Everyday Life Starting with Food Wars

"Well!"

First, the sweet juice bursts in your mouth, then the smooth texture of the shrimp paste paired with the crispness of the bamboo shoots creates a wonderful sensation.

"The shrimp dumpling skin is soft and chewy without sticking to your teeth, and the filling is so delicious that you'd want to eat your tongue too." Kikuchi Sonoka covered her cheeks, her eyes starting to redden again.

Looking at the judges' expressions, Alice Nakiri gritted her teeth, a sudden feeling of irritation rising in her heart.

"It tastes good, but it's not enough if it's only like this." Kakuzaki Taki said as he opened the second layer of the bento box.

Inside the second layer, there lay a round object, its surface covered with a layer of glistening sauce.

"This is the cloth bag chicken."

As Chen Yuxing spoke, he took out a thermos and opened the lid, releasing a very rich aroma.

He slowly poured the piping hot chicken bone broth from the cup onto the cloth bag chicken.

When the broth came into contact with the sauce on the surface of the chicken, the sauce, which had solidified somewhat, dissolved and flowed down the surface.

Senzaemon Nakiri picked up his chopsticks and made a strong cut in the center of the hot-bag chicken.

Without the obstruction of bones, the chopsticks sliced ​​the whole chicken in half as easily as cutting tofu.

As the surface is torn open, the generous filling inside is revealed.

Diced shiitake mushrooms, fresh shrimp, winter bamboo shoots... all the ingredients are wrapped inside the chicken, absorbing its essence and steaming hot.

"All the essence of the ingredients is put into the boneless chicken meat bag, and after steaming, the umami flavor of the chicken itself and the flavor of the filling are blended together..."

As he spoke, Senzaemon Nakiri picked up a piece of chicken and ate it, along with the filling.

Chapter 75 The Winner

Time seemed to stand still the moment you tasted it.

After steaming, the excess oil in the chicken skin is removed, making it incredibly soft and chewy while miraculously retaining its elasticity.

The filling bursts with amazing flavor when squeezed by your teeth: the aroma of shiitake mushrooms, the crispness of winter bamboo shoots, the sweetness of shrimp, and the richness of pork. These four distinct flavors achieve a balance when harmonized by the chicken broth.

The fillings don't overpower each other's flavors; instead, they combine to create a harmonious and delicious taste.

Senzaemon Nakiri closed his eyes, and the ocean of technology that had been swirling in his mind, belonging to Alice, was gradually melted and disintegrated in the face of this broth.

In its place stands an ancient and magnificent Chinese palace.

Red walls and yellow tiles, carved beams and painted rafters.

At this moment, heavy snow was still falling from the sky, making it feel very cold, but deep inside this palace, there was a warm charcoal fire, and on the fire sat an earthenware pot, inside which simmered chicken soup that emitted a rich aroma and steam.

Senzaemon Nakiri felt like a starving traveler after a long journey. He pushed open the palace door and was greeted by the incredibly warm radiator. He walked shakily to the casserole, scooped up a bowl of soup, and drank it. The warm chicken soup instantly dispelled all the cold and relieved all his hunger.

This is what a bento box should be like!

A bento box is meant to let the person who works hard outside feel the care and warmth that the cook wants to convey the moment they open the food box.

"Gudong."

As Oizumi Kakinosuke drank the last sip of chicken soup, tears of emotion welled in his eyes: "It's so comforting... This taste reminds me of when I was little, and my mother would bring me lunchboxes on snowy days... No matter how cold the wind and snow were outside... the food my mother brought was always incredibly warm..."

Kakuzaki Taki also bit her lip tightly. She had already finished her meal, but her body was still sending her the urge to continue eating.

"Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle!"

Just as the judges were lost in their own thoughts, a loud tearing sound of fabric rang out again.

Moreover, the sound was louder and more violent than Alice's.

All eyes were once again drawn to it.

