Who gave this heretical practitioner permission to cook?

Chapter 256 Not Exquisite, But Artistic: Hidden Rules in the Commentary Booth, Bai Susu Falls into Turmoil. (First Update)
As the smoke dissipated, the golden light made Gu Xiaorui's eyes widen suddenly.

She had guessed that the chef named Xia Ming, who could make such a harmonious "starry sky lemonade," must have an extremely high aesthetic sense.

It's important to understand that for students in the "Design Department" of Huaxia Academy of Fine Arts, color harmony and first impressions are essentially ingrained in their genes.

But she still didn't expect that this "two-color yellow croaker jelly" worth "188 yuan" would completely attract her, just like when she first saw the famous painting "Sunflower".

Under the warm yellow light of the banquet hall, five crystal-clear pieces of "two-tone yellow croaker jelly" were neatly arranged in a row on a light blue ice block in the center of a pure white porcelain plate.

Upon closer inspection, the rectangular cube-shaped fish jelly has distinct edges and corners, standing proudly like a priceless treasure.

Its upper layer is a clear and translucent golden-yellow jelly layer.
Like ancient poets who captured the golden autumn sun of Jiangnan in their brushstrokes and ink in fish jelly.

As the luster shifts, through the bright, clear light, one can clearly see the garlic-clove-like texture of the neatly arranged yellow croaker pieces inside.

The fish meat was pure white, without a trace of blood, and its texture was as delicate as fine silk. Just by looking at the cut surface, the "freshness" and "liveliness" of the fish were presented to the two of them in a visual way.

The golden jelly swayed gently, and the fish, like a slumbering savory spirit in crystal, swayed gracefully, stirring up every bit of anticipation in the diner.

Beneath the clear, bright golden jelly layer lies a thin, rich, amber-colored jelly layer.

The deep brown color resembles coffee aged for a century, creating a striking color contrast with the golden hue on top.

Although the brown is deep, it does not appear rigid. Instead, it acts as a support, separating the two colors while achieving a harmonious blend of the same hue.

Unlike the crystal-clear upper layer, the bottom layer has a bouncy yet dense texture.
It seems as if a gentle touch would create ripples, yet it also locks in all the sensuality without you even realizing it.

The subtle blue reflections on the cut surface, combined with the hint of intoxicating reddish-brown cast by the brown, are so captivating that they make your mouth water!

On top of the fish jelly, glossy black caviar, like a handful of black pearls, each one plump and round, shimmers with a luxurious luster under the light, elevating the fish jelly to a new level.

The topmost simple water lily petal, with its light purple hue exuding a touch of allure, creates a stunning contrast with the golden yellow below.

Like the most brilliant stroke in an exquisite painting, a single small color enlivens the entire dish.
Like something drifting down from a fairyland, it adds a final touch of dreamy gentleness to this dish.

This also elevates its overall quality from "refined" to "artistic"!

"Gudu."

Gu Xiaorui and Deng Yu swallowed simultaneously.

The soft sound, coupled with the slight swaying of the fish jelly, seemed to be the background music for its entrance.
Amidst the icy air, the aroma of the fish jelly, after its visual impact, wafted into the nostrils of the two.

The fragrance is not as sweet as it appears; instead, it has a light and refreshing quality.

Even before tasting it, its mild flavor evoked images of the gentle tides of the coastline in Gu Xiaorui's mind.

"This contestant, no, this master named Xia Ming, is so beautiful. He has elevated fish to the level of art."

Hearing Gu Xiaorui's whisper, Deng Yu nodded in agreement.

“Unlike those mechanically assembled plating dishes, all the decorations on this plate are just right. I find it hard to believe that this thing only costs 188 yuan.”

"Thinking about it this way, I actually think that the first dish, which cost 666 yuan, was actually a bit cheap."

Gu Xiaorui blinked.

"Although there is a reason for the competition organizers to restrict the use of vouchers, just based on its appearance, as long as it doesn't taste bad, the 188 yuan price tag is definitely worth it."

Taking a deep breath, Gu Xiaorui quickly grabbed her phone and started looking for the right angle to take a picture.

At that moment, she desperately wanted to capture this beautiful instant with a photograph.

She was certain that years later, when she recalled this lucky trip, this "two-color yellow croaker jelly" would be the most beautiful part of it.

Just as she was taking the photo, netizens were also amazed by the fish jelly in front of them, which looked like a work of art.

【No way, this thing costs 188? What about all the crab meat noodles I used to eat?】

I didn't understand what the person upstairs was trying to say, but I can only admire how visually stunning this fish jelly is.

[Xia Ming is really something. I accepted that the cartilage he made looked like something I couldn't afford, given his unparalleled knife skills. But how could you make this fish jelly like a solid jelly?! Is that even reasonable?!]

[Um, maybe it's just jelly.]

This level of clarity is something fish soup can't achieve; it either contains gelatin or pork skin.

First, I'll rule out pigskin; I simply can't achieve that texture with it.

[Those Michelin-starred foodies, come out here! Isn't this better than those fancy dishes that cost over 2000 or 3000 yuan a serving? With this design, 188 yuan is practically free.]

[I'm so desperate. I finally got in touch with Xia Ming's agent after many attempts, and she told me that Xia Ming has no plans to open a restaurant anytime soon! Private chefs also have very high requirements.]

