Compared to the gorgeous dish Himeshima Kou served, Kannoyama Hikorintarou's plate of chicken oil fried rice looked incredibly coarse.
Placed side-by-side, they didn't even seem to be from the same art style.
"Chicken oil fried rice? Unexpectedly mundane."
"But using fried rice as a main course is fitting in many respects."
As Kannoyama Hikorintarou brought his dish to the table, the surrounding spectators couldn't help but crane their necks, wanting to see what he had presented.
"Isn't it a bit too ordinary? It feels like something that shouldn't appear in a competition of this level."
However, after seeing that it was just a simple plate of chicken oil fried rice, many people showed expressions of disappointment. Clearly, Kannoyama Hikorintarou's dish did not meet their expectations for top-tier cuisine.
Chicken oil fried rice? Who here didn't know how to make that?
For such a simple dish to appear in a contest for a Legendary Cooking Utensil was truly inappropriate.
"But the crispy chicken skin cracklings garnishing the fried rice are quite appetizing. Just looking at them, you can already imagine their crispiness and deliciousness!"
The rice exuded the mellow aroma of chicken oil, interspersed with tender bits of scrambled egg and crispy chicken skin cracklings of a reddish-gold hue, accompanied by a few chicken meatballs on the side.
The essence of an entire chicken was concentrated here.
"Are the meatballs on the side of the plate chicken meatballs? They look pretty good. I think they were made from chicken thigh and heart, but I didn't see him pan-fry them just now, he put them directly in the wok to sear..."
"I saw that too. But the cooking method he used wasn't pan-frying, it was sear-roasting."
Hearing the words of the person next to him, a knowledgeable spectator spoke up.
The most fundamental difference between pan-frying and sear-roasting is whether the food comes into contact with an open flame during the cooking process.
"That guy first rendered the subcutaneous chicken fat from the skin, then added the seasoned chicken meatballs and pan-fried them over medium heat until the surface was crisp and colored. Then he poured in sake to ignite a fierce flame and sear-roast the surface.
The instant the flame flared up, he poured in soy sauce and mirin, allowing them to penetrate the chicken meatballs under the effect of the searing heat. Finally, he added a little warm water and reduced it into a sauce for the meatballs."
The guest who had explained the difference between pan-frying and sear-roasting spoke again, recounting Kannoyama Hikorintarou's entire cooking process: first using a pan-frying technique, then adding sake to sear-roast with a high flame for seasoning.
"Chicken Oil Fried Rice with Chicken Meatballs?"
Li Wuque's gaze fell upon the main course served by Kannoyama Hikorintarou.
He did not rush to use his chopsticks, instead observing the color and form of the fried rice first. This was an indispensable step for him before judging a dish, as it most directly revealed the chef's control over the heat.
The grains of rice were distinct, each one evenly coated in golden chicken oil.
Crispy fried chicken skin cracklings and soft scrambled egg were dotted throughout. The chicken meatballs on the side had a caramel-like color, their surfaces bearing the characteristic char marks of sear-roasting.
"It seems ordinary, but the skill is in the details."
Gongsun Yu was also observing the surface, but possessing a Super Taste, he was more focused on the dish's flavor. As he spoke, he picked up his spoon, scooped up a spoonful of the chicken oil fried rice along with a bit of chicken skin crackling, and put it in his mouth.
The rice grains bounced on his tongue, the egg provided a smooth texture, but the key was the rich aroma of the chicken oil!
It was a mellow flavor that could only be achieved from the subcutaneous fat of chicken skin that had been meticulously rendered to extract all its essence, fundamentally different from the chicken fat extracted from the chicken's body cavity!
The subcutaneous chicken fat was three-dimensional, complex, and layered—something chicken leaf lard could not compare to!
At the same time, the crispiness of the chicken skin cracklings formed a superb contrast with the softness of the rice. Every chew was accompanied by a crisp "crunch," releasing a deeper level of toasted fragrance.
Gongsun Yu savored it carefully, nodding with a rather satisfied expression: "The heat control is excellent. The outside of the rice grains is slightly dry, yet the inside retains a hint of moisture. The aroma of the chicken oil has permeated it perfectly during the stir-frying process, yet it doesn't seem greasy at all due to the high-heat cooking."
