Everyday Life Starting with Food Wars

After stirring well, Tadokoro Megumi took out the pot and turned on medium heat. Once the bottom of the pot was hot, she used a brush to apply a thin layer of oil to it.

Then, use a spoon to scoop the prepared mashed potatoes into the pot, and use the spoon to draw a few circles on top to make small round cakes.

The edges of these small round cakes quickly turned into a light gold ring.

Megumi Tadokoro carefully flipped the pancake with a spatula, and after confirming that both sides were browned and cooked through, she took it out and placed it on a plate.

Hayama Akira's progress is also fast; he's already working on the crucial part of the seafood chowder.

He poured the ground spice powder into a saucepan, added olive oil, and heated it over low heat. The spices began to release their aroma as they were enveloped in the oil.

Then, Hayama Akira poured the prepared fish soup into the soup pot and stirred it with a spoon to blend the spices and broth together.

The originally clear broth gradually turned dark after absorbing the spices, with some small oil droplets floating on the surface.

"It smells so good." Kikuchi Sonoka looked in Hayama Akira's direction. "This smell makes my mouth water just by smelling it."

“It’s really good.” Kakuzaki Taki, unusually, didn’t argue with Kikuchi Sonoka, but instead agreed, “His use of spices is very precise, and each fragrance shows its own flavor.”

Hayama Akira, sitting in the audience, put the marinated sea bream into the pan and started frying it.

The fish skin sizzled when it touched the boiling hot bottom of the pot. Under the high temperature, the fish skin kept contracting, and the whole piece of fish meat kept curling up.

The edges of the fish had turned an enticing caramel color, but the flesh in the middle remained snow-white.

He took the fried sea bream out and set it aside, then poured the cleaned clams and shrimp into a pot and started simmering them.

It should be ready in about a minute. When you open the lid, the clams will have fully opened their shells, and the shrimp will have changed from their original greenish-blue color to orange-red.

Hayama Akira placed the seafood in separate soup bowls, with the sea bream in the center and clams and shrimp around it.

Then he slowly poured in the piping hot spiced broth.

The moment the broth submerges the seafood, the flavors of the spices and seafood blend together, and just smelling that aroma makes you feel a warm current flowing through your body.

Time ticked by, and there were still twenty minutes left in the game.

Tadokoro Megumi's side is also nearing its end.

The potato and seaweed pancakes were neatly arranged on a plate, with a few asparagus tips and a small dish of sauce next to them.

Finally, Xiaohui bought some bonito flakes and seaweed that had been rubbed with salt online and sprinkled them on top.

"It's done..."

At the same time, Hayama Akira also finished.

He poured the seafood soup into a plate, garnished it with a few shrimp and clams, and sprinkled it with spice powder.

His dish looks very beautiful.

"Time's up!"

Chapter 77 A Difference of One Vote

"Time's up!"

Kawashima Rei announced loudly.

"Now, both contestants, please stop cooking and proceed to the final judging round!"

The entire moonlit sky fell silent, and everyone's eyes were fixed on the two people on the stage.

Akira Hayama was the first to step onto the judging panel.

He walked forward with a tray and placed the five soup bowls in front of the judges.

"Please enjoy the spiced seafood soup."

The broth in the bowl was a deep color, but you could clearly see the fish, clams, and other seafood at the bottom, with a layer of golden-red oil on the surface.

Kakuzaki Taki was the first to pick up a spoon and scoop up a mouthful of soup to taste.

"Well!"

As soon as the soup entered her mouth, her eyes widened.

The first aroma to emerge is that of spices.

The sweetness of saffron, the fragrance of fennel, the clarity of bay leaves, and the slight bitterness of thyme—the flavors of different spices intertwine and then gradually unfold on the tongue, each spice's flavor distinct.

Then comes the flavor of seafood. The sea bream is pan-fried until it has a caramelized surface, while the flesh inside is so tender that it melts in your mouth. Combined with the sweetness of clams and shrimp, and mixed with the spiced broth, every bite has a unique flavor.

"Impressive." Kakuzaki Taki put down his spoon, a look of admiration on his face. "You have a very high level of control over spices. You can combine different spices with different seafood, allowing them to showcase their individual flavors while also blending together to create different tastes."

“It’s so delicious, it’s like…” On the other side, Kikuchi Sonoka also closed her eyes and commented, “It’s like walking into a kitchen in winter.”

She felt as if she were standing in a small wooden house, with a pot in the middle of the house, inside which various spices and seafood were bubbling.

Outside, it was snowing heavily and a cold wind was blowing. Kikuchi Sonoka picked up a small bowl, ladled out a bowl of hot soup, and took a small sip. She felt warm all over.

The home-style food connoisseur next to him took a sip and his eyes lit up.

"The progression of spices is excellent, and the seafood is well-prepared; the freshness of both fish and shellfish is just right."

"Hmm." Shiomi Jun nodded and looked at Hayama Ryo and said, "Although this dish uses a lot of spices, there is no pungent taste left in your mouth after eating it. Instead, it has a very refreshing feeling."

Even Senzaemon Nakiri put down his spoon and nodded.

It was Tadokoro Megumi's turn.

As she carried her plate forward, the Polaris Dormitory members in the audience tensed up.

"Xiao Hui... do your best..." Yoshino Yuuki held up the banner and silently prayed for Xiao Hui in her heart.

Megumi Tadokoro placed the plate on the judges' table.

"Potato and seaweed pancakes with asparagus, please enjoy, judges."

