"What a beautiful dish."
Senzaemon Nakiri praised.
"It's indeed very good."
Gin Dojima also nodded.
"Then, let's begin tasting."
Chapel said lightly, then picked up a spoon and scooped a spoonful of the steamed egg. The steamed egg kept jiggling on the spoon like jelly.
"So tender!"
Chapel's pupils constricted as he exclaimed.
The other judges also began to taste it.
The steamed egg was exceptionally tender and smooth, the king crab leg was incredibly delicious and chewy, and the entire dish was filled with seafood flavor, delicious to the extreme.
Especially the steamed egg, it was incredibly silky smooth and tender, sliding over their tongues like silk, and then down into their throats.
The three judges felt as if they were wandering in the deep sea, with various seafood joyfully surrounding them, which gave them an endless sense of pleasure.
"The egg and seafood are perfectly integrated, and the steamed egg melts in your mouth, carrying an extremely rich seafood flavor that vividly highlights the theme of this Shokugeki, making one feel like they are immersed in the ocean."
Senzaemon Nakiri said in a deep voice, and the lapels of his clothes had already burst open silently.
"This is… Clothes Burst!"
"This is a sign of recognition from the Gourmet Demon King!"
"As expected of the Elite Ten's standard!"
The students watching all exclaimed in shock.
Clothes Burst, that was a unique sign of the Nakiri bloodline, and it also represented that Eizan Etsuya's dish had received the lofty recognition of the Gourmet Demon King!
"The Gourmet Demon King's Clothes Burst!"
Tadokoro Megumi's face also turned pale as she said with a trembling voice.
"This is the strength of the Elite Ten. That kid really overestimates himself."
Kuga Terunori said lightly.
"This dish has an exquisite appearance and an elegant flavor, fully embodying the unique delicate emotions in Japanese cuisine. This steamed egg, in particular, concentrates the essence of seafood, enveloping the tongue like silk."
Chapel's face also showed a blissful smile.
"The chef who is said never to smile actually smiled!"
"Is this the strength of the Elite Ten? Truly terrifying!"
Seeing Chapel's smile, everyone was shocked again. Among all the Instructors, Chapel was known for never smiling!
"How did you manage to make the steamed egg in this chawanmushi so tender and smooth?"
Gin Dojima asked.
"Heh heh, I used the broth from boiling clams and king crab, mixed with egg liquid in a 2:1 ratio. This is the secret to the steamed egg's rich flavor."
Eizan Etsuya chuckled and said, "Then, I mixed the remaining broth with potato starch, stirred it over low heat until it became a paste, and then poured it into the steamed egg."
"I see, it's potato starch? No wonder the texture is so fresh and tender!"
Gin Dojima suddenly understood.
"All three judges are full of praise for Eizan-senpai's dish!"
Tadokoro Megumi was so frightened she almost fainted, saying tremblingly.
"The difference in skill is indeed too great."
Kuga Terunori said lightly.
"Little Kuga, what are you saying? If Satou gets expelled, I won't let you off!"
Kobayashi Rindo put her arm around Kuga Terunori's neck and said irritably.
Kuga Terunori was extremely depressed and shouted, "What does that have to do with me? Sister Kobayashi, go settle the score with that Eizan guy!"
"However, that student's chances of winning are indeed very slim."
Eishi Tsukasa sighed softly and said.
"Even Tsukasa-senpai…"
Tadokoro Megumi's vision went black, and she fainted.
Erina Nakiri also had a complicated expression, struggling intensely internally, both hoping Satou would win and hoping he would lose.
If he lost, he would be expelled, but if he won, she would have to agree to be his girlfriend. It was really difficult!
"Kid, do you see? This is the difference in strength between you and me."
Eizan Etsuya smiled at Satou.
Senzaemon Nakiri also fell silent. As his chosen future grandson-in-law, if Satou were to be expelled like this, it would be very difficult for him to handle.
Satou, however, was very calm and said, "The Shokugeki isn't over yet, is it?"
He saw that the time was almost up, then lifted the steamer lid. A cloud of white steam, carrying an extremely rich aroma, rushed out from the steamer.
The aroma was like a tornado, instantly sweeping across the entire venue!
"So fragrant! What is this smell?"
"Is this the dish made by the transfer student?"
Many students stood up directly from their seats, and the audience erupted in an uproar!
"Oh? This aroma."
Even Eishi Tsukasa and the others were slightly stunned. Kobayashi Rindo, who had been pinching Kuga Terunori's neck, also paused her movements for a moment.
"Is this made by Satou?"
Tadokoro Megumi also revived, and a glimmer of hope rose in her heart again.
"My dish is ready. Please taste it."
Satou placed the four plates of Four Joy Dumplings, fresh from the steamer, on the serving cart and pushed it in front of the three judges.
Though called dumplings, they actually resembled shumai. However, ordinary shumai only have one opening, while Four Joy Dumplings have four openings, each filled with a different stuffing, in black, yellow, white, and green colors. The dumpling wrappers were almost transparent and exceptionally exquisite.
"What an exquisite dish! Is this shumai?"
Chapel asked with bright eyes; he had never seen this type of shumai before!
"To be precise, this is a type of steamed dumpling. In ancient times, it was said to be a dish only enjoyed by royalty and nobles."
Gin Dojima said, "It's truly fragrant."
"Since that's the case, let's taste it."
Senzaemon Nakiri nodded and said.
On the surface, he seemed calm, but in reality, his heart was filled with trepidation. If Satou was expelled, he would have a hard time explaining it to Erina.
Chapel and Gin Dojima nodded, then picked up their chopsticks, took a dumpling, and put it into their mouths.
"Hmph, it's just a dumpling. How delicious can such a low-level dish be?"
Eizan Etsuya scoffed with disdain.
However, his smile immediately froze.
Because he saw that the three judges' expressions were extremely solemn, their eyes tightly closed, as if they were trying their best to endure something.
Suddenly, Gin Dojima opened his eyes, feeling as if a volcano had erupted on his tongue!
"It's... it's too delicious!"
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