"I think this Dongpo pork tastes great."
"I'm afraid those people thought this meal was too expensive and were deliberately looking for trouble."
"This is the best dish of Bada Shoun. I always want to try this Dongpo Pork every time I come here."
The diners on the three floors were discussing in low voices.
The implication was that Li Xiao and others felt that the food was expensive and were deliberately looking for trouble.
Li Xiao originally wanted to have a quiet meal and didn't want to cause trouble.
But the problem was that Zhu Gaoxu had already slapped the table. Hearing the comments from the surrounding diners, Zhu Gaoxu glanced at those people with cold eyes, making the wealthy businessmen shrink back in fear.
Not long after, a strange-looking and short chef came over. It was the famous chef Ba Dashao of Zuixianlou.
"Do you guys think my Dongpo meat tastes bad?"
Bada Shoun walked over under the guidance of the waiter, his face full of displeasure.
His reputation is so great that no one can question it.
Dare to charge one thousand taels of silver for eight dishes, which means he has superb cooking skills.
If it's someone who can't afford it, just defile it at will, it's not worth mentioning.
These people can afford to eat food, but they say it is not delicious. If word spreads, how can they do business in the future?
"The taste is average." Zhu Gaoxu said lightly.
Bada Shoun raised his hands and said, "Excuse me, where have you ever eaten Dongpo Pork that tastes better than what I cook with Bada Shoun?"
Zhu Gaoxu said: "I have eaten it, not long ago."
Bada Shoun asked: "Excuse me, which restaurant is it?"
Zhu Gaoxu pointed to Li Xiao next to him: "The Dongpo pork made by my brother-in-law Li Xiaoyao tastes better than yours."
Li Xiao: "."
Everyone: "."
If you name a famous restaurant, everyone thinks they can still compete.
After all, there is indeed some controversy among the dishes made by famous restaurants, and it is difficult to reconcile them.
But he pointed it directly at the young man, who looked like he was not a cook. Isn't this looking for trouble?
Bada Shoun was stunned, looked at Li Xiao and asked: "Your Excellency, are you the cook?"
Li Xiao smiled and shook his head: "No. But I do know how to make Dongpo Pork. I developed the method myself."
Bada Shoun: "In other words, they just think the Dongpo Pork you cook is delicious?"
Li Xiaoxin said: "I have developed Dongpo pork which is indeed delicious. It should be better than your plate."
The words fell.
Everyone was talking about it.
"Are you here to play a game?"
"Guess so"
“How can a young man’s cooking be as good as that of Eight Big Shovels?”
"I think these people are screwed."
The wealthy businessmen on this floor understood.
These people are really here to have fun.
However, this Zuixian Tower has a backstage.
I heard that if there are high-ranking officials in the background, these people will definitely be kicked on the iron plate.
Bada Shoun pointed at Li Xiao: "In the name of Bada Shoun, I challenge you to bet on Dongpo meat. Is this man willing?"
There is a bet, and it seems that there are benefits. Li Xiao smiled lightly and said: "Yes, yes, but this is your territory. Isn't it you who has the final say about winning or losing?"
Hearing this, Badassan felt insulted.
How could he, one of the world's famous chefs, do such a despicable thing?
"Young man, you underestimate me."
"How can I be famous if I don't even have this kind of magnanimity?"
Bada Shoun patted his chest and said: "I, Bada Shoun, sit here in Zuixian Tower and have accepted countless cooking challenges. How many chefs want to defeat me and become famous! Countless pairs of eyes are staring at me. It is impossible for me to do such a thing. It's a shameless thing. Sir, you should be lucky. I rarely challenge others. I always wait for others to challenge me, but they are all cooks. As a diner, you are the first."
After hearing this, Li Xiao probably understood how cooks in ancient times became famous.
After all, there was no Internet, no video, and no newspapers in ancient times.
It can only be spread by word of mouth.
It was nothing more than accepting the challenge and defeating the challenger, and it slowly spread.
After saying that, Bada Shoun pointed at the diners on the three floors and said: "These diners are all gourmets, and all of them are wealthy owners. They are willing to spend a lot of money to patronize my Zuixian Restaurant. At the same time, they will also go to other high-end restaurants." , as a judge, you are absolutely fair. If you can beat me, you will definitely become famous."
"Forget it about becoming famous. I'm not a cook. Cooking is just one of my hobbies."