The judges looked down at the dish in front of them. The golden-brown potato pancakes were crispy and steaming hot, and the bright green asparagus and dark green seaweed looked harmonious together. There was also a small bowl of sauce on the side.

However, compared to Hayama Ryo's seafood chowder, Xiaohui's dish was much more ordinary.

Kikuchi Sonoka picked up a fork, cut off a piece of potato pancake, dipped it in some sauce, and ate it.

"Um……"

The outer layer of the hash brown is very crispy, and you can hear a crisp crunch when you bite into it.

However, the inside of the hash brown is very soft, making it both fluffy and slightly chewy.

The sweetness of the diced asparagus and the saltiness of the seaweed were just right, paired with the soft sweetness of the potatoes. It wasn't as amazing as the spiced seafood soup, but it still had a unique flavor.

"This is...this taste...it's so familiar..."

Kikuchi Sonoka cupped her face in her hands, and a picture appeared in her mind.

It was a harbor by the sea, with several fishing boats floating on the distant sea, and children squatting on the pier feeding seagulls bread.

In a small wooden cabin next to the port, white steam was billowing from the kitchen window, and the aroma of potatoes and butter wafted out.

A woman wearing an apron is frying potato pancakes in front of the stove.

"This tastes like mom's cooking..."

Kikuchi Sonoka picked up her fork and ate the rest of the hash browns, with a few tear stains still on her face.

Shiomi Jun, who was standing next to her, agreed, saying, "Although we didn't use any fancy techniques or complicated seasonings, the food made us feel warm and comfortable after eating it. This kind of thoughtfulness in making diners feel comfortable is very fitting for the theme of home-style cooking."

The home-style food connoisseur standing nearby also fell into a brief silence after tasting the dish.

"This isn't the kind of dish that wows you at first bite, but after the first bite, you'll want to keep eating it."

"This is what real home-style cooking looks like."

Senzaemon Nakiri also put down his fork and looked at Megumi Tadokoro and Akira Hayama.

"Both dishes reflect your respective understandings of home-style cooking."

"Ryo Hayama's seafood chowder showcased the freshness of the ingredients and the use of spices."

"Tadokoro Megumi's hash browns evoked the warmth of home, and she created a home-style dish that perfectly matched the theme through simple cooking methods."

Senzaemon Nakiri paused for a moment, and his kimono began to tremble again.

"Tear--"

The sound of tearing fabric rang out again, and the commander-in-chief's kimono ripped open at the shoulder once more, revealing the solid muscles underneath.

"It's happening! The CEO's clothes have ripped off again!"

Kawashima Rei shouted excitedly upon seeing the scene before her.

"No, isn't this competition a bit too advanced?"

"Twice! Twice! The commander-in-chief's clothes ripped off twice in one day!"

"This competition was absolutely amazing."

Senzaemon Nakiri expressionlessly put on the new clothes handed to him by the staff and looked at the judges beside him.

"Alright everyone, please begin voting."

The judges began voting, and the audience nervously watched the big screen.

The first to vote was Kakuzaki Taki. She looked at the buttons representing Tadokoro Megumi and Hayama Akira, hesitated for a moment, and then chose Hayama Akira.

"Kakuzaki-senpai has chosen Hayama Akira!"

The second one is Kikuchi Sonoka. With tears still in her eyes, she nodded in the direction of Tadokoro Megumi and then pressed the button representing Tadokoro Megumi.

"Kikyuu Chizonka-senpai has chosen to support Tadokoro Megumi!"

The third was Shiomi Jun. After thinking for a moment, she finally cast her vote for Hayama Akira.

"Professor Shiomi Jun has chosen to vote for Hayama Akira!"

The fourth was the gourmet who specializes in home-style cooking. He remained silent for a long time before finally casting his vote for Hayama Akira.

"The food critic also chose contestant Ryo Hayama!"

With three votes to one, the outcome is already decided.

The last person to vote was Senzaemon Nakiri.

He looked at the scoreboard and saw the result of 3-1. Then he wrote down Tadokoro Megumi's name with a brush and cast his last vote for her.

"The head coach has chosen Megumi Tadokoro!"

"The final score is: Akira Hayama with three votes to Megumi Tadokoro with two votes!"

"The winner is—Ryo Hayama!"

Rei Kawashima's voice echoed in the venue.

The audience erupted in enthusiastic applause, mixed with expressions of regret and disappointment at the outcome.

"Just one more vote..."

"After all, their opponent is that Hayama Akira..."

"Tadokoro-san is amazing, she really changed my previous perception of her..."

The Polar Star Dormitory members in the stands were also stunned for a moment.

Yoshino Yuuki was the first to come to her senses. She clenched the banner in her hand: "Damn it... it was just a little bit short... Megumi did so well..."

"What a pity... Megumi..." Aoki Daigo and Sato Shoji both looked at Tadokoro Megumi below the stage with some concern.

Meanwhile, Megumi Tadokoro stood rooted to the spot in the audience, her mind blank for a moment.

Lost.

She knew she was most likely no match for Hayama Akira.

When Hayama Akira finished cooking, she smelled the strong aroma, and at that moment she already had a premonition.

But when I actually heard the results, my chest still felt heavy, as if something was pressing down on it.

It was just a tiny bit short.

It's just one vote away; if she tries a little harder, she might be able to go one step further and maybe even win.

"Hey."

Hayama Akira suddenly walked over and looked at Tadokoro Megumi.