Food Wars, My Dishes Don't Just Shine

　After Su Yan sat down, the host wiped non-existent sweat from his forehead and continued his introduction.

　Although she had expected that Su Yan's appearance would cause a sensation, she never imagined that the effect would be so explosive!

　"Hello everyone, I hope to see some interesting dishes."

　As soon as the host finished speaking, the man who had been sitting next to Su Yan with his eyes closed stood up.

　He is also a four-star chef, but because of his bold and innovative culinary style, he often makes top-notch dishes that ordinary people would never think of or even feel physically uncomfortable, hence he is jokingly called a "sick chef".

　However, he himself didn't care at all about it, and even took pride in it.

　"The third person is a familiar face to everyone, Teacher Zhang Zhong."

　Compared to the explosive start of Su Yan, Tan Guai's appearance did not generate much discussion. Only a small number of people who were impressed by his cooking took out their phones to search for pictures and share the chef's story with those around them.

　As Zhang Zhong has been mentioned before, the response was also lukewarm.

　However, these are not the main points, because

　They are not the main characters in this match.

　Before the temperature drops.

　The host seized the opportunity and approached Soma Yukihira and Erina Nakiri to begin introducing them.

　"Soma Yukihira, from Japan, is sixteen years old and currently studying at the prestigious Totsuki Culinary Academy!"

　"Code name: Nagi, from the Dark Cuisine World, an extremely mysterious force, sixteen years old this year, possessing the combat strength of a top-level chef, a genius among geniuses!"

　Because the information was limited and only superficial, the host didn't elaborate much during the introduction, so the audience didn't react much, and some even started playing with their phones.

　"Alright, let's start drawing our themes!"

　Three themes flashed rapidly on the big screen, their faces obscured. Finally, the host handed over a button, which Erina Nakiri pressed, and the screen suddenly stopped.

　"May the country be prosperous and the people at peace."

　"This kind of theme is really rare. Can this even be expressed through food?"

　"This feels okay. Last year in the competition, there was a case of waiting for a rabbit to run into a tree stump. I really don't know how to describe that. But Liu Xiaotian, who participated at that time, used ingredients such as carrots, potatoes, onions, broccoli and chicken thighs, along with rosemary, thyme, olive oil, salt and black pepper, to create a pastoral idyll."

　His answer was: don't just wait for opportunities; learn to cherish and enjoy the present moment, because opportunities may be right beside you.

　"I remember! I remember! The opponent used seaweed gum, calcium lactate and other ingredients, along with rabbit meat, bamboo shoots, mushrooms, broth and edible gold leaf, to create a very beautiful dish. Finally, they used dry ice to create a smoky effect, creating a dreamlike and mysterious atmosphere."

　His answer was to avoid indulging in unrealistic fantasies and to be grounded in reality in order to achieve true success. It was a clash of titans, a battle of equals.

　The theme that appeared on the big screen instantly sparked a discussion among the audience. When the theme of last year's competition was mentioned, everyone's face lit up with excitement, and a thoughtful expression would occasionally appear.

　How can we express the concept of national peace and prosperity through food?

　"Such a difficult topic..."

　As Yoshino Yuuki pondered, she bit her nails. Sitting between Tadokoro Megumi and Sakaki Ryoko, she gently touched her hair, thinking about what kind of dish she would serve if she were standing on the competition field.

　"If it were me, I would most likely choose pigeons, since pigeons are known as doves of peace, which in a sense coincides with national prosperity and peace."

　Mito Ikumi's voice rang out as she spoke, glancing at Shirayu out of the corner of her eye, as if hoping for his praise.

　"Doves are indeed sometimes called 'peace doves,' but when you cook pigeons, aren't you, in a sense, disrupting peace?"

　Instead of receiving praise from Shiroyuki, they received evaluations from Hojo Miyoko.

　Cooking pigeons inevitably requires killing them, which disrupts peace and is inconsistent with the theme of national prosperity and peace.

　"Although I want to argue, I have to admit you have a point..."

　Mito Ikumi paused, her words about to come out, and fell silent, realizing the problem.

　"Actually, as long as it makes sense, the most important thing is the taste of the food."

　Bai Yuan's voice rang out. These themed dishes actually test a chef's eloquence; as long as the food is good enough, you can get by no matter what you say.

　Of course, anything too far-fetched or outrageous will be rejected.

　"That's true. I wonder what kind of dish Erina will serve..."

　"Will the competition format remain the same as before? It would be difficult for the players to demonstrate their true abilities in that way."

　The girls started chattering amongst themselves, and the host seemed to have known their concerns all along. Before their doubts had even faded, her voice rang out from the audience.

　"The rules for these competitions are a bit different from the previous ones. In this competition, contestants need to prepare their own ingredients within a specified time, within the city of Fuzhou, with a budget of 1,000 yuan. Off-site assistance is not allowed, and violators will be eliminated."

　After a brief introduction to the competition rules, two staff members came forward carrying a tray containing the competition's operating funds.

　"Giving contestants a certain amount of funding to prepare their own ingredients? That's a novel idea."

　"By limiting the amount, we can't use high-end ingredients to overpower others, which is fair in a way."

　"Actually, there are unfair aspects to this. The restriction to Fuzhou gives Fuzhou residents a huge advantage!"

　"These many days should be enough for the contestants to familiarize themselves with their surroundings; the key is whether they've actually done anything about it..."

　Discussions continued, mostly among out-of-town viewers. Local viewers, having watched many competitions, were already very familiar with the rules and were not surprised.

