[ALICE] In other words, I'm sure you figured out...
one of us is gonna go on to become the next member of the Ten.
[URARA] The top contestants from each block will earn the right to move on
and compete in the actual tournament event!
That means just eight finalists!
28 points!
31 points!
6 points!
[MEGUMI] No way...
All those dishes were really well done!
[URARA] Nao Sadatsuka has 84 points!
So, Hisako Arato's score is...
92 points!
(Cheering)
This is so insane!
That's why Miss Erina has chosen her to be her aide!
[URARA] And now, Miyoko Hojo takes the stage!
What will her score be?
There we have it!
87 points!
She overtakes Nao Sadatsuka to grab the second spot!
A boluo-curry fried rice rich with the aroma of spices and pineapple
that linger in my mouth.
Oh god! I love just thinking about it...
I can still taste the sweetness of the fruit mixed with the saltiness of the fried rice!
It's reminiscent of sweet and sour pork, which also uses pineapple.
To finish it off,
she hollowed-out a pineapple and then placed the rice inside.
Then, she re-covered it and baked it in the oven.
She was even careful to salt the areas the rice would come in contact with
so as to not become overly sweet.
By doing that, she was allowing the fragrance to come out
and not diminish the rice's moisture in any way.
[ORIE] This was another step forward in the history of Chinese cooking.
[ANDO] She demonstrated unparalleled talent.
And it manifested in the form of
someone with the skill to have tamed the dragon's heat...
The Iron Dragon Girl!
True to form for the daughter and heir to Chinatown's leading restaurant!
It was a striking blow to everyone, enough to feel great shame!
Incredible! I never thought curry could be made to make you feel that way!
(Opening Song)
[AOKI] OH! Hurry up! Judging's about to start!
[SATO] Oh man! It looks like things are in high gear over here too!
Yeah!
You can cut the tension with a knife.
Sure is quiet in here.
[SATO] HUH?! [AOKI] Zero points?!
What the heck?!
How can you get zero points?!
Hmph.
(Cheering)
[URARA] 86 points!
Oh wow! Talk about an attack from behind!
Yuki Yoshino was able to capture the third spot!
Right now, Hisako Arato dominates the top spot
with 92 points.
Coming up in second place is contestant Miyoko Hojo,
with Yuki Yoshino in third
and Nao Sadatsuka in fourth.
[KITA] I tell ya what, girl!
Your wild game curry was a masterpiece, far exceeding my expectations today.
I'm glad. Thank you for the compliment, sir!
[KITA] You made that stock with fried duck fat and spices.
The fat imparted a duck flavor to all the ingredients.
Normally, that would give it a gamey smell, but...
this scent is so inviting!
It's brimming with the aroma of the wild!
And the finishing touch is unreal!
You topped it with a duck cutlet!
You've used turmeric and other spices to perfectly mask the smell
and give it an orange-like scent.
Oh and speaking of that,
duck a l'orange is a classic French dish, is it not?
Yes! I mixed in the fruit and it's rind to the sauce.
It really matches that special garam masala, doesn't it?
Ah, yes.
Fall is indeed the season for wild game hunting...
Still, acquiring meat of this quality for use in the Selection
would require a direct line to a wild game hunter.
Young lady, I invite you to the next meeting of my culinary club!
Huh, really?!
That's so kind of you!
[KITA] (Laughs) Think nothin' of it!
Even her adorableness is whetting the appetite.
[FUMIO] Yuki, the innocence of your smile draws everyone into your orbit.
And your food is a straight and honest shot to the heart.
You're just like...
the Little Red Riding Hood of the Wild Forest!
The wait is over!
Next up is the must-see competition of...
The Aldini brothers!
First is the youngest Aldini- Isami!
Looks like it's my turn.
Good luck...
[ISAMI] Please, judges, eat while it's still hot.
Oh, what is this? Did he make us a curry calzone?
The Italian Calzone.
Pizza dough that has been folded
and stuffed with a variety of ingredients.
In Italy it can be either baked or fried, depending upon the region.
Usually you find this sort of pizza dish
filled with mozzarella cheese and other ingredients.
But that's just the... OHH!
It's filled with curry!
Making this indeed an Italian-style curry bread!
Well look at this!
This is by far a different approach
from what we've seen thus far.
Interesting! Well, let's try a bite!
Ohohoho!
I-is there tomato in this?
