Food Wars, My Dishes Don't Just Shine

Then someone else offered their opinion, but their comments were relatively neutral.

Only a few dare to step forward and offer guidance to master chefs; most decide to let things play out and wait for the judges to evaluate the dishes once they are served.

Judges...

Right, where are the judges?!

Thinking of the judges, some audience members looked towards the judges' panel and were surprised to find that there was no one there. None of the judges for this competition were present!

"Where are the judges? Could it be that there aren't any judges for this competition?"

"How can we decide the winner without judges? Are you suggesting we be the judges?! This type of competition isn't unprecedented, so it's not impossible."

"Could it be that they overslept?"

"Is this your first time here?"

The judges for the school exchange competition finals are all true heavyweights in the culinary world; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they're incredibly busy. They usually only enter the venue halfway through the competition, and they're most likely still occupied with other matters right now.

Various speculations circulated around him, and some audience members who had attended a few times explained to those around them. As they explained, the noise gradually subsided.

"I see. In that case, the judges for the final competition must be real big names in the culinary world, otherwise they wouldn't be so busy."

Some people spoke out of politeness but in a sarcastic tone, because in their limited perspective, they would only think that these judges who were late were just throwing their weight around.

"The world's top chefs are so busy that you can't even imagine it! Shut up and watch the competition."

The audience members sitting here were all seasoned veterans, and they could naturally hear the sarcasm in his words. Some of the hot-tempered people immediately started cursing.

Lower-level chefs have a natural respect for higher-level chefs. Those who can serve as judges in such competitions are all top-notch chefs in the world, and are certainly not someone that this little Karami can insult.

What happened in the stands did not affect the two players in the game.

At that moment, they didn't even notice that the judges were missing from the judging panel; their attention was completely focused on the dishes in front of them, and they were lost in their own world.

"So, you're making chicken broth first? Are you planning to use the method for making soup dumplings to make shumai? That's a novel approach, but I wonder how it will taste..."

Looking at Alice Nakiri's cooking order, Bai Yuan had some guesses in his mind, and a sense of curiosity arose in his heart about the shumai she was about to make.

"Mr. Bai, the organizers would like to invite you to be a judge for this school exchange competition. Do you have time? If so, I'll go and inform them now."

Just as Bai Yuan was focusing his attention on the stage, a young man wearing a long-sleeved shirt walked over from a distance and stood straight in front of him.

Facing Bai Yuan, who was watching the game, the young man did not dare to disturb him too much. He simply whispered in Bai Yuan's ear, explaining the purpose of his visit.

"You want me to be a judge? I'm the instructor leading the team in the world of 'dark cuisine,' so I should recuse myself from any conflicts of interest. Aren't you afraid I'll make some unfair judgments?"

Upon hearing the young man's words, Bai Yuan felt a sense of doubt and immediately asked the question without hesitation. He didn't want to be questioned after becoming a judge.

"The president said he believes in your character, and that if you don't go up to be a judge, no one else here is qualified."

So please rest assured, if anyone does have any questions, we, as the inviters, will definitely explain things clearly to the participants to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings.

The young man seemed to have already guessed what Bai Yuan would ask, and directly gave the answer the chairman had given him. The other party trusted this guy very much.

I don't know why, but this guy in front of me, although he seems pretty good, doesn't seem to be good enough to be a judge, does he?

The young man grumbled inwardly, but his expression remained largely unchanged. For a working-class man like him, obeying orders was the most important thing.

"I am honored by the chairman's high regard. In that case, I will respectfully accept your offer."

Thinking of the old man he met on the seventh floor yesterday, who was not a person who liked to joke, Bai Yuan hesitated for a moment before agreeing to the invitation.

On the one hand, he knew the other party and felt embarrassed not to give them face; on the other hand, he was just killing time anyway, so he might as well go on stage and try Alice and the others' cooking.

This cooking competition is also a good opportunity to see how much Alice Nakiri and the others have grown, so that we can formulate a training plan for the next stage.

"There's one more thing. Please wait until the chairman arrives before going upstairs. It shouldn't take more than ten minutes."

"It's alright, I know the rules."

Bai Yuan nodded slightly in understanding of the young man's request.

To be honest, he also found it strange. It was true that the president was busy, after all, he managed such a large food association. He could only see him when he had a spare moment. But the other chefs should not be that busy, so they would not be the last to arrive when they were serving as judges.

In retrospect, this must all be about human relationships and social customs.

After all, if the president doesn't step forward, how can anyone else dare to be the one to take the lead? If they are discovered, they'll be punished.

"Okay, I'll go back and explain the situation. You can go up directly after the president takes the stage. Someone will introduce you to your identity."

Seeing that Bai Yuan had accepted the invitation and tactfully indicated that he would go on stage after the president, the young man nodded in satisfaction and then left the preparation area of ​​the Dark Cuisine World.

This little incident went unnoticed by many, as everyone's attention was focused on the competition, and only a few people in the front row saw it.

However, they did not make a fuss. Speaking rashly could easily backfire, and as people who were qualified to sit in the front row, they naturally would not do such a foolish thing.

I was just a little curious.

"Professor Bai Yuan, are you going to be a judge?"

No sooner had the young man left than Hisako Shinto's voice rang out, her eyes filled with surprise, clearly not expecting him to be invited to be a judge.

"Well, it's hard to refuse such kindness. Don't feel too much pressure. I will make a fair and impartial judgment."

Noticing Hisako Shinto's expression, Shirabuchi turned his attention back and said calmly that the other party invited him to be a judge out of trust.

