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Thin slices of bear meat were dipped into the spicy hot pot, absorbing the fiery red chili oil. The meat was coated in a glossy sheen of oil, bursting with a spicy, numbing freshness that made it irresistibly delicious.
"Fennel, star anise, cinnamon, and other hot pot spices completely mask the gamey flavor of the bear meat. The heat and numbing sensation distract from any odd aftertaste, leaving only the freshness of the meat and the rich flavor of the hot pot on your palate. It's spicy, numbing, and absolutely addictive!" Orie Sendawara's eyes sparkled with surprise. "Was this really made by someone who's just started cooking with bear meat?"
After all, the chef who used to prepare bear meat for them was a graduate of Totsuki, and his skills were on par with the current Elite Ten, especially in handling such unique ingredients.
Unexpectedly, this student—who had only recently begun working with bear meat—was able to create a dish no less exquisite than that of a seasoned chef.
"This is really delicious."
"Yes, you truly deserve to be in the Elite Ten," the gourmets exclaimed. The entire group had been won over by the bear meat hotpot, their faces dripping with sweat as they devoured the spicy, numbing meal. It was fiery, yet they couldn't stop eating.
"I see. He used the intensity of the hot pot to completely neutralize the gamey taste of the bear meat," Sui said, suddenly realizing the brilliance behind Kuga's strategy.
Hot pot is known for its strong flavors, and the soup's spiciness and richness easily mask the natural flavors of the ingredients.
"See? I told you," Kuga said, puffing up with pride.
"At least you didn't mess things up this time," Nene nodded in approval.
Next up was Eishi Tsukasa.
To Sui's surprise, Eishi had also chosen to prepare Bear Stroganina as his dish.
"Actually, Europeans are quite fond of Bear Stroganina as well, and dishes featuring it aren't uncommon," Eishi said to Sui with a warm smile. "We can exchange ideas after the exam."
"Of course," Sui replied with a nod.
"Bear Stroganina has less of that mutton-like smell compared to bear meat, but the challenge lies in the hardness of the meat. This is my first time making it. While I learned a bit about it while traveling abroad, it took me a while to figure it out," Eishi continued with his signature smile. "Now, please enjoy my Bear Stroganina stewed in red wine."
Eishi's method involved stewing the Bear Stroganina with rosemary, pine cones, and a blend of spices in red wine until the meat became tender. He then carefully sliced the thick skin into thin sashimi-like pieces. Once everything was perfectly cooked, he finished the dish with a dash of lemon juice for a bright, citrusy touch.
One bite filled the mouth with the rich, lingering taste of red wine, balanced by the sweet and tangy flavor of the lemon. The Bear Stroganina itself was succulent and tender.
"It's delicious! The outer layer of the Stroganina is tender and crispy. The whole dish is fragrant with wine and freshened up by the lemon," one of the gourmets praised.
"I've heard of Eishi Tsukasa's reputation before, and now I see why he's considered a genius!" another exclaimed.
If Kuga's hotpot had been a delightful surprise, Eishii's Bear Stroganina was a showstopper, completely mesmerizing the gourmets. None of them had tasted anything so extraordinary in past years.
"Haha, this wasn't just my work. Tōsuke and Saito also put in a lot of effort," Isshiki said modestly. "Saito's knife skills were responsible for preparing the Bear Stroganina, and Tōsuke handled the stewing."
"See how humble Eishi-senpai is? You could learn a thing or two from him, Ryō," Alice teased.
"Yeah, yeah, she's right. Look how humble I am," Sōma added with a grin.
"How shameless can you be?" Akira muttered, exasperated.
"Say, Eishi, why don't you join our group after graduation?" Natsume said with a flirtatious smile, swaying her ample chest as she cast him a tempting look.
"Haha, sorry. I don't have any post-graduation plans yet," Eishi replied with a laugh.
Next up were the dishes from other Elite Ten members.
Rindō's approach to eliminating the gamey smell of the bear meat differed from both Eishi's red wine stew and Kuga's hot pot. Instead, she chose to smoke the meat.
The bear meat smoked over pinewood had no unpleasant odor and was infused with a delicate pine fragrance, earning endless praise from the gourmets. They considered it just as outstanding as Eishi's dish.
"As expected from someone skilled in handling rare ingredients. She mastered a unique way to handle something as challenging as bear meat," Erina muttered under her breath.
"Yeah," Sui agreed, feeling like he had learned a lot from observing these top-tier chefs.
Finally, it was Sui's turn.
"Wait a minute, aren't you Sui?" Natsume recognized him and exclaimed in surprise.
Earlier, Sui had blended into the crowd, overshadowed by the likes of Eishi and Rindō, so no one had paid him much attention.
"Sui-kun, have you given any thought to my proposal from last time?" Orie asked as she approached, biting her finger playfully. She gazed at him with tender eyes, her voice soft and sultry.
"Huh? What proposal?" Sui asked, slightly taken aback.
"Don't tell me you've forgotten already! I asked if you wanted to be 'my' man," Orie said teasingly as she hugged Sui's arm, pressing her ample chest against him with a suggestive smile.
Sui was left speechless. He could feel two burning glares directed at him from behind.
"Sui, are you cheating on me?" Erina asked in a cold, jealous tone, her eyes filled with suspicion.
Sui raised his hands in helplessness. "It's not what it looks like."
"Sui, didn't you say you'd let me take care of you? So, when will you come over?" Natsume cooed as she walked over, purposefully shaking her chest and blowing a fragrant breath in Sui's direction.
"Sis, Sui already promised to be 'my' man. Isn't this unfair?" Orie protested, still clinging to Sui's arm.
"Who says he promised you anything? He hasn't agreed yet, right?" Natsume retorted, wrapping herself around Sui's other arm, her eyes gleaming with playful intent.
Nearby guests blushed at the sight of the two enchanting sisters vying for a student attention. It was clear they found the situation both amusing and overwhelming.