Li Xiao smiled and said: "I accept the challenge, but it's not fun to do it this way, just to add some excitement."
Generally speaking, other chefs would not make this request if they came to challenge the Eight Great Spatulas.
After all, their goal is just to make a name for themselves.
If you win, you will become famous. If you lose, you will lose nothing.
The Eight Great Shovels were also willing to take on such challenges in the early years.
After all, he can also make his reputation known.
Therefore, many chefs from restaurants all over the world traveled thousands of miles to Zuixianlou to challenge the Eight Great Shovels, but no one ever mentioned the prize.
Li Xiao was the first.
Hearing that there was a chance of winning, Bada was a little surprised: "You are very brave."
Li Xiao said: "It's just confidence."
Hearing this, Bada Shovel became interested.
This shows that the other party is not here for fun, but has something real.
Bada Shoun smiled and said: "What do you mean by gambling?"
Li Xiao thought about it for a while. Except for Dongpo Pork, the other eight dishes were all delicious.
Once you have learned the other seven dishes, you can open a restaurant in Peiping.
"I'll bet you the recipe for seven other dishes besides Dongpo Pork!"
Li Xiao said this.
The words fell.
The diners stood up in surprise.
Zhu Ningyun looked at Li Xiao and thought, Xiaolang wants to open a restaurant?
Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosui both looked at Li Xiao. It turned out that their brother-in-law had this idea.
Wonderful!
If nothing else, the other seven dishes taste amazing.
Once you get the recipe, you can definitely compete with Tianfeng Restaurant by opening a restaurant in Peiping.
How much money does this cost?
Be sure to take part in one share when the time comes.
Bada Shoun said with a face full of disbelief: "Do you know how many people want the recipe of my eight dishes? This is a secret that is not told! I won't sell it for a thousand gold!"
"Are you scared?"
Li Xiao used the provocation method: "Are you afraid of losing to me?"
Bada Shoun is a superb cook, but his brain is not working well. He was so angry that he said angrily: "It's a joke, how can I be afraid of Bada Shoun? Just bet, but what do you have worth gambling with? You can't do it in vain." Glove White Wolf.”
Li Xiaodao: "How about I bet ten thousand taels of silver?"
at this time.
The diners around laughed and said:
"Ten thousand taels of silver can't buy the formula for eight big shovels."
"Yes, if the formula for the eight shovels could be purchased for ten thousand taels, I would have bought it a long time ago."
"It's a small thing that makes a big difference. What young people think is really beautiful."
A table of eight big shovelfuls of food costs one thousand taels, which is indeed not enough.
But someone said:
"But don't tell me, these ten thousand taels are just free money."
"That's true. The Eight Great Shovel Competition has never been defeated."
"This young man is overestimating his abilities."
Hearing these words, Bada Shoun frowned.
It is true that my own formula cannot be measured by ten thousand taels.
But it’s impossible for me to lose!
Not to mention losing to this young man.
Bada Shovel looked at Li Xiao and found that his hands had no cooking calluses.
Sure enough, he came to give money.
"Okay, I agree, but"
Bada Shoun looked at Li Xiao: "You have to take out ten thousand taels first to prove that you brought so much money. I, Bada Shoun, don't want to mess around here."
Ah this
Li Xiao was so pretentious that he didn't even think about whether he could shell out the ten thousand taels.
How can I have ten thousand taels?
Helpless, Li Xiao had no choice but to look at Zhu Ningyun.
"I have."
Zhu Ningyun took out 10,000 taels of silver notes from her purse, lined them up on the table and said: "The goods are genuine, the votes from the Bank of Gathering."
Zhu Ningyun specially brought this money with him when he went out, just in case of emergency.
The result came in handy today.
Li Xiao was stunned, my wife is really rich!
Huiju Yinzhuang is a very famous silver dress in Ming Dynasty, and banknotes can be cashed at any time.
Bada Shovel took the banknote and took a closer look. It turned out to be a genuine banknote from Gathering Bank, so he put it back.
"Okay, let's start the competition."
The eight shovels are determined to win the ten thousand taels of silver.
Although he was the founder of this restaurant, as it grew, many high-ranking officials and dignitary shareholders joined in to manage it, and the money he made was not as much as expected.
Only part of it goes into your own pocket.
This ten thousand taels of silver was given to him for free.
"etc."
