"You just need to help me. My opponent in the semi-finals is Soma Yukihira, and the theme is original desserts."
Seeing Huang Mei willing to support her, Liu Yu couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. With her help, her chances of winning could increase by one-tenth.
Don't underestimate that one-tenth; she had watched Soma Yukihira's matches.
Comparing their strengths shown during their matches, she had a 70% chance of defeating Soma Yukihira. If Huang Mei also provided strong assistance, her chances of winning could reach 80%.
"The theme for the semi-finals is original desserts? To be honest, I'm not very good at this."
Hearing Liu Yu's words, a hint of hesitation appeared on Huang Mei's face. She only knew how to make some simple pastries and hadn't deeply researched desserts.
"It's fine, I'm not very good at desserts, especially original desserts, I don't even have any clue right now, but it's good to start researching from scratch."
Liu Yu's face was full of nonchalance. Her dessert-making skills weren't high, only at the level of a beginner First-grade head chef, which could be said to be her weak point.
However, the Summer Selection Committee gave them three days, which was enough time for her to research and create a top-tier First-grade dish!
What's more, she wasn't familiar with desserts, and Soma Yukihira might not be either, perhaps even weaker than her, so there was no need to panic!
"Oh, right, I know the president of the Dessert Research Society. She seems to be the Elite Ten Fourth Seat; maybe she can help us."
While thinking, Huang Mei suddenly thought of someone.
Because of the Summer Selection, although she had agreed to join the society, she hadn't been there for a long time, and she wondered if the other party still remembered her.
"Elite Ten Fourth Seat? The Elite Ten members of this school all possess the strength of First-grade head chefs, and the top five seats are even more outstanding, perhaps even having Quasi-Special Grade strength."
Huang Mei's words made Liu Yu's heart stir slightly. If they got help from the Elite Ten Fourth Seat, especially since the other party was very good at desserts, it might truly achieve unexpected results!
"It's getting late now; let's visit her tomorrow morning!"
"Mm, I was thinking the same thing."
At this point, both Liu Yu and Huang Mei felt a bit awkward, especially since they had just competed against each other as opponents, fighting tooth and nail.
"Then I'll go back and rest first."
Unable to think of anything to say, just being together felt uncomfortable. After Liu Yu said this, she walked straight to her room.
Huang Mei said nothing upon seeing this; instead, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief and continued watching the TV in front of her, her expression becoming leisurely.
The next morning.
Huang Mei and Liu Yu departed from their dorm and arrived at the entrance of the Dessert Research Society in twenty minutes.
"You are... Huang Mei?! Yes, it's you!"
Standing at the entrance, as soon as they pushed the door open, the sound attracted the girls inside, causing them to look over. A familiar voice rang in their ears, and a strange yet familiar figure ran towards them.
"Mayumi Kurase."
Huang Mei called out softly; she had a strong impression of this person in front of her.
"It really is you! I didn't expect you to still recognize me. You said you'd join, but you haven't come to the club for so many days. I thought you had changed your mind."
Seeing that the other party also recognized her, Mayumi Kurase secretly breathed a sigh of relief, then grabbed her hand and started chattering.
"This person here, is she a new student who wants to join the Dessert Research Society? Unfortunately, the president isn't here right now, but I can conduct the assessment on her behalf!"
As she spoke, Mayumi Kurase looked at Liu Yu next to Huang Mei. The other girl had a sweet face; one look and it was clear she was very suitable for the Dessert Research Society!
Mayumi Kurase's sudden change in enthusiasm made Liu Yu pause for a second, but before she could speak, the other party already started chattering.
"Choosing our Dessert Research Society, you truly have excellent foresight! Joining us, you can not only learn the most advanced dessert techniques, but our president is also super cute and a powerful Elite Ten Fourth Seat, who comes to guide us whenever she has free time!"
Holding Liu Yu's hand, Mayumi Kurase enthusiastically introduced the benefits of joining the Dessert Research Society, leaving Liu Yu dumbfounded.
