The Cooking Battle

. . .

The sky was clear that noon. Just the perfect weather for a picnic. Not too sunny, just a little cloudy with the breeze giving subtle chills enough to flush everyone's cheek.

The villagers have laid out different ingredients on a bamboo table that stretched for a few meters. With all kinds of meat and freshly harvested vegetables, this mountain's bounty colored the preparations. From green to orange to red, even every spice had its own taste of belonging.

In front of these long tables, two bamboo-style pans were made available for two chefs about to compete in a cooking competition inside their heads.

Both Jin and Andrei volunteered to help prepare for food, and just like how other villagers completed bunch of chores, these two men provided more than just a simple food service; giving onlookers their fill even before the celebration began just by looking all-handsome in handwoven aprons. From younger kids to elderlies, girls of all ages feasted on their presence.

Gazes followed them around. While they chop the veggies, heads pop from different sides. When they poured the liquids, eyes went zig-zag, up and down. Upon seasoning the pan with a tasty crunchy sound, hands clapped and people bounced in excitement. Only cameras were missing for this perfect cooking show setup.

Andrei decided to cook some steak using the local spices. The onlookers watched in anticipation as he tasted the local spices, measuring every curve in his mouth as the taste of their mountain greeted his palates. At one point, he even had to resort into some emergency water break for accidentally tasting a teaspoonful of Halang, a very spicy pepper only found in this mountain.

People watched him slicing the meat into thin portions enough to feed the entire village. To make this even tastier, he made everyone salivate from watching the delicious brown sauce boiling inside a big jar which he had made from scratch using local sugar canes and pure honey.

On the other table, Jin was raising eyebrows as he intended to cook a dish popular among the people in that particular area. He did everything according to knowledge while adding a few bits of his own style to the delicacy. If it weren't for his condescending nature, some of the women would have already told him wrong.

For this dish, he made use of the local ingredients available and crafted some more of his own. He asked for some organic coconut vinegar to make his broth more invigorating with its strong flavor. The villagers weren't so puzzled at first but when he started whisking the coconut milk into something thick, confusion struck everyone's face.

When the clock ticked it's first hour, plates were already lined up in place of the raw ingredients. Infront of Andrei were neatly plated steaks glazed in sweet sauce that tickles your tongue with a spice. He had to try that Halang somehow.

Served on Jin's kiosk, foamy soups resembling the fluffy clouds overhead followed the shape of the bowl in concave. It looked sweeter than its actual taste and the people weren't so sure about trying it.

When the tasting ceremony began, a long line flocked in front of Andrei and only one boy braved Jin's challenge.

They watched with anticipation, expecting to see some gag show as the boy shoved a spoonful of Jin's dish inside his mouth. Right then and there, they saw nothing but gusto in his face. From his eyes that marbled in a bright glow, everyone could see how magnificent this dish must have tasted. The line halved, thanks to this advertisement, helping Jin snatch some of Andrei's unloyal costumers.

"This tastes amazing mom! A very interesting dish it is!" One teenage boy in his loincloth said, as he grabbed a handful of steak, shoving it in his mouth with his fingers, even licking the sauce afterwards.

A critique was also heard from the other team as a boy exclaimed, "Woah! This taste just like how Grandma Baba cooked for us!" He said, reminiscing the memory of their great elder who was known to travel a lot, cooking for different people. Rumour has it that she was able to open several restaurants in different cities. To which no one could confirm.

In an instance, the herd in front of Andrei strayed out of their line, flocking in front of Jin. Many of them were young enough and never got to taste the food made by their legendary chef who roamed around the world blessing the outsiders with their mountain's flavor.

After the tasting ceremony, Jin was obviously the winner. The people had an emotional bond with the flavors he crafted and so he was able to grab their hearts by their stomachs.

How he was able to replicate that dish perfectly, no one will know. But the nostalgic feeling he brought down to everyone, no answers can describe.

On the other hand, Zeirenne was in the middle of a conversation with the village chief.

"You should think about it, Mang Jose. This summit will provide you with good machineries that can help you with everything. It will make your harvest faster and you won't have to scamper during a storm when it comes unexpectedly."

Zeirenne was talking about how this mountain should be known. The summit includes agricultural entrepreneurship, and this mountain was the first one to enter her mind. For some reason, it has to be this mountain.

"I don't mind letting the world know about our secret. I just don't want them to know about this mountain in particular. This is our home, our treasure. This is the place we were born, raised, and our final ends... we'll meet them here. If we open this mountain, it will only take a matter of time before its green meadows are replaced with tree trunks already dead to the ground. The animals, the birds, everything will lose its home, so would we."

Zeirenne nodded. "I understand. Then I guess I'll have to respect your decision."

It was another "no" for her this time.

She'd known this mountain and its inhabitants for so long. With such a nice place, thoughts of peace should cross her mind with its picture, but dread fogs her emotions every time it comes into memory instead. If only she could convince the people in opening this mountain...

"But if it's you, we can always make ammends."

Her thoughts were interrupted by Mang Jose, and she had to recollect her words. This time... she decided brave her chances again.

"Do you have anything in mind, Mang Jose?"

"We can't make this mountain see the world but we, its people can surely make its legacy known. All we need is soil, water, wind, and the sun. That's the fundamentals of our secret. Wherever we may be, soils can be fertile. If you bring us somewhere else, we can promise to teach everything we know," The elder offered but Zeirenne only shook her head.

"No. It's alright. I understand it now. You don't need any machineries when you have your hands. The secrets that you keep lies in your palms and it's the passion there is. Your hands greet the soil with love, making it fertile. You work harmoniously with the land, that's your secret."

Beautiful words were coming out of her mouth, but her expressions weren't cooperating. Mang Jose noticed this, but it was not a rare sight for him. He'd always known her worries somehow. Yet can't do anything about it.

They passed one group of children being taught by Miss Magdalena.

"How many sides does a triangle have?" She asked the small toddlers and one cutie stood to answers, "Three!"

"That's correct! How about the square, how many sides does it have?"

The children squinted their eyes while counting the sides of the drawing on the blackboard with their fingers. "One...t-two...three...four!" They happily clapped their hands, "There are four sides, Tia Magda!"

"Very good, then how about this?" Tia Magda, as they call her, raised a coin in front of the class, "What shape does this coin have?"

"Circle!"

"And how many sides does it have?"

Lines appeared on their tiny foreheads before mumbling unsure answers, "None?"

"Correct!" Tia Magda commended them with a clap. But in her mind, Zeirenne begged to differ.

There are two sides of everything...

. . .