----
'Nurse Joy has too much free time, it seems' Kai glanced around. He was currently seated at the judge's table alongside Katy and Nurse Joy from the Cascarrafa Pokémon Center. Both had been invited by Kofu to sample his new dishes.
Word of Kofu's culinary duel with a travelling chef from another region had spread quickly. Many diners who had already finished their meals chose to stay behind, eager to witness the battle.
Kai's gaze landed on the competitor, Siebold, who stood at his cooking station, meticulously polishing his pristine cookware. The reflection of the kitchen lights gleamed off his utensils, a testament to his precision.
But to Kai, Siebold was more than just a chef he was the Water-type member of the Kalos Elite Four.
The most vivid memory Kai had of Siebold? His Mega Blastoise demolishes Alain's still-developing Water Absorb Mega Charizard X.
' It had been… well, satisfying. Cough. No, it had been a great display of the Elite Four's strengths '
Now, with the preparations complete, one of Kofu's apprentices stepped forward to announce the start of the cooking showdown.
What followed was less of a traditional cooking match and more of an exhibition of pure skill.
No, actually, the dazzling speed at which both chefs diced vegetables and filleted fish seemed like a standard part of their process.
With the flurry of blades, the rhythmic chopping, and the occasional exclamations of astonishment from onlookers, two distinct yet equally captivating aromas began to spread through the restaurant.
Kai, sitting there like he had accidentally wandered onto the set of Food Wars, felt completely out of place amidst the growing excitement. ' Will I have an orgasm? '
"Poli~"
Poliwag, however, was utterly captivated. It even started wondering whether Ceruledge's grilling skills could match up against these two master chefs.
Finally, the dishes were presented.
To Kai's left was Siebold's plate, covered by a gleaming silver lid that seemed to be trapping the dish's enticing fragrance within.
To his right was Kofu's small, elegant clay pot, from which a rich and invigorating aroma seeped through the cracks in the lid, whetting everyone's appetite even before the dish was revealed.
From what Kai had seen of their ingredient preparation, he had a rough idea of what to expect.
Kofu had undoubtedly used the prized Hoenn seaweed and fresh Basculin to craft some kind of soup.
Meanwhile, Siebold had handled multiple vegetables with a level of precision that left the final result a complete mystery.
The two chefs exchanged a brief glance before Kofu stepped forward, lifting the lid from his dish.
A crystal-clear broth, shimmering with the delicate oil of freshly cooked fish, greeted them.
Kofu grinned. "Fresh Basculin and seaweed soup. Please, enjoy."
Kai picked up a spoon, scooped up a sip of the clear broth, blew on it gently, and took a taste. His eyes widened slightly.
A symphony of flavours burst across his palate, each distinct yet perfectly harmonized, culminating in a single, undeniable truth:
Delicious.
The freshness of the ingredients, the expert handling of the fish, the balance of seasoning everything worked together to create an incredibly refined dish.
Kai glanced at his fellow judges. Katy and Nurse Joy were both holding their faces, visibly swallowing as if savouring every lingering note of flavour.
Even Siebold, after taking a sip of his own serving, let out an impressed, "Bravo."
Then, Siebold removed the lid from his own dish and, with a courteous nod, presented it.
"Jardin de Légumes en Gelée with Special Sauce. Please, enjoy." (Garden of Vegetables in Jelly with Special Sauce)
Kai blinked, 'Something about this dish felt oddly familiar'
This was an entirely different kind of culinary experience.
Neatly arranged within a delicate vegetable aspic were nine different types of vegetables cabbage, cucumber, corn, zucchini, cauliflower, carrot, okra, asparagus, and a few others.
The presentation alone exuded an unmistakable fine-dining aura, reminiscent of a luxury restaurant menu item.
What intrigued Kai most, however, was the side of sauce.
Deep black, rich, and glossy it looked less like a dipping sauce and more like… ink.
Siebold had prepared a set of fine dining utensils. As Kai sliced a portion of the vegetable aspic and prepared to take a bite, Siebold spoke up.
"You'll find the flavour far more complete if you dip it in the sauce first."
Kai hesitated briefly, then adjusted his approach, lightly coating his slice in the mysterious sauce before tasting it.
The initial crunch of fresh vegetables burst forth, crisp and refreshing.
Then, the sauce's complex and layered flavours melded with the vegetables, creating an experience that was neither simply sweet nor spicy it was something much deeper.
The moment he finished the first bite, his only thought was:
I want another one.
As Kai continued eating, Kofu, too, took a bite from his own portion.
A moment later, he let out a hearty laugh. "What a fascinating combination of flavours! So distinct yet blended together in perfect harmony!"
The two chefs locked eyes, and in that silent exchange, there was a deep understanding an unspoken camaraderie between culinary masters.
"Now, it's time for the verdict," Siebold remarked.
Though both chefs had already acknowledged each other's prowess, they had invited judges for a reason. A winner still needed to be decided.
First up was Nurse Joy. She took a moment to collect her thoughts before speaking with solemnity.
"I swear on the reputation of the entire Joy family what I am about to say is the absolute truth."
Kai twitched, 'Lady, we're just judging food. Do you really need to swear an oath on your entire lineage?'
Joy continued, "Although the Jardin de Légumes en Gelée with its mysterious sauce was rich and multi-layered, I must say that the Basculin and Seaweed Soup resonated with me on a much deeper level."
Kofu's grin widened slightly while Siebold, unfazed, gave a polite bow in acknowledgement.
Next was Katy.
Looking a little nervous, she hesitated before sneaking a glance at Kofu. After an awkward pause, she finally spoke.
"I… I think the Jardin de Légumes en Gelée was more surprising. The aspic alone was mild, but once paired with the sauce, it felt like an entirely different dish… That's my honest judgment."
A murmur spread among the audience.
"Wait… Katy didn't vote for her mentor's dish?"
Hearing that, Katy looked even more flustered.
Kofu simply chuckled and patted her shoulder. "No worries, kiddo. You just spoke from the heart. That's all that matters."
Siebold gave her a graceful bow. "It is an honour to receive such high praise from you, Miss Katy."
Finally, all eyes turned to Kai.
He glanced at Poliwag, who had been eating along with him, before voicing his thoughts.
"I think… this is a tie."
Kofu raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"Care to elaborate?" Siebold asked, unfazed.
----
---
Don't forget to drop some Power Stones!💎💎💎
Read more chapters ahead of everyone else on my Patreon
Patreon/ Nyxal