The BEST episodes of Cooking Master Boy
Every episode of Cooking Master Boy ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Cooking Master Boy!
This anime traces the path of up and coming young cook, Mao in 19th Century China on his road to 'Special Grade' Cook and his journeys in search of the 'Legendary Cooking Utensils'. Ju Xia Lou is a restaurant in the southwest region of China in the 19th century. After the death of Pai, the owner of the restaurant, his daughter Karin and her brother Mao help to run the restaurant. One day, Mao and another cook, Shao An who was Pai's understudy, confront each other for the position of head cook. The solution? A 'cook-off'.
#1 - Dream Singe Cuisine Revives
Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 9/14/1997
Mao and Siro are found and untied by Meirii. Meanwhile the Official rejects Ang's dish because it does not taste like her father's although it looks the same. Mao appears and shows Ang how to really use the ball and chain instruments properly. Ang thanks Mao and his friends and they are off.
#2 - The Honorable Mark
Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 8/17/1997
The scores are announced, and Han believes that he had won. However the judge disqualifies him for using dirty tricks. Whereas Mao and Feiyi had judged each other fairly, Han only gave them each a '1' to lower their scores so to win. Finally the judge tells Feiyi and Mao to give a score for their own dishes. This is of course the toughest call a chef has to make. Mao gives himself a 10 because he thinks its the best dish no matter who you are. Feiyi also gives himself a 10. After the judge discusses with other officials, she announces that both Mao and Feiyi pass the test and become Special Grade cooks! Mao returns to Yang's Spring restraunt where he is greeted by General Lee who had heard of the great news. Mao tells Lee he will not return home to be the master chef at his Szechuan restraunt nor will he stay and learn more at Yang's Spring Restraunt. Instead Mao chooses to go around China learning new Chinese cuisines. Lee agrees and wishes him luck. Meili is so distressed about this that she runs away crying. Mao farewells his sister and the chefs at Yang's Spring. One of the chef's give Mao a handkerchief sewn by Meili since Meili couldn't see him off. On the ship, Mao is saddened to read Meili's goodbye letter. Luckily for him Meili sneaked on board as well to acompany him on his journeys!
#3 - China within a Fish
Season 1 - Episode 31 - Aired 3/1/1998
The gong sounded and both chefs are finished. The chiefs of Guangzhou cooking are the judges of the match. Leon starts the tasting with his dishes: 1st dish, sashimi. 2nd dish, stewed fish head with vegetables. 3rd dish, thin slices of fish porgy that is dipped inside boiling porgy soup stock. 4th dish, special fish head dish. The judges are all very happy with Leon’s cooking and Mao is amazed. It’s Mao’s turn. The ladies bring out a big dish and when they opened it, it’s the porgy. They asked if this is the first dish, but Mao answered that this is all his dishes. Mao then asked Shilou’s help and Mei Li pushed him, Mao asked Shilou to cut the string that holds the porgy at the same time. After the string was cut, the porgy moved and the flesh is spreading out like a fan, and when the food settled, the porgy is shaped like China! Mao’s dish is the Porgy Continental Seal. The judges started tasting the dish, each one tasting different sides of the porgy (north, south, east, west) and it contains the four tastes of the four major regions of china: Beijing, Szechuan, Shanghai and Guangdong. The elders finally announced that they came to a decision. It’s a tie! But just as the elders are about to finish the battle, Leon challenged Mao into an extension round and Mao accepted the challenge! Chouyu commented that Mao is at an disadvantage. Chouyu mentions that Leon hasn’t used any underground tricks left, and he still has a trump card. Leon finally revealed his trump card. The North Star Heavenly North Blade There is only one porgy left, and Leon asked Mao to choose the parts. Mao insisted that they have equal parts. Mao cut the porgy in half, with incredible skill. Mao claimed that he did this because he has respect for a great chef, which is Leon. Leon mentioned that he hadn’t hoped of using the secret knife. Leon crushed the end to the floor and pulled out a shining knife. Leon said that the winner will be the one who gives the g
#4 - Sharpness of Evil. Seven Star Knife
Season 1 - Episode 30 - Aired 2/22/1998
