"Not only that, but the spiciness here isn't just stimulating; it's more mellow and fragrant, blending with the sweetness of the seafood to form a unique and wonderful taste experience!" Kinokuni Sonoka murmured with heat rising in her cheeks. After a few bites, she felt her body warming up. What a wonderful feeling!
"The application of Guangfu seasonings also adds a touch of warmth and fineness to this dish. The salty freshness of seafood soy sauce, the mellow fragrance of rice wine, and the umami-enhancing effect of a little sugar make the overall flavor of the dish fuller and more three-dimensional. These seasonings intertwine with the seafood and the spiciness of Hunan cuisine, like a tightly woven fabric with clear warp and weft threads—no overlapping chaos, but rather an orderly state!"
Turning his gaze towards Dylan, Lee Shang's eyes no longer held their initial disdain, replaced by deep admiration. To fuse Hunan and Guangfu cuisines so perfectly required a profound understanding of both, at least reaching the Special Grade level.
It was hard to imagine what he had experienced. Was his prenatal education a cookbook?!
"Next, let me taste yours."
"Please." Although knowing he had no chance of winning, Lee Shang's expression didn't change much. Hearing Dylan's request, he silently passed the Dong'an Chicken that Lee Wanya was about to taste over to him.
"I might say something unpleasant next, about the shortcomings of this dish. Do you want to hear it or not? If not, I won't say it." As soon as the dish entered his mouth, Dylan's brow furrowed, and he put down his chopsticks simultaneously. The flavor of this dish reached Special Grade level, but a flawed detail meant it could, at best, reach the standard of a Two-Star Special Grade.
"Please speak, I won't be angry. In fact, I would be grateful for your guidance." Because Dylan had just produced luminous cuisine, and hearing from Kinokuni Sonoka and the others that he was highly regarded by Granny Clever Hands, Lee Shang no longer dared to put on airs. Faced with Dylan's probing words, he showed a humble expression.
"Do you know what 'second addition of ginger' means?" Dylan didn't point out the flaw immediately but asked this question. Seeing Lee Shang's slightly puzzled look, he understood.
"The so-called 'second addition of ginger' means adding shredded ginger at the beginning and again just before plating. This way, the pot contains both the flavors of raw and cooked ginger, making the taste richer. You haven't learned this, either because your master held back, or you didn't master the technique properly. Using the same method, let me cook it for you."
Seeing the remaining ingredients on the cutting board, Dylan thought for a moment and walked directly over, simultaneously wiping the wok clean with a cloth and water.
"'Second addition of ginger,' letting the dish possess both the flavors of raw and cooked ginger..." Repeating Dylan's words under his breath, Lee Shang stood attentively before the stove, knowing that such learning opportunities from a master were rare. He never thought such a young man would possess such superb culinary skills!
"Right, not just shredded ginger, you should add the shredded scallion later too, otherwise the taste will be significantly different. The fragrance of the scallion won't stand out independently; if mixed with the original ingredients, the flavor profile will become chaotic."
Dylan explained while replicating Lee Shang's previous method, but his control of heat and addition of seasonings left Lee Shang sweating. Dylan's precision was simply too accurate. If Lee Shang were doing it, he would be at least a few seconds slower. This was the gap between them.
A few seconds' difference might not drastically affect the taste, but accumulating small differences from start to finish would slowly degrade the quality. This was why, using the same method for the same dish, some could produce luminous cuisine, while others couldn't even reach Special Grade.
However, the key to this dish wasn't timing or seasoning, but the 'second addition of ginger' Dylan had just explained! It could allow the dish to possess both the flavors of raw and cooked ginger.
The so-called 'second addition of ginger' was simple: divide the prepared shredded ginger into two portions, add one before stir-frying, and the other just before plating. Just one extra step, but how different would the overall flavor be?!
At this moment, Lee Shang had completely abandoned any thought of comparison with Dylan, positioning himself as an apprentice back in his master's kitchen, eagerly absorbing new knowledge.
