Free Web NovelChapter 665: Chapter 601: The Dancing Lion-Style Fortune Bunny Pastry
Sofia had already sliced the prepared mille-feuille into small, equally-sized pieces.
She was extremely careful when cutting the puff pastry, trimming all four edges as neatly as possible.
The chef’s knife rasped against the pastry, the crisp cracking sound of "katch-za" "katch-za" reached the audience’s ears, making everyone involuntarily swallow, eager to personally taste just how crisp and delightful this pastry was. freeωebnovēl.c૦m
Sofia picked up a piping bag, squeezed two rows of spherical custard onto the bottom pastry, then gently pressed another layer of pastry onto the custard, before squeezing two more rows of custard onto the new layer and then pressing another layer of pastry on top.
Each puff pastry layer consisted of over 300 layers of pastry; with three layers, it was just about 1,000 layers of pastry, which is where this dessert gets its name.
Sofia’s movements were incredibly gentle. She used tweezers to place a red raspberry onto the topmost pastry, followed by two halved raspberries and freshly cut blueberries for decoration. Finally, she placed a dewy mint leaf as a garnish and then covered it with a cloche.
Letting out a long breath, Sofia finally released her tension at this moment.
Glancing at the clock, 1 hour and 45 minutes has passed. She was very satisfied with this result. Although the final presentation couldn’t be made any more exquisite, even with the current result, she was fully confident that she could beat her opponent.
After all, in her eyes, what the opponent created was really nothing.
What on earth was that thing molded from?
A Huaxia doll?
Did you think I would be defeated by your molded sugar doll like Aramis was?
If this is all you have, it seems I have overrated you.
Even though Sofia’s French mille-feuille was just a fleeting appearance on camera, quite a few audiences still saw its appetizing appearance.
The caramel-colored mille-feuille pastry, the bright yellow, smooth custard, the fresh, lush red raspberries, and the strong color contrast provided a strong visual impact, making people really want to take a bite and taste it.
Yet, looking at what Wang Fan now held in his hand, an indescribable feeling started to linger in their hearts.
This... although it looks pretty, using the same approach in two consecutive contests might greatly reduce its effectiveness, right?
Moreover, this rabbit doll doesn’t have the panda’s buff, so it might be difficult to win against the opponent?
Many people’s eyebrows were already furrowed, and the worry in their hearts grew heavier.
Nearly two hours of speed and passion to produce this feels somewhat not worth it, doesn’t it?
Zhang Tao’s somewhat tense voice rang out: "There are 10 minutes left until the competition ends, and we see that Sofia has finished her work, Boss Wang needs to speed up."
He had been closely observing Wang Fan’s progress, and with only 10 minutes left, Wang Fan was still busy working frantically. Worried that Wang Fan might lose track of time, Zhang Tao decided to remind him.
As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Fan suddenly paused in his assembly work and then stood up straight to stretch his limbs.
Did Boss Wang finish?
The audience felt happy for Wang Fan seeing his completed work, although at this time they didn’t think Wang Fan could win. At least having something done within the given time was better than not finishing anything at all, right?
"Gosh, I really broke into a sweat for Boss Wang. It’s almost the last moment, but I’m curious now — wasn’t his panda mold quick? Why did this rabbit figure take so long? And what was the point of those cuts earlier?"
"Who knows? The panda took just about 10 minutes, and this one almost two hours. Although the design is fancier, I feel it’s still not as good as the panda; after all, the panda had a buff from Sichuan."
"It seems to be a hat-wearing rabbit? Admittedly, it’s the Year of the Rabbit, but this doesn’t seem very competitive, does it? Foreigners don’t even follow the Chinese zodiac."
Yet, Chen Guomin in the judge’s seat suddenly stiffened his body, speaking deeply into the microphone, "Please quiet down, everyone, the next step is extremely crucial, and not a single mistake can be tolerated."
Hmm?
Chen Guomin’s words left the audience puzzled. Didn’t Boss Wang finish? What’s the critical step? freёwebnovel.com
Wang Fan nodded at Chen Guomin with a smile to express his gratitude, then focused his mind, extending his hand over the oil pot.
"What’s he up to now? Fishing coins from an oil pot?"
"He’s going to fry himself."
"Get out, this is a cooking show, not a horror show, nor a magic performance; it must be to fry that rabbit figure."
"Hush! Didn’t you hear Master Chen say this step is crucial? Be quiet!"
"Hush!"
One after another, they hushed their surroundings to become even quieter than it was.
The temperature inside the oil pot rose quickly, and Wang Fan could already feel a scorching heat at his fingertips.
This step of puffing is critically important; too low a temperature wouldn’t shape it, and too high a temperature might cause it to crack and discolor. To achieve the perfect presentation, the oil temperature must be controlled precisely at 160 degrees.
Rather than a thermometer, he trusted his sense of touch and smell more, which came from countless attempts and experiences to get the most accurate judgment.
The familiar sensation arrived. Wang Fan’s left hand subtly twisted the gas stove to the right, the flame gradually decreased until the burning sensation in his right hand no longer changed, and only then did his left hand stop.
