Chapter 145: Chapter 115: Three Types of Challenges

Sitting in the motorcade, Ning He couldn’t help but marvel at Macken’s efficiency.

She had only mentioned upgrading the service, and he had already done practically everything he could.

All the armored vehicles had been repainted and serviced until they looked brand new. On top of that, the guests’ RVs were replaced with newer models that were more spacious and equipped with a greater variety of high-end facilities. All the appliances were fully voice-activated and could even be gesture-controlled, leaving Ning He utterly amazed.

’Then again, in a world that can build Mechas, this kind of technology isn’t all that remarkable.’

Now a senior partner, Ning He no longer rode in the client RVs. Macken had assigned her a high-end catering vehicle of her own, complete with a lounge and a walk-in refrigerator. It was fully stocked with everything she had requested; he had truly spared no expense.

Ning He was very satisfied.

’It’s so refreshing to work with someone like him.’

The gourmet food tour stopped at the usual spot, but the entire place looked brand new, almost like a small park.

Macken had taken care of pest control in advance, so no safety mats were needed on the ground. The turf wasn’t just neatly trimmed, lush, and soft; clusters of harmless, vibrant wildflowers had been transplanted from who-knows-where. Along with some small shrubs, even the protective netting had been specially decorated with artificial vines. The entire scene was bursting with vibrant greenery.

Combined with the quietly flowing river and the white camping tents, the place was so beautiful it was practically a fairyland for the people of this world, who were forced to live away from nature.

When the guests stepped out of their vehicles, they were all stunned by the scenery and immediately began pulling out their cameras and phones to take pictures.

Cindy and Karen immediately set up their cameras, adjusting the positioning and angles, while also taking the chance to fish for praise from Ning He.

"The set design was our idea. What do you think? Not bad, right?" Cindy said proudly.

Ning He gave her a thumbs-up. "Beautiful!"

Macken pushed the catering vehicle to a corner, out of the camera’s main view. When Ning He caught a glimpse of it from the corner of her eye, she couldn’t help but be impressed.

’The stainless-steel catering vehicle was actually coated in white baked enamel. At first glance, it looked like an elegant piano.’

’Talk about attention to detail!’

Ning He walked over to admire it for a moment before waving her hand. "Alright, let’s bring out all the ingredients. We need to start prepping. We have a lot of dishes to make!"

Macken nodded, and soon a few people arrived with Wade, carrying large tubs and coolers. After Ning He did a quick inventory of the ingredients, she had others set up the long table inside the tent, arranging it with delicate stemmed glasses, vases, candelabras, and the guests’ place cards.

Aside from Mr. Rochester and Doctor Lister, the other guests were also old clients of Macken’s who had attended Ning He’s gourmet tours in the past. Deeply impressed by her skills, they had all accepted this invitation without hesitation.

Ning He had originally wanted to secure a few spots for Leitel and his group, but the old men went silent after hearing her partner was the Black Panther Company. She didn’t press the issue. After all, they could always join in the future.

Cindy had already gone over the filming arrangements with them. Guests who did not wish to show their faces could wear half-masks to participate, and the place cards would only display the first initial of their surname. For example, Mr. Rochester’s place card just had a single capital letter: L.

After a flurry of activity setting up all the props for the shoot, the guests, who had been admiring the scenery, began to take their seats at the long table. One by one, their gazes fell upon Ning He, filled with a mixture of anticipation and curiosity.

Ning He glanced at the few items at her side and nodded to Cindy, signaling that they could begin.

Cindy confirmed that all parties were ready, cleared her throat, and stepped in front of the camera with a smile.

"Hello everyone, and welcome to the first-ever Beiluo City Outdoor Gourmet Challenge! I’m your host, Cindy, and today, I’ll be guiding you on a one-of-a-kind culinary journey..." Cindy began, speaking with ease. "...Since this is about gourmet food, why do we call it a challenge? I’m sure you’re all just as curious as I am. Don’t worry, the answer will be revealed in just a moment."

The camera followed Cindy, panning over to Ning He and Wade, both dressed in professional chef’s uniforms. A square table and a spinning wheel behind them came into frame.

"Let’s start by asking the head chef of this competition to explain—what exactly does the ’challenge’ in ’gourmet challenge’ refer to?"

Ning He smiled faintly at the camera. "The ’gourmet challenge’ has three main components. The first is taste. Everyone knows the five basic tastes: sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, and salty. But some people are used to sweet foods, while others are afraid of anything sour. Few people can appreciate the essence of every single taste, and everyone has flavor profiles they find difficult to accept. Beyond those, food also has other, more unique flavors. I believe that maintaining an open mind and staying curious about food are important qualities for any gourmand."

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