Chapter 49：Persistent Girl

"Hi, I miss you so much." Clarence was talking with Beauty through his phone—using his Bluetooth headset—while on his way to their office in Manila.

"I miss you, too. I'm nervous. Can I do it?" Beauty was feeling agitated while she was on her way for the preliminaries. She was clutching at her phone like it was someone's hand.

"Yeah, you can do it. I believe in you." He parked the car properly in the parking lot.

"I'm still nervous." She rubbed her palms dry on her trousers as she walked with big strides.

"Just breathe deeply; do it multiple times until your tensed nerves relax." He got out from his car and stepped into the elevator.

"What if I can't do it?" She stopped and looked heavenward.

He stepped out and halted his steps in the building's lobby, "You've cooked a lot of food for people with enthusiasm. All those who saw and tasted your dishes were left in awe. So, I believe you can pass this round easily. Just be yourself and enjoy making the dish… oh, how about this?" He went to the side and leaned on the wall. "Just think that you're cooking your dish for me."

"Why for you?" Beauty raised a brow at her phone as if it was Clarence.

"Why not for me?" The boss feigned his comical bitterness.

"How about for my family?"

"Fine,"—he chuckled—"but include me in that family. Remember, my future wife." He cracked a joke while saying what he desired, just to help her relax and be confident with herself.

"Harhar, you really know how to make me laugh. Alright, I'll try to cook for you and for my family." It was a sarcastic remark, but Clarence didn't mind.

"That's my girl."

She realized she was no longer edgy this time. "Thanks."

Clarence could tell she was smiling by the tone of her voice. "Oh my, don't say that when I'm not beside you." His mouth curved into a smile as well and glanced at the ceiling.

"Why?"

"How can I hug and kiss you then?"

"You haven't kissed me yet, and I won't allow it that easily. Hmph!" She clenched her fist, feeling defeated by his arrogance.

"Oh, poor me. Never mind—that will come soon. Hehe. Enjoy cooking."

The talk ended as she entered the sliding door of the Cebu Convention Center. She smiled at herself, "Whew! Here I come."

. . . . .

"Beauty Ferol, number 110. Welcome to your preliminary round. You will receive another set of instructions as you go in. Relax and enjoy cooking." Sheila said to Beauty while she was waiting for the latter at the door of hall number 3.

Sheila now knew the name of her rival. She was smirking, pondering whether Beauty would be able to pass the irritable judges in this infamous hall or not. Keeping her thoughts to herself, she continued to guide the other participants on their way inside.

"All participants, please choose any worktable you want." A woman wearing a chef outfit eyed at the aspirants as they walked around. "Make a dish that you think would totally represent yourself to the judges. You have 30 to 45 minutes to prepare. Ready… and start." She spoke, declaring the start of the challenge.

Beauty never thought this would be the theme: 'what's best to represent oneself with food?'

The other two started their preparation right away. She was left standing where she was. The judges looked at her with concern. Time was ticking; would she be done on time like this?

She thought of her distinguishing characteristics: creative, unique in her own way, self-learned, and a girl… "Hmm… yes, that's it!"

. . . . .

While outside number 3 hall, people gossiped about the happenings days ago. It seemed bad—all thanks to the tenacity and eccentricity of the judges of the infamous Hall 3.

"You know what? Only a few people passed from this hall. This group of judges is the strictest. Especially that lady judge. A girl yesterday cried after hearing her sarcastic remarks. Poor girl; she was still a first-year student of that well-known culinary college."

"How many passed so far?"

"Only five people for the past three days of the preliminary rounds. So tragic."

"I hope they won't be crying out when they step out. Hall #3 will be awarded as the most miserable hall for this year if that continues."

Sheila heard them all talking and felt satisfied, left to only a smirk as a sign.

. . . . .

Back inside…

Instantly filled with motivation, Beauty hurriedly went to her workstation with the enthusiasm she usually had. Grabbing a basket, she took a fish fillet, all-meat pork steaks, ginger, onion, vinegar, tomatoes, and other ingredients and brought them to her station. Without further delay, she decided to make one of the dishes she did the night before leaving Camotes Island.

First, she cut the steak into a big circle and carved the edges with meticulous care using a pair of kitchen scissors to make it look like petal tips. Then, she pounded it with a mallet to make it thinner and tender. She rubbed a mixture of turmeric, salt, pepper, and some sesame oil on it.

The whole steak was placed inside a non-stick muffin pan and spread out to take its shape. Another same pan was placed on top of the meat and placed it on a stovetop grill in medium heat. Of course, she had placed a cast iron pan in between to make sure the pan wouldn't get burned. After grilling, she placed it into the preheated oven. Four steak bowls were made. Three prepared for the judges present and one for her trial.

The fish salad was prepared in a jiffy and left to cool in the chiller.

Ding! The timer set off. When she checked the steaks, she panicked a little. The middle was still watery and was not tasty. She tried to calm her inner turmoil.

Analyzing the occurrence deeply, she saw the moisture from the meat floated out the seasonings. She decided to spoon it out and brushed the same mixture all over the meat again. The steak went back in the oven without the pan on top this time.

When the pork steak was done, the outer part was partly charred using a fire torch. The cook then placed each on a saucer with romaine lettuce. She spooned in some fish salad. For the finishing touch, tomato peelings were transformed into flowers and were set on top of each. Teaspoons were prepared for each judge. Her dish was ready to be served.

She was the first one to finish. Seeing that she was ready, the judges called for her right ahead. Her dish was served to each judge, and they waited for her explanation.

"I call this dish as Spicy Fish Salad in a Flowery Steak Bowl. I'm a persistent girl the flowery steak bowl represents. The raw fish salad describes my uniqueness and tenacity of being a self-educated cook. Also, the whole dish portrayed my creativeness." Beauty explained with sweaty palms.

Before the judges started lifting the teaspoon, Beauty suddenly said, "I suggest you pick the salad with the bowls by hand and slowly bite at the edge, eating the fish salad with it. It will be tastier that way."

The judges were intrigued after hearing that. Truly, as they bit the bowl with the salad, they tasted the combination with delight in their eyes.

"This is a unique way to eat a very stylish presentation," spoke a judge.

"Actually, this is my first time to see this kind of presentation of the 'kinilaw' with 'sinugbang baboy'(fish salad with roasted pork steak)." The lady judge almost shook her head in denial of her good impression of the girl. "It's really special to serve it this way. You did well."

"Thank you, thank you." Beauty beamed in glee. Her eyes glistened and almost teary as well.

"Who taught you to do this?" a smiling male judge asked.

"Actually, no one. I personally thought of this dish. I always like to present my dishes to make it more appetizing and enjoyable to eat." She replied with confidence. All of her anxieties were thrown out after hearing their compliments.

Beauty jumped with joy after catching the white apron with the logo of the Culinary Organization of the Philippines.

A staff beckoned her to go out of the hall. She ran with joy with the apron in hand.

Outside, all onlookers were astonished to see someone coming out with bright smiles from that said miserable hall. Even the first to produce a pass for today's preliminary round.

Sheila's face darkened. She hadn't thought that her rival really did have abilities.

"Nice, that means she is not weak at all and a worthy opponent. Hope you'll pass this regional competition and be among the ones to be sent for the nationals. If not, then I will dare snatch Clarence away from your unworthy hands."

Cathy also heard the news about Beauty. She also passed this round a day ago so she was looking forward to their next meeting. A plan to make Beauty completely fail would now be in order.