Mei Li goes to Mao’s room, but he’s not there and she and Shilou start searching for him. It turns out Mao is in the kitchen, holding his mother’s knife. They discuss the underground and it’s plans to take over the overworld. Then, Shilou and Mei Li wonder where Mao got all the information, wondering if he’s part of the underground himself. Mao finally reveals a book that Pai left. He found it when Mao and Mei Li and Shilou were separated and found their way into the haunted house. It was lying in the ruins of her old house. The notebook has recipes and also the matches she had against the underground society. Mao said that he wants to follow his mom’s footsteps in beating the society and their plans using his mom’s knife that has her soul. The next morning, people are already gathered around the Daisen Temple for the match. It will decide who will own the tool. Master Luo announced that the food to prepare is red snapper because knife skills will decide the taste of the fish. Leon came full-armed with the seven star knife, but Mao steps forward with nothing in hand. The battle has no time limit and each chef has to come up with 4 dishes. The match begins! As usual, Mao watches in fascination and all were amazed with Leon’s knife and his skills. Then, Mao finally starts by scaling the fish. At first they thought that he is scaling the fish with his bare hands but it turns out that he has a wire knife between his fingers. Mao is then teased by the crowd because after scaling, he’s doing nothing, then Shell arrived and finally, Mao has his secret weapon, his mom’s knife. At first, people ridiculed Mao, until they saw that the knife can be bent and Mao started on the snapper. Mao requested Shell to put holes in his mom’s knife. Leon was surprised to know that Mao knew something that an overworld cook knows an underground trick, the hundred-hole knife. Chouyu then exclaims that with the Hundred Hole Knife, they are now even. Leon thinks
#5 - Wilderness Cooking
Season 1 - Episode 28 - Aired 1/25/1998
Yosen Shuka was closed and the employees of the restaurant had a picnic and a fishing tournament. The prize who caught the biggest fish will be a ladle. Everyone is having a great time and Master Luo is teasing Chouyu that a great chef is a great angler. While Master Luo got another fish, Chouyu got another log. Then, when Chouyu was about to catch a large fish, Master Luo threw a rock at it and announced that he’s drunk again, to everyone’s chagrin. Mei Li thought it was unfair. Meanwhile, to win, Mao, Shilou and Mei Li went to another part of the lake to catch larger fish. But Shilou tripped and fell, Mao caught him, but they were also dragged down. Back at the side of the lake, everyone is already eating, when Chouyu was remembering what Lien (the masked chef) had said to him, that the Underground will be targeting him and Mao next. Mao, Shilou and Mei Li were moving their way towards the crops when they hear sounds. At first they thought it was a bear, but eventually it was Shell. He’s still on his journey and was thinking on going back to Yosen Shuka. Since everyone hasn’t eaten, Shell used his steel stick as a fishing rod. Mei Li noticed that there are more marks on his steel stick, but there is a black star. It was his defeat from Mao and he told Mao to be ready next time because he’s going to change it to a victory mark. While catching fish, Shell told Mao he heard the news about Mao having a match with the Underworld. Mao affirmed the news, and Shell warned Mao that this will not be the last. Meanwhile, Shilou and Mei Li are arguing, saying that he is very hungry and he wants to go back. Mei Li blamed Shilou about going too far than was ordered. Then, Shilou asked if they could cook the fish that Shell caught. Shell said that it can’t happen because the fish is carp and it will take them half a day just to clean the fish. Shilou said that he can’t wait that long and that he will die in hunger. Shell commente
#6 - Yang Spring Restaurant`s Challenge
Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 11/16/1997
Mao just returned from his trip and he is given a key for Yosen Shuka because Master Luo & Chouyu went to attend the chef alliance’s meeting for two weeks. When they were already closing, a stranger forced his way inside and ordered a stir-fry. Since Mao is out doing some errand, Shilou made the stir-fry, but forgot to dip it in oil. This made ths stranger unhappy and demanded for the manager. Mao faced him and asked for another chance, anything the stranger wants and Mao will cook it. The stranger asked for an egg dish, but not an ordinary egg dish. Mao must use three different kind of eggs that has unity but at the same time the tastes of the three eggs must be distinct. Mao is to do this in only 15 minutes. In half the time, Mao produced the egg dish, a siumai dish. The stranger claims that he is quite strict with siu mai and even without tasting the dish, he already knew what two of the three eggs are. When he tasted the siu mai, he found out the third and he exclaimed that the dish is very delicious! He then announced himself as Shell, the youngest dim sum master chef. Because of the excitement of finding a person that is equal or might be better than him with regards to cooking siu mai, he challenges mao into a siu mai battle!!!