Given this, he certainly wouldn't abuse his power for personal gain; doing so would only make him a laughingstock and betray the old chairman's trust.

I just don't know who the other judge is besides him.

Chapter 442 Seven-Star Special Chef? A deluge of doubts

"That's not what I meant. I just think it's a very happy thing that Professor Bai Yuan has been recognized by the World Gastronomy Association and invited to serve as a judge!"

Seeing that Bai Yuan was somewhat suspicious of her intentions, Shinoto Hisako hurriedly began to explain.

It is a source of pride for them that their teacher has been recognized by a major organization like the World Gastronomy Association and invited to serve as a judge.

"They are the ones who should be happy, since I was the one who accepted their invitation. We need to be clear about who is in charge and who is not."

Hearing Hisako Shinto's words of reflection, Shirabuchi understood her thoughts, so he reached out and patted her head, while also sharing his own insights.

"That's right. It's an honor for Professor Bai Yuan to agree to serve as a judge. Even if someone should be happy, it should be them who are happy."

Erina Nakiri's voice rang out; as a favored daughter of heaven, she could fully understand Bai Yuan's thoughts.

If you are strong enough, it is perfectly normal to be invited. Accepting the invitation is me giving you face, and you should be happy, not me.

"Don't worry about these things, let's watch the game."

Bai Yuan didn't want to talk about this anymore, so he refocused his attention on the competition on stage.

After seeing his appearance, Erina Nakiri and Hisako Shinoto both turned their heads away, stopped discussing the matter, and focused their attention on the cooking area.

At this moment, Alice Nakiri had already started simmering the chicken soup, with a Jinhua ham placed next to it.

She plans to simmer the chicken over low heat to maximize its flavor and create a perfect chicken soup.

This composure comes from the long duration of the competition.

Although her opponent was not particularly strong, she decided to go all out out of respect. And since she was going all out, she needed to perfect every single detail.

"White Serpent Spinning Chain!"

Meanwhile, in front of Alice Nakiri were high-gluten flour, potato starch, and boiling water. The girl's relaxed expression vanished as she focused her attention on these ingredients, replaced by a serious look.

The next moment, she picked up the long, thin rolling pin that she had prepared beforehand, which was also the medium she needed when using the White Serpent Chain.

In the audience's view, a winding water snake rose from the basin, and then the calm flour began to vibrate, from which a flour snake emerged.

The water snake and the flour snake intertwined and eventually merged into a dough snake. The boiling water was scalding hot, and the steam rose continuously as they merged.

The snake kept leaping and swaying in the air during this process, while five or six drones circled around it, capturing this breathtaking scene.

"The traditional way of making shumai is to scald the flour with boiling water to gelatinize the starch, thus obtaining a translucent and highly elastic dough."

But what's with this technique? Does it use the force of rotation to lift water and flour into the air, and then merge them in mid-air?!

Is this really possible in real life?!

Mo Ben's figure appeared in front of the judges' table at some point, and his face showed undisguised shock as he watched Alice Nakiri's actions on the cooking stage.

Clearly, he hadn't expected that someone could actually do something that was theoretically possible but practically impossible.

Even the most skilled pastry chef would find it difficult to achieve this level of skill using only finesse!

"Using the power of rotation to make the dough float in the air requires not only skill but also an amazing understanding of the dough."

"Your apprentice is quite something. Did you teach her this move, or did she figure it out herself? If it's the latter, that's terrifying."

As soon as Bai Yuan arrived at the judges' platform, he heard Lancy Jon's voice; the other person had also come up there at some point.

Looking up, I saw that the other person had already taken a seat in front of the judges' table. Including him, all three judges were present.

"It is indeed me who taught her. She has loved noodles since she was a child, but to be able to understand it to this extent, one cannot do it without a bit of talent."

I never expected you to be a judge in the final competition, but thinking about it, it makes sense. With your experience and ability, you're more than qualified to be a judge in the finals.

Looking at Lancy Jon and Moben sitting in front of the judges' panel, Bai Yuan nodded slightly as a greeting, his words revealing a hint of emotion.

"Speaking of which, I have to thank you. Normally, I should only be on the list of judges, and the final decision on who to use would be made by drawing lots."

"Because I recommended you, and you made a great contribution to the Food Association, I was exempted from the lottery this year and stood before the judges."

Upon hearing Bai Yuan's words, Lancy Jon's voice was filled with emotion.

When he introduced Bai Yuan, he never thought he would benefit from it. The president really does give benefits! This year's judge spot was given to him directly.

To know.

The School Exchange Competition is a globally renowned event.

Not only the contestants but also the judges are attracting attention.

Especially in the finals, if the judges offer insightful comments on the contestants' dishes during the competition, these comments will still be considered classics and spread widely.

In today's internet age, the spread of videos can significantly boost the fame of judges and increase their visibility.

Furthermore, because the threshold for judges is very high, requiring them to be highly skilled chefs, they would recite their achievements before appearing on stage to highlight their prowess.

People naturally admire strength, and after hearing about the judges' achievements, they will unconsciously develop admiration for them, or at least feel respect for them.

"Did you teach this move? Such a high level of precision is difficult to master on your own. May I ask who your teacher was?"

Watching Alice Nakiri display her amazing culinary skills at the cooking arena, and hearing Shirayuki's proud tone, Mo Ben suddenly turned to look at him, his voice tinged with curiosity.

“An elderly man, but he did not want to reveal his name, so I cannot say it here.”