"I'm telling you, kid, don't take yourself too seriously. My master just wants to give your Master Yao some face by letting you come in alone to try your hand. To put it bluntly, it's just going through the motions. Do you understand?"
Going through the motions? This guy's thick accent made me feel uncomfortable.
The big chef continued,
"Before, your Lord Yao recommended a lot of people, but not many were left behind. You can ask around to find out how many of the people who entered this kitchen came back alive, and how many of them were taboo about their food. You can You’re thinking too much!”
I understand.
In modern terms, this should be a private club where Prime Minister He Xuanchen entertains important guests.
Since it is private, the fewer people who know, the better.
I don’t think it’s worthwhile to try the dishes this time.
With the current cooking conditions and the ingredients in front of me, it is basically impossible to make some new dishes. Even if it can be made, it will not be beyond the ordinary.
But if he wanted to go back alive, he would be forced to use his craftsmanship, and he would have to be unexpected.
So, after I made up my mind, I started wandering around the kitchen looking for life.
At this time, I heard the sound of water splashing in the water tank in the corner.
When I got closer, I saw a group of loaches squirming back and forth, passing in and out.
Some are thick and some are thin, entangled together.
"Very good!"
I clenched my fists.
He turned around and smiled, and the eyes of the female chef behind him happened to meet, and neither of them avoided it.
This female chef has big eyes and her little tiger teeth are very neat and white.
The big chef was on my side, but he had a serious look on his face.
I asked the big chef,
"Since you asked me to taste the food, I will show you my skills. Whether you can go back alive or not is your business."
"Well, go to Dazhao and ask if there is any freshly ground soy milk at this point. If so, bring more!"
The big chef said hesitantly, "I think so!"
"Yes, that would be great."
"Go and find it quickly. It's best to use a big jar to get it. Go quickly!"
Forced by my unquestionable gaze, the big chef and the female chef walked out backwards.
After they left, I immediately started the stove, lit a fire, and boiled water to warm up the stove quickly.
Although loach is a good food, it is not easy to kill it alive.
To ensure the integrity of the loach, I plan not to chop it with a knife or suffocate it with hot water.
Instead, I sprinkled old vinegar into the loach bucket, rinsed it repeatedly, poured out the mucus, put it in my hand one by one, and then opened it up. One loach after another, it screamed like a baby in my hand. .....
Chapter 12 Brilliant and unique skills
The stove is my stage and my battlefield. I feel extra confident when I pick up a knife.
This kind of self-confidence, firstly, comes from innate understanding. He rarely plays by the rules and always creates miracles. Before time travel, he won many national cooking awards and received countless flowers and applause.
Another reason is that I have been practicing in a smoky environment for more than ten years. It seems to me that there are not many masters in this world when it comes to cooking.
There are only a handful of people who are stronger than him.
My technique was neat, and after a while, the loach was ready.
At this time, the big chef came back with a large jar of soy milk.
Seeing my hands covered with blood, I was stunned for a moment.
Then he carefully placed the jar on the stove.
I got closer, took a whiff, looked up at the big chef, and nodded.
"That's what it tastes like!"
I was busy nervously in the backyard, and the front yard of the Prime Minister's Mansion was even more lively at this time.
Of course I didn't know that I wasn't the only one who came to try the dishes today.
Everyone knows that the Prime Minister's Mansion is recruiting chefs today, and some decent men and women have been lined up outside the gate.
In the hall of the Prime Minister's Mansion, the officials who came to recommend chefs were all sitting around talking and laughing, creating a lively atmosphere.
Of course, the most affectionate one among them was Master Yao Qiyao, who chatted happily with other adults.
They all seemed to have become gourmets at this moment, and all of them were very knowledgeable about food matching, ingredient selection, etc.
At this time, He Xiang was sitting firmly on the Taishi chair, just listening and saying nothing.
This man had been doing business in Yan State for many years, and he had informants all over Yan State.
He has long known that I have a special background, my cooking skills are extraordinary, and I can also draw, carve and sculpt. He may think that I am a talented and versatile person who will come in handy in the future.
He had long wanted to find someone like me.
Moreover, he also heard that I had come to Liang State, and Master Yao had brought people to the flood control embankment to look for me in advance. The Prime Minister was very puzzled.
So when the court dismissed today, Mr. Yao mentioned Liu Bancheng's name to me, and He Xiang promised to meet him.
Of course, I have a lot of customers and the kitchen is short of manpower, so I urgently need to add some chefs.
It was just that Mr. Yao, who was in charge of state affairs and diplomacy, took the initiative to recommend a chef to himself, which made the prime minister's heart tremble.
At this time, a domestic servant came in from the back door and whispered something behind the prime minister.
He Xiang got up and ordered his family to gather everyone to taste the food in the back kitchen.
Everyone walked politely behind the Prime Minister's Mansion and crossed a street.
We came to a three-story "Xiangshan Hall".
On the first floor of "Xiang Shan Tang", turn left and everyone enters the restaurant, which is spacious and bright.
Here, there are more than forty rectangular tables lined up on both sides.
The dozen or so larger tables in the middle have been laid out with light red table skirts, and the white tablecloths have been evenly laid out on top.
Among the more than a dozen chefs participating in the food trial, each contestant was assigned a table to match their own finished products. Everyone wanted to borrow some to show off their special skills.
It's just that the innermost table is not as rich and gorgeous as the other tables.
On other tables, there are chickens, ducks, fish, soups, bowls, cups and plates. It can be said that everything is available, fragrant and beautiful.
On this table, the tablecloth has been removed.
There was only a flat stove two feet in diameter placed in the middle of the table.
There is a tall clay pot on the stove, and the aroma is lingering on the mouth of the pot.
Around the bottom of the clay pot, bamboo skewers with mutton, chicken legs, and pigeon breasts were placed evenly on the fine wire mesh.
The meat on the skewers was grilled sizzling by the charcoal fire in the stove.
There are two small jars on each of the four sides of the table. The small jars are filled with yellow-orange soup with milky white oil. The tender green onion leaves on top look particularly charming.
Prime Minister He generally glanced at the other dishes on the table.
In the end, his big eyes stayed on the last table.
The arrangement and finished product of this table forced him to take a closer look.
Master Yao and others also noticed the difference in the dishes on this table.
He Xiang walked around the table, twirling his beard with his hand and looking intently.
He waved his hand for the adults who had been talking eloquently just now to take their seats.
Indicates tasting.
Everyone, you look at me, I look at you, and after giving each other some humility, we start to take action.
Take a bite and feel it’s not enough,
Have another bite,
Each one's eyes seemed to be shining.
First shake your head left and right, then up and down.
Finally, everyone focused their attention on the Prime Minister's face.
He Xiang looked around at everyone.
Order the chef who prepared this dish to come over.
He Xiang used the word "please".
Everyone knows the meaning behind the word "please".
Just like that, I was invited to the front desk.
