Food Wars, my food not only glows!

　"The food doesn't need to be high-end steak; the key is the chef's skill..."

　With everyone talking amongst themselves and watching the screen intently, no one expected that Liya, who set off later, would buy groceries before Wang Qing. Everyone was curious about her choice.

　"Wagyu beef tenderloin? It's not the highest quality, but it should be enough."

　Looking at Leah's choice on the screen, the discussion started again.

　"Steak gets hot when pan-fried or grilled, but this is cold..."

　Looking at Lia in the video, Bai Yuan fell into thought.

　He didn't know much about Western food, so he didn't get a useful answer right away. This was a field unique to Leah!

　"Beef fat trimmings, sake, yuzu, light cream..."

　After leaving the steakhouse, Leah went to the supermarket and bought a lot of ingredients for cooking. When she returned to the competition venue, she only had 30 cents left out of her 200 yuan, which can be said to have been used just right.

　Meanwhile, on the other side of the video, Wang Qing spent over a hundred yuan to buy a small green dragon at a seaside market.

　This price is only available at the seaside market in Fuzhou, and it's a place only locals who have lived there for many years know about, so it's considered to be taking advantage of the local area.

　In addition, he also bought liquid nitrogen, limes, wasabi and other ingredients, which also left everyone at the scene somewhat puzzled and could only be attributed to the chef's personal whimsy, just as they had when commenting on Leah.

　"They're all back, now it's time for the cooking!"

　As the two returned one after another, the audience members looked on with anticipation. Finally, the most exciting part for them—the cooking segment—had arrived!

　"Steak and lobster, the interplay of ice and fire—how exactly can this effect be achieved?"

　"I can't understand it, I really can't understand it, this is beyond the norm! Is this the kind of cooking geniuses do?!"

　"I remember Wang Qing bought liquid nitrogen just now, so I feel like his coolness should come from that, but I really can't see any coolness in 'Li' contestant."

　Hearing the surrounding discussion, an elderly chef spoke up, his eyes revealing a hint of wisdom.

　"Li's coldness is in the steak."

　Looking at the ingredients that Lia had bought, Bai Yuan's expression turned somber, and his voice rang in the ears of the people around him.

　He didn't want to eavesdrop, but these people were right there, leaving him no choice but to listen. And once he heard them, he couldn't pretend not to see them, so...

　The explanation of sex was simple.

　"Cold inside the steak?"

　"Why do you say that? How did Li manage to refrigerate the steak!?"

　"There are only two ways to cook steak: pan-frying and grilling. But neither pan-frying nor grilling can keep the steak chilled."

　The old man who had previously said he couldn't understand Lia spoke up in confusion, then turned to look at Bai Yuan, only to instantly lose interest upon discovering that the other was just a young man. This guy had been too certain; it was a wonder he'd hesitated for a few seconds.

　There's no such thing as refrigerating a steak; that's simply impossible!

　"Based on the ingredients she bought, it can be seen that she intended to vacuum seal them and then immerse them in an ice-salt bath to bring the center to 0°C but not completely frozen."

　Then, using a long charcoal grill, the surface is quickly cooked through, forming a crispy crust, while the inside remains cool—this is the "cold" flavor in Li's steak.

　Noticing the change in the old man's expression, Bai Yuan explained in further detail.

　Chapter 168 Lava Glacier Crispy Shrimp VS Charcoal-Grilled Snow Wagyu Rhapsody

　"Using ice salt bath and vacuum packaging technology can indeed lower the temperature of the steak as quickly as possible, achieving an internal cooling effect."

　Bai Yuan's explanation made the old chef think, and he quickly constructed a cooking model in his mind. Then he found that the method was completely feasible, and a look of surprise appeared on his face.

　How on earth did this young man figure out a cooking method that even he couldn't figure out?!

　Could it be that he was just imagining things? Or perhaps he had a close relationship with the girl competing on stage, which allowed him to guess her actions.

　"Hot on the outside, cold on the inside—won't this theme give the judges diarrhea...?"

　Some people couldn't help but mutter under their breath, and the moment they heard Bai Yuan and the old man talking, such a question flashed through their minds.

　No matter how you look at it, foods that are hot on the outside but cold on the inside are likely to cause diarrhea.

　"If handled properly, it won't be a problem, but what you're saying is indeed a problem."

　However, this issue won't have a significant impact on the game, because everyone would rather enjoy the ultimate experience now than have an upset stomach later!

　Hearing the dissenting voices, the old chef glanced at him, his words tinged with pride.

