Everyday Life Starting with Food Wars

"Time's up, everyone stop!"

As Donato finished speaking, the clattering of pots and pans in the kitchen instantly ceased, leaving only the heavy breathing of the students.

Of the fifty students selected, more than half looked as if they had just been pulled out of the water, sweat dripping from their foreheads and their chef's uniforms soaked through. Seven or eight students hadn't even finished cooking three dishes before collapsing to the ground, facing expulsion.

Six hours is required to make the broth sauce from scratch, and then complete the appetizers, main courses and desserts. For some first-year students, it is a nightmare.

"Alright, everyone, bring out your dishes."

Donato Wutongtian clapped his hands in front of the head chef's counter. "Now, in the order we've arranged for you, serve your dishes one by one. Let me and the two head chefs evaluate them and see if you're qualified to survive here."

Kakuzaki Taki crossed her arms, her sharp eyes sweeping over the crowd, her purple ponytail swaying with each movement. "Let me see how well you're doing! Hurry up, don't dawdle!"

Sitting next to her, Kiko Chizaki was taken aback by her imposing manner and tried to smooth things over in a low voice: "Kaku... Kakuzaki-senpai... everyone has already worked so hard, six hours is a long time, please be a little gentler on them..."

Kakuzaki Taki ignored Kikuchi Sonoka beside him, "If you can't even handle this much pressure, how will you survive in a star-rated restaurant? Those who can't do it should leave Totsuki as soon as possible. This place is not suitable for you!"

The review process has officially begun.

The first few students to serve the dishes were unsurprisingly scolded.

Kakuzaki Taki immediately switched to his sarcastic mode: "This is called red shrimp slices? You're just a pile of mud! Drop out!"

"This is focaccia? It's as rough as a sponge inside! It wasn't fermented long enough, and the olive oil flavor hasn't come through at all!" Kakuzaki Taki took a bite of the bread. "Make it again! No, you don't have a chance to make it again. You're expelled!"

"And your main course, the apple baked rice, is completely the wrong moisture level! The rice is so soft it's like a lump of mud, and the apple flavor and cheese don't complement each other at all. It's so bad it makes me want to vomit!"

"The dessert tastes completely wrong! How did you stir it? The alcohol in the Marsala wine is still there, and you can smell a bitter taste!"

Five or six students nervously served their dishes, only to be thoroughly berated by Kakuzaki Taki. Some students with low tolerance even burst into tears on the spot and were then taken out of the examination room by the staff.

Although Kikuchi Sonoka, who was standing nearby, wanted to say a few good words, "Actually, I think this student's shrimp meat was handled quite well and was quite springy...", under Kakuzaki Taki's murderous gaze, she could only weakly raise the sign that it was unqualified.

"Next up, Kurokiba Ryo."

Kurokiba Ryo, wearing a bandana with a flame design on his head, strode forward carrying a plate. His eyes were very sharp as he slammed the plate down on the judges' table.

"Try it, this is my Italian full meal!"

Kakuzaki Taki scooped a spoonful of apple baked rice and put it in his mouth, and his previously furrowed brows relaxed slightly.

"The apples weren't diced; instead, large chunks were left in, and they were fried over high heat with butter to create a very rough caramel crust... Plus, the broth contained a lot of shrimp oil made from shrimp heads and shells, making it incredibly flavorful." Kakuzaki Taki snorted. "Although your method is a bit rough, it has an explosive impact on the taste buds. You pass."

Kikuchi Sonoka, sitting to the side, also blushed slightly as she ate, holding up a "pass" sign: "The shrimp is springy, and the bread is toasted just right. It's really delicious!"

Next up was Hisako Shinto.

She comes from the Xinhu family, a family that has been practicing traditional Chinese medicine for generations, and is an expert in medicinal cuisine. Therefore, when she makes the broth, she adds some warming herbs and medicinal materials.

"Are angelica and rosemary mixed together to neutralize the cooling properties of seafood?"

Donato Wutongtian elegantly savored the red shrimp slices, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. "Very clever. This way, you retain the flavor of Italian cuisine while adding your own unique touch. Excellent, perfectly acceptable."

Next up was Takumi, who appeared very confident as he carried his dish up.

"Please enjoy, this is a dish from the Aldini family."