Li Xiao raised his hand and said: "Compared with me, you are not qualified. If I win, just send me as my disciple."
After speaking, he looked at Zhu Gaosui and said, "Disciple, this is the high-end game for you."
Zhu Gaosui: "."
Hearing this, Badazhan's face instantly turned the color of pig liver, feeling that he had been humiliated.
"It's shameless to say so, just wait to admit defeat!"
Bada Shoun did not say such a thing to his disciple, but he was too lazy to continue arguing and directly ordered: "Then let's compete. Use the ingredients and kitchen utensils in the kitchen as you like. After cooking, let these diners judge how it goes. ?”
Of course ordinary diners can't do it, but the wealthy businessmen on the third floor are all powerful gourmets.
"good!"
Li Xiao nodded.
"I, Yu Huatian, have earned my reputation in vain."
Zhu Gaosui also felt that he was sure to win, so he stood up with a smile.
After all, along the way, if nothing else, he has made Dongpo Pork seven or eight times and has become very proficient.
At this time, Li Xiao stuffed a bag of something into his hand and whispered in his ear: "Just follow the method I usually give you, and add a little bit of this."
In order to ensure a win, Li Xiao gave him a small packet of Totole chicken essence for freshness.
"good"
Although Zhu Gaosui didn't know what it was, he knew it must be another good thing invented by his brother-in-law.
This must be added to make it taste better!
It seems that this competition is stable!
That's it.
Zhu Gaosui and Bada Tuo went to the kitchen.
The diners on the third floor are waiting patiently here.
These wealthy businessmen have nothing to do on weekdays and just like to watch the excitement. Especially when there is such excitement to watch, none of them are willing to leave and would rather be the referee.
Two hours later.
The two came back with dishes respectively.
The fragrance overflows and makes people salivate.
The Dongpo pork cooked by the two people was served separately.
The rules of the competition are simple.
There were about twenty or thirty people present, all of them well-known and wealthy businessmen from Yangzhou.
Those who can sit here and eat are all wealthy businessmen and wealthy people.
Among them are salt merchants, cloth merchants, tea merchants, dye merchants, spice merchants, etc.
Most of them were salt merchants, which was also the purpose of Li Xiao's move, to show his strength in front of these salt merchants.
After all, it won't be long before they meet again.
"Everyone, thank you for coming to my Zuixian Tower. I invite you to serve as judges today. You will get a 20% discount on today's meal."
At this time, the shopkeeper of Zuixianlou was also alerted.
Business people are all smart people. In order to reward old customers, they find an excuse to give them discounts.
After all, Zuixianlou never discounts on weekdays, but asking them to help today can make this happen. In addition, it is equivalent to buying people's hearts and ensuring that the game will be won.
Of course, he just thinks he won't lose.
"The written test has begun, please have a taste!"
The waiter in the store first distributed eight shovels of ingredients in small bowls to the wealthy businessmen present.
If you don't eat this free thing, you won't get it for free.
And this must have been done by the Eight Great Shovels with all their strength.
The Dongpo meat that was served was delicious in color, aroma and taste.
It is stewed over slow fire, less water, more wine, using the best rice wine and skillful heat.
The wealthy businessmen tasted it carefully, and soon all of them narrowed their eyes.
Sure enough, the Dongpo Pork tastes better than the usual Dongpo Pork. The meat is soft but not rotten. It melts in your mouth and is absolutely delicious!
"Okay! It's delicious! This is two points more delicious than usual. You are lazy on weekdays."
"Well, it's still a familiar taste. The aroma of this wine makes me want to drink it."
"Don't talk about the meat, it's just that the soup is delicious and goes well with rice."
Everyone was full of praise, and one of the businessmen didn't care about his image at all, even filling up the soup.
Seeing this, Bada Shoun grinned, feeling that he was sure to win.
This Dongpo Pork is his specialty, how could he lose?
"No, we must have lost, right?"
Zhu Gaosui became a little nervous, wondering if these eight shovels were hiding their strength. The Dongpo pork they ate just now did not show its full strength, but now it is full of firepower?
Li Xiao saw Zhu Gaosui's nervousness, patted him on the shoulder and said, "Have you arranged the extra ingredients as I told you?"
Zhu Gaosui nodded, "I added it. By the way, brother-in-law, what did you add? Why are you so confident? I'm a little worried."