The depth and juiciness of the tomato permeates the entire curry!
You are correct, ma'am.
The only liquid used in that curry was from tomatoes.
No. You used only tomatoes, with no added water to your innovative dish?
Yes. I laid all the tomatoes in a pot and applied heat,
which released all the moisture I could need.
I added a special spice blend suited for the acidity of the juice
to bring out the umami of the tomato, producing a deep, rich curry.
The dough was baked using our house-made grape yeast starter.
[ANDO] The surface is nice and crispy.
The texture becomes sweet the more you chew.
It produces the perfect harmony with the depth of the curry!
This is splendid!
Uniting the Japanese idea of curry bread
to make a new kind of Italian cuisine!
(Crowd oohs and aahs)
The only thing anyone ever thought about Isami Aldini...
was that he was most likely just riding the coattails of his older brother.
But that's not true.
He has chosen to head down uncharted territory all on his own...
He's an explorer of flavor horizons!
I am going to beat my brother. Once and for all!
[URARA] And Isami scores...
87 points!
He's in second place!
[SCHOOLBOY 1] He's tied with Miyoko!
[SCHOOLBOY 2] Looks like Nao is kicked out of the running for the finals.
[SCHOOLBOY 1] What is she laughing for?
[SCHOOLBOY 2] Maybe she's in shock or something.
Big Sister Miss Hisako!
It is a dead heat!
It's only fitting that competition be fierce at an event this big!
Now then, moving forward, is Takumi Aldini!
Buon appetito.
Oh, the next dish is pasta, is it?
Two Italian dishes competing back to back.
[ORIE] There's bacon, green peppers, mushrooms...
This is like Spaghetti Neapolitan,
but with curry sauce instead of traditional tomato sauce,
and the pasta is closer to a fettuccine cut as well.
Aside from that, nothing really pops out as significant. Hmm.
That calzone earlier was so unique and flavorful
that this doesn't appear very promising for-
What in God's name is causing this amazing depth of flavor?!
It's like a lightning bolt to the senses!
[ANDO] The stock uses beef shank and chicken carcass,
with fennel and green cardamom added as aromatics.
This splendid curry sauce tantalizes the nose!
It binds itself perfectly to these wide-cut noodles!
Is there soy sauce in this dish?!
It's not... It's tamari!
[ANDO] It's produced mainly in the Tokai region.
The flavor is more concentrated than normal soy sauce,
and it's known for being uniquely sweet and mellow.
I'm getting something else.
The smoothness of some cheese embedded inside!
Allow me to explain.
Please look at the noodles' cross-section.
Oh! What is this treat?
The pasta has three layers!
The surface layers are flavored with turmeric,
while the middle layer is softly filled with the exquisiteness of parmesan cheese.
I see...
The mixture of tamari and parmesan
create an unusual richness of bold flavor!
I don't understand. When you added cheese,
the heat from boiling the noodles would have-
That's why he went with three layers!
Sandwiched by outer layers, the cheese inside would seep into the pasta!
[ANDO] The tamari reinforces the depth of flavor in the curry sauce.
The richness of the parmesan cheese spreads perfectly on the tongue
and drives the point home.
The technique of steeping soft cheeses in soy sauce is well known,
but to think parmesan cheese and tamari would go so well together!
It is like a whole new genre of cooking.
Bringing forth Italian and Japanese styles with curry as its heroic vessel.
[ORIE] Takumi Aldini...
The Man who Carves out new Flavor Horizons!
(Cheering)
[GUY] Don't get me wrong. They're both talented,
but I think Takumi has a little more finesse.
I would like to request that YOU make our main dish tonight, Takumi.
Is that ok?
[ISAMI] I can cook too, you know!
Isami! Why did you alter a dish that was already completed?
[FATHER] You muddled the flavors.
Do you want our customers to lose faith in us?!
(Sobbing)
Brother, I'm sorry.
I ruined your cooking. I didn't mean to. I promise.
I was just trying to show that I knew how to cook too.
I didn't want to be a burden to him.
The mezzaluna:
The knife named after the half-moon.
It suits us perfectly, don't you think?
When two halves come together,
it forms something complete.
To be Aldini means the two of us side-by-side, Isami!
I'm trying to get better as a chef so that you can grow with me.
Then one day, our restaurant is sure to be
the best establishment in all of Italy!
Buon giorno!