Suddenly, Senzaemon Nakiri stood up. Not only was his upper kimono completely torn to shreds, but his trousers were also making a creaking sound under his terrifying muscles.

next second.

"Crack!"

The last bandage broke completely at this point!

At this moment, the head coach not only had nothing on his upper body, but also only a white loincloth hanging in the air. If it weren't for the high quality of the loincloth, this game would probably have turned into an unsuitable recreational accident for children.

"Holy crap! The CEO's clothes have ripped off again! And this time it's a complete rip!"

"Holy crap! Holy crap! Holy crap! How did the commander's pants explode too?!"

"Seriously? Were both players in today's match this freakish? The head coach ripped his shirt off twice in a row!"

"After all, they are the 'child of molecular gastronomy' and the 'uncrowned tyrant,' so I'm not particularly surprised..."

The audience in the stands went wild. They had witnessed such an explosive scene in the very first match of the Autumn Selection Tournament.

The people in Polaris Dormitory had completely gone mad by this point.

"Ah Xing! Ah Xing! Ah Xing!" Daigo Aoki shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Victory is certain! Victory is certain! Victory is certain!" Shoji Sato chimed in from the side.

Yoshino Yuuki stood on a chair and waved the banner continuously.

on the stage.

Alice Nakiri stood there dumbfounded, watching everything that was happening before her eyes. Her once confident eyes were now filled with disbelief.

“How could this be… It can’t be… How could my treasure box lose…” Alice clenched her fists so tightly they turned white. “Everything was calculated to the perfect limit, the temperature, texture, and flavor were all perfectly balanced… How could it… How could it be inferior to a bowl of noodles and stewed chicken…”

The five judges on the judging panel had already put down their chopsticks.

Senzaemon Nakiri took the clothes from the staff and put them on. He took a deep breath and looked at Alice Nakiri and Yuxing Chen.

"The dishes you two have prepared have reached a level far beyond that of a first-year student."

"Whether it's molecular gastronomy or Chinese cuisine, it's all breathtaking."

The chant of Senzaemon Nakiri echoed throughout the moonlit sky, and all the spectators held their breath, watching the commander-in-chief.

"Alice, your molecular gastronomy is impeccable."

"You have used technology to perfectly lock in the freshness of the ingredients, creating a dreamlike taste. In terms of the novelty of the taste alone, you have already surpassed everyone else, even the Ten Heroes have not done as well as you."

Upon hearing the Commander-in-Chief's words, a glimmer of hope rekindled in Alice Nakiri's eyes.

"but……"

Senzaemon Nakiri abruptly changed the subject, his tone becoming stern, "You've misunderstood what this match is really about."

"The theme of this competition is 'bento'."

"The essence of bento boxes is to provide warmth to people who are far from home and tired from work, so that they can enjoy them during their free time, making them happy and comforted."

"Alice, your cooking is indeed very delicious, but I don't think your bento box is suitable for taking out as a lunchbox."

“In the actual scenario of eating bento boxes, diners may have to take the bento box out for several hours or even longer. During this time, the mousse layer will collapse, and the capsule will soften and then break due to temperature changes.”

At this point, Senzaemon Nakiri turned to look at Chen Yuxing, a hint of admiration in his eyes.

"Chen Yuxing's Chinese Splendor Food Box uses a hot water bottle at the bottom to keep it warm, and a thermos to store the necessary broth."

"Bamboo-pressed noodles can also be eaten by simply adding broth, and they won't clump together if soaked for too long."

"The same applies to the top layer of chicken in a cloth bag, which locks all the heat and flavor into the chicken skin."

"The moment the hot soup in the thermos is poured over the food, the food box is like it's fresh out of the oven. It not only satisfies the taste buds but also makes people feel very warm."

"This is the kind of bento box that can truly impress diners."

Senzaemon Nakiri waved his hand and pointed at the screen.

"Alright, judges, please proceed with your votes."

No hesitation.