And these chicken skin cracklings, made after rendering the fat, were completely different from cracklings made from chicken fatty tissue.
The chicken skin crackling has three layers: the outer epidermis, the gelatinous layer in the middle, and the subcutaneous fat. After being deep-fried at high temperature, the outer skin becomes crispy, the gelatinous layer is springy and chewy, and the not-fully-rendered fat inside is light, forming a marvelous triple transformation.
Gongsun Yu picked up a piece of chicken skin crackling with his chopsticks, and it glistened under the sunlight.
To better complement the rice, Kannoyama Hikorintarou had cut it into small, soybean-sized pieces.
Although cut into small pieces, the triple layers were not damaged in the slightest. Combined with the resilience of the rice and the tenderness of the egg, scooping it into the mouth with the fried rice created a magnificent quintet of textures!
"Seemingly simple, yet it hides profound secrets."
Nearby, the shirtless Senzaemon Nakiri closed his eyes, quietly feeling the surging sensation coming from within his body.
At this moment, he had returned to that bamboo forest.
Only this time, he was no longer a large rooster, but had transformed into another kind of bird.
The colors on his body were more varied, his feathers fluffier, and his entire being exuded an air of majesty. His head had also taken on a more slender and elegant form.
This thought emerged in Senzaemon Nakiri's mind, but he quickly dismissed it. Although his current form was different from that of an ordinary pheasant, it was still a far cry from a true phoenix.
But now, he could spread his wings and soar through the heavens!
A cry rang out, and an expression of uninhibited joy appeared on Senzaemon Nakiri's face.
With a gentle flap of his wings, the bird took to the sky, soaring above the nine heavens. In the surrounding bamboo forest, other birds flew out upon seeing his soaring figure. For a moment, a flock followed, a magnificent and grand spectacle.
At the same time, Senzaemon Nakiri's previously intact lower garments suddenly burst apart.
"It's happened! After eating the second dish, the Gourmet Demon King's 'Complete Dress Break'!"
Following the 'Half-Dress Break', after eating the chicken oil fried rice prepared by Kannoyama Hikorintarou, the clothes on Senzaemon Nakiri's lower body finally gave way and exploded.
The surrounding audience gasped in amazement at this sight, their eyes shining with excitement.
On the other side, Li Wuque also took a spoonful of the fried rice, nodded slightly, and then turned his gaze to the few sear-roasted chicken meatballs placed on the side of the plate.
He gently cut one open with his spoon, revealing an incredibly fine texture inside.
A light press with the back of the spoon revealed its astonishing elasticity.
He placed the halved chicken meatball into his mouth.
In an instant, a much more intense, fiery essence exploded on his taste buds!
The outer layer had the unique toasted aroma from sear-roasting, mixed with the salty-sweet flavors of soy sauce and mirin, which, having been baptized by fire, made the flavors of these seasonings deeper and more complex.
But the chicken meat inside was exceptionally fresh, tender, and juicy.
The spiciness of minced ginger and garlic perfectly neutralized the heaviness of the meat itself while removing the gaminess of the chicken heart. The subtle sweetness from scallion water added another layer to the overall flavor profile.
"The wildness of the sear-roasting, the vitality of the chicken, and the five-layered flavor contained within this chicken oil fried rice. This main course has interpreted the deliciousness of chicken as an ingredient to the fullest!"
Gongsun Yu also closed his eyes.
Under the scorching sun, the rooster's feathers became increasingly vibrant and dazzling. Its eyes narrowed, its gaze as sharp as a blade, and its claws grew longer and larger, gripping the earth tightly.
A scorching aura burst forth from within, as if vying with heaven and earth for brilliance!
That fiery life force was perfectly conveyed through the dish.
"The appetizer was cool and tranquil, like a morning breeze in a bamboo forest. The main course is fiery and spirited, like the blazing midday sun."
"This combination has a coherent artistic vision and progressive flavors. It is truly brilliant. Even in a top restaurant, this would be a rather fine set menu pairing."
Taking a deep breath, Li Wuque finally gave an incredibly fair evaluation.
