The cooking exam for the Home Economics course had a high degree of freedom. Anyway, any ingredients in the school's inventory could be used, as long as there was no waste.
And the cooking teacher also announced the specific content of this exam!
Class A and Class B had a total of 67 people, all present. Except for the school cat Enyun-chan who was exempt from the exam, the remaining sixty-six people were divided into twenty-two groups of three.
After that, the dishes made by each group would be tasted and scored by school teachers and the cooking teacher respectively. The group with the highest average score would be the winner.
The cooking time officially began—seeing that someone actually brought Australian lobsters, abalones, king crabs, and even A5 Wagyu beef, Shirogane Miyuki complained disdainfully.
"A bunch of aristocratic thinking. It's not like only expensive ingredients can make delicious dishes! Hmph, watch me win with cheap stuff all the same!"
Uchiha Ryo said in surprise. "These ingredients can be taken for free from the Shuchiin cafeteria inventory. You brought those cheap goods from the convenience store to cook, really impressive."
"Eh?! Can take for free! Then can I pack them up?!"
Shirogane Miyuki instantly pushed away the bean sprouts in front of him and took out a food preservation bag from somewhere.
Uchiha Ryo: "....."
Ignoring this poor Student Council President, Uchiha Ryo looked at the two girls who were discussing what to make.
Yukinoshita nodded and said. "Actually, just like Shirogane-kun said, making delicious dishes with simple ingredients, relying not on the taste of the ingredients themselves, is the real skill."
Chitanda Eru took out the prepared ingredients. "So our group's dish will be Sanshoku Don (Three-Color Rice Bowl)."
Sanshoku Don, one of the most common home-cooked dishes in Japan, with perfect nutritional combination of meat, egg, and vegetables, is also a must-learn recipe for housewives.
Rather than carefully crafting a dish for vanity, it's better to choose a simple dish that doesn't take much time and effort.
And if three people make Sanshoku Don, it's even more convenient. Yukinoshita handles the meat over there, Chitanda fries the eggs, and Uchiha Ryo needs to do the "complicated" work of blanching vegetables. Really hard work.
Due to the two's overly skilled craftsmanship, the group's task was quickly completed. Except for Uchiha Ryo's side, other groups were either in the middle of cooking or still considering.
I guess the possibility of us taking first place is very small this time, Uchiha Ryo thought so. After all, Sanshoku Don to chefs in the culinary world is equivalent to instant noodles to ordinary people.
This most basic dish probably won't get a high score.
"Hiratsuka-sensei? How can you also be a judge?!"
"Hey hey! There should be a limit to looking down on people, okay? I am at least one of the most popular teachers in Shuchiin!"
However, the weight of Hiratsuka Shizuka's score wasn't high, everyone knew this very well. The one who really accounted for the bulk was the professional cooking teacher. A middle-aged man about forty years old, said to be a three-star restaurant owner who started from scratch as a chef.
For Shuchiin to invite such a person to be their cooking teacher was really a bit of overkill. But this had nothing to do with Uchiha Ryo. It's better to get scored early and go rest early.
"Ho.... Sanshoku Don. reminds me of those days working in a small restaurant..."
"This! This is!!"
After taking a bite, the cooking teacher suddenly covered his eyes and lowered his head, his body trembling slightly.
"Eh, Ryo-kun, you didn't put anything strange in it, right?" Yukinoshita Yukino frowned. She was sure there were no accidents in her cooking steps, and she also understood Chitanda's cooking habits.
But why would the cooking teacher have this reaction?
"Only a ghost would put strange things. Even if I did, I wouldn't give it to him..."
Chitanda Eru suddenly realized, then whispered something in Yukino's ear. Yukinoshita also widened her eyes to look at Uchiha Ryo, then put her hands on her hips and said seriously.
"It seems I can't casually eat things you make in the future."
"Just kidding! I wouldn't put strange things when cooking!"
Chitanda pointed to the still trembling cooking teacher and asked doubtfully. "Then how to explain this?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka on the other side made a light sound of surprise. "What's the situation with the meal you made? Let me try!"
Saying that, Hiratsuka Shizuka also picked up her small portion of the rice bowl. After all, having to eat dishes from 22 groups next, each small bowl only had two or three mouthfuls, and the rest could be taken away by the students themselves.
"Mn! Very delicious. I will definitely give you the ten points in my hand!"
Hiratsuka Shizuka licked her lips somewhat unsatisfied. At the same time, the cooking teacher finally raised his head. Then he ate the remaining part in big mouthfuls.
"Phew.... The overall completion of the dish is very high, first count 10 points. But after all, it's a cooperation of three people! Difficulty is too low, minus 6 points. Fastest time plus 2 points.... However, this dish reminded me of the first time my mother taught me to cook when I was a child. Overall, 10 points!"
The students nearby who heard the comment were stunned, wishing they could modify their dishes immediately to make a Sanshoku Don too. Unfortunately... this effect is estimated to only work once.
So Uchiha Ryo's group, who finished first, inexplicably got full marks and left.
.....
During the lunch break, Classic Literature Club classroom. Amakusa Shino was eating lunch alone. Seeing Uchiha Ryo and the other two walk in, she finally showed a relaxed expression.
"Fortunately, fortunately, I thought I was abandoned today."
Chitanda chuckled, then took out the bento box given by the school. "We were having a cooking class exam. Want to taste our Sanshoku Don?"
"Oh? Cooking exam, really nostalgic..."
Senior Amakusa, who was a grade higher, smiled. "Because the school rarely opened the cafeteria kitchen, I took a lot of high-end goods at that time, lobster, beef and so on. But there was no abalone, because I don't eat abalone."
The three sat down and opened their bentos respectively. The curious Chitanda also asked her question.
"Why don't you eat abalone? Is it because the taste is not good?"
Amakusa Shino shook her head. "Well.... because eating abalone always feels like cannibalism."
Uchiha Ryo: "....."
"You guys are really fast!"
The club door was pushed open, and Hayasaka Ai also walked over holding the bento box given by the school.
"Our comprehensive score only got nine points. Pity the Sea Feast made by me and Kaguya-san. What are you chatting about?"
Yukinoshita shook her head. "Nothing, let's eat first."
Seeing that Uchiha Ryo's left and right sides were actually occupied, Hayasaka Ai had to sit opposite and open the bento box.
"What you made is so simple. I have abalone here, does Ryo-kun want to taste?"
Uchiha Ryo nodded. "Mn... taste yours."