Donato took a bite of his apple risotto, his eyes lighting up instantly. He couldn't help but applaud: "Perfect timing! The broth brings out the best in Arborio rice, with a creamy, thick texture. This is the authentic Italian risotto! The savory Parmesan cheese and the sweet and sour apples blend together perfectly, and the focaccia bread is impeccable. No wonder he's the successor to Trattoria Aldini."

Kakuzaki Taki and Kikuchi Sonoka also gave it very high praise.

Takumi walked off the stage with an arrogant expression, glancing at Chen Yuxing before leaving.

It was Tadokoro Megumi's turn.

Xiao Hui took a deep breath, carried her dish, and carefully walked to the judges' table.

"Please...please use it."

Donato looked at the three dishes in front of him, which looked very appealing, especially the Sicilian red shrimp slices, with the shrimp meat translucent and the surface covered with an enticing color.

He cut off a piece of shrimp and put it in his mouth, then took a bite of the apple baked rice.

A flicker of surprise crossed Donato's eyes as he chewed.

"This shrimp meat..." Donato put down his knife and fork, looking at Megumi Tadokoro, "is fresh, sweet, and springy, perfectly preserving the texture of red shrimp after it has left the sea. The acidity and crunch of this apple baked rice are just right, without a trace of off-flavor. It's a very delicate and gentle flavor, perfect."

"It's really delicious! Eating it feels like being gently enveloped! It's like being back in spring!" Kikuchi Sonoka smiled, cupping her cheeks.

Kakuzaki Taki couldn't find any fault with it either, and gave it a passing grade.

"Phew..." Tadokoro Megumi breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing the result, bowing repeatedly to the three judges. "Thank you! Thank you so much!"

As she walked off the stage and passed by Chen Yuxing, she gave him a grateful look.

If Ah Xing hadn't given her those great ingredients and encouraged her, she definitely wouldn't have been able to make such a perfect dish in that chaotic situation.

“Last one, Chen Yuxing.” Donato looked up, staring intently at the black-haired boy who was carrying a plate as he approached.

Chen Yuxing carried a large tray and walked to the three judges, placing the trays down one by one.

"Appetizer: Sicilian-style red shrimp scallops with handmade focaccia; main course: caramelized apple cheese baked rice; dessert: cloud-top sabeon. Please enjoy." Chen Yuxing said calmly, placing the dishes down before standing aside.

"Let's see what kind of dish you make with such flawed ingredients," Donato thought to himself, picking up his knife and fork.

He first tasted a slice of red shrimp, along with a freshly baked, still-steaming focaccia bread, and put them in his mouth.

The moment the teeth bite down.

Donato's eyes widened instantly!

How...how is this possible?!

The red shrimp, which should have been soft, were surprisingly springy. Not only did they have no fishy smell, but the ginger and sea salt brought out their sweetness perfectly!

There's also the shrimp oil drizzled on the red shrimp flakes. The aroma of the shrimp oil mixed with olive oil explodes in your mouth, along with the stimulation of black pepper and chili peppers. It's like a powerful punch that directly opens the door to your taste buds!

"What's with the texture of this shrimp meat? Why is it so elastic? And this overwhelming freshness..." Donato originally wanted to find fault, but the fork in his hand was completely out of control, picking up piece after piece.

The amazing crispness of focaccia bread also explodes in your mouth. The dough, fermented with specially adjusted temperature and humidity, has a porous internal structure and is full of the rich aroma of extra virgin olive oil.

The flavors of rosemary and sea salt danced on the tongue, enhancing the sweet taste of wheat.

The moment the sweet and bouncy shrimp slices collided with the wheat-scented bread in his mouth, Donato felt a "boom" in his head.

An illusion has descended.

Donato seemed to have shed his suit in an instant, returning to his teenage years, standing on a sunny Sicilian beach in his swim trunks.

Golden sunlight spilled onto the azure sea, and a sea breeze carrying the scent of rosemary and lemon blew gently across his face. He lay leisurely on the beach when suddenly a giant red shrimp leaped out of the sea, carrying scalding shrimp oil and fiery chili peppers, which rushed directly into his body.

