Reborn in Japan as a Chef God
Chapter 357 - 356: Achieving Stunning Results Naturally

Chapter 357: Chapter 356: Achieving Stunning Results Naturally

Clang!

The bell signaling the end rang out!

The first contestant, carrying his culinary creation, stepped out of the passage.

He was met with cheers from the entire audience.

The guest seats erupted in applause.

"Wow-wow-wow!"

"What dish has Chef Nakajima prepared? We shall see!"

Chiyoda Aichi watched as the disheveled middle-aged man approached the judging panel.

Nakajima Sei’s dish was covered, completely sealing off any scent, leaving Chiyoda Aichi slightly disappointed as she looked up towards the passage.

"Chef Ujou!"

Ujou Mamie also appeared.

She was quite popular, and the cheering grew even louder.

Similarly, Ujou Mamie used a special sealed food container.

It is worth mentioning that 30 minutes before the end of the assessment, the live broadcast switched to the venue scene, cutting off the signal from the kitchen. This was a little trick by the IGO organization to whet the appetite, making the contestants’ final dishes full of mystery.

"Next up is Chef Kawase—"

Chiyoda Aichi said, and the hall quieted down.

Because from the direction of the passage, the figures of an old man and a young man slowly emerged.

The sound of the cart rumbling over the floor was dull.

People showed expressions of astonishment.

Xia Yu actually lifted the clay pot directly onto the trolley, which had very smooth casters. He easily pushed the heavy pot to the base of the judging stand and then gave Chef Kawase a slight smile.

"Please—"

"Please—"

Chef Kawase bowed a standard ninety degrees, meticulous even in the face of a much younger chef, embodying the serious demeanor of a native Neon artisan.

The four contestants spontaneously lined up at the base of the judging stand.

Xia Yu stood at the edge, supporting the cart.

Who would go first?

There was no script or rehearsal for the procedure, and numbers 1 to 6, the IGO organization did not require them to follow any sequence. Previously, No. 4, Beiyexiu, had cut in line. In a sense, the special assessment allowed for flexibility beyond the culinary rules.

"Sigh—"

"I’ll go first this time! Always being last doesn’t feel quite right!" Xia Yu thought, just about to push the cart closer to make it easier to lift the clay pot onto the stage when suddenly, applause thundered like thunder.

Ah!

Damn, beaten to the punch again!

There was the frustrating feeling akin to having a headline stolen.

Hearing the applause, Xia Yu immediately relaxed his grip and glanced over, sure enough, Chef Kawase, who had been standing next to him at position 6, had already ascended the steps, carrying a clay pot on a wood lacquer tray with steady steps.

"What dish has Chef Kawase made?" Xia Yu bowed his head slightly in ponderance.

In such a large venue with ten thousand seats, he didn’t notice the unusual glances cast from the guest seats, and both the student team and teacher team from Far Moon looked a bit off. Tanaka Hikari and Yoshino Yuuki simultaneously covered their mouths, almost shouting out loud.

"What’s going on?"

However, Shinohara Shigetaro from the stage gave a meaningful glance, which Xia Yu caught.

He frowned slightly; there must be a story behind Shinohara Shigetaro’s look.

Feeling out of the loop was quite annoying.

"This is my dish—"

No matter what Xia Yu thought, the focus of the venue was not on him at the moment. The camera was locked on Chef Kawase, who had already placed the tray and clay pot on the judging table.

Speaking, Chef Kawase deftly lifted the lid!

Whoosh!

A unique fragrance of rice porridge swept across the venue instantly!

"Not bad!"

Qiushan Hong and Shinohara Shigetaro’s eyes lit up, and even before tasting, their stomachs were protesting.

In the clay pot was a bowl of shiny, light porridge.

The tiny mixed fish, cooked to a bright red, were arranged like chrysanthemums on the surface of the porridge, sprinkled with bright green chopped scallions, and the audience vaguely saw a scene of the fish frolicking in clear streams.

Composition!

On the large screen, multiple angles showcased this casserole porridge in close-up.

Without discussing anything else, just the mixed fish and scallions alone formed an exquisite hand-drawn picture, with the light white of the porridge serving as the canvas, and the fish and scallions as the subjects in the painting!

Masterful composition art!

Many in the audience displayed a mesmerized look; they hadn’t even tasted it yet, and were already showing expressions of reverence.

"Indeed a craftsman..."

Xia Yu looked up at the close-up on the screen and couldn’t help but sigh.

Sometimes you can really tell, this Chef Kawase gave off the vibe of a Neon craftsman.

There wasn’t much to say about a bowl of light porridge.

Other than "Jile Rice," the other ingredients were simple and common.

The three judges took their first spoonfuls.

First spoonful!

Second spoonful!

In a tension-filled silence, the three judges took two spoonfuls in succession, already a significant success compared to Beiye’s single spoon!

Qiushan Hong and Shinohara Shigetaro continued with the third spoonful.

But Indira had already set down her spoon and picked up a napkin from the table to wipe her mouth, her expression cold.

Chef Kawase’s eyes twitched, but he didn’t become too nervous.

As the third spoonful was taken, Qiushan Hong and Shinohara Shigetaro remained silent for a long time before they said in succession,

"It’s enough!"

"So..." Chiyoda Aichi glanced at Kawase in front of the review table and then back at the three judges with cold reactions, feeling a thump in her heart.

The atmosphere shifted from quiet to dead silence.

"You may go to the resting area now," Indira said indifferently.

Chef Kawase’s pupils constricted, and he stared intently at Qiushan Hong and Shinohara Shigetaro.

The two judges remained silent.

The situation froze.

"Minister Shinohara," Chiyoda Aichi pursed her lips and voluntarily handed over the microphone, "Could you explain why Chef Kawase’s dish didn’t meet the standards?"

"Too much craftsmanship!"

"And he didn’t tame the ’Jile Rice’!" Shinohara Shigetaro was reluctant to elaborate, just shaking his head continuously.

"Then, Chef Kawase, what is your response to the judges’ evaluation..."

Chiyoda Aichi turned toward Chef Kawase again, only to find the judge now trudging with heavy steps, a stark contrast to his previously steady entrance; his stooped silhouette gave a desolate impression.

"Hey, Chef Kawase!"

Xia Yu happened to be next to the steps and quickly stepped forward to support him.

"Failed, can’t you try again?" Xia Yu said with a chuckle.

"Try again?"

Kawase looked up and met that young face so close to his, letting out two desolate laughs, "I’m already fifty-five years old, how much longer can I wait?"

"Isn’t Mr. Hase also in his fifties?" Xia Yu asked, puzzled.

Kawase simply shook his head and left.

The hall audience, unable to mourn the first loser or adjust their emotions, couldn’t digest the moment as Nakajima Sei had already stepped onto the stage with his dish.

"My cuisine!!"

His deep voice echoed through the hall.

"Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh~"

Chiyoda Aichi could only shout with all her might, frantically rescuing the atmosphere from plummeting further.

The audience, as if waking from a dream, offered thunderous cheers and encouragement.

In fact, what the audience preferred to see was winners leaving with glory, moved to tears the moment they knew they had passed, rather than someone like Kawase, leaving with a lonely laugh, stirring sympathetic pangs.

Even though Nakajima Sei was known in the Neon Food World as a notorious failure, the audience didn’t skimp on their cheers and applause!

Wow!

With a flush creeping up his cheeks, Nakajima could no longer keep steady, his hands slightly trembling as he fiercely lifted the cover off his dish!