Just tell me the price. If it's not too outrageous, I'll fly there myself after the competition.

[It's not just about money; there are other things too, the specifics of which need to be negotiated ourselves.]

[I remember his agent was Qiao Ruoning, who is also a chef. With such a large family business, she still became Xia Ming's agent—that's true love!]

[Xia Ming's fan club is recruiting! Initial screening group number: 1465xxxx. After joining, you will receive a quiz. Answer the questions correctly within the specified time to join the main group! Xia Ming himself is also in the group~]

Wow, they're really going for the celebrity route; their fan club is even recruiting members during the live stream.

The viewers in the live stream were extremely surprised. The judges and commentators on the panel looked slightly unsettled.

From a visual perspective, Xia Ming's dish clearly conforms to the design theory of "fine dining".

After switching the perspective multiple times using the tablet in his hand, Yin Shengjiang slowly spoke.

"The freezing time and transparency are so perfect that I even suspect it's white jelly powder."

Tan Zhifeng rubbed his temples.

"Good question. Now it's our turn to guess what this dish will taste like, even through the screen."

After Cao Fujun left, Ding Yongxing became noticeably more active.

"That's a bit bad. Being able to see it but not be able to taste it is really tough for the judges. I'm really curious about what that brown part underneath tastes like."

After Ding Yongxing finished speaking, the other judges remained silent for a moment.

Finally, Tong Song spoke.

"Don't worry about it, I'll do it."

After hearing Tong Song's words, everyone in the commentary booth showed thoughtful expressions.

After a while, Yin Shengjiang proposed a vote, and Tong Song's votes were counted as two.

With everyone raising their hands, the judges reached a harmonious consensus for the first time after Cao Fujun left.

However, this performance left the viewers in the live stream completely baffled.

Just as they were wondering what the judges were voting for when they raised their hands, the live stream suddenly switched to a "temporary rule notification".

[The final round of the "Hua 5 Level" competition – the Chef's Hall reception competition – features hidden rules for the judges.]

Each judge in the commentary booth has one opportunity to purchase one of the contestants' dishes, using their role as a "promotional judge" and listing the dish's price.

After purchasing the dishes, the entire commentary team will analyze and evaluate their taste for everyone.

After the judging, each member of the commentary team received a "Judges' Praise Heart," which is twice as effective as the heart held by the diners.

Judges will only cast a heart if the purchased dish perfectly meets their criteria for the competition.

After seeing this rule, netizens finally understood the reason.

Good grief, I knew they had a separate panel for judges and commentators. I watched for over two hours, and they barely said a word. If I hadn't marked it, I would have thought it was a tea party. Turns out, this is what they've been waiting for me to do.

I understand now. Although the judges' influence has been weakened, they can still give a boost to dishes that stand out from the crowd, which is good; at least they don't have to sit there like idiots anymore.

[If we calculate it that way, the departure of that guy surnamed Cao means that Xi Tiansheng lost one opportunity for commentary, right?]

That's the idea, but if you ask me, if that guy surnamed Cao doesn't leave, this opportunity is wasted. His ego is completely skewed; even if he gets elected, he'll be utterly rotten.

[The meme is done, guys! (The judges have to be fair!)]

[Hilarious! The Bilibili (a Chinese video sharing website) is having a blast! After all these years, the Bilibili and food sections have finally teamed up again!]

Just as netizens were joking about Cao Fujun, who had already been buried, Xia Ming, who was in the kitchen, received a special order.

Xia Ming raised an eyebrow as he looked at the "Commentary Seat" sign above.

"Oh, I see. I thought the commentators and judges were only responsible for resolving disputes."

"That makes sense. How can you commentate on the players' actions while looking at the screen?"

With a smile, Xia Ming quickly took out a plate, prepared the "two-color yellow croaker jelly," and presented it to the plate.

Slightly different from the one sold to diners, this "two-color yellow croaker jelly" served to the "explanatory table" consists of 6 pieces.

The other parts, however, retained their original features.
Just as he delivered the food, the order confirmation machine behind him started working again.
This order is for the banquet hall!

Banquet Hall

"It's so delicious, so incredibly delicious!!! Why is it only 5 pieces? Can I return the bread I ordered?!"

Gu Xiaorui almost cried while eating. She had never thought fish jelly was so delicious. The texture directly impacted her body and awakened her most primal desires.

But she wasn't a judge, so she could only repeat how delicious the food was from the perspective of an ordinary person. Deng Yu, who was sitting next to her, was a little better at expressing himself, but he still couldn't fully explain what that feeling was like.

They could only praise it endlessly when asked by those around them, saying it was the kind of food they would never regret eating.

Some time has passed since the start of this round of competition, and the previous group of diners have already spent most of their money. Even if they are envious, they can no longer buy Xia Ming's "Two-Color Yellow Croaker Jelly".

But diners who enter later will still have a chance.
It was precisely because of Gu Xiaorui's constant recommendations that some couples who came later also chose this dish.

Seeing this, netizens are incredibly curious about just how delicious this fish jelly is.

Just as Xia Ming's orders started to increase.
As the smoke from the commentary booth dissipated, the judges, after admiring the beauty of the fish jelly up close, placed it into their bowls.

Then Bai Susu carefully scooped it up and slowly put it into her mouth.
(End of this chapter)