　Compared to the stomach upset that comes later, people prefer to enjoy the ultimate deliciousness of the food at the moment!

　"A skilled chef's cooking is extremely precise in controlling the heat, so there's virtually no chance of getting an upset stomach. The kind of dish you're describing is something that only an unskilled chef would produce."

　At the same time, Bai Yuan's voice rang out, and he then ignored the two of them, turning his attention to Liya and Wang Qing on the field.

　The two competitors have now entered the most intense phase of their cooking competition.

　As Bai Yuan had suggested, Lia on the stage put the steak into a vacuum-sealed bag and then used the effect of an ice-salt bath to freeze the center.

　Seeing her actions, Wang Qing silently took the lobster out of the refrigerator.

　Because the freshly caught baby lobsters were very lively, forcibly processing them could easily damage the meat. Wang Qing's knife skills weren't particularly strong, so in order to make the most of his strengths and avoid his weaknesses, he put the baby lobsters in the refrigerator before processing them.

　In this way, at extremely low temperatures, the baby lobsters will enter a dormant state and become unable to move, making them much easier to handle.

　As the lobster was taken out, Wang Qing's eyes sharpened. He steadily pierced the lobster's body with the tip of his knife, then wrapped the lobster's shell with a towel, gently twisted the connection between the head and tail, and separated the two sides with a little force.

　At the same time, some internal organs were pulled out along with the body, and Wang Qing also had a small knife in his hand, which he used to clean up the mess.

　Before long, a clean lobster with plump, meaty flesh appeared on the cutting board.

　Looking at the lobster, Wang Qing didn't rush to process it further. Instead, he immersed it in liquid nitrogen and instantly froze it to a semi-solid state, which would preserve its sweet and moist texture to the greatest extent.

　The lobster shells that are removed are used to make stock, which is then used to prepare sauces for cooking.

　While simmering the broth, Wang Qing took the time to make a bowl of batter for frying tempura, which was also the key to his cooking.

　"The consistency is just right, but the color is a bit off. Let's add some bamboo charcoal powder."

　Watching the tempura batter slide off the chopsticks, its consistency was just right, which brought a satisfied smile to Wang Qing's face. He then added a small amount of bamboo charcoal powder to enhance the color of the batter.

　The oil is heated to a high temperature of 190 degrees Celsius. Frozen lobsters are coated with tempura batter and deep-fried in hot oil for ten seconds to form an incredibly crispy black-gold outer shell, while the inside remains cold.

　Lobster shells are used to make broth. The lobster shells are then crushed to release more flavor. Chili oil and emulsifiers are then added to the broth, which is then whipped into a foam and placed at the bottom of a plate.

　The lobster is placed on top of the whipped foam.

　Then comes a thin layer of lime wasabi sorbet, placed on top of the lobster. This was made by instantly cooling it with liquid nitrogen and then shaving it into a snowflake-like shape.

　The combination of these three elements results in the final form of this lobster dish!

　"Please enjoy, judges."

　The young man presented his dish to the judges with a polite smile, gesturing for them to proceed as he spoke.

　"This looks absolutely exquisite!"

　Any dish

　As the dish was served, Su Yan couldn't help but exclaim in admiration at its exquisite presentation.

　The lobster tail rests diagonally on the plate, encased in a matte black-gold crispy shell.

　The bamboo charcoal tempura batter has irregular cracks, and the surface is dotted with fine blue shaved ice, which faintly reveals the translucent lobster meat inside.

　"What's the name of this dish? It looks really good."

　Tan Guai looked at the dishes in front of him with curiosity and spoke kindly to Wang Qing.

　"This dish is all about the fusion of ice and fire, so I call it Lava Glacier Crispy Shell Shrimp!"

　Upon hearing Tan Guai's question, Wang Qing gave a brief explanation.

　"Lava Glacier Crispy Shrimp? What a unique name."

　The bottom of the plate is covered with orange-red lobster foam, which flows slowly like lava, while the surface is covered with chili oil that forms golden ripples.

　The shrimp is topped with lime wasabi shaved ice, giving it a fluffy, snow-like texture.

　The stark contrast between the two places makes it seem as if the lobster is simultaneously situated in lava and glaciers, showcasing a wondrous spectacle of both fire and ice!

　This time it was Zhang Zhong who spoke. At this moment, he was carefully examining the dishes in front of him, his eyes filled with appreciation.

　"It's not as exaggerated as you say, but I suggest you eat it quickly."

