Chapter 1238: How Could It Be Just Right?

Chapter 1238: Chapter 1238: How Could It Be Just Right?

"The longer you wait, the more the taste of the dish is affected," Zhao Guoxian said, "but you can’t control the order in which the judges taste the dishes, nor can you ask them to taste yours first."

"So what you can do is, within your capabilities, try your best to keep the dish fresh and make sure it’s still within the optimal tasting period when it’s tasted."

"Within your capabilities means timing the end of the cooking session as closely as possible to the last second."

"You’re not dealing with social experience here; it’s competition experience. You might have rich social experience, but in terms of competition experience, you’re far behind the students at Changping."

"They experience this kind of competition every month, so they understand just how important time management is for cooking."

Zhao Guoxian casually tossed the knife and fork aside, deciding not to taste Wu Qingling’s dish any further.

"In other aspects, they may still have much to learn, but in terms of competition, there’s a lot you need to learn from them."

Zhao Guoxian then tasted dishes from several external participants.

Some were indeed good, but issues with time management were prevalent among most.

"Next, you’ll not only need to study foreign cuisines but also practice how to properly manage cooking time. Of course, it’s essential not to end up with a dish incomplete by the end of the session, but it’s also important not to finish too early and have a lot of time left over."

"Standing there doing nothing won’t help; the judges won’t taste your dish sooner just because you finished early. You can only watch as your dish cools down, losing its original flavor."

"Therefore, you need to practice controlling cooking time. Even if a dish can be completed in half an hour, you should ensure it’s finished just in time by the end," Zhao Guoxian said.

"Don’t think this sounds simple and easy to achieve. If you believe you’re a seasoned chef with strong time management skills, why not time yourself and try it out to see if it’s really that easy?"

"Poor time control, finishing early is still considered decent. The worst is when time’s up, and the dish you should have completed isn’t finished; it scores even lower than a fully prepared but cold dish."

"In the upcoming time, there’s a lot you need to do and learn, leaving no time for plotting against each other. If there are disruptive elements in the team, I’ll remove those elements," Zhao Guoxian surveyed the crowd, "understood?"

Saying this, Zhao Guoxian had already walked up to Ye Fei.

At the old house, he had of course tasted Ye Fei’s cooking.

But Ye Fei’s cooking was home-style.

It’s the first time to taste Ye Fei’s cooking in a competition setting like this.

Although he set some questions in the Changping Competition in the past, he couldn’t participate as a judge.

Seeing Ye Fei’s dish now, Zhao Guoxian became particularly interested.

"About this..." Zhao Guoxian said, "Everyone knows Ye Fei is my sister-in-law, so I won’t comment. I’ll taste but not comment."

"Teacher Guo, Teacher Ye, would you like to evaluate it?" Zhao Guoxian had just finished speaking.

Guo Wenbo eagerly rubbed his hands together as he approached, almost pushing Zhao Guoxian aside.

"Don’t push," Zhao Guoxian quickly said, "Although I’m not commenting, I’m still going to eat."

Initially, Zhao Guoxian was squeezed aside by Guo Wenbo.

At this moment, Ye Huasong also joined in, pushing Zhao Guoxian further to the side.

Zhao Guoxian staggered a little.

Ye Huasong said, "You and Ye Fei are family; you’ve often eaten her cooking."

"Look at what you’re saying," Zhao Guoxian quickly explained, "My brother treasures my sister-in-law, usually he’s reluctant to have her cook for us."

"Put it this way," his brother is a double standard.

Zhao Guoxian glanced at Ye Fei, dared not to say it out loud, fearing she’d tell Zhao Gushen.

But Zhao Guoxian opted for a more subtle expression: "It’s fine if my sister-in-law cooks for him, but it’s not okay for others."

Still a double standard.

Zhao Guoxian sincerely looked at Guo Wenbo and Ye Huasong, hoping they’d summarize it into three precise and accurate words.

Double standard.

Not sure if Guo Wenbo and Ye Huasong summarized it in their hearts.

But on the surface, they showed an understanding expression, without saying anything.

Zhao Guoxian hoped they had this mutual understanding.

Earlier, when the participants were cooking, Zhao Guoxian and others watched closely.

They naturally knew that Ye Fei chose beef tongue as the ingredient.

But now the beef tongue is enveloped in a rich sauce.

It looks more like a chocolate cake.

But emits a similar to curry, yet not an overpowering aroma.

Guo Wenbo first cut a piece.

The beef tongue was stewed tender, the dinner knife sliced through completely.

Using a fork to pick up the piece, Guo Wenbo carefully observed the cut surface: "The beef tongue’s texture is delicate, from the cut surface, it almost lacks the texture of meat, just a fine cut surface."

Ye Huasong observed, "Similar to foie gras’ cut surface, yet unlike liver looking grainy."

"Indeed, the texture of beef tongue itself is tender and delicate, different from the general meat texture. It doesn’t have the fibrous feel of meat, yet it’s very smooth and solid," Zhao Guoxian somehow managed to cut a piece for himself, hadn’t eaten yet, he first evaluated.

Guo Wenbo cheekily remarked, "Didn’t you say you wouldn’t comment?"

"I said I wouldn’t score," Zhao Guoxian promptly explained, "but commenting, I couldn’t help it."

Anyway, Ye Fei had decided to remain with the Defending Team, scoring wasn’t necessary.

Even if all judges chose not to score her, it wouldn’t matter.

The key is the judges’ evaluation, as long as it’s good, that’s what counts.

If it’s good, that’s what earns others’ respect.

If they don’t respect her, they’ll taste for themselves and recognize her skill.

Ye Huasong didn’t waste words with them, immediately took a bite herself.

She closed her eyes, chewed slowly and savored.

"There’s a subtle aroma of red wine in the sauce. The red wine and other sauce ingredients don’t overshadow each other, competing for presence. Instead, they blend harmoniously, the red wine flavor isn’t abrupt, and the sauce’s ingredients don’t overpower," Ye Huasong nodded, "Everything is subtle, just the right flavor, not overwhelming to the taste buds."

"Even after eating this main course, it won’t overshadow the taste of the next dish," Ye Huasong said.

"How can it be so precise?" Guo Wenbo curiously asked.