BZZZZ!
The sound of the buzzer rang across the dining hall. Two hours passed in a blink of an eye, each student was able to prepare a dish either it was an appetizer or a main dish. The hall fumes of different mouthwatering aroma, despite being on the same hall the different smell of the dishes don't clash on each other, in fact, if one walk across the hall, the aroma was like a symphony of flavors in andante
Like how your nose will draw in some scent of fresh citrus dressing on your first step but as you stroll forward whiffs of rich spices revolves around you in a harmony that will boost your spirits. At the end of the hall held a pungent smell of smoke wood from a pink alder tree together with the fragrance of some sweetmeat, preferentially beef or pork, either way, it was mouthwatering!
"Well done my students, make sure to keep your dishes first on the warm keepers or other devices or containers to preserve the freshness of your dish if necessary. We will now start to judge alphabetically."
Miss Laura nodded in satisfaction, the other two judges walked beside her as they started to taste test different dishes prepared by the students. The first five students prepared common entrées, as expected from the fifth section of the first years. Satisfying yet barely suffice for the high standards of the professors.
"Next one, Lily!" Miss Laura ordered.
A cute little girl about 4'11 in height with huge brown doll-like irises that seem to shine as the cute little girl with curly brown hair smiles. She moved forward to the judges' table holding a white ceramic platter that seems so large for his size. The platter held 4 moderately size portion of a lobster's claw. The scent of the cool and salty breeze of the ocean with a hint of butter revolves around her cute stature.
"Looks like another main dish for the 6th time." Mr. Bacon who was writing on his evaluation paper spoke without even looking at the dish that was served. The scent was enough for him to deduce what kind of meal was prepared.
"Lily Dew, Student 24Y-0013. My main ingredient was a Fatalobster."
The moment Mr. Bacon heard the name of the ingredient, he raised his head to see the art of the orange-red lobster claws that was platted akin to a fan and the claws would be the blades. At the open end of the claw oozes out some reddish-white paste-like substance that glimmers as the light hits its surface which adds to the elegance of the dish.
On the side of the hall, Nil was astounded as he saw the dish by Lily. Ice cream made out of a poisonous crustacean? Interesting. Nil thought.
Preparing a Fatalobster requires a special preparation process to remove the poisonous veins inside the flesh of the lobster's claw. Which is used by the Fatalobster to hunt its prey or defend from its predator, so as the system of Nil relayed.
Lily was one of the students in his class that Nil was looking out for. Base on what he knows, despite Lily being a cute doll-like little girl, she was at the level of a peak novice battle chef.
Which is to say the same prowess before Nil got hit system.
"I wonder why is she in this class." Nil whispered to himself.
...
The judges started to try the appetizing dish before them. Each of them holds the claw of the fatalobster in a manner like how one would hold a cone. And scoop out the 'ice cream'.
None of the three judges found any anomalies in the preparation of the lobster nor does the final dish had a tinge of the stinky poison of the lobster claws. Even the color was perfectly arrange showing Lily's carefulness in doing this dish.
"Fatalobster huh?" Miss Laura was the first one to taste out the dish and immediately followed by the other two.
As the cold cream made out of lobster touched Miss Laura's tongue and palate she felt the small waves of the ocean gently hitting her barefoot, it was relaxing, the slightest stink of fishiness was inexistent as well as the fishy taste of the lobster was nowhere to be found. Only the sweet mellow and light taste of the lobster's flesh was imminent
The other two judges Mr. Tofee and Mr. Bacon can't help but look at each other before having another scoop of the lobster ice cream.
The sweetness was addicting they never thought how a poisonous lobster can be so deliciously sweet.
"The texture of the ice cream was on point, not too hard nor too soft. Must have used some special way to puree the lobster meat?" Mr. Bacon asked
"Sir, I used an immersion blender slowly to deal with the soft lobster meat and used the advanced setting of the Freezinometer to provide the texture of the ice cream," Lily explained with her cutesy voice.
"The hint of butter used on the hard shell of the claw provides the support for the gentle smell of the sea that cleanses away the fishy scent of the seafood.. indeed, this is unique." Miss Laura nodded while evaluating the ice cream prepared by Lily.
Nil again on the corner hearing the evaluation of the judges made him felt insecure. I might really need to step up my game! I need to keep an eye on that dangerous little lass. Forget about being low-key with this gift I stumbled upon.
...
Another set of students went for the taste testing until it was Nil's turn to present his dish.
"Nil O'Berry, Student 17X-0247. My main ingredient was a Rock Eggs and The Shabu-Shabu broth from the mountain top."
Upon opening the 3 covered japanase meshiwan bowls the savory scent of the broth was given off by the perfectly cooked white rice. The rice was well done and didn't end up having a porridge-like texture like what everyone was expecting. The rice itself was a mix of some meat, mushrooms, and some natural herbs from the mountain's broth.
The rich earthy scent of the mountain was present as well as the presence of some spices making the rice itself a perfect dish alone.
The plating of rice was in the likes of a mountain with a crater of the top where the rich yolk of the rock egg sits like a sun setting down on the mountains.
"Please enjoy my humble dish, Melting Sun!" Nil bowed as he offered the tray that holds the three bowls of rice.
The three judges instantly grabbed a bowl for each other. It was like the cuisine Nil made was pulling their hands to gobble it down.
Mr. Bacon inspected the rice first and found out some little chips of fried egg white were present. It was perfectly mixed with the white rice. This is a rare skill! What a waste he was thrown on the fifth section! He thought.
The three judges popped the yolk sitting on top of the rice which flowed down from the mountain like rice. Covering the tiny bits of rice and other ingredients Like lava flowing down from an erupting volcano or the sun melting like butter on top of a hill.
Miss Laura once again was the first one to have a spoonful mouthwatering rice meal by Nil.
After having her first spoon a strong feeling of being in a rainforest surrounds her. The earthy musk of the mountain and the soft whistling wind of the mountain were felt on a single bite.
The richness of the yolk perfectly harmonizes with rice cooked in the mountain's broth. Mr. Tofee thought, trying to figure out the dish's secret. But to no afford he was completely drowned savoring the rich flavors inside the bowl.
A grin was formed on Miss Laura's lips as she whispered. "I think we will have a fun winter selection for this year."
Mr. Tofee who heard the words of Miss Laura straighten himself and rebutted. "Though I praise this dish by Nil I won't be so on top, it was always the fourth year students who reign on the selection."
"We will see, Tofee! But for now, let's enjoy this food!" Miss Laura answered.
Mr. Bacon who was silently evaluating the dish by Nil already figured out what enhanced the flavors of the dish. A whiff of sun-dried Karasumi Powder to complement with the earthy taste of the broth huh? You even remastered the natural perfect flavor of the broth to work perfectly with rice. Nice try lad, definitely a talented one!
"Regular mainline chefs would be ashamed if they have a bite on this dish, Marvelous! Especially the unique prep for the egg? It was quite a sight to witness I can say!" Mr. Bacon Praised.
Nil was inwardly boasting to himself from the praises he continuously receiving. Unaware of the eyes that were watching the whole cooking session from the corridors of the hall.
...
"It was good that I bothered myself spectating this class, really this year holds numerous talents across the country!" A bearded old aged man wearing a navy blue coat walked away from Hall E with a smile on his face whispered.