The plate before him was already completely empty.
In front of the judges' table, hearing the high praise from the three judges, Kannoyama Hikorintarou and Himeshima Kou exchanged a glance, their faces breaking into smiles of certain victory.
They had absolute confidence in their dishes, especially against two inexperienced teenagers. It could be called a completely one-sided domination.
"Those two kids are in danger..."
"Indeed. To be able to push the Gourmet Demon King to a 'Complete Dress Break,' the combined taste of these two dishes might have already reached the Special-Grade standard."
"Let's just hope they don't lose too badly. But for these two kids to dare to compete at this age, after a few more years of training, they could definitely defeat them easily."
"No matter what, they're fighting for the World of Light Cuisine. We should cheer them on properly later!"
The crowd began to discuss animatedly, and not a single person was optimistic about Okabe and Erina Nakiri's chances.
The reason was simple: Kannoyama Hikorintarou and Himeshima Kou's performance was just too good, even exceeding their usual standards to some extent. This was a level of cooking that children simply could not touch.
And as for the protagonists of this match, Okabe and Erina Nakiri.
The two had now completely entered the zone. Okabe stared at the sea bream fillet before him, his breathing even.
What lay before him was the dorsal meat of the sea bream.
Because a sea bream uses its back to generate force when swimming, the muscle fibers in this area are relatively firm and the meat is more elastic. Therefore, Okabe chose it as the main ingredient for the sashimi.
And to slice sashimi, the best technique would be Luo Qing's Arhat Crystal Slice.
However, executing the Arhat Crystal Slice required the Dark Culinary World's secret ice blade, the North Star Heavenly Wolf Blade.
That blade was forged from ice and could release a cold aura to chill the fish after slicing, preserving the ingredient's optimal freshness.
Okabe, of course, did not have the North Star Heavenly Wolf Blade, nor did he know the Arhat Crystal Slice.
But he did have masterful knife skills.
Okabe slowly lifted his kitchen knife, its blade shimmering with a cool light under the sun.
His gaze was focused and calm, as if the only thing in the world was the sea bream fillet before him.
"His grip on the knife is very strange."
"He's just slicing sashimi, so why do I get the feeling that a storm is brewing!?"
"To slice tender fish into paper-thin sashimi is a huge test of a chef's knife skills. How many years has this kid been a chef? Is it possible for him to possess such astonishing knife techniques?"
Okabe paid no heed to the discussions and evaluations from the outside world.
His right hand held the knife handle with an almost meditative stability, while his left hand gently pressed down on the surface of the fish to secure it, his fingertips slightly arched.
The scene fell silent in an instant, everyone's attention fixed on Okabe's knife.
Okabe's blade descended lightly upon the fish, his movements incredibly fluid.
The blade made almost no sound as it entered the flesh, yet a faint cutting sound echoed in the ears of the crowd.
It was as if this cutting sound didn't come from Okabe's hands, but was a sound their minds automatically supplied after watching his cooking. Otherwise, a silent cut would be far too strange!
"This kid possesses such formidable knife skills at his age..."
At the judges' table, Li Wuque's eyes opened slightly, and he couldn't help but stand up and walk over to him.
Every slice of sashimi he cut was almost perfectly identical in thickness, translucent enough to let light through but without tearing.
What was even more astonishing was that the sliced sashimi didn't fall onto the cutting board. Instead, as if they had grown wings, they flew high into the air and landed in a prepared plate. Looking closely, one could see something crystalline shimmering in the plate.
All the sashimi slices soon landed in the plate filled with ice.
Okabe strode forward, used the edge of his knife to lift the sashimi from the plate, methodically arranged them following their natural lines, and finally formed them into an exquisite chrysanthemum shape.
The fish slices were layered one upon another, shimmering crystallinely under the sunlight.
Erina Nakiri timely placed the dipping sauce dish to the side, the vibrant green wasabi paste creating a beautiful contrast with the light soy sauce. She then picked up the dish and strode towards the judges' table.
Seeing this, Li Wuque followed closely behind, a different kind of anticipation for their dish growing in his heart.
"Please, try our Sea Bream Sashimi!"
