The large red lacquered door, adorned with a black and golden nametag at the top, looked grand. Gray wooden beams and columns decorated the entrance, blending naturally with the climbing vines. The design was both classic and stylish.
In front of the palace-like entrance, majestic stone lions stood guard, as if protecting this solemn place. Moonlight bathed the glazed tiles, casting a silvery glow that added to the palace's mysterious and majestic aura.
The door frame was intricately carved with various beautiful patterns. Upon entering, one would find winding corridors and pathways that made it feel like a maze.
Inside, red walls and green tiles complemented each other, creating a stunning visual. The interior was lavishly decorated, exuding an air of grandeur.
This place was the headquarters of Totsuki Academy's Chinese Cuisine Research Society and the domain of the eighth seat of the Elite Ten, Kuga Terunori.
---
"Heh heh!"
"The Moon Banquet Festival is finally starting."
"Tsukasa-senpai, this time I will challenge you again in a culinary showdown, and... I want to win!"
In the kitchen, Kuga put down his knife and stared at the neatly cut tofu cubes on the cutting board, lost in thought.
His memory drifted back to last year's Autumn Leaves Festival.
Back then, he was young and arrogant, not considering the Elite Ten as a threat.
He even challenged the Elite Ten at the festival, and Tsukasa Eishi was the only one who accepted his food war challenge.
The result?
As expected, given the vast difference in their abilities, Tsukasa easily defeated Kuga with a score of 5-0.
Despite the loss, Kuga did not feel discouraged. Instead, he challenged Tsukasa again, stating that if he could achieve the highest sales in his area for five consecutive days in his second year, they would have another food war.
For Kuga, this year's festival was crucial for determining whether he could challenge Tsukasa's position again.
---
In reality, the so-called Elite Ten of Totsuki Academy held significant control over the academy's resources, including ingredients, cooking utensils, and equipment—resources that greatly impacted a chef's performance.
Due to the intense competitive environment, all Elite Ten members were expected to manage and budget their resources efficiently to produce the best dishes.
Take Erina Nakiri, for example. As the lowest-ranked member of the Elite Ten, the annual budget she required was astronomical and intimidating.
Moreover, Erina frequently sought to take over other research societies' resources, often using food wars to seize control.
As a result, many Totsuki students were terrified when talking about the Elite Ten.
---
Kuga snapped back to reality and began heating oil in a pan, stirring in minced meat and Mapo tofu sauce until the red oil emerged.
He then heated another oil pan, sautéing green onions, ginger, and garlic before adding the minced meat to cook until golden brown, then adding a bit of cooking wine for fragrance.
Next, he added Sichuan pepper and fermented black beans, stirring in two spoons of bean paste until the red oil appeared.
He poured in a bowl of broth, seasoning with salt, soy sauce, and chili powder, and brought it to a boil.
Finally, he added the tofu cubes, boiled them for five minutes, and sprinkled chopped green onions before serving the dish.
---
After finishing the Mapo tofu, Kuga tasted a small piece.
The tofu was firm yet tender, with a smooth and delicate texture, a characteristic aroma, and an irresistible taste that lingered on the palate.
"It's so strange."
"The ingredients and steps are almost identical."
"But why does my Mapo tofu always differ so much from the one made at the tavern?"
"What's the missing element?"
Swallowing, Kuga felt frustrated.
He couldn't understand why his Mapo tofu differed from Zane's, despite both being Chinese cuisine.
"Forget it, I'll make another batch of Mapo tofu."
"After all, my goal for this Moon Banquet Festival is to achieve first place."
Kuga continued working busily.
---
"Captain, we have a problem."
At that moment, a second-year student with a shaved head burst into the kitchen, panicked: "There's a first-year high school student named Soma Yukihira who set up his stall right opposite ours."
"It looks like he wants to challenge us head-on!"
"Hmm?"
"Soma Yukihira?"
Kuga paused, recalling the unpleasant Autumn Leaves Festival encounter and the overly confident Yukihira.
Though he remembered Yukihira, Kuga didn't take him seriously.
---
The annual festival turned Totsuki Academy into a culinary paradise.
The performances of the Elite Ten during the festival always became highlights.
It's not an exaggeration to say that every stall and dish by the Elite Ten attracted immense attention. Yukihira targeting the Elite Ten during this festival was clearly a strategy to gain popularity and test his skills.
To Kuga, Yukihira's actions were foolish. Of all people, why provoke him?
"Interesting."
"A mere first-year with some success in the Autumn Elections is nothing to worry about."
Kuga dismissed Yukihira from his mind.
---
Leonora seemed to have dressed up deliberately today.
