Food Wars, My Dishes Don't Just Shine

Her voice was filled with amazement. She closed her eyes, and suddenly, in her consciousness, Ōmiya Fumio transformed into her younger self.

However, before she could savor the feeling of her youthful body for long, a giant octopus appeared before her, its bursting wasabi mayonnaise resembling the octopus's rage, causing waves to surge.

Immediately afterwards, countless tentacles attacked her.

"what!"

His entire body was tightly stuck to suction cups, and a constant suction force emanated from them, creating a strange sensation. Ōmiya Fumio couldn't help but scream.

"Now, let's savor the last bit of soup."

Looking at Fumio Oomido's expression, Soma Yukihira showed a satisfied look. He wasn't afraid of a strong reaction from the other party, but rather of no reaction at all.

If nothing unexpected happens, all of his dishes will reach the top grade level.

Isshiki-senpai, you should just admit defeat!

Soma Yukihira was about to look at Satoshi Isshiki when he found that the other was focused and did not make any mistakes despite Fumio Oomido's comments.

At this moment, Soma Yukihira served the last dish of soup in the banquet.

"I call this soup Storm Seafood Soup. It's made with sea bream bones and seafood such as scallops, mussels, and kelp!"

After a brief introduction, soup was served to Fumio Oomido, Megumi Tadokoro, and others, containing a lot of seafood.

"So fresh!"

Taking a deep breath, Oomido Fumio couldn't help but sigh, then picked up the bowl and sipped it slowly.

The next moment, her calm expression changed, and her pupils began to dilate.

The peaceful scene before my eyes began to collapse, instantly transforming into a raging deep sea, with the umami flavor of fish bone broth transforming into giant waves crashing down!

"After the fish bones are roasted until golden brown, they are simmered to concentrate the unique umami flavor of the seafood, with a slightly charred aroma, like the low pressure before a storm, heavy yet full of pressure!"

The fish sauce added replaces salt, injecting a deeper fermented umami flavor that instantly elevates the soup's flavor, making it so delicious it's almost overwhelming!

The lemongrass's freshness carries a subtle Southeast Asian flavor, like a sea breeze after a storm, sweeping away the greasiness and revitalizing the taste buds!

The voice of Fumio Oomido rang out. This was her most direct feeling after drinking the soup. The umami flavor filled her entire mouth, followed by the flavor of lemongrass.

It's so fresh and smooth, you can drink it without getting tired of it. Is this what they call "Storm Seafood Soup"?

"You can try the seafood."

Just then, Soma Yukihira's voice rang out, and he pointed to the seafood in the bowl as he spoke.

"I would have done it even without you telling me."

Fumio Oomido answered with feigned composure, then scooped up the seafood with a spoon and brought it to her mouth. The next moment, her eyes lit up.

The scallops are partially cooked, with a slightly chewy outer layer but a tender, juicy center that bursts with sweet juice when bitten.

Mussels are plump and full of salty freshness from the sea, which blends perfectly with the fermented umami flavor of fish sauce, creating a salty and fresh storm on the tip of your tongue!

There are also a few shredded white radish pieces, cooked until translucent, absorbing the essence of the broth, providing a touch of sweetness amidst the savory frenzy, like a brief moment of peace in a storm.

One ingredient alone may not seem like much, but when combined with the sweetness of kelp, the three ingredients together create this delicious soup made in the storm!

It's like carving out a calm zone in a stormy sea. Outside is wind and rain, inside is tranquility—this contrast is captivating!

Chapter 293 The battle is over, you are still the senior!

"Such a huge change in just one summer vacation! You could easily call him a freshman. He truly deserves to be that guy's son; his culinary talent is undeniable!"

Setting down the empty bowl, a hint of shock appeared on Ōmitō Fumio's face.

It's hard to imagine that when Soma Yukihira first came to Totsuki Culinary Academy, he was just an ordinary first-class chef. Now, only half a year later, he has already reached the threshold of the special grade.

"Yukihira, you've improved so much!"

Beside Oomido Fumio, Yoshino Yuuki also expressed her heartfelt feelings.

Although she had anticipated that Soma Yukihira might have become very strong, Yoshino Yuuki still couldn't help but feel envious when she actually tasted the dish.

At the same time, a thought popped into my mind.

I wish she were the one who got stronger.

"After all, we suffered so much in Fuzhou. It would be terrible if we didn't make any progress."

Seeing the happy expressions on the faces of Fumio Oomido and Megumi Tadokoro as they ate the food, Soma Yukihira revealed a hearty smile, recalling his experience of being taken to the dark cuisine world by Joichiro Yukihira after the Youth Chef Competition.

It was an extremely remote place.

No one could have imagined that a cave deep in the mountains would be so magnificent, let alone that it housed a large number of top-notch chefs!

Many chefs of similar skill to him were just trainees there, not even official members. Under Yukihira Joichiro's leadership, he had a very fulfilling day.

They're either fighting, or on their way to a battle.

On average, they only get four hours of sleep.

Don't misunderstand, it's not that the Dark Cuisine World is denying him time to rest or forcing him to fight.

It was his ever-burning fighting spirit that made him unwilling to stop.

This condition only improved after he collapsed during a match and then slept for a day and a night.

To be precise, this behavior was explicitly prohibited, and he was subsequently sent back to Totsuki by Yukihira Joichiro.

"Compared to you, the rest of us felt like we were just coasting through our trip to Fuzhou."

Looking at Soma Yukihira's cooking, Yuuki Yoshino couldn't help but mutter a complaint under her breath.