#7 - Haunted House Experience
Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 9/21/1997
Mao is split up from Meirii and Siro in a forest at night. When they regroup they find a large house where they are served a very nice meal by the chef there. The sickly owners however only want to have red congee. Mao and gang try to find the secrets of this addictive congee and find it is made from a poisonous red mushroom. Also they find out the chef wanted to use this addictive red congee to force the owner's to sign a contract to give all their money and their daughter to him. And so Mao creates a herbal 'five colour' congee which he gives to the owners. This cures their addictiveness for red congee and the chef is forced to leave.
#8 - Big Universe Pork Dumpling
Season 1 - Episode 23 - Aired 12/7/1997
Mao doesnt believe that Shell has chosen the same ingredients as him and stolen his idea! Mao sits on the floor, cursing himself and thinking about something else. There is less than one hour for the battle to last. Shel however thinks that Mao has given up and he is the winner. Siro, being clumsy and concerned about Mao's situation, knocks over a basket of eggs. Meirii scolds Siro for being careless and Mao suddenly has an idea. He kneads the dough like he did earlier on (see The Challenger! Mao was chosen to Fight!). He goes outside and uses centriferal force to spin the dough and calls Meirii and Siro to bring him the biggest steamer in the restaurant. Then, Siro orders everyone to go in while he, Meirii and Mao stay outside to complete the siu mai. Then, Choyu checks his hand watch and sees that time is up. He calls Mao out to present his siu mai. Mao then calls Meirii and Siro to bring the steamer in. Ruoh muses at seeing Mao taking the huge steamer ut of storage. Mao gives the O.K signal to Siro and Meirii and they lift up the cover. When the steam is cleared, they see a huge siu mai in it. Shel however knows that big siu mai wouldnt be cooked properly in the insides. Mao invites Ruoh to taste his siu mai. Ruoh takes out some siu mai shaped like a small siu mai and eats it. A wave of cooking taste engulfs him as he eats it. He goes to the other parts of the siu mai ad tastes them. A burst of universe engulfs him, making him think like a whole of something is in there. Therefore, Mao announces that his siu mai is Big Bang Siu Mai! Shel is bewildred to see such amazing act and sputters that how all of the meat is cooked through. Ruoh calls for his cattle bane sword and someone gets it for him. Ruoh then jumps and cuts the siu mai into quarters. Shel is shocked to see the insides all marblelized. Mao explains the process of cooking and everyone oohed and aahed at the method. Shel admits defeat after Choyu announces that Mao has won hands down. Cho
#9 - Western Style Blood Match
Season 1 - Episode 25 - Aired 12/21/1997
The masked chef rejected Mao’s challenge, but Mao insisted. The next scene, we see Shilou working in the restaurant cleaning the dishes when all the lights went out. He was very scared when he saw some shadows and then he realized it was Master Luo. Master Luo reminded Shilou of the ice sculpture, and that it would melt in the rain, so they decided to bring it inside. But just as they were about to do it, the lightning hit the sculpture, destroying it. Master Luo comments that it is a sign of bad luck. Back at the mansion, Mao insists on continuing the battle for Chouyu, believing that Chouyu couldn’t cheat in the match. The masked chef still rejects Mao. To make the masked chef accept the challenge, Mao finished the first battle, cooking and cutting lobster blindfolded. The masked chef was intrigued and impressed, he accepted the challenge. He tells Mao that the second round will be complete deep fry. The condition is whoever finishes the dish first, a complete deep fry, will be the winner. Shilou decided to go after Mao running in the rain, but after a while he gets lost for a while, finally he reaches the mansion. Meanwhile, back at the mansion, the second round continues and the masked chef thinks that Mao is better than he thought. While the masked chef is making the sauce, Mao announces that he is done. The masked chef’s dish is the Phoenix Tail Lobster, lobster covered with nuts, but since the sauce is not finished, Mao refused to taste it because the meal was incomplete. Mao then reveals his dish, and the masked chef tells him that it’s just a deep fry dish, and he claims that it’s also incomplete. Mao says it’s complete, if he’ll just take a bite. The masked chef did take a bite and he was surprised because the sauce that he’s been looking for in Mao’s dish is inside the lobster and that it’s very good. Mao explains why the sauce didn’t seep out when it fries, it’s the bean curd skin wrapped around the lobster. The masked ch