"Wow... such amazing elasticity!" Kakuzaki Taki, who was standing next to her, also took a bite. The sarcastic remark she had prepared never came out, and two blushes instantly appeared on her fair face. "Mmm... this feeling of the sea breeze on my face... so comfortable..."

Kikuchi Sonoka went even further, cupping her face in her hands, her eyes glazed over as she breathed heavily: "The crust of the bread is crispy, but the inside is as soft as a cloud, and my mouth is filled with the aroma of rosemary... It's so, so delicious... Ah... It feels like being enveloped by ocean waves, I can't stop eating it..."

"Hey! You big-breasted monster! Don't make weird noises in the judges' area! It looks awful, you know!"

Kakuzaki Taki scolded Kikuchi Sonoka harshly, but her own face was already completely red.

Donato snapped out of his daze, took a deep breath, forced himself to suppress his shock, and reached for the main course—Italian apple risotto.

He scooped up a spoonful of baked rice with shredded cheese and put it in his mouth along with a piece of diced apple.

The first chew.

"boom--!!!"

If the appetizer is ocean waves, then this main course is an erupting volcano!

While overripe, yellow apples do lose their crispness, they also retain their high sugar content.

When mixed with butter and stir-fried over high heat, it releases a caramel sweetness that ordinary green apples cannot match!

Furthermore, this sweetness is perfectly enveloped by the salty aroma of Parmesan cheese and the savory flavor of red shrimp broth. The Arborio rice absorbs the flavor of the red shrimp broth, and when you bite into the center, it bursts with a salty and savory taste of the ocean.

The soft, rotten fruit, which should have been considered a flaw, has now been transformed into the best sweetener, making the flavor of the entire baked rice dish outrageously rich!

"Is this... magic?!"

This time, Donato Wutongtian completely lost his gentlemanly image in the illusion. He found himself standing in a golden apple orchard, casually picking a ripe apple and biting into it. As the juice spilled out, a downpour began from the sky, a rain made of Parmesan cheese and shrimp soup.

The ripe apples around him burst open one by one, turning into scalding hot caramel that instantly ripped his expensive suit apart!

"Ohhhhhh!!!" Donato, shirtless in the illusion, his muscular physique began to glow under the baptism of caramel and cheese. He couldn't resist this dish that turned flaws into magic, and the pleasure of being completely conquered made him shout out.

"It's so...so delicious..."

Kakuzaki Taki was completely captivated. She even forgot to scold Kikuchi Sonoka, who was moaning happily next to her. She just kept stuffing the baked rice into her mouth. The sweet and savory flavor brought tears of emotion to the eyes of this strong-willed "she-devil".

Finally, for dessert, strawberry saboon.

The moment the rich, white egg yolk foam touches your mouth, the intoxicating aroma of Marsala liqueur, combined with the sweet and sour taste of fresh strawberries, gently soothes the tingling sensation from the seafood and caramel.

The slight caramelized residue from the blowtorch left a faint bitter taste on the tip of the tongue.

"Waaaaah... I can't take it anymore... It's sweet and sour, just like the taste of first love... I feel like my body is floating..."

Kikuchi Sonoka seemed to be lying on a soft bed made of giant strawberry clouds, surrounded by egg yolk bubbles that smelled of wine. She rolled around happily on the clouds, emitting soft and cute moans.

Donato sat in the chair, eyes closed, and remained silent for a long time.

The entire judging panel was so quiet that only the rapid breathing of the two female judges could be heard.

Donato slowly opened his eyes only after the last trace of wine had dissipated from his mouth.

He gave a wry smile and pushed the three empty plates in front of him forward.

"Oxidized red shrimp are rehydrated with ice water and lemon sea salt to tighten the flesh, and then the umami flavor is enhanced a second time with high-temperature shrimp oil... The high sugar content of ripe apples is caramelized, turning what was originally a drawback into the unique feature of this dish..."

Donato stood up, walked to Chen Yuxing, and solemnly extended his right hand.

"Chen Yuxing, you are not only an excellent chef, but also a monster with a top-notch sense of smell for food. In this special intensive course, you have completely conquered me with your undeniable strength."

Donato raised his scoreboard, and Kakuzaki Taki and Kikuchi Sonoka next to him also raised their boards without hesitation.

"Chen Yuxing, you've passed!"

