1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 494 Let's get started!
The area in front of Ronan's training zone was packed with people, both adults and children, all trying to squeeze in, because they were the only group of competitors who were offered food tastings before the competition.

Although it's a very ordinary cherry tart, and a simplified version at that, it's unique.

People of all eras will not pass up a bargain, especially when this cherry tart is so delicious and tempting!
The organizing committee gave each group of contestants ample time to showcase their work. However, after the dessert competition concludes, these preparation areas will be transformed into exhibition areas similar to those used in the bread competition, where they can sell desserts or other items related to the competition to visitors from all over the world.

In this way, the contestants naturally shared the same idea as Allen and the other women—to serve desserts or other tastings after the competition, and to see who could shout the loudest in the few hours before the competition.

Furthermore, with the competition about to begin, which good pastry chef would be willing to waste time making desserts unrelated to the competition for customers?

Shouldn't we take advantage of this last bit of time to make some final preparations?

Ronan is the only one who would do something like having a tasting session before the competition.

“That’s enough, that’s enough,” Isabel kept reminding Ronan that he could stop.

She originally thought Ronan just wanted to create a buzz and would stop after making one batch of cherry tarts, but she didn't expect him to get so hooked, making one batch after another. He even complained that Alan hadn't bought enough ingredients.

If I hadn't mentioned that the competition was imminent, wouldn't you have been a little nervous? How could you be so nonchalant as to make cherry tarts?

Ronan said very calmly:

"There are still some cherries left, so I have to finish them, and it's something I can do easily."

Leah initially didn't quite understand Ronan's actions, but after working with him for a while, she completely relaxed, just like she usually was in the restaurant's kitchen.

You should know that she had insomnia last night and didn't close her eyes until after 1 a.m.

"Your body and hands are warmed up. How long until the competition starts?" she asked while pounding butter.

"Are you not nervous anymore?" Ronan turned to look at her.

Leah smiled and shook her head:

"I'm not nervous anymore; I'm used to being watched while I work."

Attracting attention is one thing, adjusting one's state is another, and adapting to the competition environment is the third.

Making desserts in front of a crowd is a completely different experience from making them in the kitchen. At first, even Ronan's steady hands were a little tense when he was cutting cherries, but now he's fine. After 'warming up' for more than an hour, he's generally gotten used to the atmosphere of being pointed at and talked about.

If the timing is delayed until after the game has started, the efficiency will be greatly reduced.

They only had 90 minutes and had to make two kinds of desserts, so not a single minute could be wasted.

Seeing that Ronan and Leah were in good form, Isabel stopped worrying and obediently told the two athletes the time:

"There are 45 minutes left before the start of the match."

Suddenly, several staff members cleared a path in front of them, and Llorente appeared before Ronan and the others with a group of staff members in suits.

Upon seeing his old acquaintance arrive, Ronan, without saying a word, first handed him a plate of cherry tarts:
"Gentlemen, are you here for dessert too? We're short on time, so please don't be shy, have a taste, it's fresh out of the oven."

Without a moment's hesitation, Llorente accepted it and shared it with those around him:

"You know what, I'm actually a bit hungry. Anyone want to share? I think this piece is pretty big."

In fact, everyone had already figured out how the 'popular contestant' was chosen on the way here—because it was the only booth with free samples.

I knew it! How could a player from Lourmaran become the most popular player in Xerox?

However, since Llorente introduced Ronan as the athlete from Lourmaran, everyone came here to offer their encouragement in a friendly manner.

This is Ronan! He just shone in Monaco, and he's an artist who can bring his own clients. It's definitely worth the trip.

But desserts...
Besides government officials, Llorente was also accompanied by several judges who would be competing later.

They were very certain of Ronan's status as a pastry artist because his styling skills were indeed exquisite. As for his desserts, people felt that Ronan's desserts were all show and no substance, and that the taste was probably lacking.

Sure enough, upon seeing the cherry tart shared by Llorente, the group exchanged knowing smiles.

A classic French cherry tart takes more than an hour to make because it requires a step of chilling and relaxing the dough; otherwise, the flaky crust cannot be baked. The fact that Ronan's tarts are constantly being sampled suggests that it is a 'downgraded version,' and the crust must have been simplified.

