Food Wars, My Dishes Don't Just Shine

You also added quite a few Italian-style seasonings; if I'm not mistaken, there should be rosemary, thyme, basil, and lemon zest in it.

Bai Yuan's voice came from the side. He hadn't tasted the dish either; he had only smelled it and was able to identify all the spices used in it.

This is thanks to a super sense of smell.

"That's right. I've tried many spices and finally settled on these few, which can make the flavor of the dish stand out."

Takumi Aldini nodded with admiration. This teacher was truly remarkable; he could tell what spices he was using just by their aroma.

"It is indeed a bold attempt, not limited to the original recipes, and strives to bring out the full flavor of the dish, but we'll have to see how it tastes in the end."

The old man in the pinkish-brown clothes spoke, and as he spoke, he picked up a piece of meat and put it in his mouth. The flavors of nuts and cream worked on the chicken at the same time, spreading in his mouth the moment he bit into it.

"This...it feels like I've arrived in the Garden of Eden, my whole body feels light and airy!"

With a unique expression of enjoyment on his face, the old man seemed to be no longer in the moonlit sky, but in the Garden of Eden where Adam and Eve lived!

The angel gently brushed his skin with feathers, immersing him in a gentle embrace; the feeling was absolutely wonderful!

"As an egg-laying breed, the Lehmann chicken typically has tender meat."

This tender meat makes the Leghorn chicken more likely to absorb the flavor of creamy sauces during cooking.

Besides that, you used chicken wings, right? Compared to other parts of the chicken, chicken wings contain more fat and connective tissue. This allows them to retain more juice during cooking, resulting in a fuller, juicier texture.

Bai Yuan's voice rang out, evaluating Takumi Aldini's cooking from the perspective of ingredient selection.

The essence of a chicken lies in its wings, which are arguably the most flavorful part. Using them to cook Tuscan cream chicken is a perfect combination!

Savoring the intensely flavorful taste in his mouth, Bai Yuan looked at Takumi Aldini waiting beside him; the other man had truly put in the effort.

Adding nuts to the cream to enhance the texture and flavor, selecting chicken wings as the main ingredient in creamy chicken, and adjusting the spices all require a lot of time.

The boy had obvious dark circles under his eyes, indicating he'd stayed up all night. Was he unwilling to admit he wasn't as good as Soma Yukihira? How stubborn.

Noticing the dark circles under Takumi Aldini's eyes, Bai Yuan nodded inwardly, commending his dedication to research.

but...

Looking at Huang Mei, who also had dark circles under her eyes, it's clear that the two were in perfect agreement when it came to the competition, both choosing to stay up all night.

"Teacher Bai Yuan, please try my dish, this braised chicken with sauce. There are several surprises and secrets waiting for you to discover!"

Huang Mei placed the first dish in front of Bai Yuan, her face full of anticipation. When Nakiri Senzaemon heard her words, he also looked over and was then attracted by the aggressive aroma!

Chapter 182 The True Face of Braised Chicken with Sauce!

"Braised chicken with sauce...?"

The food in front of him emitted a faint aroma. Bai Yuan took a deep breath and uttered these words.

"That's right. Based on its flavor characteristics, I've also made some modifications to ensure that the taste won't disappoint you."

Upon hearing Bai Yuan's voice, Huang Mei became somewhat excited. Looking at him with her rosy cheeks, she said, clearly looking forward to Bai Yuan tasting her cooking.

"Improvement? If my sense of smell is correct, the improvement should be in the broth."

The broth is made by simmering a mixture of chicken, pork, and beef bones over low heat to extract the flavors and enhance its richness and complexity.

A delicate aroma wafted into his nostrils, and Bai Yuan explained that the biggest difference in the improved cuisine was the use of a blended broth.

Furthermore, the proportions are just right, the chicken soup has an exceptionally rich aroma, which is the main flavor, while the pork and beef bones have a relatively mild flavor, but it can still be clearly felt, serving as secondary flavors.

It's hard to say which is better or worse when you combine the two, but what's certain is that this method results in a dish with a richer flavor, adding many layers of complexity to the braised chicken.

"Your nose really can't hide it from me!"

Both pork and beef bones are rich in collagen and bone marrow. These components release abundant collagen and oils at high temperatures, making the broth thicker and more concentrated.

"That's right. Using this kind of broth in braised chicken with sauce will make its flavor fuller and create a natural, harmonious taste."

Upon hearing Huang Mei's words, Bai Yuan nodded, a hint of appreciation in his eyes.

Knowing how to add other ingredients to the soup to enhance the flavor, and having a precise judgment on their proportions, it truly deserves to be called "super-touch."

"Chicken that has been boiled for a long time will become mushy."

This not only makes it easier to debone the chicken, but also allows it to fully absorb the essence of the broth, resulting in a richer and more flavorful dish.

Picking up a piece of chicken and looking at its glistening sheen, the old man in the pinkish-brown clothes spoke, a blush rising on his face from the aroma.

"The combination of sweet bean sauce, sugar, and broth gives the chicken a unique base flavor that is sweet and salty, making it delicious and savory."

The addition of star anise, ginger, scallions, and sesame oil further enriches the flavor of the dish, adding aroma and complexity.

And if I'm not mistaken, you used chicken tenderloin, which is located on the inside of the chicken breast and has a more delicate and tender texture than the breast itself.

With his eyes closed, Senzaemon Nakiri chewed as he spoke to Huangmei.

Chicken tenderloin is advantageous because of its tender texture and fine fibers, making it ideal for dishes that require long stewing.

Ah! This relaxed feeling is wonderful!

Beside him, the bald old man murmured, his mind wandering to the heavens, as if he had not arrived at the competition venue, but in a leisurely pastoral area.