Her smooth hair flowed down her back, tied gently with a silver ribbon. As she walked, her clothes fluttered gracefully, making her look even more elegant and charming.
After enjoying the Braised Beef with Tomatoes, she wanted more and asked Zane for another recommendation.
Reluctantly, Zane decided to use his trump card:
The Giant Panda Magical Mapo Tofu!
"Taki, don't just stand there. Help me hold the sieve while I filter the soybean milk to make tofu."
Busy with his work, Zane glanced back at Taki and urged her.
"Oh."
Taki quickly snapped out of her daze and hurried over to help hold the sieve.
Zane poured a pot of black soybean milk through the sieve, filtering it. This puzzled Taki and the others.
"Zane, you want to make tofu?"
"Why is the soybean milk black?"
Taki asked curiously.
"The Giant Panda Magical Mapo Tofu is a new dish I recently developed."
"The black tofu is made from black soybeans and brown sugar."
Zane explained as he worked.
"Giant Panda?"
"Magical?"
"Mapo Tofu?"
Taki's mind filled with questions.
---
Soon, a wooden mold containing Mapo tofu was opened.
As the mold was lifted, an incredible sight appeared: black and white Mapo tofu resembling a giant panda. Zane quickly and skillfully removed the bamboo leaves, revealing neatly cut, evenly sized tofu cubes.
He then poured the prepared sauce over the tofu cubes.
The Giant Panda Magical Mapo Tofu was complete.
---
"What's going on?"
"How did you make these black and white tofu cubes?"
Leonora, who had watched the entire process, was astonished.
As the head of the Nakiri International Research Society, Leonora had vast culinary knowledge.
Yet even she couldn't comprehend the secret behind this "Giant Panda Magical Mapo Tofu."
"Watch closely."
"The key is at the bottom of this wooden mold."
Zane showed the bottom of the mold to Leonora and the others.
"First, line the bottom with bamboo leaves and spread a layer of lard, followed by a layer of black semi-finished tofu."
"Then, add another layer of lard and white semi-finished tofu, repeating the process."
"This creates the black and white tofu cubes."
"Because of the resemblance to a panda and the use of Mapo tofu sauce, the dish is named Giant Panda Magical Mapo Tofu."
---
Leonora finally understood: "I see. This dish is very creative!"
Unable to contain her excitement, she took a small piece of tofu with a spoon and observed it closely.
Then, curious, she asked, "What kind of beans did you use for the black tofu?"
"Black soybeans and brown sugar," Zane explained again.
"Black soybeans?"
Leonora was surprised again.
Finally, she eagerly tasted the dish.
---
Red.
Black.
White.
These were the three colors of the Giant Panda Magical Mapo Tofu.
The red was the special sauce, the black was the black tofu made from black soybeans and brown sugar, and the white was the usual tofu.
---
The initial taste wasn't the expected spiciness but rather a surprisingly mild flavor.
The intense heat from the chili was balanced perfectly, with only the Sichuan pepper's numbing sensation occasionally peeking through.
The special sauce had been thickened, allowing its flavor to penetrate the tofu.
This created a harmonious combination of spicy and numbing sauce with tender, smooth tofu, offering an extraordinary taste experience.
The tofu melted in the mouth, providing an indescribable sensation.
---
"Mmm~"
"From red to white, then from white to black, and back to red again!"
"This repetitive wave of flavors is simply exhilarating~"
Leonora's eyes sparkled with delight.
The black and white tofu, garnished with minced beef and green garlic sprouts, was coated in a shiny red oil, giving it an alluring appearance.
---
Upon tasting, it differed from the previous magical Mapo tofu, offering a new flavor:
Sweetness!
The black tofu, made from black soybeans, was elastic and tender.
It also had a refreshing sweetness, which amazed Leonora.
---
A simple piece of tofu could convey such profound flavors and emotions. The previous magical Mapo tofu had done so, and the Giant Panda Magical Mapo Tofu did the same.
---
"Huh?"
"Where did this sudden spiciness come from?"
Just as Leonora was savoring the dish, a sudden intense heat spread through her mouth, leaving her wide-eyed in surprise.
---
"Incredible! The spicy sensation
on my tongue is amazing."
"And the fiery heat, combined with the numbing from the Sichuan pepper, and the sweet taste of the tofu."
"All these flavors together enhance the overall taste of the Mapo tofu."
---
"Could this be the true flavor of the Giant Panda Magical Mapo Tofu?"
Leonora closed her eyes, entering a state of bliss she had never experienced before, one that words couldn't describe.
---
Finally, she opened her eyes, a bead of sweat rolling down her cheek and falling onto the table.
Taking a deep breath, she amazed everyone by picking up the entire plate and devouring the tofu cubes, leaving no sauce behind.
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