Reborn in Japan as a Chef God

"This is..."

The bird rests on the pristine porcelain plate, the scene instantly triggering Xia Yu's memories of the manga and anime "Cooking Master Boy".

"It must be the 'Phoenix Crystal'!"

He was certain in his heart, and added a sentence.

The bean sprouts, praised by poets as having 'ice-like skin and jade-like bones', crafted into a bird using them as the main ingredient could only belong to this recipe.

According to the plot of the anime version of "Cooking Master Boy", this dish is presented by Chef God Liu Maoxing during an imperial culinary battle. Emperor, who has seen all kinds of delicacies, was nonetheless stunned into silence by Liu Maoxing's dish.

However, the bird gradually taking shape under Ye Feizhou's hands was somewhat different from the Ice Crystal Phoenix in Xia Yu's memory.

It's obvious, the reason for this difference lies in the premature "caramelizing" of the bean sprouts!

What's even more astonishing is that the bean sprouts, when "caramelized" and coated in a layer of sugar, seemed to become more pliable, allowing Ye Feizhou to continue weaving the bird with ease, a confident, collected expression on his face.

Pliability!

According to common sense, the sugar coating from caramelizing, like on caramelized sweet potatoes or taro, should be crisp with a sweet taste after cooling and setting, right? This enhancement of pliability seems almost mystifying.

"The issue lies with the material used for boiling the sugar syrup!"

Thinking of this, Xia Yu squinted slightly, a hint of suspicion passing through him, "Could it be the natural properties of that kind of water..."

That's right.

He estimated the answer in his mind.

Though clearly pressed for time to start his own cooking, Xia Yu still had so much mental activity, showcasing his interest in Ye Feizhou's 'Phoenix Crystal'.

The recipe has undoubtedly been modified.

So, just how astonishing is the modified 'Phoenix Crystal'?

Holding this unique anticipation, Xia Yu put aside distractions and fully immersed himself in his culinary world.

Don't forget.

The [Heart of Cooking] evolved to its peak, transforming into the golden-framed [Food's Profound Meaning].

Keep in mind, before the transformation of the cooking heart, Xia Yu had long conquered and utilized the full meaning of food through the techniques of Bursting Flame and spice inequality.

More dramatically, during his competition with Lei Zhe, he even comprehended the meaning of "Chaos Dance".

According to normal standards for a Lin Chef in the real world, Xia Yu undoubtedly met the criteria.

However, the system didn't acknowledge it!

Not until today, when the progress completed the transformation of the cooking heart, did the system clearly recognize his culinary stage. This is why Xia Yu exclaimed at the system's strictness.

"A fully charged cooking heart, oh, it should be called Food's Profound Meaning, is there a difference from ordinary food meanings?"

With this question in mind, Xia Yu got to work.

Taking the second "Shiny Silk-footed Fish," he tossed it into the hot pan, frying it with taboo oils!

This step was key.

Because the "Shiny Silk-footed Fish" was a relatively unfamiliar ingredient to Xia Yu, to control it, through the concept of "Food Dominator" and the approach of solving puzzles, he could only attack with resonance ingredients.

And the Moor's oil, naturally symbiotic with the strange fish, was precisely Xia Yu's taboo resonance ingredient!

Thus, gaining another handy tool, controlling the "Shiny Silk-footed Fish" was much easier than managing the "Merck Star Dust".

What comes after frying the fish?

This time, without the system forcibly popping up information to cause a snag, the cooking process smoothly moved to the second step.

Brewing medicinal liquid!

No, it should be called medicating.

Taking a rather large stew cup, placing the whole fried fish inside without chopping it into pieces.

Then opening several packets of medicinal ingredients.

All 9 medicinal ingredients from Fan's new formula were poured in, sprinkled over the fish.

Then taking six full bowls of boiling water, when the water overflowed the stew cup, tiny bits of medicinal ingredients floated on the surface, and as the camera swept over, Xia Yu just tossed in two or three pieces of sun-dried bamboo leaves.

With that, the stew cup's aesthetic turned vibrant and colorful.

"Mother, is that light bamboo leaf?"

In the guest compartment, Tang Family Master Tang Tianxing saw Xia Yu throw in bamboo leaves and close the stew cup's lid, and couldn't help but be amazed.

Granny Tang smiled mysteriously, "Yes, that day, he specially thanked this old woman, saying he got his inspiration from me."

It has to be said, the top stage for the younger generation in the Chinese Realm, the kitchen environment, was truly perfect.

If it were Far Moon's Western kitchen workbench, it might lack stoves burning charcoal, coal, or simply firewood, but on the hunting platform, Xia Yu easily found a retro stove with a copper-covered surface.

Onto the stove, he placed a deep pot, filled it with water.

Then putting the stew pot and rack into the pot, finally closing the deep pot's lid!

"There's 45 minutes left..."

"The time is quite tight, to fully brew the medicinal properties, I can only use Bursting Flame!"

Xia Yu pulled out the Heavenly Craft Wind Box he brought on stage, blowing gusts of wind against the stove's air intake.

Woosh—

The entire stove, with an intricate beast pattern-covered copper surface, immediately burst into flames.

"Is it stewing? Will the time be enough?"

Tang Yuqiong's face slightly changed.

"Don't worry!"

Li Han sat upright, listening to the roar of the flames inside the stove, "With his Bursting Flame level, compressing the simmertime of six to seven hours into half an hour is very easy."

At the judging panel.

The leader of the Chinese Realm withdrew his gaze from Xia Yu, slightly lowered his head, clearly contemplating the combination of those nine medicinal ingredients, "Again with the fermented black beans?"

He imperceptibly frowned.

"Isn't it?"

Beside him, Lan Fengxian, serving as the official leader of this hunting event, rarely joked, "Looking at his recent style, it seems without fermented black beans, he can't cook."

Wise Man Karl didn't respond, his eyes were firmly captivated by the radiant bird in front of Ye Feizhou.

Wei Qinglian's hands placed on her knees clenched into fists, her palms full of sweat.

Half an hour later.

"Ding—"

A bell chimed, the announcer called out, "15 minutes remain until the cooking session will forcibly conclude, please both contestants hurry!"

The bell continued echoing.

Ye Feizhou suddenly stepped back a small step, his hands, and the sprouted beans on the plate after "caramelizing", had been entirely used up in weaving the bird.

"Still missing the crown on the head..." he focused his eyes on the dish, chuckling lightly, took a "crown" carved from fruits and vegetables somehow placed on the plate, and carefully placed it atop the bird's head. Notably, the bottom of the "crown" was smeared with some heated sugar syrup, like a layer of glue that easily stuck it on.

"Serve the dish!"

After taking a last look at the opponent across, focusing on the wind box, Ye Feizhou didn't pause, picked up the white ceramic plate, with the spotlight chasing him.

On the plate, the bird engulfed in flames had transformed into a phoenix, its body more resplendent under the light.

Look at the vivid and lively phoenix, full of vitality.

Then, there's the white-garbed chef holding the plate, his face always maintaining a faint smile.

In his gestures and movements, there was an air named "Grace".

This grace wasn't some Western gentleman's demeanor, but rather the cultured elegance gradually developed under the old ritual and music system.

Bang!

The plate settled gently on the judge's table, Ye Feizhou softly spoke, "This is my dish, please enjoy."