Chapter 721
Chapter 721:
Jeremiah and the other judges exchanged surprised glances when the dish was revealed. The presentation was unexpected, drawing immediate curiosity. Jeremiah leaned forward, inspecting the dish closely. “What method did you use to prepare this?” he asked, his tone tinged with intrigue.
Stuart O’Callaghan, the Green Hotel trio’s lead chef, stepped forward with a confident smile. “This is our upcoming signature dish, steamed and roasted chicken,” he announced proudly. “As you can see, we’ve combined two distinct techniques—steaming for tenderness and roasting for boldness. Together, these opposing methods reflect the battle theme we wanted to emphasize,” he continued, gesturing to the plated dish.
Jeremiah’s brow eased, his interest piqued by the explanation. Without hesitation, he reached for a piece of the chicken leg and took a bite, his expression thoughtful.
Across the venue, Ashton, still focused on his own cooking, glanced up. His eyes narrowed as he took in the dish. “It’s an interesting idea, but combining gentle steaming with intense roasting on the same ingredient is a risky move. The contrast compromises the texture, making perfection impossible,” he remarked.
His observation struck a chord with the Green Hotel trio. Though they remained silent, their expressions shifted, their initial confidence giving way to a flicker of doubt. They exchanged quick glances and nodded faintly as if acknowledging the truth in Ashton’s critique.
The silence was short-lived. From the audience, Marc stood abruptly, his sneer cutting through the tension like a blade. “You’re struggling to keep up with your own dish and yet, you’re acting like an expert?” he mocked, his voice loud enough to draw attention.
Marc’s jeer hung in the air, but it was soon overshadowed as Jeremiah and the other judges finished tasting the dish. Setting his fork down, Jeremiah cleared his throat, ready to deliver the verdict. “The concept behind this dish is innovative; blending two distinct cooking methods to create contrasting flavors in a single ingredient is a bold approach. The interplay of delicate and intense techniques is intriguing.”
He paused, his expression turning thoughtful. “However, there’s a fundamental issue with the execution. In some parts, the textures clash rather than complement one another, like oil and water refusing to mix. At the seams where the two methods meet, the chicken loses the tenderness of steaming and the crispness of roasting.” The judges exchanged nods, their verdict unanimous. Jeremiah continued, “Despite the flawless execution of each technique individually, the lack of cohesion prevents the …
Discover the full story at gⱯl𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⨶ⓒo𝗺
“Dish from achieving its full potential. After careful deliberation, we’ve decided on a final score of 96 points for this steamed and roasted chicken.”
As soon as Jeremiah finished announcing the scores, Marc felt a mix of embarrassment and pride surge through him. The embarrassment stemmed from the realization that Ashton had been right all along. But he was proud because, despite the imperfections of the dish, the Green Hotel trio had still secured a remarkably high score.
Malcom, on the other hand, was a bundle of nerves.
So far, the Green Hotel trio’s score was the second-highest in the competition, after Morris received a perfect score in the preliminary round.
“Ashton, are you sure our dish can exceed ninety-six points?” Malcom asked anxiously, glancing at the clay pot on the stove.
.
.
.