A tranquil pastoral scene comes into view, with golden sunlight shining on the emerald green grass, where several leisurely chickens forage for food.

These chickens have glossy feathers, robust bodies, and look very energetic.

Standing in the middle of the field, feeling the biting wind around him, he felt a surge of inspiration, almost as if he were about to compose a poem – a sign of extreme mental relaxation.

"The sauce is rich and the braised chicken is fragrant, while the tenderloin is fresh and has a lingering flavor."

Savoring the flavors on his tongue, Bai Yuan, in a moment of great excitement, couldn't help but slap the table and recite a poem to express his feelings at that moment.

"Chicken with sauce instead of stock, a modified version of Tuscan cream chicken."

Tuscan cream chicken has a unique flavor, rich in milk, and its texture is uniquely complex and incredibly delicious due to the addition of nuts.

This braised chicken with sauce uses chicken tenderloin, simmered in a rich broth made from chicken, pork, and beef bones, and then topped with a special sauce.

This allows the chicken tenderloin to fully absorb the essence of the broth, while also being infused with the rich, savory flavor of the sauce. Its texture is delicate, tender, and incredibly refreshing.

After saying this, Senzaemon Nakiri's clothes were half-open, and his expression was filled with deep turmoil.

The dishes made by these two people are both quite good, but neither is particularly outstanding; they are relatively mediocre second-rate top-tier dishes.

It's difficult to determine which is better in a short time.

Upon hearing Senzaemon Nakiri's assessment, the judges fell silent. They couldn't determine who won or lost. Both had performed exceptionally well in their respective areas, but neither had clearly surpassed the other in any particular aspect, leaving them in a dilemma.

Although Bai Yuan had some thoughts, he didn't speak up because of the atmosphere. He just looked at Huang Mei and Takumi Aldini.

"As I said, my dish is full of surprises. This is just its initial appearance. What follows is its true form!"

When Bai Yuan looked over, Huang Mei's face flushed with excitement. She then stepped forward and looked at the judge, speaking.

"what?"

Upon hearing Huang Mei's words, the judges on the scene were slightly surprised and noticed the scorching hot iron pot in her hand.

"Come on, now I'll show you what it really looks like!"

After saying this, Huang Mei poured the contents of the pot onto the braised chicken in the sauce in front of her.

In an instant, the rich fragrance spread outwards from the irrigation point in all directions, turning into wisps that reached everyone's noses.

"What a rich aroma!"

"What is she watering? Why does the fragrance suddenly become so strong!"

In the sky, a large screen broadcast the scene live. As the aroma wafted through the air, the audience couldn't help but show expressions of surprise.

"Heated chicken fat?"

Senzaemon Nakiri twitched his nose, smelling the fragrance in the air, and voiced his guess.

Pouring hot chicken oil over chicken is enough to instantly enhance the flavor of the dish.

The consequence of this is that the taste of the dish drops significantly when it cools down, and it becomes too greasy to eat, but when it is hot, it is a delicacy.

Since it's a competition, the judges naturally won't wait for the food to get cold before they start eating!

At that moment, everyone picked up their chopsticks and took a piece of braised chicken.

The chicken meat itself is very tender, and since it's made from chicken tenderloin, the texture is even more tender, making each bite incredibly satisfying.

"This...this is it! The rich aroma of chicken fat further enhances the flavor of the chicken tenderloin, while the strong oiliness makes the chicken even more tender."

Its unique savory flavor intertwines with the umami of the chicken, creating a truly unique and layered taste! Excellent, a top-notch dish!

His half-open clothes were completely torn apart, revealing his strong upper body. Senzaemon Nakiri's face was full of enjoyment. This feeling was really good!

At the same time, the other judges also picked up a piece of chicken tenderloin, took a bite, and felt the rich flavor spread in their mouths. Their bodies trembled slightly and their faces flushed.

"If the past was the leisurely pace of the countryside, then this is the intensity of a battlefield! Like fighting cocks being watched by a crowd, they are fighting like madmen!"

Using piping hot chicken fat to further enhance the flavor of the braised chicken in sauce is truly a brilliant idea!

The elderly man in the pinkish-brown clothes let out a long breath, looked at the oily dishes in front of him, and couldn't help but sigh.

"Many dishes are drizzled with hot oil when they are taken out of the pot, which enhances the aroma, color, keeps the food warm and moist, and improves the flavor and texture."

Savoring the distinct flavor in his mouth, Bai Yuan slowly opened his mouth. Pouring hot oil over the finished dish was indeed a good way to enhance its taste.

"It seems the outcome is already decided!"

Seeing Bai Yuan express his opinion, Nakiri Senzaemon exchanged glances with the people around him, and then, without further hesitation, stood up and announced to those around him.

"Bring me paper and a pen!"

Nakiri Senzaemon shouted to the surrounding servants. If they couldn't determine the outcome of the match before, the chicken oil that Huang Mei added later made them decide.

If Takumi Aldini doesn't come up with any other innovations, then his Summer Selections will come to an end.

However, seeing his unwilling yet inactive expression, Senzaemon Nakiri had his answer and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

As a student whom Totsuki had been nurturing, being easily defeated by a transfer student was truly embarrassing for him. Now, it was up to the other students to see how they fared.

Looking at Erina Nakiri and Alice Nakiri in the audience, Senzaemon Nakiri calmed down.

No matter what, these two are still the brightest stars of Totsuki! No matter how much others make a fuss, they can only compete for third place.

"The winner is Huangmei!"

As soon as Senzaemon Nakiri finished speaking, a cheer erupted from the crowd.

They had watched the match closely and both were exceptionally strong competitors. Regardless of who won in the end, both deserved their praise.