　Moreover, this was written in the competition handbook, so it was considered public information.

　If a chef truly doesn't know the competition rules, then he deserves it.

　"No wonder you take us out to buy groceries so often, even though there are things right downstairs. You make a special detour to this market to get familiar with the area!"

　Thinking back to how Bai Yuan often asked her, Nakiri Erina, and Lia to go grocery shopping, she had initially thought that Bai Yuan looked down on the ingredients chosen by the staff, or even the ingredients around them, which was why they took a detour to come here. She never expected there to be another factor involved.

　"Boss Bai"

　Their wisdom is astonishing!

　Lia sat to Bai Yuan's left, holding him from the beginning, pressing her little face against him, showing great dependence.

　"Now it's up to Erina to perform."

　After the start-up funds were handed over to the two contestants, a professional photographer followed them and broadcast live to the audience the scene of them buying ingredients, starting from when they left the competition venue.

　This is also part of the competition; such interaction allows the audience to quickly understand the contestants' personalities.

　Meanwhile, regarding the Fujian Provincial Youth Chef Competition.

　Afterwards, a professional editor will edit the footage and produce it into a variety show, which will then be uploaded online. The money earned from the traffic will be used as the activity funds for the Fujian Chefs Association.

　This is the same in all provinces.

　The fact that Kawashiro Hana is recognized in the Japanese countryside is inextricably linked to this.

　"Look, they've separated!"

　Suddenly, cheers erupted from the audience, who were all focused on the screen in front of them.

　After leaving the competition venue, Erina Nakiri and Soma Yukihira went in two different directions.

Chapter 259 Is this how you ask for help? - Erina

　"National prosperity and people's well-being are the themes given by the organizers, so national prosperity should be the first consideration, followed by people's well-being."

　"The country comes first, then the family."

　If the country is destroyed, the individual's family will also cease to exist.

　Therefore, as long as the nation's prosperity and strength are demonstrated, the people's well-being will naturally follow.

　Walking slowly on her way to buy ingredients, Erina Nakiri was clearly thinking about what kind of dish would be suitable.

　"This topic is neither particularly difficult nor particularly easy. In general, it tests your divergent thinking and, of course, the taste of the dish."

　The taste of the food is the key to success. To express the theme while ensuring the deliciousness of the food, the chef needs to have extremely strong comprehensive abilities.

　In some ways, this is much more difficult than the first round of selecting ingredients and cooking together.

　"How do we represent a nation? Grandeur, stability, mountains and rivers, peace—these are all vague adjectives and cannot truly express the word 'nation'..."

　The most important thing now is to concretize these abstract concepts; only in this way can we represent the nation. But how do we do that...?

　Erina Nakiri pinched her chin, asking her to come up with a dish that perfectly embodies the phrase "peace and prosperity for the nation" in such a short time was really too much to ask of her; she didn't even have a clear idea of ​​what to do!

　"Millet crisps, millet crisps, delicious millet crisps, would you like some? These are all made with the finest millet, eight yuan per pound, or your money back!"

　"Millet cake? This is..."

　Looking at the products made from millet in front of her, Erina Nakiri's face showed a hint of doubt before she stopped in front of the millet crisps stall.

　"This is a specialty of our Fujian region. It is made primarily of millet, with some sunflower seeds and peanuts mixed in. Some families with better financial conditions will add some nuts to enhance the texture and flavor. The one I have here is the basic version, millet crisp with sunflower seeds and peanuts."

　Seeing that Erina Nakiri was interested, the man selling millet cakes immediately began to introduce them. He didn't exaggerate or boast, but gave a proper and straightforward introduction.

　Because he believes that only sincere people can touch the hearts of other sincere people.

　"Is this all I need?"

　"Of course! You can try it first, and buy it if you're satisfied."

　As they were talking, the man broke off a piece of millet cake from the bag and handed it to Erina, who was standing not far away. The drone happened to capture this moment.

　The footage was simultaneously transmitted to the screens at the competition venue.

　"What is this little girl doing? Instead of thinking about what ingredients to buy, she's come to the food stall..."

　"I don't understand, I really don't understand. Are you trying to use this millet cake to open my mind?"

　"How could that be? Millet cakes and national peace and prosperity are practically unrelated. What amazing dishes could you possibly create inspired by that?"

　Upon seeing the scene on the screen, the audience immediately began to discuss it. Although they did not openly criticize her, they all questioned Erina Nakiri's choice.

　After all, the competition time is limited. Instead of using that time to select ingredients, it's a waste of time at roadside stalls, which is simply disrespectful to the competition!

　"Let's keep watching. The contestants' choice is their own business. There's no use in us worrying about it."

　"Since the other party is an outstanding young chef, and he stopped at this stall, he must have unique insights. Let's keep watching and we'll find out."

　"Indeed, arguing won't get us anywhere; it all comes down to the players' performance."

　Their back-and-forth banter steered public opinion in a positive direction. At the same time, someone pointed excitedly at the footage of Soma Yukihira being filmed.

　"Soma Yukihira over there has already entered the supermarket."

　"What a huge bag of flour! Are they going to make noodles? Do they have any noodle dishes that fit the theme of peace and prosperity for the country? I wonder what they'll serve up in the end."

　"Besides these, there are all sorts of vegetables, pumpkins, and even roses. What are they planning to do with all this? They even used red yeast rice powder..."

　As Soma Yukihira kept going back and forth in the supermarket, picking up ingredients and putting them down again, and soon he had selected a basket full of them, another discussion broke out on the spot.