🔥🔥 You can find 40 chapters ahead here
Support link: pa_treon.com/4Reds
Also other exciting fanfic available 🔥🔥
----------------------------------------------------------
Outside the restaurant, all eyes were fixed on the young man's culinary artistry. The noodles, slammed and stretched, were as thin and sharp as the lines in a manga, resembling flawless beads on the counter—delicate, lustrous, and smooth. They looked less like food and more like a work of art, crafted from the simplest of ingredients: ordinary flour.
Renz began preparing the ramen's soup base. Japanese ramen emphasizes the flavor of the broth. Renz placed the pre-made stock bags he had simmered in the pot and slowly and carefully began to slice the fresh vegetables.
"Is he slicing so slowly to allow the pre-made stock to infuse more flavor as it breaks down in the water?" Yasushi Fukuyama pondered, observing Renz's deliberate pace. His earlier noodle-making, transforming dough into delicate strands, had already astonished everyone, causing every subsequent movement to be scrutinized for its deeper purpose.
However, Renz's slow slicing wasn't just to quickly infuse the rich flavors of his stock into the water; the more important reason was... he couldn't slice quickly. That's right, his knife skills hadn't returned to their former proficiency. Rather than slicing quickly and then idly waiting for the broth to infuse, it was better to slice unhurriedly like this, maintaining his composure.
Calculating the time, Renz poured the noodle strands into the boiling pot. The sliced vegetables followed, cooking for about two to three minutes before being scooped out. One bowl after another was placed in the restaurant's ceramic bowls.
"Do you want green onions and garlic?" Renz asked. Some did, some didn't. Roland Chapelle disliked these additions in ramen, or rather, disliked ramen altogether. The other two, however, simultaneously stated their preferences.
The aroma filled the restaurant. Yasushi Fukuyama's throat involuntarily bobbed. His voice was loud, filled with excitement and impatience to taste the dish. Renz sprinkled the finely chopped green onions, garlic, and cilantro over the soup. The dish in his hands seemed to radiate a dazzling, pure glow, making it impossible to look away.
When the three bowls of ramen were placed before the three judges, "Thank you for the meal," Yasushi Fukuyama said, beating the other two. As he picked up his chopsticks and brought the noodles to his mouth, an extraordinary savoriness burst forth!
At that moment, Fukuyama noticed the color of the broth in the bowl: the perfect golden hue for ramen. It wasn't the murky, intensely golden broth from a street stall; instead, it was a clear, vibrant light gold. If he had to describe its delicate color, it was like the shimmering surface of a scenic lake with excellent water quality. The cilantro scattered on top seemed like tiny islands on the lake, full of beauty.
Sniffing the clear fragrance of the broth, swallowing the exquisite blend of delicate noodles and broth, Fukuyama ate, licking the soup from the corners of his lips. His eyes clearly gleamed with desire. His suit was slightly disheveled, and his ravenous eating indicated his unprofessionalism as a judge. In truth, when he first smelled the aroma, he knew this bowl of ramen was extraordinary, but he hadn't expected it to reach such a level. He had lost his composure!
"Is it that exaggerated?" Katsutaro Ono glanced at Fukuyama's expression, thinking to himself. Although he thought the ramen was a superb creation, he didn't believe it warranted such urgency from experienced culinary figures like themselves. He picked up his chopsticks. With the first bite, his narrowed eyes suddenly opened wide.
He said nothing else, only making slurping sounds. His initial composure instantly crumbled, and he continuously chewed the delicious food in his mouth. Roland Chapelle was stunned, seeing the demeanor of the two other judges. Was it really that good? Unfortunately, it wasn't to his taste. Even if the ramen was exceptionally well-made, he probably wouldn't be able to finish the entire bowl.
Thinking this, he also picked up his chopsticks. As a Frenchman, he wasn't very skilled with chopsticks. He awkwardly picked them up and carefully took a sip of the soup first. His previous aloofness vanished instantly.
The three judges devoured the noodles in their bowls as if in a race. The noodles and soup base were perfectly integrated. When biting into the noodles, the rich flavor of the broth exploded in their mouths, and the soup base seemed to be a sweet, sour, and light concoction made from many vegetables. Roland Chapelle hadn't requested Renz's garnishes, so his bowl of ramen was relatively plainer, but this very plainness perfectly suited his taste.
The three of them not only wanted to eat every last noodle but also to drink every last drop of the soup. An unprecedented sense of satisfaction swelled within each of them. Not until all three had set down their bowls did their previous lack of composure seem to vanish in an instant. They discreetly cleared their throats, covering their earlier 'unsatisfied' expressions.
"Fukuyama, what's your evaluation?" Katsutaro Ono asked softly.
Yasushi Fukuyama had no intention of deliberating, extending a finger and saying, "A-rating, without a doubt. This bowl of ramen fulfills all my ideal impressions of ramen."
