In a saucepan on low heat, he combined water and sugar to make the caramel pouring it to three ramekin bowls before moving to prepare the custard. Making the custard mixture was easy, but presenting in a different way was challenging.

On separate ramekin bowls, Ye Xieren poured his custard mixture and filled it halfway before placing it in the steamer to cook. Meanwhile, he proceeded to make his rice cakes to pair with his Banh flan.

As Ye Xieren busied himself on his two dishes of the day, the rest of the junior students also started making their Banh flans. By this time, the first hour was done; and the countdown for the remaining two hours continued.

The two hours was painstakingly long for the audience but too short for the participants of today’s selection while the three judges waited in silence at the other room, waiting for the bowls and plates to arrive.

As they reached the last minute to finish their dishes, Huo Meili started the countdown. Ye Xieren took his Banh flan from the fridge and placed a hardened caramel bowl on top of it before finishing everything with coffee sauce.

“Time’s up! Please step back as we take your entries to present to our judges.”

Following Huo Meili’s announcement, the glass walls between the students slowly lowered back to the floor. As the walls vanished, Ye Xieren could see the distraught and nervousness of his peers.

Yan Chen and Tang Liang, who were usually calm and composed, looked like they just finished rigorous cooking while Tang Lilou leaned on her counter for support.

By this time, Huo Meili’s gasps could be heard from the stage.

“Oh, my gosh, I wasn’t informed that the Big 5 families will be watching today,” she exclaimed.

From the VIP entrance, Madam Li and Li Yuren entered first. The older woman was clinging on her son’s arm as he led the way to their seats. Following them were Director Tang and President Liu who were conversing lowly with Shen Yi, his hands locked together behind his back and giving a regal stance as he walked with them.

Surprisingly, Sun Feiyan also came to watch even though Meng Jiao wasn’t around anymore to represent the Sun family. She pushed her black curls behind her ear and smiled at the students.

All the participants, as well as the spectators, couldn’t help but lift their heads to see them.

“Why is she here?” Tang Lilou groaned, pertaining to Sun Feiyan’s arrival. Meng Jiao was dead, and the senior’s selection would take place tomorrow.

Tang Lilou could understand why Shen Yi was here. That henpecked husband of her Xin Jie had been following her cousin like a shadow, but for Sun Feiyan? She couldn’t understand this woman at all.

“Please don’t mind us and continue where you left off. It was us who asked Headmistress Han too late and decided to come to see everyone’s performance.” Madam Li rested her chin on her hand, a bemused smile on her lips as she talked to Huo Meili. Beside her sat Li Yuren who had his mouth twisted in a stubborn line.

“Heavens! Ah, help me. President Shen and Li Yuren in the same place?! I think my heart just stopped beating!”

“Oh, dear. I’m now jealous of Miss Lu. President Shen must have known she’ll preside as a judge today and still came to show his support.”

“But for Li Yuren to come? He has always been reclusive and never participates in any social events unless it’s needed. What’s so special about this selection that he came personally?” ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀ​ꪶ​

By this time, the bowls of pho delivered to the next room where the judges stay one by one. A long table and three seats were set for them to use. On their right side, an evaluation form for them to fill up was prepared.

On the big screen, the expression of the three judges could be seen as they took a taste on each bowl present to them.

“Although the broth has nice layers of flavors, this rice noodles is a little overcooked. It should have submerged on the boiling water for ten to eleven seconds only,” Lu Xinyi commented after taking the first bite and spoonful of the broth. The student who made the pho covered his face with both hands in frustration.

The next bowl was presented. He Haotian took a taste of the broth and suddenly spat out.

“Too salty. I couldn’t taste anything but salt,” he commented before washing down the saltiness on his mouth with water.

The rest of the junior students started to get restless and nervous as the three judges continued to blind taste-test their dishes.

Surya Rathore’s vegetarian pho was the first one who received compliments from Lu Xinyi and He Haotian.

“Finally.” He Haotian started, “This vegetarian pho is simple but amazingly flavorful. Whoever made this did a great job of steeping the vegetables and herbs in an aromatic broth flavored with roasted spices. Opposite to the traditional pho that uses beef, this pho used shiitake mushrooms which impart a nice nutty flavor to the soup along with some basic spices.”

Lu Xinyi easily agreed to her mentor’s observation.

“Carrots have been added to give it a mild sweetness to the broth. Normally, fish sauce is used, but the one who prepared this pho used tamari instead. Aromatics like coriander, anise, cloves, and ginger added a lovely aroma to the soup. He charred onions and ginger gave it a nice deep flavor and more authentic taste,” she added.

“En.” Han Yixin nodded. “It’s hot, comforting, and fresh; and it fills my mouth with warming aromas of cinnamon, anise, cloves, and ginger… but I don’t understand. How did it get that bold and deep flavor that the beef pho has?”

Lu Xinyi turned to her, a pair of chopsticks still on her hand and winked.

“That’s easy. Traditionally, pho is made with strips of beef, and the broth is flavored with fish sauce, right?”

Han Yixin nodded on her question but didn’t say a word.

“To do this vegetarian pho, the cook substituted shiitake mushrooms for the beef and used tamari instead of the fish sauce. Tamari is a thicker, less salty, fermented soy sauce that adds full, savory, umami flavor to one’s dish.

“Because of the absence of meat, using vegetable broth alone, it will lack in body and depth of flavor. Whoever made this pho is really brilliant. The cook intentionally sautéed the mushrooms in some oil to enhance their flavor and texture and to add extra depth to the soup.

“The combination of vegetable broth and water was also essential so that the delicate notes of cinnamon, star anise, clove, and ginger will shine through. To achieve an intensely flavored broth, the onions, and ginger were charred before adding them to the broth—it’s an extra step that takes a few minutes but makes this pho taste a little more traditional.”

Surya Rathore blushed on Lu Xinyi’s compliments, but his amazement over her rose to another level as she easily discerned the taste of his pho and was able to find out his methods in cooking.

Madam Li chuckled and slightly shook her head as she watched Lu Xinyi on the big screen.

“I know this isn’t the first time I’ve seen her. Her dishes always took the spotlight every time she stood in that kitchen arena. But today, she’s the judge; but her sense of taste and her ability to explain the methods in layman’s term is something I could never get tired of.”

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