　Even though the plate was preheated, the heat on the surface of the lobster dissipates quickly over time, so you won't experience the true meaning of the contrast between hot and cold.

　Seeing that the judges were talking nonsense, Wang Qing couldn't help but look at the dishes in front of them and remind them.

　"The true meaning of 'a world of ice and fire'."

　"That's quite an enticing statement."

　During the conversation, the three judges finally turned their attention back to tasting the dishes, while also pondering the meaning behind Wang Qing's words.

　They understood the theme of the competition: a world of ice and fire, but what was its true meaning?

　With these questions in mind, they picked up their chopsticks and began to appreciate the dishes.

　"this..."

　When they cracked open the lobster meat, wisps of cold mist seeped out from the opening, creating a scene resembling a volcanic eruption, a sight that left people secretly amazed.

　"It looks like a magic trick!"

　Su Yan sighed at this moment, then picked up a piece of shrimp and put it in her mouth. The next moment, she froze on the spot.

　"The bamboo charcoal tempura wrappers, fried at high temperatures, are as crisp as thin glass, crumble in your mouth, and have a slightly salty grain aroma and a deep charcoal flavor, similar to the roasted aroma of premium black sesame."

　But since it's fried, why does it smell like it's been baked?!

　The first taste is of the tempura coating, followed by the aroma of flour that gradually unfolds in the mouth, with a subtle grain fragrance that is irresistibly captivating.

　However, what puzzled Su Yan was why the fried lobster had a roasted aroma. So she looked up at Wang Qing with a curious expression, waiting for his explanation.

　"After deep-frying at high temperature, I baked it with a blowtorch, which is why its surface has a unique aroma that comes with baking. However, this aroma is very faint and most people can't taste it."

　Upon hearing Su Yan's words, a look of surprise appeared on Wang Qing's face.

　The person in front of me doesn't look much older than me, yet they possess such a keen sense of taste. Not only can they sit here as a judge, but they've also discerned the unique qualities in my cooking.

　He had originally thought that these words would come from Zhang Zhong's mouth.

　"Since I'm serving as a judge here, I'm naturally not an ordinary person. You're underestimating me by saying that, Wang Qing."

　Upon hearing Wang Qing's words, Su Yan immediately puffed up her cheeks, somewhat dissatisfied.

　With that flawless face, even when she's angry, she doesn't inspire fear; instead, you can't help but think, "She's so cute!"

　Such thoughts.

　"Sorry, but you don't look that much older than me. It's really impressive that you can taste such subtle details under these circumstances."

　Being stared at like that by a young girl in the prime of her life, Wang Qing suddenly felt a little embarrassed. He blushed and looked away, then rubbed his nose and muttered something under his breath.

　"Haha, I'll take that as a compliment. But actually, I'm old enough to be your mother without any problem!"

　"How can it be!"

　Looking at the girl in front of him who was laughing hysterically after hearing his words, Wang Qing's face showed a look of astonishment when he thought about what she had just said.

　He wasn't present when the judges were introduced, so he naturally didn't know the true identity of the person in front of him. That's why he looked so shocked when he heard Su Yan's words.

　"She's right. Do you believe I'm a few years younger than her?"

　Seeing Wang Qing's shocked expression, Tan Guai couldn't help but speak up.

　He grew up watching Su Yan's TV dramas, so when he learned that they would be working together, he specifically asked her for her autograph, planning to show it off to his best friend who was a fan of hers.

　He was three years younger than the other man, even though he was already considered an uncle at the time.

　"real or fake..."

　At this moment, Wang Qing's face still held doubt. He simply couldn't believe such a thing could happen. The true situation of this girl, who appeared to be of similar age, was already enough to make him...

　Holy crap!?

　"Don't worry about that, your cooking is really good!"

　The moment your teeth pierce the crisp shell, the flash-frozen lobster sashimi bursts with a cool, sweet juice. The meat is as smooth and creamy as half-melted ice cream, carrying the unique sweetness and slight metallic sheen of deep-sea lobster!

　Seeing Wang Qing's conflicted expression, Su Yan waved her hand, then picked up a piece of lobster meat and put it in her mouth, savoring the rich flavor of the sauce, a look of utter satisfaction on her face.

　"Especially at the top, the tangy lime juice and the spiciness of wasabi are locked in by liquid nitrogen, and the snowflake-like ice crystals pop and jump in your mouth, refreshing like biting into a mint ice chip."

　Furthermore, this sensation almost instantly washes away the greasiness, leaving only a refreshing citrus aftertaste.