"Alright, Mayumi, Sister Liu Yu doesn't plan to join any club. She only came here this time to visit the president and exchange cooking ideas with her. Do you know when she'll be back?"
Seeing Liu Yu's embarrassed face, Huang Mei secretly chuckled, then stepped forward to stop Mayumi Kurase, while also asking about Momo Akanegakubo's whereabouts.
They came here specifically to find Momo Akanegakubo. If she wasn't here, there was no point in coming to the Dessert Research Society.
"Is that so? What a shame. The president went to see Senior Tōsuke Megishima to discuss matters related to the Team Shokugeki. The Team Shokugeki will begin after the Summer Selection. You'll have to come and help then!"
Hearing that Liu Yu had no intention of joining the club, Mayumi Kurase immediately showed a regretful expression, then revealed the president's whereabouts.
"Approximately how long will that take?"
"She left three hours ago; she should be back before lunch."
Hearing the question, Mayumi Kurase tapped her finger on her lip, as if calculating the president's departure time. After a few seconds, she looked at Liu Yu and spoke.
"Then we'll wait here. Can we tour the club?"
Liu Yu glanced at the Dessert Society members who were making desserts, smelling the sweet aroma filling the air, and a glint flashed in her eyes.
"Of course! I'll be your guide. After the tour, you might get interested in the Dessert Research Society and want to join."
The Summer Selection had garnered considerable attention at Totsuki. She had watched a few matches, and one of them was Liu Yu's.
At first glance, she didn't recognize her, but the more she looked, the more familiar she seemed.
"Isn't this Liu Yu, the first-year transfer student who made it to the semi-finals!"
If she could recruit her into the Dessert Research Society, it would definitely be of great benefit for the Team Shokugeki after the Summer Selection! After all, the other party had the strength to present Special Grade Cuisine.
Thinking this, Mayumi Kurase's steps became noticeably lighter, an excited expression on her face.
"Over here, they're making mozzarella cheese. Authentic mozzarella cheese is made from buffalo milk."
"Genuine buffalo milk products are very white in color, with a thin, glossy outer shell. When immature, the texture is very soft and elastic, easy to slice. The ripening period is about 1 to 3 days. After ripening, it becomes quite soft, and its flavor intensifies, but it then spoils quickly, with a shelf life of no more than 1 week..."
"Because of its extremely low cost-effectiveness, the mozzarella cheese on the market is all made from ordinary milk, which has a much longer shelf life."
"But to pursue the original taste of mozzarella cheese, our club personally makes some raw ingredients for dessert making. For example, mozzarella cheese made from genuine buffalo milk has a sweetness and depth that ordinary milk products cannot match, and a much better flavor. However, its texture is softer and less elastic."
Mayumi Kurase introduced as they walked, pointing to a tall girl not far away who was making mozzarella cheese, her movements gentle yet powerful.
Most of the members on this floor spend their time preparing ingredients for the dishes made by the members on the floor above. This is also a fundamental skill for making desserts.
Purchased dessert ingredients are certainly not as easy to use as those made personally.
"Over here is..."
"I see. Making the basic ingredients needed for cooking desserts oneself? That indeed effectively enhances the taste and grade of the dish."
Walking through the club, although no one paid much attention to her, Mayumi Kurase didn't feel embarrassed at all and quickly finished showing Liu Yu around the first floor.
And Liu Yu showed a thoughtful expression when she saw many people personally making certain ingredients during the dessert cooking process.
She seemed to have some ideas now.
"But why are they all Second-grade chefs? Aren't there more skilled pastry chefs here?"
As she spoke, Liu Yu turned her head to look at Mayumi Kurase, her expression changing from initial excitement to current indifference.
Looking at the club members either making raw ingredients or cooking desserts, a subtle expression appeared on the girl's face.
Although they were working very seriously, there were still many flaws in their cooking, including many obvious mistakes that even she wouldn't make...
Clearly, these members, who focused on desserts, had very ordinary skill and ability, very likely not even as good as her.
"Ah... the skilled ones are all upstairs. Unfortunately, I'm not skilled enough to go up."
