Reborn in Japan as a Chef God
Chapter 476 - 475: Overtaking on a Bend

Chapter 476: Chapter 475: Overtaking on a Bend

The reinterpretation in the mirror continued.

Bernard immersed the pork skin in scalding water that was nearly 100 degrees Celsius, and Xia Yu followed suit.

The pork was cooked in slightly cooler water until soft.

From the perspective of an ordinary viewer, these two contestants moved in unison, but from a professional chef’s viewpoint, there were many subtleties involved.

Water temperature!

Bernard eyed the pork skin and meat soaking in hot water, cleaned his hands, and then cast a glance toward Xia Yu, seeing that he had also washed and dried his hands with a towel. Bernard’s face darkened with anger, feeling as if he had been provoked.

"Imitation!"

That word was seared into his brain, disturbing his peace and ominously suggesting that something was amiss.

"Impossible!" Bernard shook his head, his gaze sharpening as he regained his confidence, "The pork skin requires water at 95 degrees Celsius for soaking, and the meat is cooked in water at 80 degrees Celsius... That tiny difference in temperature makes a difference in texture and taste, ha! The gap lies in the details. Do you think those obsessive judges would tolerate these flaws!"

His gaze swept across the sidelines to the judges’ bench, pausing on one of the judges, a beautiful woman with long, wavy, flaxen hair; Bernard recognized her as Melissa, a prominent gourmet in the French culinary world, also known as a famous European actress. Winning her over with his cooking, and thereby earning her favor, meant becoming her esteemed guest.

However, Melissa was least tolerant of "flaws" and "perfunctory" dishes. Her critiques could teach chefs the true meaning of a sharp tongue, and the most malevolent of criticisms.

At this moment, Melissa’s complexion didn’t look good, her lovely eyes faintly conveying annoyance.

Bernard knew that this irritation was not directed at him but at his opponent—the young special chef audacious enough to imitate his rival’s cooking in such an international competition.

"You’ve brought this upon yourself; don’t blame me."

He lowered his eyes slightly, knowing better than to let his focus stray too far during cooking. Bernard gathered his attention and lifted a small bag from beneath his station, pouring some finely granulated ingredients into a clean stainless steel bowl with a rattle.

Buckwheat!

The mild aroma of the grain wafted up, Bernard’s lips curling into a smile as he rinsed it with water before emptying the bowl of buckwheat into the pot already steaming on the stove.

Inside was a large pot of stock!

This was an essential step in crafting the French delicacy "boudin noir." Why it was buckwheat instead of barley, Bernard believed the judges would later explain to the audience.

The pork skin, meat, and liver were ready.

The pork meat was ground, and the pork skin had to be ground as well—the meat didn’t require high precision, but the pork skin needed to be as finely ground as possible, along with the liver. Bernard avoided using mechanical grinders, preferring to work entirely by hand.

After about twenty minutes.

Bernard evenly mixed the prepared seasonings and spices with the ground meat, ground pork skin, and ground liver.

He used a large, deep container for this step.

He then poured in the not-yet-set "blood of cow, pig, and fowl" and immediately after, lifted the pot of stock that had been boiling for over half an hour off the heat. He tilted the pot, and the mushy buckwheat paste tumbled into the container with a splash.

Mix!

Bernard was sweating profusely, but the subtle upturn of his lips suggested he was in a good mood.

"Excellent!"

He muttered to himself, "Every step has been executed perfectly, with no mistakes. Next, I’ll fill the hog casings with the mixture, simmer for about an hour, and the boudin noir will be complete..."

Just as this crossed his mind, he was jolted by a sudden commotion that erupted around him.

What happened?

While stirring, Bernard blankly looked up, and then his pupils abruptly constricted.

Across from him.

Xia Yu was a step behind him, not immediately stirring the mixture but pausing at this step; from Bernard’s point of view, he could clearly see Xia Yu busy at the counter with an array of spice jars before him.

"This..."

Bernard was taken aback but then a sneer flickered through his eyes, and he thought sarcastically, "I get it, he wants to alter the spice formula. However, black pepper, allspice, Mojiao Lan, and minced onion—that’s a combination of spices I’ve perfected through numerous trials, verging on ideal. Unless you completely knock down the formula...and rebuild!"

"But this is the scene of an international competition!"

Bernard chuckled softly.

"This young special chef is unexpectedly bold... or rather, foolish! Ignorant!"

The commotion in the venue is precisely due to their differing approach in the final steps.

Previously, their actions mirrored each other, yet at the critical moment of mixing, no one expected the young special chef, who had been tailing his opponent closely and imitating them, to suddenly drift past on the curve, catching everyone off guard and causing their jaws to drop.

"What is he doing!"

"He’s improvising the opponent’s recipe on the spot! That’s reckless!"

"This is a desecration of an international competition!"

A chorus of doubt, even curses, arose as some began to question Xia Yu’s culinary skills.

"Hehe..."

Tiqie Ji laughed with great delight.

Mars and Elizabeth were left speechless.

In the Polar Star Dormitory far away in Tokyo, a group of friends covered their mouths, stunned.

Takeomi and Isami sat in the dormitory, staring blankly at the laptop screen, witnessing the scene unfold. Takeomi suddenly thought of the ’Complete Hunter’ Mizuo Ang.

Imitation was one thing, but Mizuo Ang needed to spend a lot of time and effort gathering information on his opponents before he could present his imitative creations and make targeted modifications during a showdown.

And Instructor Xia...

Takeomi’s heart thumped wildly, "Will he succeed?"

"If he does..."

The young man from Italy didn’t dare to continue the thought.

In the video, Xia Yu also started his mixing.

The ingredients were largely similar, including minced pork, pork skin, and pork liver, as well as mashed buckwheat. However, when it came to the spice blend, Xia Yu had something to say.

"Black pepper, allspice, Mojiao Lan, minced onions... this combination is too ordinary!"

"What the heck!"

Xia Yu chuckled softly to himself. With his current mastery in the realm of spices, not making changes was simply unbearable, "Demolish it! Completely demolish it!"

"Ground pepper, Sichuan pepper powder, yes, crushed green onions and ginger can also be added to remove any gaminess."

"Cinnamon, cardamom, cloves."

"What else is there?"

As he stirred in the dust of spices, Xia Yu peered into the mixture in the container, feeling that the color still wasn’t quite enough, "Adding some soy sauce should be alright, right?"

Thinking of oils, a spark of inspiration flashed in his mind, and he turned his head to look intensely at Chiyoda Aichi beside him. The female host was momentarily taken aback before stepping forward to ask quietly, "Chef Xia, what do you need?"

"Do you have any animal fat oil from beef, pork, or poultry?" he asked.

"Uh..."

Chiyoda Aichi immediately scurried off the stage, and the director picked up the walkie-talkie to check with the ingredient warehouse. A few minutes later, a small box of ’beef, pork, and poultry fat oil’ did indeed arrive. Xia Yu finely chopped the fat and tossed it in, stirring and stirring—as if there should be a Stirring Song to set the mood now.

After the mixing was done, they moved onto the unmentionable task of stuffing the pig intestines.

Ten minutes later.

Several red blood sausages curled up in the deep pot.

"Click!"

Both participants almost simultaneously opened the valves, and flames scorched the bottom of the pot.

Half an hour later, the blood sausages were taken out of the pot, drained, and left to cool. The expressions on the audience’s faces, however, seemed off, as if they’d lost their souls.

Even Bernard’s heartstrings thrummed fiercely.

Drawn by some mysterious attraction, he looked up towards Xia Yu’s side.

"What’s happened..."