Chapter 28 Late Night Snack

After a whole day of commotion, there were originally fifty students when they arrived, but only about ten remained when they took the bus back to the hotel.

The bus was very quiet, with only the dull hum of the engine audible. The remaining students were almost all exhausted from the intensive coursework, and they were all lying in their seats, too tired to even speak.

Tadokoro Megumi sat next to Chen Yuxing, leaning against the window. Her head bobbed up and down with the swaying of the bus. Suddenly, she patted her face, forcing herself to stay awake, and turned to look at Chen Yuxing, who was resting with his eyes closed.

“Ah-Xing… thank you…” Because the car was quiet, Xiaohui deliberately lowered her voice to say, “Today really feels like a dream. If you hadn’t given me the best ingredients, I would definitely have been expelled from Totsuki Academy.”

Chen Yuxing opened his eyes, looked at Xiao Hui's serious expression, and chuckled: "Ingredients are only one aspect. If you don't work hard on your own, even if you get good ingredients, it's useless if you can't make a dish that satisfies the judges. Besides, the ingredients you handled today were all very good. Even without me, you could definitely have come up with a solution on your own. That's all your own ability."

"No no no..."

"Alright, alright." Chen Yuxing shifted his position and leaned back comfortably in his seat. "Today's enhancement tasks are all done, and the tasks for the next few days shouldn't be a big problem either."

After listening to Chen Yuxing's words, Tadokoro Megumi could only nod vigorously in the end.

Not long after, the bus also stopped in front of the gate of the Totsuki Palace.

As soon as the two entered the hotel lobby lounge, a vibrant orange figure sprang up from the leather sofa with a "whoosh" and crashed into them with a gust of wind.

"Waaaah! Xiao Hui—! Ah Xing—!"

Before Tadokoro Megumi could react, Yoshino Yuuki hugged her tightly, clinging to Megumi and rubbing her cheek against her shoulder. "Why are you only coming back now! I was so worried! I was just telling Daigo and the others that if you weren't back by 10 o'clock, I was going to ring the alarm at the front desk!"

"Yu-Yu-hime, I'm okay now, but I can't breathe..." Tadokoro Megumi was hugged and backed away, smiling as she patted Yoshino Yu-hime's back.

"Alright, Yuuki, Megumi and the others must be exhausted from just getting back." Ryoko Sakaki walked over with a thermos, smiled helplessly at the two of them, reached out and helped Yoshino Yuuki to Megumi's side, then said gently, "Welcome back. Judging from your appearance, you must have successfully completed that enhancement project, right?"

"Of course!" Soma Yukihira, carrying a body pillow, came over from the other side, excitedly asking, "Hey, Soma, tell me, what's that enhancement project like? We heard it eliminated a lot of people? Is it super difficult?"

Ibuzaki Shun raised his head from the corner of the sofa and looked over silently, clearly also very curious about this special topic.

"It's not that scary, is it?"

Chen Yuxing yawned and casually placed the knife case on the floor of the lobby. "It's not much different from a normal project. It just requires you to prepare the stock and sauce from scratch within six hours, and then make a full Italian meal that includes an appetizer, main course and dessert."

"The six-hour time limit, and the broth and sauces need to be prepared on-site." Ibuzaki Shun frowned as he listened from the side. "This is already the evaluation standard for a head chef in a high-end restaurant. No wonder so many people are eliminated."

"Fortunately, both Xiaohui and I passed smoothly, and the judges gave us pretty good feedback." Chen Yuxing smiled and glanced at Tadokoro Megumi, who was still being held by Yuuki.

"N-no, no..." Tadokoro Megumi lowered her head shyly, "If it weren't for Hoshino giving me the best ingredients, I would definitely have been eliminated..."

"What?! Ah Xing, you gave away the best ingredients? What did you use to make it?!" Marui Zenji pushed up his glasses and exclaimed in shock.

"I used some slightly flawed ingredients, processed them a bit, and the result is not bad," Chen Yuxing said with a yawn, seemingly unconcerned.

"That's too cunning! I didn't even get a chance to shine like that!" Yukihira Soma scratched his hair in frustration, then looked at Chen Yuxing excitedly, "Yuxing, you really are a hidden monster! When are you going to spar with me?"