And welcome to Trattoria Aldini!
Ciao, Aldini brothers!
Looking forward to some great food!
Countin' on you!
[ISAMI] Usually he's more laid back,
but when he puts on his chef's jacket, it's like he's a different person.
Once again, I couldn't keep up with him.
Yeah. Sure enough, my brother is incredible.
[URARA] Takumi Aldini scores 90 points!
Grazie!
[SCHOOLBOY 1] Someone else was able to score in the 90s!
[SCHOOLBOY 2] Oh, man! He even beat Miyoko!
(Whimper)
B Block is reaching the final stretch.
Remaining chefs, will you pl-
Here you go!
What is she doing?! Don't ever interrupt Urara's commentary!
Don't make me hurt you!
I was kind of getting tired of waiting.
(Gasps)
Wh-wh-what the heck am I looking at?!
[SCHOOLGIRL] What IS that?!
[SCHOOLBOY] Is that really food?
I put my very soul into this.
Well, please eat up and enjoy!
[URARA] What? Um, this dish looks so strange?
Can this really be considered curry?
[SCHOOLBOY 1] Is that spiral thingy edible?
[SCHOOLBOY 2] The sauce is a weird green color too.
There doesn't seem to be any roux present in that dish.
Um... you don't know what you're talking about.
Make no mistake:
Everything on that plate is curry.
(Grunts)
What's going on?
The judges have been so talkative,
but now they're totally frozen all of a sudden.
Um... What's it?
So what's it like? Is it any good?
How do I even try to describe this masterpiece?
Hot and cold, the ingredients are infused so well...
These seasoned culinary figures are at a loss for words!
Does that mean the dish is beyond their comprehension or understanding?
[KITA] This curry sauce has been made into a foam, and is slightly warm.
Melting away elegantly on the tongue.
Oh... This beautiful tomato mousse is refreshingly cool and pairs with it perfectly.
I added spices as well as sodium alginate to harden it.
I made the mousse using turmeric
and the powder of frozen and pulverized foie gras.
The white in the middle is a puree of
potato and six kinds of cheese.
And of course, I flash-froze it as well,
So it melts the moment it touches the tongue.
If your mouth becomes too cold, please have some of the spiced pie crust.
It's been flavored with coriander and other spices
to give the tongue a tantalizing break.
Thermal sense:
It's a school of thought in molecular gastronomy
where elements are used in varying temperatures.
This dish incorporates that concept.
Uh... so then... what do you say?
Does it taste good or what?
Of course! Perfect! I can't...
I don't have the words to describe its pure deliciousness!
I just can't... I'm at a loss for words.
[SCHOOLBOY] It's so good even the food critic can't describe it?!
It uses spices as its base,
but contends with alternating textures and temperatures.
This dish redefines the field of traditional cooking!
Yes. She could be called...
The Global Innovator!
(Giggle)
[URARA] 95 points!
In a surprising upset,
Alice Nakiri leaps to the top, overthrowing Hisako!
Oh, I didn't get 100?
That's unexpected.
Still...
Y'see that? I beat you, Little Miss Helper.
Don't call me, "Little Miss Helper"?!
[SCHOOLBOY] Awesome! All the judges gave her 19 points!
[SCHOOLGIRL] That's practically perfect!
Impossible! Gourmands of such renown.
Haven't seen scores like this in a long time!
[URARA] Alice Nakiri takes first place!
Followed by Arato and then Takumi,
And tied for fourth place, we have Hojo and Isami.
Only four contestants from B Block will be allowed to move on.
There will be a runoff vote
for the two contestants now in fourth.
(Crowd cheers)
But they still put out some interesting dishes,
only fitting for the final contenders.
Yes... Hard to say one is better than the other.
It's been a passionately heated battle this year.
Now, let's move on to the voting.
[MEGUMI] Excuse me...
Huh?
Uh...
Please, I haven't...
presented... my curry.
She did the suspended cutting.
(Surprised and annoyed murmurs)
Grr! And after I'd built them up to the grand finale!
I-I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!
All right!
Now it's Megumi's turn!
Megumi!
Oh my gosh!
What're you guys doing here?
We left the fishin' to all the young'uns just for today.
We wanted to watch you shine bright and make us all proud!
Oh, that is just too much.
[SCHOOLBOY 1] Check out her crowd. Those are some pretty rough-lookin' dudes.