Placing the dish in the middle of the three judges, Erina Nakiri's face was filled with strong confidence. As she spoke, she placed the individual sauce dishes in front of each of them.
"To present it on ice, and even shaped like a chrysanthemum... a slight breeze makes the petals tremble. You can tell just how thinly it's been sliced!"
Gongsun Yu leaned in to observe, his eyes sparkling with a unique excitement.
"A hundred years ago, a chef from the Dark Culinary World who was extremely skilled with a knife defected. Among his recipes was a dish called Fierce Ice Fresh Sea Bream Mountain.
This dish requires the use of the North Star Heavenly Wolf Blade, a knife forged entirely from ice, complemented by ultimate knife skills. It involves layering sea bream slices as thin as cicada wings onto a mountain of ice, paired with a special sauce made from sesame oil, which is said to make one feel as if they've ascended to heaven."
Li Wuque's voice echoed through the venue, his eyes fixed on the sashimi Okabe had sliced.
"Although the thickness of this sashimi can't compare to that Fierce Ice Fresh Sea Bream Mountain, for a young man, this is already a remarkable dish, paired with a secret sauce made from wasabi and soy sauce..."
As he spoke, Li Wuque extended his chopsticks, picked up a slice of sashimi from the edge of the chrysanthemum, dipped it lightly into the wasabi soy sauce, and brought it to his mouth.
The next moment, Li Wuque's pupils contracted sharply.
The moment the clearly veined slice of sea bream touched his tongue, it seemed to come alive.
An extreme coolness spread rapidly, followed by the ultimate fresh sweetness of the fish itself, crashing against his taste buds in successive waves.
"This coolness... it's not just the effect of the ice!"
Li Wuque looked at the crystalline "ice cubes" in the dish with utter shock.
Gongsun Yu also picked up a slice, and after careful observation, exclaimed in amazement: "Underneath the sea bream isn't ordinary ice, but a soft dashi jelly made from sea bream bones, kombu, and sake! By placing the sashimi on the dashi jelly immediately after slicing, it not only maintains the temperature but also allows the fish to absorb the umami of the dashi before it even enters the mouth!"
Under the sunlight, the three of them could clearly see a layer of milky white fish broth beneath the sashimi.
The cooled fish broth solidified slightly upon contact with the ice cubes, was then absorbed by the sashimi, and paired with the secret sauce made from wasabi and soy sauce...
On the other side, Senzaemon Nakiri said nothing, but the sound of his clothes tearing was heard again.
The new clothes he had just put on were already completely ripped at the shoulders!
"Just a single slice of sashimi, and yet..."
Senzaemon Nakiri closed his eyes. He found himself transformed into a fish, swimming through the ocean.
Moonlight bathed his entire body, bringing waves of coolness. This sensation was a stark contrast to the scorching heat of the blazing sun brought by Kannoyama Hikorintarou's dish.
"And the flavor of this sauce, it's rich and complex, with a powerful impact!"
Gongsun Yu's gaze fell on the sauce in the small dish, his voice tinged with emotion. This flavor was very similar to Himeshima Kou's, but upon careful distinction, there was a fundamental difference.
It's well known that half the deliciousness of sashimi comes from the knife work, while the other half comes from the sauce.
To create the most suitable sauce for the sashimi, Erina Nakiri had made many attempts, finally settling on wasabi, the same main ingredient as Himeshima Kou.
"The base of the sauce is a three-year-aged soy sauce, paired with freshly grated wasabi. Then I added a little lemon juice and yuzu peel to elevate the overall flavor profile."
The young woman's voice was clear and strong as she revealed the secret of the sauce's flavor.
The soy sauce provided saltiness, the wasabi provided spice, the lemon juice provided acidity, and the yuzu zest provided a fresh aroma. The flavors of these several seasonings came together to form this incredibly unique sauce.
"The coldness from the ice briefly sealed the flavor of the dish."
"However, as the temperature in the mouth rises, the smooth and luscious deliciousness of the sea bream gradually spreads."
Li Wuque closed his eyes. Placing the sashimi on ice and then letting the warmth of his mouth melt it was like the frozen bream had come back to life, leaping about in his mouth!
In that instant, he transformed into a sea bream in the ocean, surrounded by shoals of fish.
