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At that moment, the Sendawara Sisters felt their bodies heat up as the overwhelming flavors engulfed their senses, prompting them to let out soft, ambiguous sounds of delight.
"That's right. First, we coat the bear meat with honey, fry it until golden brown, and then stew it in a broth with chicken and man-root to make it softer," Sui explained with a smile. This method enhances the bear meat by adding a touch of sweetness and caramelization from the honey, which balances the meat's richness. The gentle stewing process with chicken and man-root softens the texture, making it tender and easy to savor. The broth also adds depth to the dish, infusing the bear meat with subtle flavors without overpowering its unique taste.
There are various ways to prepare Bear Stroganina dishes, such as Yakutian cuisine's famed "First-Class Bear Stroganina" or Komi cuisine's spicy-fried version. After experimenting with different recipes, Sui and Erina ultimately chose honey and man-root as the key ingredients.
They both agreed that these flavors best complemented the bear meat.
'Bears love honey, often using their paws to scoop it up and lick it clean,' Sui thought. This connection made honey the perfect ingredient to enhance the natural flavor of the bear meat. The bitterness of man-root, on the other hand, effectively neutralized any gamey odor from the meat.
"So, the honey and ginseng were used to mask the gamey smell?" Eishi remarked, finally understanding the technique.
The guests in the hall quickly finished the entire dish, each taking spoonfuls of the bear meat until nothing was left. After the last bite, many still felt unsatisfied, craving more.
Everyone was astonished. They had come expecting Eishi, the leader of the current Elite Ten, to undoubtedly claim the top spot in the exam. However, they were taken aback to find another dish that not only matched but possibly surpassed Eishi's—a dish made by a first-year student they didn't even know, apart from the Sendawara Sisters!
"This is incredible! your dish is just as good as Eishi's stroganina in red wine!" Osaji Kita exclaimed, unable to contain his admiration.
"Your palate is as bad as ever," Natsume teased. "This dish is 'better' than Eishi's."
Orie nodded in agreement. "I think Sui's dish stands out more."
Others joined the discussion, voicing their opinions.
"I think Eishi's stroganina was excellent. Maybe they're equally good?"
"But I prefer the sweet and slightly astringent flavor of Sui's dish, which captures the grandeur of the Stroganina cuisine."
"True. While Eishi's dish is refined and elegant, it doesn't have the same magnificent, royal quality."
The debate grew louder as more guests joined in, with Osaji and the Sendawara Sisters arguing so intensely that their faces turned red.
"It's obvious that my Sui is more skilled! Do you even know how to cook, old man?" Natsume taunted.
"'My' Sui? He's mine, not yours!" Orie shot back.
"Sister, are you seriously competing with me over a man?" Natsume replied playfully.
Hearing the two sisters' flirtatious words, the other guests blushed in embarrassment. Erina, however, was seething with anger, clenching her teeth at the audacity of the shameless sisters.
"So indecent!" Alice shouted angrily.
"Exactly!" Erina agreed with a nod.
The other students' dishes were then sampled, though none reached the level of Sui's or Eishi's. Still, the guests appreciated the efforts of the other competitors.
To Sui and Erina's relief, the fried stew bear meat prepared by Sōma and his group also received positive feedback.
"It looks like everyone is satisfied with the students' cooking, right?" Dojima Gin asked.
"Yes, there were some outstanding dishes," Osaji Kita nodded approvingly.
The other guests also expressed their satisfaction, particularly after having tasted two extraordinary dishes.
"Then it's decided—everyone has passed the exam," Dojima Gin announced with a smile.
"Great," Megumi sighed in relief. Given that the guests this time were seasoned gourmets, accustomed to dishes from world-renowned chefs, she had been quite anxious before the tasting began.
"See, I told you my soup was good!" Soma boasted. "If I had handled the rest of the dish, it would've been even better."
"What are you talking about? The highlight of the dish was my sauce," Ryō argued.
"The fried bear meat was the foundation of everything. I marinated it with spices and removed the gamey odor, which was the hardest part. That's why we passed," Ryo declared confidently.
As the trio bickered once more, Sui and the others looked on, speechless.
"Now, let's move on to voting for the most popular dish," Dojima announced, smiling. "Please place a coin in the bowl of your favorite dish."
The voting commenced, but when it came to choosing between Eishi's and Sui's dishes, another round of debates erupted among the guests.
In the end, Sui's dish received five votes, while Eishi's garnered four.
"Sui, I didn't expect to lose to you again," Eishi said with a helpless smile.
"It was just luck," Sui replied modestly.
"Well then, let's give it our all next time and have a proper match," Eishi said, his tone unusually serious.
A guest approached Sui, intrigued. "You're Sui, right? I'd love to meet you properly someday. I'm..."
"Sui-kun, our company is hosting a party next month. Would you be interested in working part-time as our chef?" another guest interjected.
Soon, all the guests began to gather around Sui, eager to speak with him. A young chef with such remarkable talent was someone everyone wanted to connect with.
"Hey, Sui-kun," Orie purred as she approached, sucking on her finger coquettishly. "What would it take for you to become mine?"
"I can take care of you now," Natsume added suggestively, purposely shaking her ample chest.
The sisters' admiration for Sui had grown even stronger, and they were now more determined than ever to recruit him.
Watching from the sidelines, Erina was furious.
"Let's put this off for now. We can talk later," Sui responded with a strained smile.
"I'll be waiting," Natsume said with a playful wink. She pulled out a business card from her chest and handed it to him. It was still warm and carried her scent.
As soon as they left, Erina turned to Sui, her voice tinged with jealousy. "Sui, do you really plan to keep that business card?"