Shigong Xiaoci Lang’s "White Wine Pan-fried Sea Bass" was delicate, requiring a careful tasting of various vegetables to achieve the ultimate flavor.
But the "Magic Mapo Tofu," every piece of tofu was like dynamite, exploding violently upon entry!
No need for teeth, Shuangjiang Tofu immediately melted at the tip of Liangzi Lina’s tongue.
The original recipe’s four flavors, hot, spicy, numbing, and aromatic, tumultuously dominated the mouth!
Liangzi Lina gripped the spoon tightly, her heart clenched fiercely.
"The fifth flavor—crispy!"
Apart from Xia Yu, she probably understood this dish the best among those present. Therefore, amid the simultaneous explosion of the four flavors, Liangzi Lina took a deep breath, full of anticipation, and bit down.
The "Big Tuna Belly Soybeans" mixed in the sauce, crisp and crunchy, were all shattered by her teeth.
Then, the flavor of beef broth followed immediately!
"The fifth flavor is indeed perfect!" Liangzi Lina was shocked, feeling an indescribable excitement, "Hot and crispy are actually both about controlling the ’heat’, and now his control over heat is even better than mine!"
The crushed "Big Tuna Belly Soybeans," mixed with the tender Shuangjiang Tofu, seemed to undergo a chemical reaction with the spices, the flavor too intense. Liangzi Lina screamed inwardly and lost the last shred of her sanity, sinking into a culinary world woven by tofu dishes.
Tiqie Helinai supported herself with one hand on the table, tightly clasping her legs together, her cheeks flushed red. She barely swallowed a piece of tofu, then held the white porcelain spoon, trembling, ready to taste another piece.
Suddenly, the ten toes inside her dress shoes tensed, firmly pressing against the tips.
Her whole body leaned forward, and bang, the spoon fell. Tiqie Helinai was forced to support herself with both hands on the table to maintain her balance, her eyes misty as if water might drip out.
The "Divine Tongue," was obviously encountering something indescribably difficult, her body trembling.
"What is that taste!"
Muttering to herself, her tongue, tormented by heat, spiciness, and numbness, swirled inside her mouth, frantically chasing the intense bean aroma.
Finally, aside from the ’visual’ flavor, closely following the five flavors of heat, spiciness, numbness, aroma, and crispness, the newly added seventh flavor, which was the bean aroma of Shuangjiang Tofu, powerfully declared its presence in the mouth!
"Aftertaste! It’s the aftertaste of the tofu. Why! Even though it’s quite abrupt, why does it blend so harmoniously in the dish?!"
Tiqie Helinai was filled with incomprehension.
Dojima Yin also tasted it, his muscular and dark face turning a drunk-like red, his breath emitting intense heat.
"It’s the harmonious structure of spices that allows this abrupt aftertaste to blend seamlessly on one plate!" Dojima Yin, also well-versed in the realm of spices, understood the essence and was greatly shaken.
Sekishou Hei, Wutongtian, and Mizuhara Fuyumi, had already been captivated by the dish, continuously scooping up tofu pieces with their spoons and eating eagerly!
Seeing this, Qian Rixiangzi, who feared spicy food, cast aside her hesitation and also dipped her spoon to taste.
"Hey, it’s not as spicy as I imagined!"
After a small taste, Qian Rixiangzi was surprised, "The spiciness is soft within the structure of spices and not harsh but quite gentle!"
However, after tasting several pieces of tofu continuously, Qian Rixiangzi was sweating profusely and regretted it.
"The spiciness accumulates, and gentle is just an illusion!" Qian Rixiangzi gasped, turned her head around looking for water, but just after taking a couple of steps, the aftertaste surging up from her throat immediately overpowered the spiciness.
"It’s not spicy anymore!"
As more people began to taste, in an instant, the unique fanciful flavor of Big Tuna Belly Soybeans swept through the kitchen!
Finally, apart from Xia Yu, only Shigong Xiaoci Lang had not yet tasted it.
He witnessed a crowd being captivated and could hardly stay composed.
"... what magic did you use in your cooking that makes the dish glow!" Shigong Xiaoci Lang spoke disbelievingly.
Xia Yu couldn’t help but want to laugh, "Chef Shigong, I was cooking with you, and we finished the dishes at the same time. Did you see me use any magic?"
He pushed his glasses up.
Shigong Xiaoci Lang stared at him intently for a good ten seconds, "I want to taste your cooking!"
Without waiting for Xia Yu to respond, he forcefully grabbed a spoon and scooped up a taste.
This was the message that Shuangjiang Tofu conveyed to Shigong Xiaoci Lang’s taste buds the moment it entered his mouth.
"Dynamite! Dynamite!"
Accustomed to Western tastes, Shigong’s eyes widened. Ingredients full of Chinese flavor, such as Sichuan peppercorns, bean paste, and soybean paste, combined to have such an explosive impact.
In an instant, Shigong felt as if he had fallen into a deep pool filled with chili oil; the sky was red, and the rugged rocks that surrounded the deep pool were also red. Strands of spice wafted through the air, tangible and drifting past his nose.
Taking a light sniff, Shigong felt his body lighten.
The hot chili oil scorched his bare skin, raising his body temperature in a flash. Shigong glanced around and, at the edge of the deep pool, found Dojima Yin, Sekishou Hei, Wutongtian, and Xingping Chuangzhen, all with their eyes closed, as if soaking in a hot spring.
Just as Shigong was about to approach them, whoosh—a white downpour suddenly fell from the sky, dousing him head to toe.
His soul shivered with his body.
Looking up, Shigong’s red hair was soaked by the white liquid. He ran his hand through his hair, staring at the few drops in his palm, the rich bean aroma filling his mind without even searching for it!
The cool soy milk continued to pour down relentlessly.
Below his waist was heat and hotness, while above his neck he was immersed in the refreshing flavor of soy milk.
It wasn’t just his body; Shigong felt as if his soul was splitting in two, half caught up in enjoying the heat, numbness, spice, and fragrance of the chili oil, while the other half captured the natural fragrance of the soy milk.
Numbness and natural.
The flavor of Shuangjiang Tofu, or rather Big Tuna Belly Soybeans, clashed with the original recipe’s ’heat,’ ’spicy,’ and ’numbness.’
Yet, these three clashing yet intertwined flavors forged a gleaming key!
The key entered the lock.
Vaguely, a treasure trove’s great door began to open slowly above Shigong’s head!
This was the Gate of Extremes!
The sky shook, and a vast red fog rolled in, within it a giant head of a Flame Demon, its somber voice echoing through the world, "I see it, I see the landscape beyond the Gate of Extremes!"
With that, the red fog excitedly surged toward the gate.
The kitchen was still the same kitchen, and the night had deepened, a rather chilly deep night in April.
A large plate of Mapo Tofu, in just a few minutes, was completely devoured by everyone.
Everyone was dripping with sweat, yet immensely satisfied.
Shigong Xiaoci Lang broke the silence voluntarily, setting down the porcelain spoon, his eyes clearly showing an incredulous look, "You, you actually presented a perfect dish... Is this what real Special Grade Cuisine is?"
"No, not even Special Grade Cuisine would be so ’perfect’!"
Dojima Yin slowly spoke, his expression stern.