In Block A, the sound of bubbling coconut milk filled the air as it began to boil. It was like a hot spring gushing or the roaring sea, exuding a vigorous aura. Upon closer inspection, the coconut milk, which had been simmering, was now thick and deep in color. It seemed some ingredients had been added. While many were amazed, Akira wore a faint smile. He dropped a small piece of pandan leaf into the pot and simmered it over low heat.
Pandan leaf, often referred to as fragrant screwpine, is a common spice in Southeast Asia. It is typically blended into a juice and added to desserts, or used for stewing or wrapping food for frying.
"It's incredible. Even though there are 30 contestants cooking at the same time, each emitting different aromas, Akira's unfinished curry stands out with its distinct fragrance," remarked Roland Chapelle, a lecturer seated in the audience. He sniffed the air, detecting the clear scent of pandan leaf. Turning to Shiomi Jun, he continued, "Professor Shiomi, your student is truly exceptional."
Clearly, Akira Hayama had unveiled his trump card in Block A: his mastery of spices.
"Not bad. He's indeed skilled in using spices," responded Jun, scratching her head with a smile.
As everyone marveled at Akira's dish, an unexpected stench quickly overpowered the pleasant aroma of the curry. Moments ago, everyone was immersed in the delightful scent of coconut milk and pandan leaf, but now they were almost fainting from the stench.
"Ugh! What a horrible smell!"
"It smells like rotten fish!"
"Who would use such a foul ingredient in a cooking competition?"
"Look, it's coming from Nao Sadatsuka's station."
"Really? Rotten fish?"
"That's disgusting! How can she use such spoiled ingredients in the autumn selection?"
The overpowering stench made everyone want to flee, but Nao Sadatsuka calmly continued to handle the dried fish.
Like Hisako, Nao idolized Erina. When they were in middle school, they even had a cooking battle over their admiration for her. Nao lost miserably due to her lack of skill. According to their agreement, she could not come within 50 meters of Erina. Unable to get close, she resorted to spying on her from a distance with binoculars and sending her 30 letters a day, which was quite obsessive.
"Hehehe! Even if you beat me last time, so what? Hisako, you'll see that my cooking is just as good as yours now," Nao said confidently as she stirred the foul-smelling stew, glancing at Hisako.
Time flew by, like an unceasing traveler, and the two-hour cooking period ended.
"Time's up. Please stop cooking and prepare for the judging," announced the loudspeaker. In Block B, the female host, Kawashima Rei, reappeared on stage. "Let me explain the judging process for this round. As you can see, each block has three judges, and each judge can award up to 33 points per dish. This means the highest possible score for a dish is 99 points. The top four contestants in each block will advance to the quarter-finals."
"Alright, first up is the contestant with sour and spicy curry chicken. Judges, please taste the dish and give your scores."
The atmosphere buzzed with excitement. While watching the cooking process was thrilling, the real excitement came from the judges' tasting and scoring. Besides the Curry Queens, Osaji, the head of the renowned Kiita Gourmet Club, was also judging. What kind of dishes would impress these culinary giants?
Sour and spicy curry chicken, made with onions, chicken thighs, carrots, and potatoes, and seasoned with curry, ginger, white pepper, fish sauce, a little salt, sugar, coconut milk, and dried lime leaves, seemed simple. Normally, such a curry wouldn't stand out, but this was the autumn selection. The judges knew that ingredients weren't the only factor in determining a dish's flavor and quality. They tasted it carefully.
A rich chicken aroma filled their mouths. Osaji, the plump judge, closed his eyes and savored the flavors. "Ah, this is Siamese-style curry! It's a mix of sour spices creating a delightful fragrance. It's a variation of Siamese curry, with added coconut milk to balance the flavors, making it unique."
"Exactly. This curry is quite enjoyable for the first few bites," agreed Chihiro. She took another bite, appreciating the tender, well-seasoned chicken, noting that the ratio of turmeric to cumin was a precise 1:0.8. The balance made the curry neither too strong nor too mild.
"Interesting. It's different from regular curry chicken. And the bones have been removed, making it easier to eat," she added, pleased.
The contestant beamed, thrilled by the positive feedback.
Undoubtedly, the sour and spicy curry chicken was outstanding. The chicken's quality was enhanced by the sour and spicy flavors, and the curry brought the dish to a higher level. Spices like cloves, coriander, mustard seeds, cumin, turmeric, and chili made the curry exceptionally fragrant. The three judges began scoring the dish, and the final score was:
36 points.
"What? Only 36 points?"
"Is there a mistake with the scoring system?"
"What's going on? The feedback was so good, but the score is so low?"
"11, 12, 13… Is that really their scores?"
Everyone stared at the large screen displaying the score of 36, shocked and disbelieving.
The students in the autumn selection were supposed to be the best, but this result was baffling. Kawashima Rei was stunned but quickly recovered. "Judges, each of you can award up to 33 points, not…"
"Do you think this dish deserves higher scores?" Natsume interrupted coldly, reminding everyone of their expertise as Curry Queens.
The contestant felt a cold sweat, realizing the judges were far more demanding than the Totsuki graduates who judged the training camp. These judges were seasoned food critics with discerning palates. Conquering their tastes with ordinary dishes was nearly impossible.
"Can we move on to the next contestant?" Chihiro broke the tense silence.
"Alright, next up!" announced Kawashima Rei.
The next contestant's dish, carrot curry rice, looked even simpler. But as the judges tasted it, their taste buds were awakened by the vibrant flavors, even though the dish was less complex than the previous one. The final score was:
27 points.
Even lower than the previous dish.
"Next," Natsume sighed, feeling disappointed.
"Next contestant, please," continued Kawashima Rei.
The third contestant's dish scored 25 points. Then it was Miyoko's turn with her pineapple curry fried rice. The dish's appearance was striking, with colorful rice, yellow pineapple, and dark curry, making it instantly appetizing.
The juicy pineapple and curry flavors melded beautifully, each grain of rice infused with rich aromas. The yellow eggs glistened, and bits of green onion were sprinkled on top.
"Not another curry rice," Chihiro complained, but she had no choice but to taste it.
The rice was soft yet firm, and the pineapple's crunch complemented the curry's spiciness, creating a harmonious blend of flavors. The addition of vegetables and meats added nutrition and texture, making the dish complete.
"Amazing! The rice is perfectly cooked, each grain distinct and shiny. The curry's rich aroma, with hints of turmeric and exotic spices, awakens the taste buds. The pineapple's sweet and sour flavor contrasts beautifully with the spicy curry," Chihiro exclaimed, amazed by the dish's complexity despite its simple ingredients.
Miyoko's dish scored an impressive:
87 points!