#10 - Darkness Society`s Assassin! Cold Blooded Genius Leon
Season 1 - Episode 29 - Aired 2/1/1998
Mao was preparing a dish, and the employees at the restaurant are all fascinated with his knife skills. Luo arrived and asked Mao to prepare a special dish for a special guest. They went outside, and they saw a big buffalo. Master Luo said that this is the special dish that they are going to prepare for the special guest. While they were cutting the buffalo, a stranger started cutting the buffalo in quick easy strokes. Then he put a red paper on the buffalo’s forehead. Suddenly, the buffalo was cut perfectly! Everyone was wondering who he is, and then Mei Li somehow recognized it. Mao recognized the cut and said that it was a move taught only in the underground. Shell went over to the stranger and raised his hand, there was a tattoo of the underground on it! Shell started accusing the stranger of taking his stick, when the stranger said that he’s never seen Shell in his life. The stranger recognized Mao, and said he’s the one who defeated Len from the underground. They were about to beat him up when Mei Li finally recognized him. It was Leon a genius cooking boy that’s as good as Mao and was training at Yosen Shuuka. Mei Li remembers that Leon is very kind-hearted, that sometimes he cries when he has to kill an animal in order to cook. He then went on a journey to be a better cook, and now he returned. Mei Li asked what happened to Leon, and Leon pushed Mei Li. They can’t believe this was the kind-hearted Leon they knew from the past. Then, Chouyu and Master Luo arrived and saw Leon sitting on the chair with his feet up in a table. It was revealed that Leon was the special guest. Leon reminded Luo of a promise, that Luo give Leon the legendary cooking tools. Shell explained the tools. There are cooking tools in China that has mysterious power. Shell was adamant, saying that Leon stole his stick and that someone from the underground shouldn’t receive the legendary cooking tools. Chouyu thought otherwise. His skill in cutting
#11 - The Secret of the Masked Chef
Season 1 - Episode 27 - Aired 1/18/1998
Shilou was having a hard time picking the bowl, because he knew that all the lives depended on his judgment. Mao then tells Shilou not to try and pick his bowl, just pick the one that tastes better and that will be his. Shilou finally started tasting both dishes. The Masked Chef was already gloating in victory, because he believed he will win because the accumulated taste of his marine delicacies. Shilou finally decided: he said that he didn’t know which is Mao’s bowl, but he will pick the one he truly felt is delicious. It’s the black bowl! The Masked Chef is furious. He couldn’t believe that with all that lye, the dish tasted very good. Mao was about to take the antidote, when the Masked Chef accused Mao of giving Shilou a sign and asked for an explanation. Shilou explained that the other marine delicacies overwhelmed the taste of the lobster, but Mao’s dish has all the mountain ingredients flowing together to bring out the taste of the lobster. The Masked Chef still isn’t convinced, he asked about the lye. Mao then threw him the secret…a paper bowl. The paper bowl was made from the papers he ripped out from the cookbook. He showed the masked chef how he used it. Mao boiled the ingredients in the paper bowl, then the lye started appearing, but the paper bowl keeps on absorbing the lye, thus the dish is so clear. The Masked Chef admitted defeat and gave the antidote and Mao and Shilou started giving it to Chouyu, Mei Li and the others. Everyone woke up, as well as Chouyu and Mei Li. Then Chouyu gave the Masked Chef a punch. The Masked chef finally admitted that he can’t complete his revenge because of Mao, but he will never forget Chouyu for stealing Meika. Mao started accusing the Masked Chef of poisoning Chouyu, when Chouyu stopped Mao. He started explaining. Sixteen years ago, Meika and Chouyu have promised themselves to each other. The Masked Chef couldn’t believe it at first. He finally realized t
#12 - The Strongest Ace
Season 1 - Episode 26 - Aired 1/11/1998