Li Xiao smiled and whispered: "If you add it, you will definitely win. What I give you is chicken essence. Adding chicken essence to any dish will more than double the taste."
hiss!
Several people gasped.
Is this chicken essence so amazing that it more than doubles the taste of any dish?
In this way, we are sure to win the competition!
"Okay, now taste this little brother's Dongpo meat."
Seeing the reaction of the people present, the shopkeeper of Zuixianlou felt that he had a chance to win, and waved his hand to order the second course.
Small plates filled with Dongpo meat were served on the tables of the wealthy businessmen.
"This Dongpo Pork looks good, but I don't know how it tastes."
A big salt merchant looked at the Dongpo meat road in front of him.
Another salt merchant said: "Dishes should have both color and aroma. For us top gourmets, taste is the most important. We can't just look at it. Taste is the most important thing."
"Then try it?"
Ever since, everyone started to move their chopsticks.
Li Xiao's Dongpo Pork actually uses almost the same eight shovel method. After all, it is handed down from history.
But the difference is that Li Xiao’s Dongpo Pork is served with rock sugar.
Whether Dongpo pork is delicious or not depends on its sweetness.
The eight big shovels were filled with expensive icing sugar, which was very expensive in the Ming Dynasty. The best icing cost five taels of silver or one tael, which was as valuable as gold!
It's still his icing, not just any icing.
It's Bada Shovel's secret icing. This icing is 30% sweeter than the icing on the market.
This is one of the reasons why his Dongpo meat is so delicious.
It's a pity that he met the monster Li Xiao.
The sweetness of Li Xiao's rock sugar and frosting are not on the same level at all, one is in the sky and the other is on the earth.
In addition, Dongpo pork also pays attention to the use of wine for seasoning.
Bada Shoun uses the best Huadiao wine.
The wine that Zhu Gaosui used was the top-quality rice wine produced by the system that Li Xiao gave him. The technology was more advanced and the alcohol content was much higher.
Not to mention that ancient wine tasted better, Li Xiao had already tried it separately.
No matter how good the wine was in ancient times, it cannot be compared with the wine of the future.
The wine-making technology in ancient times is indeed very advanced, but compared with the fine wines of the future, it is indeed far behind. In terms of purity, it is simply not comparable.
This is a difference of two orders.
In addition, Li Xiao finally gave Zhu Gaosui a small packet of MSG.
This thing is pure technology and hard work.
Chicken essence is actually MSG plus some artificial flavors.
Among them, MSG is sodium glutamate. In ancient times, people took a sip of soup to enhance the freshness. In fact, they obtained the ingredient sodium glutamate from natural ingredients.
But no matter how you do it, it's not as direct as MSG.
MSG is just hitting monosodium glutamate directly in the face, pure!
Why will almost all restaurants use MSG in the future?
The umami flavor of monosodium glutamate stimulates the taste buds and can definitely rub dishes without MSG on the ground.
What's more, they are ancient people who have not been baptized by MSG?
as expected.
When the richest businessman tasted the Dongpo meat, he was stunned.
An experience that has never been experienced before.
Fresh, sweet and delicious, with endless aftertaste! ! !
It's sweet in the mouth, and the aroma of wine lingers on your lips and teeth! !
Dongpo meat must first be soft and glutinous, fat but not greasy, which requires mastering the heat.
Zhu Gaosui's pressure cooker directly presses the fat out of the meat under high pressure.
Dongpo pork emphasizes freshness and sweetness, and this Dongpo pork is the ultimate in freshness and sweetness.
sweet! It is too sweet!
You can feel the sweetness in the mouth of this Dongpo Pork. After the baptism of rice wine, it is sweet but not greasy!
Then there’s the freshness, the ultimate freshness!
Never tasted such delicious food!
Soon, except for the salt merchant, everyone else froze.
The scene suddenly became very quiet, leaving only the sounds of swallowing and chewing
The Eight Great Shovels also felt that something was wrong at this time. Why were the expressions of these people so exaggerated?
Bada Shoun said, "Everyone, this smells like this."
Just as he was about to ask how it tasted, he was interrupted by a wealthy businessman who raised his hand.
The wealthy businessman showed no mercy and raised his hand directly to signal to be silent and let him enjoy the delicious food in peace.
Wealthy businessmen who are willing to spend a thousand taels of silver to eat delicious food are all very fond of delicious food. They will not only eat at this one, and naturally they will not sell eight shovels of face.