"Actually, talking a hundred times isn't as good as tasting it once. You're a Special Grade Chef; experiencing the dish with your tongue should be more direct!" Dylan didn't explain further but scooped the dish from the wok onto the white porcelain plate Lee Shang had prepared earlier. Beside it lay Lee Shang's own version, the contrast starkly obvious.
At the same time, golden light emerged from the dish a few seconds after it landed on the plate, flickering for over ten seconds before gradually fading. This was, astonishingly, another luminous dish!
Everyone present was numb to it now, but Lee Shang felt it was completely normal. Given the exquisite skill Dylan had just demonstrated, it would be surprising if the dish didn't glow.
"Right, another issue. This dish is best without soy sauce. The dark color isn't appealing and can affect the customer's appetite." Comparing the colors of the two dishes, Dylan thought for a moment and suddenly added this point. It was a minor detail, but one chefs needed to pay attention to.
"I see."
"Taste it. See what the difference is between these two plates of Dong'an Chicken!" Dylan extended his hand, gesturing for Lee Shang to taste.
Lee Shang didn't hesitate much, picked up his chopsticks, clamped a piece of chicken, and before he could even taste it, the word 'tender' assaulted his senses! The chopsticks pressed against the chicken, creating an arc, evidence of astonishing elasticity and proper heat control.
Putting it in his mouth, the first sensation was a faint spiciness, the work of dried chilies and shredded ginger and scallion! Due to the addition of chicken broth, the aftertaste was exceptionally mellow and fresh. The essence of the chicken broth slowly permeated the chicken meat and seasonings, making the overall taste incredibly full and rich.
Yellow wine removed any gaminess while adding a touch of alcoholic fragrance. The addition of vinegar was a highlight, cleverly balancing the dish's spiciness and greasiness, bringing a refreshing acidity that made it more appetizing and less heavy. At the same time, the sourness of the vinegar and the freshness of the chicken complemented each other, creating multi-layered flavors.
And the most crucial part... The freshness and spiciness of raw ginger, the depth and mellowness of cooked ginger, actually appeared simultaneously in one dish! What an unbelievable flavor!
"There's actually such a method! The taste is elevated by more than just one level compared to the previous method. Amazing! Even if I cooked it using the same method, I should be able to reach Three-Star, maybe even Four-Star Special Grade!"
Experiencing the taste in his mouth, Lee Shang couldn't help muttering to himself, his eyes filled with complexity. To think this dish, their restaurant's signature, had been made incorrectly from start to finish. How embarrassing!
"Dad..." Hearing Lee Shang's words, Lee Wanya looked somewhat incredulous. Her father's signature dish, which he was always incredibly proud of, was actually the wrong method?!
"Thank you, Teacher Dylan. You are a truly formidable teacher." Having received guidance, Lee Shang didn't care about Dylan's age and respectfully performed the bow of a junior.
He understood in his heart that without someone pointing it out, he would never have realized this step in his entire life! Although he had some talent, it wasn't enough to support him in perfecting dishes. Otherwise, in these past dozen years, he would have already perfected this dish!
"You're welcome. As a chef, encountering imperfect dishes always makes one want to offer a couple of pointers. Your willingness to calmly accept them proves you have the potential to climb higher peaks. Work hard; I believe you'll become a Five-Star Special Grade Chef sooner or later."
At this moment, their roles seemed reversed. Dylan became the experienced master, while Lee Shang became the apprentice, nodding continuously at his words. Neither found it strange.
It was the others who looked at them with peculiar expressions. If they remembered correctly, hadn't Lee Shang initially come over wanting to teach Dylan a lesson?
"This place is really lively! Such a rich fragrance, it must be the legendary Dong'an Chicken, right? Looks really good!" An aged voice came from the doorway. Everyone turned their gaze outwards and saw Master Baiyao enter, with Wang Serena beside him.
"Elder Brother Baiyao."
