taste of Lipu Taro.
"However.
"A dish whose score is limited from the very beginning, even if it ultimately gets a perfect score, can only reach one hundred. It's difficult to defeat a dish that surpasses a perfect score.
"Unfortunately, the dish Megumi Tadokoro brought out surpassed a perfect score. Therefore, I announce that the winner of the second semi-final match is Megumi Tadokoro!"
As his voice fell, the venue became silent. Gin Dōjima looked at Megumi Tadokoro before him and found her looking calm, as if she had known this result all along. Surprise instantly filled his eyes.
At the same time, the audience below went from silence to an uproar, especially the former Totsuki students.
"That underdog pulled off another upset! Aren't they both students taught by Dylan-sensei? How did she make it to the finals?!"
A spectator couldn't believe it, even slapping himself to confirm he wasn't dreaming. Only after feeling the pain did he mutter to himself.
"I don't know! But she has indeed improved significantly over the past six months. In any class she's in, she basically gets the super S-rank evaluation."
A student who had taken the same class as Megumi Tadokoro said. Since returning from the midterm exams, this girl had been like she was on steroids, her cooking skills improving by leaps and bounds!
"Looking at it this way, it seems she really has something. Dylan-sensei is truly worthy of being a high-star chef. With just a little guidance, he can turn an underdog into one of the academy's top masters!"
"That's right, Dylan-sensei is amazing. He can turn rotten wood into a fine carving!"
When it came to Dylan, basically everyone in the academy was full of admiration. For a moment, everything that seemed unreasonable became reasonable.
"It wasn't just 'a little guidance,' and Megumi was never an underdog. That was just a disguise she wore before revealing her true talent."
Sitting in the center of the audience, Dylan naturally heard the surrounding students' conversation and shook his head with a helpless expression, speaking his mind internally.
Although he played a significant role in Megumi Tadokoro reaching this point, she truly didn't rely on him, but on her ten years of daily effort!
His guidance only accelerated the process of Megumi Tadokoro converting that effort into strength. In other words, without her previous accumulation, the her of today wouldn't exist.
However, Dylan wouldn't go out of his way to explain anything.
He was just happy for Megumi Tadokoro in his heart, while also looking forward to her growing faster and reaching the point where she could compete on the same stage as him. That was what he wanted to see.
"Megumi is also a prodigy. To improve so much in just six months... it's really hard to imagine that she was just an underdog half a year ago."
Few people knew the inside story of Megumi Tadokoro's sudden rise in strength, and Erina Nakiri was clearly not one of them.
At this moment, she was muttering to herself from the VIP seats on the high platform, her eyes looking at Megumi Tadokoro with a hint of inquiry.
Hisako Arato had lost, a complete and utter defeat. Although Erina Nakiri was a bit disappointed, she didn't think much of it.
Victory and defeat are common in battle. Both were taught by Dylan, so it was normal that one couldn't overcome the other's moves. She just hoped Hisako wouldn't take it to heart.
Thinking of this, Erina Nakiri's eyes showed worry as she looked at Hisako Arato. She knew this girl had strong self-esteem and hoped she wouldn't do anything foolish just because she lost a match.
"Let me taste your dish too, Megumi."
Fortunately, Erina Nakiri's worries were unnecessary. Hisako Arato was only dazed for a brief moment before she smiled and spoke to Megumi Tadokoro.
"I was just thinking the same thing. I prepared a portion especially for you. Let me try your dish too."
As they spoke, Megumi Tadokoro took out the dish she had prepared for Hisako Arato, who had also prepared one for her. The two then exchanged and began to taste.
"I see now. What a gentle flavor. No wonder it could win over the judges."
The taro was layered with pork, paired with the sauce drizzled over it. One bite felt like being in a soft cotton candy cloud, floating lightly everywhere.
Hisako Arato was convinced.
Compared to this dish, her so-called complete激发 of the taro's flavor was a joke. Her strategy had been wrong from the start.
"Eating a bite of this in the summer is so satisfying!"
Beside her, Megumi Tadokoro showed an expression of enjoyment while tasting Hisako Arato's dish. This sweet flavor and silky texture were simply wonderful!
On a hot summer day, no one would refuse such a bowl of taro paste dessert!
Megumi Tadokoro's eyes flickered slightly, clearly wanting to comfort Hisako Arato. Of course, it was also because this taro paste dessert was genuinely delicious.
"I lost this match. In my place, you must win the final championship!"
As she spoke, Hisako Arato grabbed Megumi Tadokoro's hand and spoke seriously, word by word.
"I'll do my best."
Looking at Hisako Arato standing before her, Megumi Tadokoro nodded seriously. She didn't make any guarantees, but it was enough to satisfy Hisako.
As students taught by Dylan, to not bring shame to his name, at least one of them had to win first place. This was a decision they had made together before participating in the competition.
______
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