The eight big shovels were deflated, and I felt uneasy.
Another half-stick of incense time passed.
Everyone present ate all the Dongpo pork cooked by Zhu Gaosui.
That's right, it's spotless. The dishes are cleaner than the ones they've been washed.
After eating, everyone was still hungry!
I almost completely forgot that they were still the judges!
When Li Xiao saw this scene, he knew he would win.
It has to be chicken essence, but also technology and hard work!
Li Xiao smiled and said: "Everyone, don't forget that this is a competition. You have to be fair. How does the Dongpo pork tasted by my disciple?"
Li Xiao's voice woke up the wealthy businessmen who were still intoxicated with delicious food.
A fat rich businessman stood up, patted his head, and came to his senses: "Yeah, I almost forgot about this."
He took a breath and then said loudly: "I think it's so delicious. I have never tasted such delicious Dongpo pork. The taste is amazing!!! What do you think?"
The other wealthy businessmen came to their senses and stood up.
One by one, they looked towards Zhu Gaosui.
Even at such a young age, his cooking skills have surpassed those of the Eight Great Shovels!
This is so awesome, indeed a hero comes from a young boy!
“Yummy!!! So delicious!”
"The delicious taste of the world, no, this is the taste of gods, this taste should only be found in heaven!"
“It’s so delicious. I’ve never tasted such delicious Dongpo pork!”
"It's over. You let me eat such delicious Dongpo pork. What should I do if I can't eat it in the future?"
"Can you have another one? I'll pay for it! I'm willing to pay five hundred taels of silver to make me a complete Dongpo Pork!"
"I'm also willing to pay. This small piece is not enough to eat!"
"I also offer five hundred taels. Little brother, can you make me another one?"
"I'm willing to pay ten thousand taels for the recipe of Dongpo Pork!"
"I'm willing to pay 20,000 taels for the recipe of Dongpo Pork!"
The scene suddenly became a little chaotic, and everyone seemed to have forgotten that this was a competition.
In the end, some businessmen were afraid that they would not be able to eat such delicious Dongpo pork in the future, and were even willing to pay a high price to buy the recipe.
Li Xiao and others were a little surprised.
These businessmen are so rich, they can talk about ten thousand taels or twenty thousand taels.
Just to buy a recipe for Dongpo Pork?
"Oh my god, I feel like they are richer than my father."
Zhu Gaoxu frowned slightly and whispered to Zhu Ningyun.
Zhu Ningyun also nodded. It was the first time she had seen such a scene, and she whispered: "Zhumen are freezing to death on the road where wine and meat are smelly. I didn't expect that such a scene also happened in the Ming Dynasty. There were many people in Peiping who didn't have enough to eat. And they only ask for ten thousand taels of silver. Ordinary people will not be able to earn so much money in a thousand years, let alone a few lifetimes."
Zhu Gaosui whispered: "Sister, I think these businessmen are so rich, the court should charge them more taxes. A businessman is no worse than our Prince Yan's Mansion."
Li Xiao smiled and whispered: "Lao San, you have a good idea. The greater the ability, the greater the responsibility. You should contribute to the development of the Ming Dynasty. If the court understands this, it should increase business taxes."
Back to business.
Li Xiao did not agree to their conditions, but said: "Everyone, which Dongpo pork dish do you think tastes better?"
All the merchants said in unison: "Of course it's your Dongpo meat!"
Hear the words.
Li Xiao looked at Bada Shoun and the cold-faced shopkeeper of Zuixianlou.
They couldn't believe that the Eight Great Shovels, which had not been defeated for decades, actually lost to a young man who looked like a son of a wealthy businessman.
They looked at the Dongpo pork made by Zhu Gaosui, and curiously picked it up and took a bite.
Immediately, his expression changed.
Apparently he discovered the great taste of this dish!
“This smell”
Bada Shoun said in disbelief: "You can actually create such a flavor. I won't lose unfairly."
Bada Shoukou is a cheerful person. If he loses, he loses. He says it very happily.
"Not even my apprentice, and neither can you!"
Li Xiao smiled lightly.
Zhu Ningyun took a deep breath and looked at Li Xiao, with even more admiration in his eyes.
My husband is too awesome.
Li Xiao looked at Bada Shovel and said with a faint smile: "Bada Shovel, is it time to hand over the recipes for the other seven dishes?"
(End of chapter)