During her trip to Fuzhou, her skills improved significantly, and she steadily reached the level of a first-class chef.

However, this level of progress is pitifully small compared to the rapid advancements of Soma Yukihira, who is now able to serve up top-grade dishes.

It's important to know that Soma Yukihira's previous strength was roughly the same as hers, or even slightly weaker...

"It seems that Yukihira has gained a lot from his trip to Fuzhou."

At the same time, Isshiki Satoshi's voice rang out, attracting the attention of the people present.

Then I saw him walk up with a faint smile on his face, carrying freshly cooked dishes in his hands.

"What a wonderful aroma! Has Isshiki-senpai finished cooking too?"

The rich fragrance wafting in the air made Yoshino Yuuki and the others look infatuated. Then, they all closed their eyes and used their noses to savor the deeper meaning of the fragrance.

"The taste of abalone..."

Megumi Tadokoro murmured to herself, the air filled with the rich aroma of abalone, making one unable to resist swallowing.

"There's also a hint of tea fragrance, and the taste of jasmine tea."

Yoshino Yuuki added, "The freshness of the abalone and the fragrance of the tea both indicate how delicious the dish is." Isshiki Satoshi didn't keep her in suspense and directly lifted the lid of the dish in front of him.

"The main dish is abalone cooked in the rain."

Pointing to the dish in front of him, Isshiki Satoshi said the name of the dish.

The rice is piled up in a mountain shape, topped with seven slices of amber-colored abalone at an angle, and drizzled with a glistening sauce made from plum wine stew.

At the bottom of the rice, half a bowl of tea soup is soaking. The tea soup is a pale golden-green color and has a mild and refreshing aroma. There are bits of sansho leaves floating in it, which reveal a faint spicy fragrance.

"Abalone tea soup with rice? That's quite your style of cooking."

Looking at the dish that Isshiki Satoshi brought out, Oomidou Fumio couldn't help but show a nostalgic expression. He remembered that when he first came to Polar Star Dormitory, this was the dish he made during his entrance exam.

Is this still used as the main dish at banquets today?

Thinking of this, she picked up the rice with tea in front of her, brought it to her lips, and took a sip.

The next moment, a delicate jasmine tea aroma spread in my mouth.

"Cold? Jasmine tea brewed with cold water? I see. Although summer vacation is over, the weather is still hot. Cold tea and hot food can bring a new experience, somewhat similar to the iced rice in Changle."

Opening his eyes, Fumio Oomido looked surprised.

The jasmine tea, processed at low temperatures, retains its floral aroma. Its taste is like morning mist sweeping through a bamboo forest, cleansing the taste buds at an astonishing speed.

Now is the perfect time to enjoy the next dish!

"Try the abalone on top next."

Thinking of this, Oomido Fumio picked up the chopsticks next to him, picked up a piece of abalone and put it in his mouth.

"I see, no wonder it has a subtle sweetness. Is it cooked slowly with plum wine...?"

The sweetness of the abalone and the slight bitterness of the tea soup collide with each other. The center of the abalone retains its soft texture, and when you bite into it, the flavor of fermented seafood sauce seeps out, with the umami flavor advancing layer by layer like the tide.

Of course, the most eye-catching part is the rice in the middle, which is mixed with tender Sichuan pepper leaves.

The spicy and granular texture of the tender leaves of sansho pepper mixed with rice is gradually released as the tea soup is steeped, creating a strong contrast with the tenderness of the abalone. The aftertaste brings out the mild salty and savory flavor of white miso, making people unconsciously relax.

"That's right. The natural fruit acids in plum wine can effectively soften the fibers of abalone, but it is milder than vinegar or wine, which can prevent the meat from shrinking and causing a poor taste."

Isshiki Satoshi's voice wasn't loud, but it had a gentle, comforting quality that made people instinctively want to believe him.

The people around nodded slightly in agreement.

"In addition, I also considered the three-dimensional structure of sweetness. Homemade plum wine is aged with honey, and the sweetness has floral and fermented notes, which resonate with the jasmine tea soup to counteract the strong stimulation of sansho pepper."

Isshiki Satoshi began to explain in a fluent and engaging manner.

Although it may seem like a random combination, it has actually been carefully considered to create a resonance between the flavors, making them even more delicious.

Furthermore, during stewing, the sugar gradually caramelizes, forming a glossy, glassy layer on the surface of the abalone, which effectively enhances the color of the dish and increases customers' appetite.

This is the color in color, aroma, and taste.

"It should also help remove the fishy smell."

Ryoko Sakaki's voice rang out, providing the final addition: the most important function of adding sake should be to remove the fishy smell and enhance the aroma.

"That's right. The alcohol evaporates and removes the fishy smell, while extracting the abalone's own succinic acid, which is a component of seafood umami, and concentrating it in the sauce, which then bursts forth the moment you taste it."

"Isshiki-senpai is truly knowledgeable."

Upon hearing Isshiki Satoshi's answer, Yoshino Yuuki's eyes flashed with surprise.

If they were asked to think about these things, they would only think of using alcohol to remove the fishy smell. However, the other person could explain a deeper function, which is enough to prove that his understanding of this process is far superior to theirs!

No wonder Isshiki Satoshi could become one of the Elite Ten while the others couldn't. The theoretical gap is so obvious, and the practical gap must be even greater!

"This feeling is like sitting under a plum tree on a fine evening, with a small table in front of you. A gentle breeze blows, and the plums on the tree fall, transforming in the air into abalone that lands in a bowl of ochazuke (rice with tea)."