The third round starts, and it will be a cooking in a pot. Mao has a choice of the freshest ingredients, while the Masked Chef is going to use the seafood ingredients that he has stored for a long time and told Mao that he will complete his revenge. Mao told the Masked chef to stop calling Chouyu a cheater, because he isn’t one, until the Masked Chef told his past. In the past (he wasn’t a Masked Chef yet, this is just a name for his character), the Masked Chef was working with the same restaurant that Meika (apparently, Mei Li’s mother) and he is in love with her. He told Mao that his passion for cooking is his passion for Meika. But then, Meika’s father announced that her husband will be chosen by a cooking match, against the Masked Chef’s rival from his old school: Chouyu. The match was also a three-round lobster match. The Masked Chef even told Meika that he will make Meika happy. The match began, but then when the Masked Chef reached in for a lobster, he was stung by a needle. He started to get dizzy, but he didn’t want to lose Meika so he continued to cook. But as he put it: “The first two rounds are utter defeat.” And the winner was already chosen. Because of this, he decided to go to the underground (Mao was surprised and interested when he heard of the cooking underground). He trained really hard and changed his whole personality so he can have revenge on Chouyu who cheated him of Meika. And that now he returned. He also told Mao that he was using the same ingredients he hadn’t used the last time and now it was preserved and Mao knew that when it’s soaked in the water the taste will come out. Mao was having a hard time thinking about what to use, thinking that no seafood could beat the Masked Chef’s ingredients. Then, Fei flashed into his mind, the one when he took the Super Chef Exams, telling him to stick to his roots. Mao finally gathered all “mountain” ingredients he could find and started cooking. The Mask
#13 - Mysterious Invitation, The trap of the masked Chef
Season 1 - Episode 24 - Aired 12/14/1997
It was a beautiful morning in the Yosen Shuka, and it was broken by an arrow hitting a wall with a note tied around it. Mao gave flowers to Mei Li and she comments that they are beautiful and her mother will like it too. It turns out that it was Mei Li’s mother’s death anniversary. Their conversation was broken when Shilou arrived and told them what Chouyu was making. They were amazed when they saw a huge ice sculpture of a dragon going up to the sky and that it shows the complete mastery of Chouyu with his skills. Then, as Mao and Mei Li decide to go back, Shilou started teasing Mei Li which resulted in a chase. Shilou first saw the arrow and told Mao and Mei Li about it. They read the note and it is a dinner invitation for Chouyu and Mei Li to the Sea Bell Park, an abandoned mansion. They showed it to Chouyu who discovered a symbol of “compulsory obedience”. They decided to go, but Mei Li wanted Mao to go with her. Master Luo agrees, but he denies Shilou’s request to go with them. At the mansion, they were welcomed by a creepy fellow and inside they saw the representatives of the Guangzhou Cooking World. The creepy fellow said that the master chef has prepared a very special meal for them. They were given good food, until the main course arrived. The creepy man said it was pigeon. They started eating it, but Mao and Chouyu immediately realized that it’s not pigeon, but red frog’s meat. Mei Li and the other who have already swallowed the food have already fainted, and then the chef revealed himself, behind an armour and a mask. The chef immediately sees Mei Li’s mom in her. Chouyu asks who he is, and he taunts him in saying that he forgot already. Chouyu finally realized who the masked chef is and asks why he is doing this, the masked chef it was revenge. The masked chef gave an ultimatum: Chouyu has to win two out of three in a lobster contest, the same as before, in order to save the poisoned people with the antidote. Chouyu agrees, and b
#14 - The Battle of Two Chef
Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired 11/30/1997
Mao was chosen to hold the restaurant key. Then, when he had to leave the restaurant for some pick-me-ups, he left the restaurant to Meirii and Siro's care. Now, when Meirii was about to close the restaurant, Shel (even though his name isnt mentioned yet), demanded to be let in and ordered for some stir-fry veggies. Siro, thinking that he would be some help, decided to fry the stir-fry instead. Shel was outraged to taste such a disgusting dish and demanded for the cook. Mao immediately took responsibility and thus, Shel saw the cloth wrapped over Mao's 'Super' badge. Shel then showed Mao the stars he earned when defeating other good chefs and Mao is surprised (naturally). Shel challenges Mao for a siu mai battle but Mao refuses as he has to take care of Yosen Shuuka. Shel, outraged, uses his stick to destroy the place. Ruoh and Choyu came back when Mao finally accepted the challenge and Meirii is doubtful about this. By that time, Shel had discovered that Mao is a 'Tokyu Jiushin' or Super chef.