"Younger Brother Dylan!" Seeing Master Baiyao, Dylan immediately went up to greet him, opening his arms to embrace him. Master Baiyao then turned his gaze towards the Dong'an Chicken.
"Why are there two plates here? And the quality difference is so vast, the aroma too. Were you two having a cooking match?" Looking at the distinctly different plates of Dong'an Chicken, Master Baiyao couldn't help but exclaim. The scene before him clearly indicated a competition between the two.
"Master Baiyao."
"It's you, Lee Shang. I remember seeing you at the Guangdong Culinary Federation conference last year. Didn't expect to meet again here today." Hearing Lee Shang's greeting, Master Baiyao looked over and spoke casually. Lee Shang just smiled respectfully beside him.
"You figured it out. Your nose is really sharp. Taste it, then try this one too, and tell me your evaluation. This is a dish I created by combining my understanding of Hunan and Guangfu cuisines, named Hunan-style Guangfu Seafood Stew."
Dylan pointed towards the Hunan-style Guangfu Seafood Stew nearby, his eyes filled with anticipation. Having a genuine Guangzhou local like Master Baiyao evaluate it might provide opinions to further improve the dish!
"Alright, I'll start with this seafood stew then. Hunan and Guangfu cuisine fusion... I've seen this type of dish a few times, but unfortunately, they were never done very well, only reaching Special Grade level."
Master Baiyao said, picking up his chopsticks. Honestly, he didn't hold high hopes for Dylan's dish. After all, the two cuisines were independent; fusing them was very, very difficult.
Many had tried throughout history, but successful attempts were few and far between, the strongest being a Four-Star Special Grade chef decades ago.
However, the moment the shrimp and abalone from the seafood stew entered his mouth, Master Baiyao froze on the spot. Then, his chopsticks couldn't stop, continuously delivering the dish to his mouth.
The rich, mellow spiciness perfectly highlighted the freshness of the seafood, giving the entire stew distinct layers! Furthermore, the salty freshness of seafood soy sauce, the mellow fragrance of rice wine—these Guangfu cooking seasonings also made the overall taste fuller.
The spiciness of Hunan, the freshness of Guangfu—these two fused perfectly without any disharmony. Without a doubt, this dish absolutely reached the level of luminous cuisine!
Master Baiyao looked intently at the seafood stew before him, closed his eyes to savor the taste, and decided inwardly to replicate it later, perhaps adding some of his own elements to see if he could take it a step further. But before that...
"You kid are truly a genius." Master Baiyao said this from the bottom of his heart, a hint of jealousy in his tone. How could one not be jealous? At 19, he had reached heights many chefs couldn't achieve in a lifetime!
"You flatter me, you flatter me. Not that amazing." Dylan demurred modestly for once, though the upturned corners of his mouth revealed his good mood.
"This match is my loss, completely and utterly, without any suspense."
"Before the match, you said that if you won, you wanted me to answer a question. What do you want to know? I will tell you everything I know."
"Oh, I almost forgot the most important thing. I estimate not many people know the answer to this question. Master Baiyao must be one of them."
Hearing Lee Shang proactively concede defeat and remind him of their earlier agreement, Dylan slapped his forehead in realization, then turned his gaze towards Master Baiyao.
He wasn't very hopeful about Lee Shang knowing, but Master Baiyao, as one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Guangdong Culinary Federation, Guangzhou's top existence... If even he didn't know, then perhaps the legendary cooking utensils truly didn't exist in this world.
"Oh? What question do you want to ask?" Dylan's words piqued the curiosity of everyone present. All eyes focused on him.
"About the legendary cooking utensils." Dylan looked intently at Master Baiyao, observing his expression change. He saw his brow twitch slightly, his eyes flicker—Dylan's heart leaped with joy.
He hadn't guessed wrong; legendary cooking utensils did exist in the Food Wars world! After all, they were both worlds centered around food; how could there be a hierarchy!
"This is your purpose for coming to Guangzhou?!" Master Baiyao's expression, previously amiable, turned serious.