The God's Tongue evaluation. Throughout the judging process, there was usually some hesitation. When faced with dishes that were difficult to score, the three judges would consult each other to give an appropriate rating. Among all ratings, 'A' was the highest, while 'B' was a common rating used to dismiss dishes that were inconvenient to evaluate. Dishes that the judging panel deemed acceptable but the God's Tongue did not were often placed in the 'B' category.
"A!" Roland Chapelle simply stated his evaluation. "I, personally, have never had much appetite for Japanese cuisine. This dish, however, left a profound impression and dispelled my preconceived notions of Japanese ramen." He continued, "The flavor of the broth is the best I have ever tasted in my life."
The other judge, Yasushi Fukuyama, added, "Yes, I agree completely. I am a common man and don't use many descriptive words for evaluation, but personally, I believe the highest praise for a dish is 'delicious.' I found this bowl of ramen delicious, and if you made me evaluate it again, I would say it's 'very delicious.'"
"Young man, could I have another bowl?" Yasushi Fukuyama, a man in his thirties or forties, sported a youthful smile. He joked, "I'd like to have it for lunch tomorrow too."
Two judges had given an A-rating. Even the director's team was dumbfounded. When had they ever witnessed such a spectacular event? To maintain the authority of the God's Tongue, an A-rating was difficult to give. Because if they all gave A-ratings and the God's Tongue found it unappetizing, the chef would be embarrassed, and the judging panel members would lose face. Even for decent dishes, the judging panel would follow these unspoken rules and give a B-rating to avoid offending either side.
Yasushi Fukuyama had always given his critiques based on his personal preferences. If something was delicious, he would truly give an A-rating, disregarding the rules. The other two accompanying judges, however, would often try to tone down their evaluations to give the God's Tongue and the evaluated chef a graceful exit, offering a moderate assessment. But Roland Chapelle, being a meticulous person, also didn't adhere to this unwritten rule. He had his own standards.
Two A-ratings. No matter what rating Katsutaro Ono gave, it would be awkward. If they achieved a 3-A rating and the God's Tongue gave a negative evaluation, then the three of them would lose face. But if he gave a B-rating and the God's Tongue also found it delicious, he would still be embarrassed.
However, Katsutaro Ono saw that both other judges had given A-ratings, and he himself found the ramen incredibly delicious. He decided not to be the 'bad guy' and give this newcomer a chance.
"I give it an A-rating!" he declared. "Everything Japanese ramen should have, everything it should possess, you have achieved. The overall texture is incredibly strong. The noodles are tender and smooth, the broth is exquisite, and the details are perfectly handled."
"Since Mr. Fukuyama is so generous, then young man, please prepare another bowl for me as well!" Katsutaro Ono said with a smile, interacting with Fukuyama.
As his words fell, all three judging panel members had given A-ratings. The spectators outside erupted in murmurs. The program crew was instantly stunned.
"This is... the first 3-A rating this year!" Director Domoto Kawa exclaimed into the camera, his expression astonished. "No, there hasn't been a 3-A rating in two years!"
"And if our God's Tongue possessor, Erina-sama Nakiri, also gives an A-rating, this God's Tongue evaluated dish will achieve an S-rating!"
"This dish and restaurant name will be directly inducted into the culinary encyclopedia of master chefs!"
It had been years since such a situation had occurred. The judging panel's unwritten rules had been broken. The challenge was now fully in the hands of the final judge, Erina. But would she agree?
Roland Chapelle frowned slightly. This was difficult. Truly difficult. Compared to his own situation, Erina's was even more unique. He personally disliked Japanese ramen due to its texture. If it was well-made enough to make him eat it, he was willing to give a high rating. But for Erina, the quality of the ingredients alone could disqualify a dish.
In other words, this ramen, made with the most ordinary ingredients, had already sealed its fate of inevitable defeat the moment those ingredients appeared. If he had this level of talent in other cuisines, using more premium ingredients, there might still be a chance. But it was ramen, and moreover, ordinary ramen without special ingredients.
Three A-ratings. The challenge had been completely passed to Erina. A bowl of ramen sat perfectly before Erina.
She picked up her chopsticks and slowly brought the ramen noodles to her mouth. Everyone held their breath, waiting for the God's Tongue's final verdict!
Would it be success, or failure?! The audience, the director's team, and the three judges all focused their gazes on Erina.
On the scene, only Renz was not nervous. His smile remained on his face.
________________________________________
Do you think Erina will give it an A-rating, or will she uphold the traditional standards of the God's Tongue?
------------
🍊 Boost This Fanfic! 🍊
Every 500 Power Stones gets 2 bonus chapters! 🚀
Want faster updates? Show your support by dropping Power Stones, leaving reviews, and sharing your thoughts in the comments! Your engagement keeps the story going strong!