Mayumi Kurase awkwardly scratched her face, feeling a bit embarrassed. To go to the second floor, one must make a First-grade dessert.
"Not skilled enough?"
"Yes, you need to make a First-grade dessert; that's the necessary entry ticket."
Liu Yu was stunned for a moment by Mayumi Kurase's words, but she quickly understood the reason and nodded in understanding.
It was the same in the Dark Cooking Society; members whose strength hadn't reached Special Grade usually couldn't even see the Leader.
Now, they were only taking advantage of the Leader being at Totsuki with few people available, otherwise, how could they communicate with him so intimately?
However, precisely because of this, she had to seize the opportunity and try to leave an impression on him. Then, a few casual pointers from him would be enough for her to benefit for a long time!
"If I want to go up to the second floor to look around, can I do so by making a First-grade dessert?"
The skills of the people downstairs were even worse than hers, so she couldn't learn anything useful. So Liu Yu looked at Mayumi Kurase and asked.
"Yes, if you can make a dish that satisfies Momo-chan, Momo-chan will take you up to see."
"P-President? When did you get back!"
A clear voice rang out nearby. Mayumi Kurase exclaimed, and Liu Yu followed her gaze to find a petite girl.
The girl was holding a purple doll in her arms, her head slightly bulging with two cat-ear-like horns, and a hint of baby fat, looking very cute.
"You are the president of the Dessert Research Society?"
Looking at Momo Akanegakubo, who was half a head shorter than her, Liu Yu leaned down slightly, trying to meet her gaze at the same level as much as possible.
This was proper etiquette when dealing with people, not to mention she had something to ask of her now.
"Yes, I am the president. You're quite good. You want to go to the second floor, right? As long as you present a First-grade dessert, I'll personally take you up."
Ingredients were all prepared, ready to be used at any time.
"Alright."
Knowing that Momo Akanegakubo intended to test her, but she also wanted to gain something from Momo Akanegakubo, so she gladly agreed.
To make a First-grade dessert, get her recognition, and then spend these few days in the Dessert Research Society, dedicating herself to researching dishes to defeat Soma Yukihira.
This was her simple plan.
Since it was a competition, and it concerned the dignity of the Dark Cooking Society, she had to give it her all, no matter what, and absolutely could not fall in just the semi-finals!
Thinking this, Liu Yu stepped up to the cooking station, looking at the fully prepared ingredients, and quickly conceived a dish in her mind.
A mandatory test question for French pastry chef entry-level assessments.
Opera Cake.
Because it wasn't complicated to make, the raw ingredients were quite common, and the taste was very good, she had made it for her mother's birthday once.
Counting the time, it had already been several years.
Thinking this, Liu Yu couldn't help but lose herself for a moment, but she quickly came back to her senses, let out a soft sigh, and then began cooking.
First, take 2 eggs, 80 grams of almond flour, 60 grams of fine sugar, weigh them, then beat them at high speed with an egg beater until fluffy and pale.
Separately, take 100 grams of egg whites, add 30 grams of sugar, and also beat with an egg beater until stiff peaks form, then stop.
Add the whipped meringue to the egg batter in two batches, stirring evenly with a spoon to form a meringue batter, which looked incredibly silky smooth.
Pour the prepared meringue batter into a 28x28 baking pan, smooth it with a spatula, and send it into a preheated oven at 220 degrees Celsius, baking for ten minutes with top and bottom heat.
Take out the baked cake base to cool, then trim the edges with a cake knife to make it square, and then cut it into three equal parts for later use.
"Bang."
Beneath the stove, flames ignited.
Take a small pot, heat 80 grams of light cream to 70 degrees, then pour it into a bowl containing 80 grams of chocolate. Use the heat of the light cream to melt the chocolate, stirring evenly with a spoon until it's incredibly silky smooth.
Add 4 egg yolks, 30 grams of fine sugar, 10 grams of coffee powder, and 100 grams of milk to a pot in sequence. Heat on low heat until thickened, mixing them with a pot spoon.
Once evenly mixed, pour into a container and cool naturally to 20 degrees.
On the other side, take 100 grams of butter, pour into a bowl, and beat with an egg mixer until smooth.
