Because this time's assignment did not allow teaming up, Yukihira Soma was unable to help Tadokoro Megumi. So, by the time this adorable country girl reacted, the ingredients on hand were already mere scraps and defective remnants.
Especially the broccoli that everyone had picked through; it wasn't just a matter of poor quality, but rather, they were all defective products, oxidized and discolored.
French cuisine's plating and aesthetic appeal are even more important than taste. If one were to use such impure broccoli to make a French terrine, the color would certainly not pass muster.
And just as Tadokoro Megumi was about to cry from anxiety, a figure suddenly walked up to her, took the broccoli from her hand, and then placed several pieces of high-quality broccoli into her hand.
"Seiya, what are you..."
That's right, the person who exchanged the good broccoli for the defective broccoli in Tadokoro Megumi's hand was naturally Seiya.
"Take it. The rules for this assignment only said that others are not allowed to give reminders or whisper, but it didn't restrict others from exchanging ingredients."
Kojiro Shinomiya, who was sitting not far away, did not speak up to stop Seiya's actions when he saw them.
After all, the defective broccoli was intentionally placed there by him, with the purpose of limiting the number of successful participants.
Broccoli is easily oxidized, easily damaged, and difficult to cook. A chef who loses composure and is unaware of this point is unqualified.
If it were someone else using the method of exchanging ingredients to help Tadokoro Megumi, Kojiro Shinomiya would probably eliminate both of them.
But didn't Seiya say before? A true chef can make excellent dishes no matter what difficulties or environment they face. So, this time, he wanted to see how the other party would overcome this challenge.
Soon, because they had high-quality vegetables, Yukihira Soma and Tadokoro Megumi both successfully made "Nine-Treasure French Terrine" and passed Kojiro Shinomiya's assessment.
And when it was Seiya's turn to present his "Nine-Treasure French Terrine," while Kojiro Shinomiya internally praised Seiya's skill and his handling of the oxidized broccoli when tasting it, he ultimately gave it a failing grade.
To be fair, the "Nine-Treasure French Terrine" made by Seiya was almost the best in terms of both taste and color among everyone present.
However, there was one point that Kojiro Shinomiya could not accept: the French terrine made by Seiya, in addition to the fresh sweetness of vegetables, also had a slight sour taste.
This sourness was not obvious, and in fact, the French terrine mixed with a hint of sourness made this "Nine-Treasure French Terrine" even more delicious.
But the reason Kojiro Shinomiya gave a failing grade was simple: his original recipe for "Nine-Treasure French Terrine" used nine vegetables to bring out a mutually complementary sweet flavor. The changes Seiya made had already turned this dish into a different kind of cuisine.
"I originally thought you would bleach the oxidized broccoli with white vinegar, but I didn't expect you to use lemon in the end.
Citric acid indeed has a bleaching effect, and the fresh scent of lemon and the fresh sweetness of vegetables truly complement each other perfectly.
Even I have to admit that your ability to adapt on the spot is quite excellent, but as I said before, what you have presented now is no longer the 'Nine-Treasure French Terrine' required by the assignment."
Regarding what Kojiro Shinomiya said, a displeased Yukihira Soma was about to step forward and retort, but he was stopped by Seiya's outstretched hand.
Seiya did not choose to refute Kojiro Shinomiya's comments. In fact, while making the dish, he had already realized that dealing with oxidized broccoli would inevitably affect the dish's inherent flavor.
If white vinegar were used for bleaching, the dish's sourness would be even more pronounced, and using the citric acid from lemons was the best solution Seiya could think of at the time.
"Indeed, as you said, my 'Nine-Treasure French Terrine' is different from the recipe you provided.
But I'll ask you one thing: does it count as an excellent dish? Or, in Chef Shinomiya's eyes, is only the 'Nine-Treasure French Terrine' made strictly according to your recipe considered an excellent dish?
It is common for chefs to encounter various problems due to various irresistible forces during the cooking process.
If one hesitates and dares not try to make changes once difficulties are encountered, then I can only say that such a person is nothing special.
Chef Shinomiya, I imagine you haven't encountered many setbacks since you embarked on your culinary path, have you? And you only proceed step by step according to your own plans, right?
Then there's one thing I'm very curious about: once the goal you originally set reaches its end, can you still make changes? Or will you stand still and hesitate, as I said?"
What Seiya said was not just to the point; it was a direct psychological attack.
After hearing what Seiya had just said, Kojiro Shinomiya even clenched his fists. He wanted to say something to refute Seiya, but found that the words were on the tip of his tongue, yet he simply couldn't utter them.
"Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap—!"
After leaving those words, Seiya had originally intended to turn and leave. After all, as Kojiro Shinomiya had said, his "Nine-Treasure French Terrine," while an excellent dish, did not meet the requirements of the assignment.
The other party was unable to break their own shackles, and Seiya was too lazy to argue with him. Anyway, it was just expulsion, and Seiya didn't care that much.
But just as he was about to leave, a round of applause suddenly came from behind everyone, and then Gin Dojima appeared brilliantly with the other Totsuki graduates.
"Shinomiya, your talent and potential are among the best I have ever seen.
But just as this kid said, don't you yourself feel that ever since you received the 'Plus Pul Medal' and fulfilled your wish, you've become somewhat lost, even stagnant?
Since you all insist on your own philosophies, why not have a Shokugeki?
If Seiya, you win, I will, as a member of the Totsuki Board of Directors, revoke your expulsion punishment.
But if Shinomiya wins, you will accept the expulsion, and..."
Gin Dojima, full of confidence, had not finished speaking when he was suddenly interrupted by Seiya, who said, "I'm very sorry, Mr. Dojima, but I'm not interested in the Shokugeki you mentioned.
I can probably guess your thoughts; you simply want me to be the stepping stone to help Chef Shinomiya overcome his period of confusion.
As I said before, Totsuki Culinary Academy holds little appeal for me. Even if I'm expelled, I simply don't care.
So, using my expulsion as a Shokugeki wager or something, I really don't want to waste my time."
Are you kidding? Gin Dojima wanting to enlighten Kojiro Shinomiya is his duty as a senior looking after a junior, but what does that have to do with Seiya?
Why would the other party think that he would work for free for them?