And that's exactly what they saw—the cherry tart Ronan handed them had only a thin base underneath, and without even tasting it, they knew the flavor was definitely subpar.

Llorente was the first to eat, taking a small bite and immediately flashing his signature smile:

"Very unique."

Several judges almost burst out laughing.

Using "special" to describe a dessert is basically saying it's not tasty, isn't it?
Even a shrewd and tactful guy like Llorente couldn't find the right words?
There were too many people waiting to get samples, and Ronan didn't have time to take care of them for long.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, they turned and went to do other things.

Ronan is not a strong contender in this competition, but the organizing committee has listed him as a popular contestant.

We should still give face to the popular contestants.

Each of them took a small bite and put it in their mouths, completing their task. Just as they were about to turn and leave, they suddenly looked at the plate in Llorente's hand.

Llorente still had that familiar smile:
"Am I right? It's very unique."

“That’s not your average tart crust.” One of the judges licked his lips, seemingly still savoring the experience.

“But it’s also very crispy.” Another judge looked back at Ronan, hesitating whether to ask for another piece.

Llorente handed the empty plate to his assistant:
"It seems that Ronan has mastered a method for making tart crusts that we don't know about, and that can be done in a short time."

Llorente not only has countless connections in Provence, but also the corresponding professional skills.

He knew the signature dishes of all the famous restaurants in Provence, and he knew which desserts and bakeries in Provence were the best, but he was certain that he had never tasted the base of the cherry tart that Ronan made before; it was the first time in his life.

"Ronan!" Llorente called out enthusiastically.

Ronan turned his head and looked over:
"What's wrong, Mr. Llorente?"

Llorente pointed to the cherry tart in his hand and asked:

"May I ask how the tart crust is made?"

Ronan made no attempt to hide anything and answered frankly:
“Crush the caramel cookies, add melted butter, and bake for a few more minutes.”

This is the method he found in the 'recipes' provided by the system, the fastest way to make a dessert base under the current conditions.

Llorente noticed the changes in the expressions of those around him out of the corner of his eye, and waved goodbye to Ronan:
"Good luck in a bit." "I will!" Ronan gave himself a thumbs-up.

The group left with Llorente, but the hearts of some of them did not leave with their bodies.

In the late 80s, French desserts had not yet entered a period of intense clash between tradition and innovation, nor had there been any disruptive technological revolutions. Pastry chefs were still accustomed to using dessert recipes that had been passed down for hundreds of years to make desserts.

In formal dessert competitions, the differences between contestants are more reflected in their basic skills and proficiency.

With the formal establishment of the European Union in 1993 and the lowering of import barriers for ingredients, French desserts began to enter a new era with the arrival of new elements such as matcha, passion fruit, and pandan leaves.

But in 1987, a pastry chef who was still honing his basic skills met a guy who excelled at innovation.
Several people couldn't help but look back, wondering if they had made a mistake in including Ronan among the popular contestants.

Allen didn't buy many cherries, so the amount of cherry tarts he could make was actually quite limited.

Shortly after Llorente left, Ronan stopped offering tastings.

"Sorry everyone, we apologize. We will continue to serve desserts after the competition ends, so please remember to come and get them."

"The same products used in the competition are also available for tasting, so don't go too far if you want to try them."

Please give us lots of support!

The advantage of having more girls is that a few kind words can soothe the emotions of tourists who didn't get a free sample.

If they're this generous before the competition, they'll definitely be even more generous afterward. Many people remember the location and the appearance of the players here, making this area a key focus for them.

The tasting is over, the warm-up is complete, and the goal has been achieved.

The women cleaned up the mess, and Ronan and Leah made their final adjustments and preparations, but as soon as they sat down, they heard a painful wail, sounding extremely frustrated.

"What? The tasting is already over? Damn it, I should have gotten up half an hour earlier. I was so careless!"

Accompanying the wailing was Lydia's scream.

This mature woman, nearing 50, ran towards her lover like a teenage girl:
"Honey, didn't you say you couldn't come?"