[SCHOOLBOY 2] Who the heck IS this girl, anyway?
[URARA] Okay, Miss Tadokoro, if we could get on with the tasting.
Go get 'em, Megumi!
You go stick 'em in the craw!
(Agreeing)
Um, please! I want to help my family's restaurant!
Please help, sir!
Please, help me! Please, help me, sir!
A monkfish DOBUJIRU curry, sir.
"Dobujiru"... a hotpot with monkfish as the main ingredient.
Indeed. It's a dish passed down by fishermen in the Ibaraki and Fukushima prefectures.
Monkfish in curry?
Just what is this girl thinking?
Oh wow!
So this is pure heaven.
THIS is what monkfish cooking is about.
[KITA] The main trait of dobujiru is that it takes monkfish liver
and slowly cooks it down in a frying pan.
Miso and sake are added to the liver to create the flavor base.
This thoughtful young lady added spices to make a spectacular "liver curry miso."
My body's free!
I could get addicted to something like this!
To think, these spices would be such a match for the richness of liver!
It's like a warm glow within...
After all the food we've eaten, you can feel it even more.
I mean, there's a personal touch to this dish.
Ingredients include the monkfish's flesh, its skin, and fins and...
Hm? What's this?
Kogiku pumpkin, Tachikawa burdock root,
and Akasuji daikon!
Um, it is!
All those vegetables are grown in my hometown.
I tried various ways of bringing out their flavor,
but curry is overpowering and didn't match the sweetness and bitterness of the vegetables,
so I was very worried about what to do.
But in a dobujiru using monkfish liver,
not only is the flavor of the spices drawn out,
but it acts as a kind of bridge to the naturalness of the vegetables.
I wanted to make something where you could taste AND smell where I was born.
That's the kind of curry I wanted to make!
[MOTHER] Huh? Megumi really made this?
[HOSTESS] Yes! If she worked here, no one could come close to her!
[MOTHER] Apparently, there's a world famous cooking school stationed in Tokyo.
You think you might wanna go there, sweetie?
They say a bunch of its graduates are working all over the world.
[MEGUMI] Yes, but...
Mom, I...
In the future, I was gonna help out around the inn.
Well, if in the end you still decide you want to work here that'll be fine.
And actually, that would make me real happy.
But first, I'd like for you to go out just once
to see what the big, wide world has to offer.
Y'understand?
What the heck?! You tellin' me Megumi's cooking's only in the 10s?
I told ya, it's the judges five scores all together that make a perfect hundred!
Way to go! That's our shining star right there!
Take this... It'll bring you good luck at school, darlin'.
[FISHERMAN] Tokyo, huh?
We're gonna miss ya 'round here.
But look... there ain't many of us
that're better than you, ya got that, kiddo?
[OLD CHEF] Do your best, Megumi!
[FISHERMAN] Megumi might be the greatest up-and-comer this town's ever had!
[MOTHER on phone] Megumi, how's school goin'?
Mother, uh... it's uh...
It's going great.
My classes are so much fun.
You do know that you're really talented, right?
Are you going in for some cooking practice, Megumi?
We'll go with you if you want.
Oh, thank you!
But I thought it would be best if I study by myself tonight.
(Sobbing)
Here we are, Megumi, your day is here.
It's time to leave your tiny, tiny garden...
and spread your wings.
[URARA] Megumi Tadokoro scores 88 points!
4th place! She leaps into 4th place!
(Crowd cheers)
(Chuckling)
Miyoko Hojo is out of the running!
What an upset!
Megumi, you did it!
(Chanting) Megumi! Megumi! Megumi! Megumi!
[MIYOKO] I thought I had what it takes to win.
And that princess had nothing.
But it looks like she has everything she needs.
(Ending Song)
[NATSUME] Uh yeah, this is bad.
How could I give points for a dish like this?
Um... okay...
but, um, what about the student's score?
Are you hard of hearing?
I said the dish was bad.
WAHH! Oh so, the total score is...
19 points.
[SHUN] Natsume Sendawara gave zero points again.
She's judged more than 10 contestants
and hasn't given a single point.
Even though everything looked delicious, huh?
It's crazy... it's like a graveyard, dude!
A-Block's judges seem to be pretty tough on these guys!
Please, uh, the next contestant!
Ryo Kurokiba, if you would be so kind!
It's your turn.