Imperial College Kindergarten

Chapter 115 The most meaningful dish
In the stands, Ma Chao is indeed a veteran. His movements are quick and easy. He peels the skin, removes the bones and cuts the mandarin fish into cubes. After marinating, he stuffs it into the hollowed-out lotus chamber. He steams it in the pot without stopping. I started making fisherman’s three delicacies.

Seeing Ma Chao's straightforwardness, some people couldn't help but admire: "As soon as I saw it, I knew it. I can't practice this knife skill in just a few years."

"Yes, his movements are really smooth and flowing, and they are also a kind of beauty."

"I believe this is indeed his specialty."

Everyone looked at Cheng Dong again and saw that their specialty was the same dish. What a coincidence!

I saw Cheng Dong carefully selecting the lotus that seemed to be in bloom, peeling off the petals with his slightly rounded hands, holding the tender green lotus with his white fingertips, and then immersed it in the basin to wash it carefully. Although the movement was slow, it still had another kind of effect. flavor.

"Miss Cheng's movements are not as neat as Ma Chao's. It can be seen that she is indeed a novice."

"So what, it's rare for a newbie not to panic."

"That's true. I think her chef, Chef Zeng, is even more nervous!"

"Have you noticed it too? Maybe it's the first time for the apprentice to play, so the master is more worried, right?"

"I can't see it. His expression is really weird."

Liu Xueting quietly glanced at the person who said Zeng Guangxian had a strange expression, and secretly thought that he really has good eyesight!But no, when Zeng Guangxian saw Ma Chao move ahead of Cheng Dong, wouldn't his old face be as ugly as eating shit?
Cheng Dong was not in a hurry, but he didn't know that her master was frowning in the audience.

While he was observing, the Leng Buding system suddenly reminded: "Host! Look at the person over there!"

Liu Xueting glanced around, and surprise flashed in his eyes. There was actually a young young man staring at Zeng Guangxian with a sullen face. If eyes could kill, Zeng Guangxian would have been cut to pieces by a thousand cuts!
Could it be that the descendants of those who lost the recipes found it?
Then Liu Xueting denied this speculation. Otherwise, Zeng Guangxian was so treacherous. Most of the families who stole the recipes were only daughters. If he used some more tricks, well...

After asking the system to pay attention to that person, she returned her mind to the competition.

At this time, the preparation of the first dish had come to an end, and both of them began to prepare the dishes.

Not surprisingly, both of them chose fresh lotus flowers, lotus leaves and white porcelain plates to decorate. After the plating was completed, what was presented on the stage was not a dish, but rather a miniature summer lotus pond scene.

Another assistant carried the white porcelain plates presented by the two to everyone and added marks to distinguish them, and then sent them to Qingfeng Tea House for the judges to taste.

It was almost time to reveal the results, and everyone's chatter was much quieter, for fear of missing out.

Ji Mingyu did not disappoint everyone. The moment he received the results, he announced: "In the first dish competition, Jiangzhou Academy Ma Chao won."

As soon as these words came out, the students of Jiangzhou Academy cheered loudly.

When Ma Chao on the stage heard this, his lips opened slightly subconsciously, his eyes seemed to be surprised and unbelievable. When the cheers of the academy students reached his ears, he breathed out a sigh of relief, and then his face His joy was visible to the naked eye, and he secretly thought in his heart: "Master, my apprentice has done it!"

Cheng Dong closed his eyes, but there was no sign of anger at all, as if he had already guessed such a result.

"impossible!"

But Zeng Guangxian refused to believe it no matter what!
After Ji Mingyu announced the result, he felt as if he had been struck by lightning. His originally triumphant expression instantly became distorted, and the blood all over his body surged up rapidly. His old face became red and swollen after being congested, making it very ugly.

"Ma Chao really won!"

"As expected, what does it taste like? I really want to taste it!"

"That's it, why are there no restaurants in the capital offering this dish?"

"Yes, that fresh fragrance just now brought out my greedy self!" "I guess Chef Zeng was born in the royal family, so no restaurant dares to publish his recipes?"

"Then how could Ma Chao..."

"I heard that Ma Chao calls Master Zeng, Uncle Chef!"

"No wonder...that would be interesting!"

Ji Mingyu ignored Zeng Guangxian's doubts and quickly entered the second course competition.

Just as he was about to let Ji Buyan choose one dish from the twenty dishes written down by the judges, a white-faced and beardless chamberlain came to the stand and said that he wanted to convey His Majesty's instructions.

As soon as these words came out, everyone's discussions stopped.

"Your Majesty heard that there is a cooking competition today, and your Majesty also came to join in and come up with a question. I wonder if Mr. Ji can do it here?"

After Ji Mingyu asked Ma Chao and Ma Chao for their opinions, he said, "I'd like to serve you."

"Your Majesty said that whether the food is delicious or not, the most important thing is to see whether the cook is attentive or not. If done with attentiveness, even simple meals will be delicious. If there is no sincerity, even delicacies from the mountains and seas will be like chicken ribs. Therefore, The title of this dish is - please present the dish that is most meaningful to you."

When Liu Xueting heard this, he couldn't help but sweat for Cheng Dong.

This question seems simple, but in fact it is difficult to grasp. Not only do you need to cook, but you also need to be able to talk about it!
Even Ma Chao lowered his head and pondered without making any rash moves.

After a while, both of them started to get the ingredients.

The spectators below couldn't help but discuss: "Hey, what exactly is the dish for this topic?"

"This... you will understand it after reading it. Anyway, I can't see it at the moment."

"I feel that this dish is not about the taste, but about people's hearts. It mainly depends on what the person thinks."

"Yes, but I think the ingredients Cheng Dong brought are very simple!"

"Hey, isn't the title just about the meaning?"

Perhaps because of His Majesty's presence, everyone spoke in a lowered voice, and soon the second dish was served.

But the waiter did not rush to present it first, but motioned to the two chefs to explain the dishes he prepared.

Liu Xueting raised her eyebrows slightly. Sure enough, she understood correctly!
For any meaningful dish, you obviously want to hear the story behind the dish.

Seeing that Ma Chao had given up, Cheng Dong took a step forward and said slowly: "This dish is just lotus leaf porridge and mixed lotus root. The mixed lotus root is the first dish I made as the cook of the Imperial Academy. Although it is simple, it is It means a lot to me. When I made this dish, I had just arrived in the capital from other places and was lucky enough to be admitted to the Imperial College. However, my relationship was not going well at the time and I had no confidence. This dish gave me encouragement and at the same time , I also discovered that cooking is not a job for me, but something I enjoy. As long as I cook, I can’t help but feel happy and satisfied.”

“This dish helped me find myself.”

After hearing this, everyone smiled and clapped their hands to encourage him. Only Zeng Guangxian had a calm face, as if he was dissatisfied with Cheng Dong cooking such a simple dish.

Even Ma Chao applauded Cheng Dong sincerely. Cheng Dong lowered his head slightly and shyly thanked everyone for their kindness.

Everyone looked at Ma Chao, waiting for the story behind Ma Chao...

(End of this chapter)