Reborn in Japan as a Chef God
Chapter 511 - 510: [Golden Wheat]

Chapter 511: Chapter 510: [Golden Wheat]

"Ding..."

"You have defeated a special dish (with Legendary Kitchenware bonus)."

"Awarded 5 Talent Points."

"New seed unlocked—[Golden Wheat]."

Golden Wheat?

Xia Yu immediately pulled up the information.

"[Golden Wheat] (Gold): A dazzling golden wheat, each grain brimming with terrifying amounts of carotene, even more radiant than ’Gem Meat,’ the most fitting dream ingredient for making noodles."

"Price: 100 grams of seeds/10,000 Fame Points."

An ingredient even more precious than ’Gem Meat’?

A swell of surprise and delight rose in her eyes—it was like a pie falling from the sky. In comparison, the frightening price of ’Golden Wheat’ seemed inconsequential to Xia Yu. Fame Points spent can be earned back, the worry was having too many with nowhere to spend them.

"The most important ingredient for noodles, without a doubt, is flour."

"If I can successfully grow ’Golden Wheat,’ then wouldn’t all my noodle recipes be able to evolve?" Xia Yu’s thoughts wandered far and wide.

After a brief stay backstage and a short rest, Xia Yu returned to the front to join the Far Moon Team.

The second match had already begun.

Representing the Tang Family was a young man around 27 or 28 years old named Tang Jingtiao, going up against one of the Far Moon Team’s aces, Dojima Yin!

When Xia Yu returned, the topic had just been selected by Chiyoda Aichi tossing a dart—

"Soup!"

"Soup?"

Xia Yu took her seat, and Zhu Qing and Eriina both turned their gazes toward her.

"Do you feel lucky to have won?" Zhu Qing asked with a smirk.

Xia Yu simply smiled in response, choosing not to reply. A win was a win—saying too much might come off as arrogant. Tang Yuqiong’s excellence was undeniable. Had it not been for the pastry topic that hit right in her wheelhouse with the golden recipes, if it were any other topic, Xia Yu would have been at a great disadvantage.

"Such a delightful dessert, indeed!"

Saito Chiyokuro also sighed with admiration, patting her shoulder and saying, "Now I understand why Souma struggles so hard chasing after you, only for you to pull further ahead. Happiness and relaxation, simplicity is the real secret. Even if Souma grasps this, it’s hard for him to showcase it in his cooking. It requires patience and accumulation!"

Having said that, the ’Shura’ glanced over the guests, his eyes resting on the man with a sullen visage clad in black.

"I’m suddenly looking forward to your showdown with him."

At these words, Xia Yu paused, her lips pursing as she said, "Mr. Saito, from what you’re saying, do you agree to step aside and let me have a cooking battle with him?"

Saito Chiyokuro’s face bore an inscrutable expression.

"Who knows. First, let’s defeat Tang’s Team and move into the semifinals."

Xia Yu was silent.

Soon after, the ingredients requested by the chefs on stage were all prepared.

The camera zoomed in, focusing first on Tang Jingtiao’s station, which caused a stir in the arena due to his bizarre choice of ingredients.

"Softshell turtle, salt-pickled plums... and honeydew melon?!" Tiqie Helinai blinked in astonishment, puzzled, "Making softshell turtle soup I can understand, but what on earth are these other ingredients?"

Xia Yu, however, wore an expression of not altogether unexpected curiosity.

Zhu Qing glanced at her and asked curiously, "What’s up, Yu, you figured something out?"

"Dragon Town Restaurant Tang Family, as the century-old leader dominating Shanghai’s culinary world, naturally possesses a vast array of ancient recipes." Xia Yu chuckled, "On the other hand, I’m more curious about what President Dojima has whipped up in response for a soup recipe."

The teasing undertone was clear in Xia Yu’s voice.

Tiqie Zongwei laughed, "Instructor Xia, rest assured. President Dojima won’t fall into the ’soup’ category trap. In a feast, soup is typically served after the appetizer and before the main course, which is the same whether it’s Western or Japanese cuisine. The purpose is to stimulate the appetite—"

Xia Yu nodded her head.

As the gong rang, Tang Jingtiao and Dojima Yin began simultaneously.