During mixing, add the coffee cream sauce in multiple additions until they are combined. The external appearance should be glossy and firm.
Only butter cream in this state will not feel greasy when eaten. If done quickly and perfunctorily, it will be a fatal blow to the dish's flavor.
"Next is the most important part..."
Liu Yu murmured softly.
After doing these, she had to make the core part of the Opera Cake, the coffee syrup.
Take 10 grams of coffee powder, 60 grams of hot water, 30 grams of sugar, and 10 grams of coffee liqueur, put them into a large bowl, stir evenly, and that's the coffee syrup.
The rest was assembly.
Brush a layer of coffee syrup onto the cake base to moisten it, squeeze on a layer of ganache (chocolate sauce), spread it flat with a spatula, then add another layer of coffee butter cream.
Repeat these steps three times, keeping the cake in a layer-by-layer state, so the texture will be rich when eaten, then send it to the refrigerator to chill.
After the main body of the cake was done, the rest was the glazing part of the cake.
Liu Yu took 20 grams of cocoa powder, 80 grams of fine sugar, 100 grams of milk, and 4 grams of gelatin, and set them aside for later use.
First, melt the cocoa powder and fine sugar with milk, then add the soaked gelatin, stir evenly, and then strain. When the temperature drops to around 30 degrees, it's the best time for glazing.
Measuring the internal temperature of the glaze with a thermometer, when the thermometer reached 31 degrees, Liu Yu took the chilled cake body from the refrigerator and placed it on a wire rack.
Immediately after, the glaze was poured over the cake base, instantly dyeing it a layer of chocolate black, looking incredibly tempting!
However, now was not the time to taste it.
Resisting her appetite, Liu Yu put it back into the refrigerator, froze it for ten minutes to set, then took it out and cut it into neat rectangular pieces with a knife.
"Please taste it."
After saying this, Liu Yu personally handed a spoon to Momo Akanegakubo.
"What a classic dish, Opera Cake, known as a century-old French dessert, with clear layers and rich, layered flavors."
"This cake can be said to be a basic one. I don't know many desserts, and I specialize in even fewer; this just happens to be one of them."
Looking at the glistening small cake in front of her, Momo Akanegakubo couldn't help but praise, then scooped a small piece from the corner with a spoon and began to taste it.
"Delicious!"
The next moment, the girl closed her eyes and carefully savored its flavors with her tongue.
The cake base was light and fluffy, with a faint almond aroma and a just-right sweetness.
The infusion of coffee syrup added a rich coffee fragrance to the cake, along with a hint of sweetness and liquor aroma, making the cake's layers even richer.
The rich silkiness brought by the chocolate sauce complemented the mellow fragrance of the coffee syrup, adding a rich chocolate flavor to the cake.
Its texture was delicate, melting in the mouth, forming a sharp contrast with the lightness of the cake base, allowing one to feel the rich and sweet taste of chocolate.
The layer of coffee butter cream above was the essence of the entire cake. It combined the smoothness of butter with the richness of coffee, with a rich and delicate taste.
Every bite allowed one to feel the creaminess of butter and the mellow aroma of coffee intertwined in the mouth.
And the final layer of cocoa powder glaze gave the cake an appealing chocolate black coating. It carried a faint bitterness and cocoa aroma, forming a perfect balance with the cake's internal layers!
"This is not only a First-grade dessert, but an outstanding one among First-grade desserts. You have undoubtedly passed this assessment. A very good Opera Cake."
After finishing the Opera Cake in front of her, Momo Akanegakubo opened her eyes and looked at Liu Yu, with a hint of appreciation in her gaze.
"Can I go up to the second floor now?"
Liu Yu asked. She came here to experience the top-tier dessert skills of Totsuki, and if she could see the highest level, even better.
"Yes, come with me."
Putting down the spoon in her hand, Momo Akanegakubo gave Liu Yu a deep look, then led her and Huang Mei upstairs together.
Huang Mei was already a member of the second floor because she had passed her assessment last time, but she hadn't come back since passing it...
______
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