#15 - The Bad Luck Dark Chicken
Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 11/2/1997
Mao's party stay at 'Chicken Town' a village in south west china. This village is the largest provider of chickens in China. After Mao spends all their money on cooking books, the owner of the Black Wing restraunt, Tia, gives them food and shelter. In return and after hearing Tia's tragic story of how her brother's breeding of black chickens led to his death, Mao competes in the annual chicken cooking contest held in Chicken Town, using black chickens.
#16 - Galaxy Noodles
Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 10/26/1997
Mao, Meili and Shilou are eating in a restaurant, but when they were about to pay, they found out that Shilou lost all their money. They were thrown out by the head chef, Harry and his thugs, but a certain Igle, a third-grade chef stopped them. A fight ensued and it was stopped because the owner of the restaurant arrived with his daughter, Laia. Mao then asked the owner to let them work the debt off by working for the restaurant. It was also found out that Laia is engaged to Harry, and they were to be married the next day. Igle meanwhile carves a phoenix out of ice as a gift to Laia, then left the restaurant. While walking he found Harry (with two girls at his side!) planning to make the restaurant into a bar after he’s married to Laia. Igle was mad but Harry’s friends outnumbered him. Mao found Igle lying on the dirt, and decided to help him and thwart Harry. During the wedding, Mao used subtlety by making a galaxy soup, a completely black soup that kinda sparkles, (like the stars in the black sky) and tells everybody of Harry’s plans. Mao then showed Laia the pearl bangle that Igle promised her. Then they showed the ice carving Igle made. Laia ran off to find Igle on the bridge where they professed their love.
#17 - The Beauty Trap
Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 8/31/1997
Mao and his friends go to Wu Nam province to seek new Chinese cuisines. They enter a village where they are welcomed by a beautiful female chef, Ang. Ang finds out Mao is a special grade cook and seduces him to work out how to use a large ball and chain cooking instrument Ang's father had left to her. Mao almost instantly goes to work (to the jealousy of Meirii) at it with Siro. When they finally work out its uses, they tell Ang and she locks them up in a room. Ang then uses the ball and chain to create a dish* for the Official who has come. *The dish Ang makes is one of Wu Nam's specialties. It is called a 'bird's nest' and is made by frying taro powder in a shape of a bird's nest. Inside the nest is usually some stir fry vegetables and meat. The one Ang attempts to make is a sphere rather than a hemisphere like normal bird's nest.
#18 - Fake Super Chef?
Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 8/24/1997
Mao and Meili travel to Wunam province in China and along the way meet a boy who has fainted from starvation. Mao makes some food for him using igredients from the trees around him. When he is well, the boy tells him his name is Siro and he is a Special Grade Cook (which he isn't!). Since Mao is hiding his Special Grade cook emblem, Mao becomes Siro's disciple! The group go to Siro's village where a really fat Official is putting chefs into prison for making food he does not like. Siro, whose family owns a restraunt in the village also tries to satisfy the Official. With Mao's help they make a fried rice with a sour taste which the Official greedily ate. Mao reveals he is a Special Grade cook, to the suprise of Siro and everyone. Siro apologises for pretending to be a Special Grade cook and joins Mao's journeys.
#19 - The Decisive Catfish Noodles!!
Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 8/10/1997
Mao finishes his noodles and is time is up! The judges must now taste the food..... But the judge tells the five chefs to taste each others dishes! The green hair woman presents her dish first - black noodles. However she is disqualified for using opium in the noodles which makes it addictive and also for using acupuncture on Mao to stop him from making his noodles. Next is the man with the 'cat ears' noodles. For the whole contest he had been doing pushups with his thumb so he could make cat ear shape noodles from the dough by flicking with his thumbs! But his noodles are disqualified by the other chefs because the 'cat ears' noodles was not in the shape of noodles and so failed. Finally, Feiyi, Mao, and another guy 'Han' is left. They taste each others dishes and are then told to give each other a score out of 10. The judge announces the total scores: Mao 9, Feiyi 9 and Han 10.