Tang Jingtiao started by butchering the softshell turtle, washing it under running tap water until not a trace of blood remained. Such attention to detail was crucial because softshell turtles inherently have a strong fishy smell; a mishandling could ruin an entire pot of soup.

Afterward, the butchered and bled turtle had to be blanched for a few minutes in hot water between 70 and 80 degrees Celsius, a step which also aimed at removing any gamey taste. Tang Jingtiao blanched it twice, adding cooking wine and ginger slices only on the second round.

The third step, simmering the soup!

The fourth step, pouring the initially simmered thick soup into a hollowed-out cantaloupe with an open top, and then putting both the melon and the soup into a sealed steaming basket to steam!

"Bouncing Turtle Soup, huh..." Xia Yu pondered, then immediately turned his attention to Dojima Yin.

Dojima Yin’s ingredients were much more complicated.

Simmering bones and brisket for one hour, then sautéing with olive oil, minced garlic, and diced onions mixed with beef; one hour later, stew the broth with vegetables like potatoes and celery. His choice of spices was even more intricate. Xia Yu mentally noted, "Coarse sea salt, lemon juice, dry basil, black peppercorns, white pepper powder..."

By now, any professional chef would recognize Dojima Yin’s recipe —

Borscht!

But not the sweet beetroot-based Russian borscht, nor the Hong Kong version with a heavy use of tomato sauce; his ingredients and cooking procedures were infused with a strong personal style.

The 2-hour cooking segment ended.

Two types of clear soups, one in a cantaloupe, the other a bright yellow in a white bowl.

"Fish jelly?"

The five judges indeed showed more interest in Tang Jingtiao’s dish.

The Persian female judge lifted the cantaloupe with both hands, gave it a shake, and the soup within didn’t show even a hint of sloshing; she revealed an ’as expected’ smile, "A set turtle soup... cold?"

Scooping it out was like scooping up jelly, making for an unusual experience of needing to chew the soup.

While eating, the female judge mumbled vaguely, "Hmm, there’s a salty taste, the sourness is quite pronounced, such a strange flavor..."

Despite her raised eyebrow showing dissatisfaction, the spoon of the judge didn’t stop moving; she continuously scooped out the soup jelly to taste.

The other four judges ate with enjoyment as well.

Seeing this, Tang Jingtiao showed a look of pleasure and began to explain proactively, "Among all fish, turtle has the highest content of collagen. The saltiness and sourness come from salt-pickled plums, while a faint sweetness comes from the cantaloupe..."

The five judges quickly put down their spoons.

"Very appetizing!"

The chief judge revealed a faint smile and said, "However, it’s rather plain."

"Didn’t the previous ’open-mouth dessert’ not use Fantasy Ingredients either?" Tang Jingtiao shook his head, "The ’Bouncing Turtle Soup’ passed down in my Tang Family doesn’t need any extra ingredients to trigger all the appetites of the customers!"

"A clear soup for an appetizer doesn’t need to be overly delicious; adding Fantasy Ingredients to give the soup an ultimate flavor is like destroying the rules, leading to the ruin of a feast."

He said, his gaze flickering as he glanced at Dojima Yin’s white porcelain bowl holding the bright yellow soup.

"The quality of a clear soup mainly lies in its ability to lead to the subsequent dishes. In other words, it’s about the stimulation it gives to the diner’s appetite — the more it opens up one’s appetite, the better the clear soup," Tang Jingtiao said.

Dojima Yin applauded.

"I completely agree with your view!"

"Ladies and gentlemen, please try my special version of Borscht —" Dojima Yin said with a hearty laugh.

The judges scooped in.

Tang Jingtiao’s was a chilled set soup, while Dojima Yin’s was, without a doubt, hot. With one sip of soup, the judges’ faces flushed with a strange redness.

The judge from the far end, the Persian female judge, even covered her mouth and nose as her eyes rapidly reddened.

"You, you added mustard!"

The spicy flavor assaulted her nose from her mouth, and she looked at him with a resentful gaze.

"It’s just a little something to enhance the flavor."

Dojima Yin said with a smile, pointing at some vibrant green garnish in the soup bowl, "These are taro sprouts."

Crunch, crunch, crunch...

The judges chewed, with the natural sourness and the mustard mixing in their mouths.

With a rumble, a door loosened.

"A borscht with a hint of Japanese style?" the five judges murmured.