The dish Aimisha prepared was a french Pouletau Vinaigre (Chicken with Vinegar) A plump, golden-brown roast chicken, juicy and fragrant, sat on the plate. A few vibrant red tomatoes adorned it, and the air was filled with a sweet and sour aroma.
"This chicken was raised by Aimisha herself. Its breed is on par with the famous Bresse chicken, and the meat is exceptionally tender," Professor John said confidently, clearly proud of his beloved student.
"In that case, let's not hold back," Senzaemon and the others nodded as they began to taste the dish.
A knife sliced through the chicken, revealing tender, succulent meat. After dipping it into the light broth, they took a bite. The chicken was indeed extraordinary—rich but not greasy, with a refreshing sourness, a hint of vanilla, and a subtle sweetness that made it delightful to the palate.
"Is this really a chicken bred by the student herself? Impressive," Chapelle remarked, genuinely amazed. In terms of quality, it rivaled the renowned Bresse chicken, and the tenderness of the meat was outstanding.
At the same time, Chapelle couldn't help but feel a bit anxious. The other side's student was indeed remarkable.
Sui was the only one yet to serve his dish, and the tension rose as to whether his cooking would be overshadowed by Aimisha's.
Though Senzaemon remained silent, he too harbored some concern for Sui.
"This is truly delicious," Leonora and her daughter, Alice, both praised the dish as they savored each bite.
Senzaemon also nodded in approval. This dish was certainly worthy of a spot among the Ten Elite.
Aimisha shot a triumphant glance at Sui, her expression full of challenge.
Sui, feeling indifferent, decided not to engage and instead signaled a waitress to bring out his dish for Senzaemon and the others.
He had prepared pork rice balls with orange honey sauce, a dish Erina had once taught him.
In the past, Sui and Erina often competed in cooking late at night. One time, Erina made this dish, and Sui found it so delicious that he asked her to teach him how to prepare it.
The preparation was quite simple. Rice was coated with a special orange jam, wrapped in thin pork slices, and then brushed with a honey sauce made from honey and soy sauce before being roasted in the oven. The golden pork enveloped the white rice, with sliced cherry tomatoes arranged underneath and a sprinkle of sesame seeds on top, giving off a rich and tantalizing aroma.
"What a beautifully presented dish. I didn't know you could be so meticulous," Leonora commented admiringly.
Sui felt a bit embarrassed and cleared his throat. "Everyone, please enjoy."
Professor John and the others, eager to taste Sui's cooking, picked up their chopsticks and sampled the pork rice balls.
Seeing this, Senzaemon and the others also began tasting the dish.
The pork was exceptionally flavorful, with a perfect balance of fat and lean meat. It was soft and juicy, carrying the floral notes of honey and a subtle sweetness. As they bit into the rice, the sweet and tangy orange jam added a refreshing twist.
"This is incredible!" Chapelle's eyes widened in surprise. "This flavor is just as exquisite as the pork I had last time."
"The taste is truly remarkable!" Even Professor John's team couldn't hide their astonishment.
None of them had ever tasted pork this delicious before.
Senzaemon, too, smiled in rare approval. He looked at Sui and nodded. "Not bad."
"Erina-chan's 'blue friend' is really impressive! This dish is outstanding," Leonora added, a faint blush coloring her pale cheeks as she closed her eyes, savoring the delicate balance of the pork and orange.
Alice, not one to miss out, slyly took a rice ball from her mother's plate and popped it into her mouth.
"This is amazing!" she said, her cheeks flushed as she cupped her face.
"What kind of pork is this? Why is it so delicious?"
"Yes, did you develop this breed yourself, in Totsuki?" one of Professor John's lecturers asked eagerly.
"Hehe," Senzaemon chuckled, clearly pleased. "Yes, Sui bred this variety himself."
Professor John and his team stared at Sui in disbelief. Could this student really be a genius at breeding ingredients as well?
"Your school is truly filled with talent. This student is exceptional," Professor John praised.
"Haha, of course. He will be part of the Nakiri family in the near future," Senzaemon replied with a hearty laugh.
"Grandfather!" Erina's face turned bright red as she blushed furiously, feeling that her grandfather was being far too meddlesome.
It's not like I've agreed to any relationship with Sui yet! she thought, though privately, they had indeed been seeing each other.
"Oh?" Professor John raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "Why is that?"
"In the near future, Sui will marry Erina," Senzaemon explained cheerfully, clearly in high spirits.
Erina felt her face burn even hotter, a mix of embarrassment and irritation bubbling up inside her.
"Is that so?" Professor John and his team looked disappointed. It seemed they wouldn't be able to recruit Sui after all.
Though no official winner was declared, it was clear to anyone who tasted the dishes that Sui's was the superior one.
Aimisha couldn't hide her frustration and glared angrily at Sui.
Her classmates were equally downcast. None of them had expected to lose this informal duel to Totsuki's Ten Elites.
Chapelle, on the other hand, sighed in relief. Totsuki's students had not let them down.
"Let's go eat too," Isshiki smiled, "I still have some chicken and cabbage left."
"I've got my dish too," Erina nodded.
With that, Sui and the rest of the students headed back to the kitchen for dinner.
---
Later that night.
"Aunt Leonora, you're leaving already?" Erina asked in surprise.
"Mother, we could easily stay until tomorrow," Alice agreed.
"I'd love to stay longer, but there's still so much work to do at the research institute," Leonora said reluctantly, covering her face. "Erina-chan, remember to come to Northern Europe for your honeymoon in the future!"