Reborn in Japan as a Chef God
Chapter 518 - 517: Beyond the Classical

Chapter 518: Chapter 517: Beyond the Classical

"Ladies and gentlemen, sorry to have kept you waiting!"

Mars’s voice, diffused by the sound equipment, was as steady as ever, the embodiment of a magnate’s demeanor, even though his youthful, envy-inducing baby face made him look much younger than his age. Yet, nobody underestimated him because of that face.

At his words, the venue fell into dead silence, the lights focusing on Mars who was serving up his dish, against the background of the audience’s astonished faces.

"This, it’s only been an hour!"

Someone exclaimed in shock upon checking the timer. The cooking segment was supposed to be two hours, but only half that time had passed and he was already serving?

"Pay attention! His dish... he hasn’t even used a pan to heat it!"

"Or rather, the stove was merely a decoration!"

There was a commotion.

"Raw vegetables?"

"The meat is raw, and so are the minced mushrooms, salmon roe..."

Amid the voices, Mars approached the judging table with five dishes, carefully placing each exquisite white porcelain plate in front of each of the five judges, then respectfully took a step back.

In each white plate lay a colorful double-layered patty.

The red and tender strands of meat were tightly intertwined, indistinguishable from one another, forming a round and solid embryo.

But the patties weren’t just meat. The finely diced ’Rose Mushrooms’ were scattered amongst the meat strands, each tiny piece like a crushed rose petal, of course, not red but pure white, emitting a rich fragrance. The judges, slightly closing their eyes in intoxication, seemed as if they’d been transported to a sea of roses, breathing in deeply, their minds filled with nothing but the sophisticated fragrance of flowers.

"My god..."

Chiyoda Aichi, the female host approaching, seemed to enter a mysterious domain, her body tensing up involuntarily as she covered her mouth, her pupils suddenly dilating as if beholding a resplendent feast for the senses.

Whoosh—

A breeze from the Mediterranean.

In front of her was an endless, vibrant field of roses.

Surrounded by the elegant and rich scent of flowers, Chiyoda was like a newborn, following the most primal call of her heart, ascending the highest slope of the flower field.

The dazzling sunlight made her shield her eyes but, once they adjusted to the light, she lowered her hands to take in the view, and there before her was a sea as blue as a mirror, reflecting the sunlight, so it sparkled with gold.

After a while, when Chiyoda opened her eyes again and focused on the judges’ table, the ’golden salmon roe’ presented in a rounded shape at the base of the patty caught her eye. She murmured to herself, "So the scent of the ocean I was sensing came from this..."

Even from a distance, the mere act of smelling the dish caused the female host’s cheeks to flush and her eyes to mist up, clearly finding pleasure in the aroma.

The judges were even more affected.

Among them, Xia Yu recognized three judges he knew. One was the Persian female judge who had praised him during his earlier confrontation with Tang Yuqiong, and the other two were the glamorous French actress Melissa and the cowboy Nois who loved to sing North American folk songs.

Melissa and the Persian female judge were even more exaggerated in their reactions.

With her hands cradling her tipsy and charming cheeks, the French starlet Melissa couldn’t stop marveling, "Such an elegant dish, the ingredients have been completely awakened, the aroma vividly radiating... I can’t hold back anymore!"

"I, I can’t hold back either!"

The Persian female judge kept wiping away drool.

The other three male judges had stronger composure, with the first appearing to be an elderly chief judge from France, pointed to the patty on the plate, asking with slight trepidation, "Is this... Tartar Beef?"

Ah!

Upon the French chief judge’s remark, many professional chefs’ expressions jolted, and from the general audience arose numerous fair realizations and exclamations.

Tartar Beef is a traditional French dish; simply put, it’s a raw beef patty.

However, it is ultimately a traditional recipe that varies immensely in interpretation from one chef to another.

Don’t assume that raw meat is nasty, bloody, and off-putting; if you overcome the mental barrier and try a bite, the refreshing and rich, layered flavor of Tartar Beef is downright memorable and unforgettable.

And now, the dish presented by Mars indeed bore the shadow of "Tartar Beef."

The camera focused on Mars.

Chiyoda Aichi also cast an inquiring glance at him.

"My recipe is indeed inspired by the traditional ’Tartar Beef,’" Mars seemed very composed. There was nothing shameful about drawing from traditional recipes. After all, isn’t the very reason traditional dishes are passed down and spread across the world that they are sufficiently classic?

By saying this, he immediately won the favor of many chefs skilled in French cuisine.

After all, as one of the world’s top three cuisines today, countless chefs hail from French cuisine. With the evolution of French cuisine, it has become more popularly known as Western cuisine, encompassing many countries across Europe, America, and Oceania, making it the largest cuisine in terms of global coverage!

Most notably, Shigong Xiaoci Lang at the newly opened Tokyo branch, also cast a respectful gaze at the titan on the screen.

"Shush!"

Mars put a finger to his lips, stilling the words of Chiyoda Aichi and several judges, and with a smile, said, "Please eat first. One must taste to have a say. The scent is but the outermost veil of my ’Flame Rose Patty.’ Tear off this veil, and you shall receive the supreme delight of the dish!"

Gurgle.

Not only the judges and the hostess, but upon hearing his deliberately mysterious and enticing voice, a multitude of spectators couldn’t help but swallow.

"Eat!"

"Eat, eat, eat!"

Melissa and the Persian Female Judge took their spoons and, with a zing, pierced the layer of ’golden salmon roe.’ Then came the shredded meat below.

All five judges simultaneously swallowed!

Thump, thump, thump...

The salmon roe playfully popped on their tongues.

But after that, whoosh, the flames came sweeping by. The heated salmon roe melted, the thick egg membrane burst, and a golden liquid shimmered as it flooded their mouths. The judges’ scalps exploded, as if a bucket of icy deep-sea water had been poured over their heads.

Hmm?!

The judges collectively looked up at the ceiling of the venue, their minds filled with images of countless pure white rose petals floating in the air. The rich aroma of ’rose mushrooms’ had somehow broken through the blockade of the salmon roe’s freshness.

Suddenly, the pupils of the judges narrowed.

The petals on the screen were swiftly ignited, turning into burning white blossoms falling into the golden liquid of salmon roe, booming into a flaming ocean capable of consuming the entire world!

Clip-clop, clip-clop...

Clear hoofbeats resonated as fiery black steeds emerged from the sea of flames, each bearing its own blaze. These horses, once fierce in the eyes, became incredibly gentle, bowed their heads before the judges, and invited them to ride and explore this fantastical world.

Asphyxiation, a sense of weightlessness!

Back in the real world, at the judges’ seats, the five judges covered their hearts, their faces showing expressions of utter amazement.

"Phew—"

After a while, the judges took a deep breath with racing heartbeats and silently polished off the dish with their spoons.

Chiyoda Aichi looked ruefully, as others savored the delicacy, she could only watch. She pursed her lips, reining in her emotions, and looked at the judges, asking, "What are your thoughts, esteemed judges?"

No one responded; each judge remained silent, eyes closed in their chairs.

Mars stood by smiling, not hurrying them, while he also spared a glance at the cooking station behind him, which had been forgotten by the others.

"Hard to say..."

"It’s a feeling difficult to describe!"

It took a while before any judge spoke up.

"How should I put this..." Female Judge Melissa held her still-flushing, alluring cheeks.