Oizumi Kakinosuke, Saotome Seishi, Kikuchi Sonoka, Kakuzaki Taki, Nakiri Senzaemon.

The five people pressed the button representing Chen Yuxing at the same time.

"drop--"

The score on the big screen started to change.

"5:0"

Senzaemon Nakiri was not surprised by the result. He dressed, stood up, picked up a brush, and wrote the winner's name on the scroll next to the judges' table.

Chen Yuxing.

The outcome is decided!

Kawashima Rei excitedly grabbed the microphone and shouted, "The winner of the first round of the Autumn Selection Tournament is—Chen Yuxing!!!"

"boom!"

The entire moonlit sky erupted in cheers and exclamations of surprise.

The members of Polaris Dormitory cheered at this moment.

"We won! Hoshino won!" Soma Yukihira pumped his fist.

Daigo Aoki and Shoji Sato were already hugging each other and jumping around.

Tadokoro Megumi covered her mouth as she looked at the dazzling figure below the stage.

"Zero votes... I didn't even get a single vote..."

Alice's body trembled as she watched her name being crossed out by Senzaemon Nakiri, and her eyes instantly reddened.

His long-held arrogance and confidence were now completely shattered.

"Why... is Grandpa a big bad guy!"

"My cooking is so delicious! I've calculated everything so perfectly! Why is it that no one has voted for me?!"

"Waaaaaaahhhhhh..."

The next second, this molecular gastronomy prodigy, who usually had a queen-like demeanor of nobility and elegance, knelt down on the ground, covered her face with her hands, and began to roll around on the ground without regard for her image.

While rolling around, she burst into tears like a child who couldn't get candy.

"I don't want to! I don't want to! How could I possibly lose! Grandpa is biased! Grandpa is a big bad guy! Chen Yuxing is a big bad guy too! You are all big bad guys! Waaaaah..."

This sudden scene silenced the entire moonlit sky.

The audience was also unsure how to react.

No one expected that the arrogant prodigy from not long ago would now cry like a child on the field.

On the second-floor stands, Erina Nakiri covered her face with one hand, unable to bear watching Alice below.

She was so angry that the veins on her forehead bulged, and she gritted her teeth as she said, "That shameful idiot..."

"Hisako! Come down with me! Take this idiot away..."

Erina Nakiri, in her high heels, charged aggressively toward the competition stage.

On stage, Kikuchi Sonoka felt a pang of pity for Alice and was about to stand up to comfort her.

But the next second, Erina Nakiri appeared.

She had somehow walked up to Alice, and seeing Alice still throwing a tantrum on the ground, her face was as black as the bottom of a pot.

"Get up! As a member of the Nakiri family, you've lost, so what kind of behavior is it to throw a tantrum and cry on the ground! You're making the Nakiri family lose all face!" Erina coldly reprimanded.

Alice looked up, her makeup ruined by tears, making her look pitiful.

When she saw it was Erina, she didn't get up but cried even harder, "Erina... are you here to make fun of me? You're definitely here to make fun of me, you've always been like this since you were little..."

Erina Nakiri was so angry that she had a tic-tac-toe expression on her forehead. She was too lazy to waste any more words with Alice and simply stepped forward and grabbed the back of Alice's chef's uniform by the collar.

Alice's crying stopped abruptly, and she was dragged off the stage by Erina like a kitten being grabbed by the scruff of its neck.

Her body struggled and her legs thrashed about on the ground, but she couldn't break free from Erina's grasp.

"You...you let go of me! You idiot Erina! Let go of me!" Alice protested as she was dragged away. "I hate you the most! You've always been like this since we were little...you never talk to me properly...I hate you! Waaaaah..."

“Shut up! You’re a disgrace, Alice…”

Under the stunned gazes of the entire audience, Erina dragged Alice away and disappeared into the players' tunnel. Hisako Shinto was so embarrassed that she could barely contain herself and could only keep bowing and apologizing to the audience.

Chen Yuxing couldn't help but burst out laughing at the comical scene before him.