“Dammit, that Du guy is too arrogant!”
“Isn’t that so! Who the hell does he think he is? Let’s wreck them, Brother Ding!” The chefs shouted agitatedly.
Master Chef Ding’s expression was indignant.
Indeed, Master Chef Du used to be the better chef, but Master Chef Ding did not think so now.
“Now that they’re here to challenge us, Master Chef Ding, we should show them our best side. Let’s make our best dish and show them what Magical Kitchen can do,” Tang Hao said.
Master Chef Ding was surprised. “You mean… we should prepare that dish?”
“That’s right!” Tang Hao said confidently.
Master Chef Ding immediately looked excited. “Alright, we’ll make that dish then! Let’s show that Du guy what’s the true meaning of deliciousness!”
“Let’s go!” Master Chef Ding was trembling with excitement, and his face was glowing red. He waved his hand and led the group of chefs back into the kitchen.
“There shouldn’t be a problem, right, Tang Hao?” Ling Wei came over. She seemed worried.
If Tang Hao had cooked the dish, she was confident that they could beat Spring Brook hands down. However, Master Chef Ding made her worry about their chances.
After all, the two master chefs were almost at an equal level.
“Don’t worry!” Tang Hao smiled casually and sat down.
Ling Wei was surprised, but eventually calmed down anyway.
If Tang Hao was that confident, then there should not be any problem.
The guests gradually sat down on their seats. More and more people arrived at the scene to witness the battle between the two master chefs.
Some of the people in the crowd were journalists from newspapers and news websites, as well as writers from culinary magazines.
Very soon, the storefronts of both restaurants were flooded with people.
Everyone was hotly discussing who would be the eventual winner.
Would it be the newly opened Magical Kitchen, or the established Spring Brook?
Magical Kitchen could not afford to lose in this culinary showdown. The restaurant would be finished even before they were even open for business. The opening ceremony would only be beneficial for Spring Brook.
One and a half hours soon passed.
A group of people led by Master Chef Du emerged from Spring Brook. The people behind were each pushing a restaurant cart.
Each restaurant cart held a big wine jar.
The people could smell a pleasant fragrance from afar.
“This is…?”
Everyone stood up eagerly. They looked at the incoming restaurant carts with anticipation.
The fragrance was unbelievable.
Many people were beginning to drool. Some of them looked impatient.
“That’s Buddha Jumps Over the Wall!” Someone shouted. (TN: Buddha Jumps Over the Wall is a soup made with many rare ingredients and herbs and traditionally boiled in a rice wine jar. It is named so because legend has it that it even caused vegetarian monks to abandon their meditation to have a taste of the soup.)
Many people recognized the characteristic jar and the fragrance.
Everyone looked more eager than ever.
“That’s Master Chef Du, the top chef of Fujian cuisine! Not many flavors in this world could compare to his Buddha Jumps Over the Wall.”
Many people exclaimed as they smelled the fragrance.
When the chefs neared, many people crowded around them.
Master Chef Du laughed heartily when he saw the scene. “There’s no need to worry, everyone! I’ve prepared enough for all. This Buddha Jumps Over the Wall shall be the signature dish of Spring Brook from now on.
“If you’d like a taste of it, please visit us at Spring Brook!”
The chefs opened the jars and the fragrance became stronger. The crowd of people seemed to be intoxicated by the smell.
The people were astounded by the taste of the soup.
“Amazing! This is amazing! The taste of umami fills my mouth, but it’s not too oily or thick. I’ve only taken one sip and I’m craving for more!”
Everyone exclaimed in surprise and admiration.
Even Old Master Luo and Vice Governor He could not restrain themselves. They stepped forward and requested a small bowl. Their praises gushed forth after taking one small bite.
“The taste is flawless! Absolutely perfect!” Old Master Luo exclaimed.
He had tasted many delicacies in his life but the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall was one of the best.
He blushed with embarrassment. He was there to attend the opening ceremony of Magical Kitchen, but he had praised Spring Brook’s cooking instead.
Master Chef Du, Han Lei, and the other people from Spring Brook had smug grins on their faces when they heard that.
They were sure that victory was theirs.
They had gathered the finest ingredients and spent the past few days preparing the dish. Every step in producing the perfect Buddha Jumps Over the Wall had to be meticulously performed.
Meanwhile, Magical Kitchen had only picked up the challenge. How would they be able to prepare anything better in only a few hours?
“I think Spring Brook will be the winner this time!” Many people said.
They could not imagine that anything could be more delicious than the soup.
More and more people agreed to that sentiment. Some journalists were already drafting their articles and prepared to upload them.
Suddenly, a fragrance wafted out from Magical Kitchen.
Everyone who smelled it was stunned.
The bustling storefront instantly descended into silence.
It was as though time stood still.
Crack!
Some people dropped their bowls.
They eventually came to their senses and turned around to look at the front door of Magical Kitchen.
“Oh my god! What smell is this?”
Everyone yelled and rushed to crowd around the front door. Their expressions were close to fanatical.
Master Chef Du, Han Lei, and the other people from Spring Brook had incredulous looks on their faces. They could not believe what they were smelling.
Master Chef Ding and the other chefs stepped out of Magical Kitchen, carrying several big pots on carts.
The mesmerizing fragrance indeed came from those pots.
Everyone’s eyes were transfixed on the pots. Many swallowed hard to stop themselves from drooling.
The fragrance was almost magical.
If the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall earlier was considered a rare delicacy, then the contents of the pot were considered the ultimate delicacy! The Buddha Jumps Over the Wall would not even compare to its dregs.
“Faster, Master Chef Ding!”
Everyone was impatiently hurrying the master chef.
“Haha, there’s no rush. There will be enough for everyone!”
Master Chef Ding laughed heartily. He lifted the lid of a pot.
Steam wafted from the pot. In the pot was a silver-colored soup. They could see various ingredients and medicinal herbs floating within.
“Wow!” Everyone exclaimed. They became more excited than ever.
“What dish is this, Master Chef Ding?” Someone asked.
Master Chef Ding smiled. “This is called the Splendid Eight Treasures Soup. It is a collection of the eight finest ingredients with the eight most precious medicinal herbs. Not only the taste is impeccable, but it also has amazing medicinal effects.
“Just one bowl of soup can replenish vital energy and eliminate lethargy. It will make you feel more energetic and active, as though you’ve grown younger by a few years.”
After that, Master Chef Ding started distributing the soup in the bowls.