"Coming to Guangzhou actually had two purposes for me. One was to pass the Special Grade Chef examination, the other was to find the legendary cooking utensils. So, saying this is my purpose for coming to Guangzhou isn't entirely wrong."
Dylan nodded, admitting his goal frankly. There was no way to hide such things; being upfront was better. Being evasive would only arouse suspicion!
"Why are you looking for the legendary cooking utensils? And where did you hear that Guangzhou has them?" Master Baiyao paced around the kitchen, looking somewhat conflicted.
"Naturally, to climb to the pinnacle of cooking! This is the dream of every chef. As for the legendary cooking utensils, I saw them mentioned in a very old ancient book. It said there are eight legendary cooking utensils in the world, each possessing magical powers capable of turning the rotten into the miraculous, elevating the deliciousness of cuisine even further."
The first sentence Dylan spoke was true; he came looking for the legendary cooking utensils precisely to climb to the true pinnacle of cooking! Of course, utensils were ultimately just utensils. They could be used but not relied upon.
They could only enhance the quality of the dish, not strengthen the chef's skill. Dylan understood this clearly, so his search for the legendary cooking utensils was more about experiencing the feeling of using them.
When it came to actual cooking, he didn't plan to rely on so-called utensils. External items, no matter how strong, were not as good as strengthening oneself! As for the second sentence, that was pure fabrication. He couldn't possibly say he was a transmigrator.
"Climbing to the pinnacle of cooking, what grand ambition!" Looking at Dylan's determined eyes, Master Baiyao took a deep breath, understanding he wasn't joking but genuinely thought this way.
And with Dylan's age and talent, he indeed had the potential to climb to the pinnacle of cooking, perhaps even becoming one of the world's top chefs!
"Guangzhou does indeed have a sealed blade, currently sealed in Guangzhou's Daxian Temple. However, it hasn't been unsealed for several hundred years. Throughout history, many stunningly talented chefs have appeared, yet none have been able to gain its recognition! This has led many to suspect it's just an ordinary kitchen knife, without any magical abilities, merely a tool deified by ancient chefs!"
Master Baiyao slowly explained. Legendary cooking utensils were still quite popular during his youth. Many formidable chefs came to Guangzhou then, attempting to break the seal and become its master, yet none truly succeeded!
Over time, people stopped believing in the existence of legendary cooking utensils, thinking them just lies fabricated by older generations, like myths. Thus, Guangzhou's legendary utensil now held more symbolic significance.
He hadn't expected that after decades, this term would be mentioned again by Dylan. Likely another dream chaser... Unfortunately, facing an impossible dream, one's wings would eventually be broken by reality.
"Guangzhou Daxian Temple? No one has ever succeeded? Can I go try?!" Hearing Master Baiyao's words, Dylan asked excitedly. Others failing meant they were weak. He felt he absolutely could. At the very least, he had to try!
The legendary Yongling Knife, capable of restoring freshness to ingredients that had lost it. What a heaven-defying ability!
"You can try. You've already become a Special Grade Chef, meeting the minimum requirement to participate in the sealing ceremony. However, everything needs a reason. After all, this blade has been passed down for a thousand years. Even if it's not a legendary cooking utensil, it holds profound symbolic meaning in Guangzhou! In that case, let's hold the Divine Knife Skill Competition! Let all the nearby Special Grade Chefs participate. The top three can participate in the sealing ceremony!"
Suddenly, Master Baiyao stopped pacing, looking intently at Dylan. The last Divine Knife Skill Competition was seventy years ago. Of those who watched that competition and are still alive today, not one in a hundred remains! He was one of them.
Now, that competition seemed vivid before his eyes. And this Divine Knife Skill Competition could perfectly allow him to gauge Dylan's strength. Was he Five-Star Special Grade, or even stronger?
At the same time, through this competition, he could grant him the status of a Five-Star Special Grade Chef! This was the Guangdong Culinary Federation extending an olive branch to Dylan.
______________
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