#20 - The Final Battle
Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 6/15/1997
At night, the stronger Dumpling Brother tries to sabotage Mao's indgredients before the dumpling challenge but is luckily stopped by Choyu. Meanwhile, the other brother is quickly preparing his own ingredients for the challenge. The dumpling rematch has new rules: each taste tester gets two balls, a black one and a white one. After tasting each store's food (Mao and the Dumpling Brothers) they put either a white ball (for Mao) or a black ball (for the Dumpling Brothers) into large pots where they will be counted. The Dumpling Brothers make a beautiful prawn dumpling which looks like a dragon. Mao also makes a prawn dumpling which does not look as good but it has one special trick - It can lift its body up! - The 'Rising Dragon' dumpling' You'll have to watch the episode to understand.After the match is over, the large pots are smashed open and they are completely filled with white balls! Mao wins! General Lee arrives and tells Mao that he is now ready to take the Special Grade Cooking Test in Guangzhou.
#21 - Fantastic Mapo Tofu
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 5/4/1997
In the on-on-one cooking match Mao easily defeats Shouan. Shouan, shamed that he was beaten by a little boy, runs away from the restraunt. General Lee congratualtes Mao on his smart thinking in his cooking of 'Ma Por' tofu. Instead of using beef, Mao substituted it with beans. This gave the lovely taste General Lee remembered when he was just a soldier at war and there was no beef becasue all the cows had died. General Lee, seeing Mao's talent orders him to go to Guangzhou and build up his skills so he could enter the Special Grade Cooking test.
#22 - Merciless Rules
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 5/18/1997
Sanche, also a young chef in Yang's Spring Restraunt, becomes jealous of Mao's talent and tries to spoil Mao's cooking. However when Sanche is asked by Choyu to chop some vegetables, he is unable to chop them finely (due to a tragic childhood where he was taught to cook by his strict father) and so all the customers become unhappy about the restraunt's cooking. Choyu kicks Sanche out of the restraunt for his poor cooking ability. Sanche runs away and tries to get on a boat to return to Shanghai. Mao stops him and offers to help him in showing his skills to Choyu so he can be cook for the restraunt.
#23 - Destroy Old Tradition
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 5/25/1997
Mao, Sanche and Meili open up a store to attract customers away from Yang's Spring Restraunt. They make 'stir fry capsicum and pork strips', but want to add something else to create a unique flavour. As the night wears on, Meili gets frustrated and kicks a tree, making all the ripe 'chi' (a type of fruit) fall to the ground. Mao gets an idea to use the 'chi' as the special flavour they needed. The next day, Yang's Spring restraunt is empty thanks to the store Mao and the gang made. Mao chops the vegetables, Sanche stir frys the dish and Meili serves it to customers making them the ultimate team. Choyu and Ruoh find out about Mao's store and goes to have a little taste test. They are so amazed at the short amount of time they took to make this new delicious dish that they allow Sanche back into the restraunt. Sanche, happy Mao had helped him, got his confidence back in chopping vegetables and again leaves for Shanghai where his father's restraunt is. Mao tries to stop him after reading Sanche's leave note but is too late.
#24 - Dumpling Brothers
Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 6/1/1997
The annual Guangzhou dumpling festival is nearing, and this year Yang's Spring Restraunt is hoping to win again. However a new challenger has arrived - the Chinese Dumpling Brothers! Choyu breaks his arm after one of the Dumpling Brothers knocks into him and it is up to Mao to win in the festival!
#25 - Dirty Trap! Cornered Mao!
Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 6/8/1997
The Guangzhou Dumpling Festival has arrived! The winner is the team who has the most eaten plates of dumplings. An old man wants to try the wonderful Dumpling Brother's dumpling but is told to go away becasue he looked like a beggar. Mao gives the old man dumplings and finds out the man used to be the Emperor's master chef. After this news, everyone flocks to Mao's store to eat his dumplings. When time was up, the plates were counted! Mao and the Dumpling Brothers were equal first with 1242 plates. The judge, under the old man's advice, announces a rechallenge the next day - But different dumplings must be made!