While spinning Lydia around in his arms, Louis didn't forget to admit his mistake:

“I’m sorry, honey. Zoe reminded me last night to get up earlier. I was naive to think the roads would be easier in the morning, and I missed your first set of works.”

"Oh, that wasn't our first piece; it was just a warm-up for Ronan and me."

"Smack smack smack smack—" Behind the elderly couple, another couple had already started kissing.

"Why are you here too? Didn't you say you were going to some kind of discussion with Cotillard today?" Ronan hugged Zoe tightly, his smile brighter than the Provençal sun.

The house renovation is basically finished; now all that's missing is a swimming pool.

The Monaco F1 Grand Prix was a signal that Zoe was returning to work. At that event, many organizers sent her invitations, with her schedule booked from the end of May to the end of July.

In order not to interfere with Zoe's work, Ronan declined her offer to come along.

I didn't expect them to still come.
Zoe pointed at her father with her mouth:
"You'll have to ask Dad. He wants to surprise Mom and I have to cooperate with him. Actually, my event isn't scheduled for today."

"You got up early, didn't you? Are you tired? Are you hungry? Did you eat breakfast?" Ronan gently hugged him again.

Isabel stood on tiptoe and looked for a while, but didn't find a third person behind Louis and Zoe. Somewhat disappointed, she lowered her head and continued working.

"What are you thinking? He has his exam the day after tomorrow, he definitely won't come today."

Isabel's reaction was observed by the gentle Zoe, who said to her mother, Leah:
"Mom, Vieri knows Dad and I are coming to Aix-en-Provence, and asked me to tell you—"

Then she looked at the other women and girls, her eyes lingering on Isabel for an unusually long time:
"Keep it up, you guys are the best."

"You're so gentle, you even consider Isabel's feelings," Ronan whispered to Zoe after a while.

After Zoe said those encouraging words, the little girl's eyes lit up again, and her hands moved much faster.

Zoe glanced back at Isabel:
"But that was really what Vieri asked me to convey, I didn't make it up."

The dessert competition is not a formal food competition.

Five minutes before the competition, staff came to announce the 'clearance', after which the athletes had to remain in the area.

Zoe, Louis, the women, and the girls left the preparation zone, leaving behind countless words of encouragement.

After Ronan and Leah said "Good luck" to each other, they stood in front of the control panel with their hands at their sides, waiting for the organizers to announce the theme of the competition.

At 10:30 a.m., more than a dozen loudspeakers near the René Fountain blared simultaneously.

Distinguished guests, dear compatriots of Provence, and beloved tourists from all countries:

Today, we gather in Aix-en-Provence, a city kissed by the sun for eight hundred years, not to discuss politics, nor to debate football—but to give you a deeper understanding of Provence.

Here, the first word children learn is not "daddy" or "mommy," but "jam."

Here, even the church prayer room is filled with the aroma of caramelized butter.

Here, a sweet faith flows in people's blood!
Three hundred years ago, the nuns of Aix-en-Provence Abbey gathered here to bake a 1.2-meter-diameter King Cake for the triumphant heroes. It was the coldest winter after the war, but the whole town tasted the flavor of hope.

Today, we want to use the same passion to prove to the world that Provence is not only about lavender and grapes, but also a paradise of desserts!

Now, please allow me to announce the theme of the first X Dessert Competition—"

The rousing voices from the loudspeakers ignited the emotions of the people and tourists on Mirabo Avenue, with enthusiastic echoes resounding from every corner.

The theme of this competition is almonds and chocolate!
The rules of the competition are simple: each team has 90 minutes to make history.

As the noon bells rang and the sunlight shone directly on the spire of the Basilica of St. Saviour, we witnessed a miracle together!

Let's get moving, players!
Show your passion and skills, and ignite this city with desserts!

Ronan shook the white chef's uniform in front of him, the fabric spreading out in the air like a white wave.

He grabbed the collar with his left hand, stretched his right arm back, and slipped his right arm through the sleeve. In one more turn, the clothes were neatly fitted onto his body.

Finally, he tightened the corset with all his might:
"Let's get started."

(End of this chapter)