His ancient body was filled with vitality once more. He swam freely with his companions in the great sea, leaping from the water from time to time, displaying the sheer joy of life!
Another clear sound of tearing fabric was heard.
This time, it was the sleeve on Senzaemon Nakiri's left arm that split open, revealing his brawny arm muscles.
The tearing sounds continued—the right sleeve, the collar, the waist—various parts of his clothes tore as Senzaemon Nakiri tasted the dish, but it lacked a core explosive point.
If Himeshima Kou's chicken mousse was about using technique to create a new flavor that surpassed the ingredient itself, which then exploded in the mouth under the effect of the sauce, then the sea bream sashimi was about using technique to present the original flavor of the ingredient in its purest and most layered form.
The impact brought by the two was completely different.
Feeling the texture of the sea bream and the flavor of the sashimi on his tongue, Senzaemon Nakiri's clothes hung on him in tatters, but they did not tear any further with subsequent tasting.
"How can this be?! Grandpa, aren't you feeling anything else?"
Noticing Senzaemon Nakiri's state and that his clothes showed no sign of tearing further, Erina Nakiri's face filled with disbelief, as if she had realized something.
This sashimi carried everything they had learned.
Even so, it couldn't make Senzaemon Nakiri's shirt explode, to reach the same level as Himeshima Kou's chicken mousse?!
"Erina, although you have perfectly brought out the freshness of the ingredients, as an appetizer, the impact of the sashimi is not as strong as Himeshima Kou's chicken mousse. All of your flavor is concentrated in this small bowl of sauce."
Seeing the incredulous look on Erina Nakiri's face, Senzaemon Nakiri's voice rang out.
As a dish, Erina Nakiri's sashimi was not inferior to Himeshima Kou's chicken mousse.
But as a first course and also an appetizer, the flavor of this sashimi was a bit too one-dimensional.
The overall flavor was entirely supported by the sauce. However, the ultimate texture brought by the knife work was a good bonus, which was why Senzaemon Nakiri's clothes ripped in various places as if cut by a knife.
"Excellent! It seems their appetizer missed the mark. We're sure to win now!"
An excited expression hung on Kannoyama Hikorintarou's face.
Himeshima Kou next to him didn't speak, but also wore an expectant look. The two of them watched Erina Nakiri, whose face was written with unwillingness and her fists slightly clenched, the corners of their mouths turning up unnaturally.
"If they lose the second round as well, the Garuda Knife will fall into the hands of the Dark Culinary World!"
"Although I didn't have high hopes for this pair at the beginning, seeing them get this far, it feels so frustrating if they lose just like this!"
Hearing Senzaemon Nakiri's words, the surrounding audience couldn't help but murmur among themselves, all feeling it was a pity for Okabe and Erina Nakiri's setback.
After all, according to Senzaemon Nakiri, the gap between the two wasn't that large.
If they had been a bit more careful, they might have had a good chance of winning!
"What dish is this young man planning to make? That look in his eyes doesn't seem like someone who has given up!"
Lan Tianqiu's gaze was fixed quietly in Okabe's direction.
At this moment, Okabe's eyes were shining brightly, not at all discouraged by Senzaemon Nakiri's evaluation.
But what surprised everyone was that he hadn't even started making his dish yet. Numerous ingredients were laid out on his cooking station, and his face wore an expression of someone holding a winning hand.
"Our dishes were never two separate courses." Okabe's voice was soft, as if talking to himself, yet it clearly reached Erina Nakiri's ears: "In our set menu, the appetizer and the main course are one and the same!"
This sentence struck Erina Nakiri's heart like a bolt of lightning.
She suddenly remembered that during the preparation phase, Okabe had insisted on using every part of the sea bream, even meticulously processing the fish bones and head.
____
🔥 New content is here! 🔥
New Story: COTE: Natsuki Subaru Returns to School, but as the Purge King
✅ Jump 40 chapters ahead of the public release!
✅ Get access to special perks and news!
Help smash these goals:
🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 Bonus Chapter (for everyone)
🚀 140 MEMBERS = +5 extra chapters (for all stories)!
👻 P - Walnutchan