Chapter 784 - 572: Strike First to Gain the Upper Hand (Part 2)

Chapter 784: Chapter 572: Strike First to Gain the Upper Hand (Part 2)

Finally, they evenly drizzled the carefully crafted sauce onto the tofu boxes, making them even more enticing in color and rich in flavor.

"Ah, such a delightful scent, this aroma is simply amazing! Just the smell alone makes one’s mouth water, it feels like the cravings in my stomach have been awakened!"

Aunt Li’s nostrils gently fluttered, her face bursting with immense joy, and she eagerly called out to Chef Huang: "Chef Huang, may I have the honor of tasting this tofu box first?"

Aunt Lin couldn’t contain her inner longing either, and joined in with a beaming smile: "Yes, yes, yes, I can’t wait to try it too, Chef Huang, may I?"

"Oh~ look at what you’re saying, after just a short winter holiday without seeing you, how have you become so polite? Haven’t I always let you taste it first?"

Huang Jun responded with a smile, his eyes curling into crescents, "Rest assured, you two aunties, no need for politeness, just go ahead and taste it. See if my skills have improved, hopefully it will satisfy you."

"Satisfied, definitely satisfied, well, then we won’t stand on ceremony..."

Aunt Li hadn’t finished her words before she promptly followed Aunt Lin’s steps, swiftly turning to fetch bowls and chopsticks.

The speed...

Even faster than young people.

Even Qian Guoxiang, who usually appeared very composed, was tempted by this enticing aroma, feeling an itch in his heart. He couldn’t help but speak up and request: "Hey, you two, can you bring me a set of bowls and chopsticks as well? I’d like to taste this tofu box."

"Sure, Old Qian, I’ll get them for you right away!"

Aunt Li readily agreed.

Soon.

The bowls and chopsticks were brought over, Aunt Li personally handed them to Qian Guoxiang, smiling as she said: "Assistant Chef Qian, here you go."

"Thanks a lot~"

Qian Guoxiang gratefully accepted the bowls and chopsticks, without any hesitation, he picked up a piece of tofu box and placed it into his own bowl.

"Phew~ Phew~"

He patiently blew on it.

When the steam had slightly subsided, he began to eat.

The tofu box, with a golden crispy outer layer and a delicate, smooth interior, thanks to the unique method of frying then steaming, made the tofu both resilient and richly flavored, while the meticulously prepared meat filling was tender and juicy, perfectly blending with the delicate texture of the tofu, making it unforgettable after just one bite.

As Qian Guoxiang took a bite, his eyes immediately lit up, exclaiming in praise: "Delicious, truly delicious! Chef Huang, your skills are truly extraordinary, this tofu box is with great success!"

After tasting it, Aunt Li and Aunt Lin also broke into smiles.

Hearing Qian Guoxiang’s praise, Aunt Li chimed in and complimented: "Indeed, the tofu box made by Chef Huang is absolutely delicious! The outer layer is both crispy and savory, while the tofu and meat filling inside are incredibly tender. Each bite is supremely flavorful!"

Aunt Lin nodded in agreement: "Yes, yes, that’s exactly how I feel too! This tofu box is truly both visually appealing and delicious, Chef Huang, your skills are simply unparalleled! Everything you make is so scrumptious."

In the face of everyone’s continuous praise, Huang Jun merely chuckled modestly, responding with his usual humility: "Not at all, it’s all because of everyone’s support. Plus, since you haven’t tasted my cooking in a long time, naturally it feels particularly delicious. In truth, as long as the ingredients are fresh and the method is sincere, the taste can’t go wrong. As long as you’re happy eating, I’m happy."

Upon hearing this, Aunt Lin quickly waved her hand and laughed: "Chef Huang, your words really make us feel ashamed. We’re just stating the truth, not a shred of exaggeration. Your skills are truly not something just anyone can imitate. Even given the same fresh ingredients, if I exert all my effort, I still couldn’t capture your flavor..."

Aunt Li also hurriedly agreed with a look of admiration: "Yes, yes, yes, this is called... what is it called... ah, right, ’In the presence of talent, hard work pales in comparison’! Isn’t that right, Aunt Lin?"

"Exactly, exactly."

Aunt Lin nodded eagerly.

Qian Guoxiang chimed in with a laugh: "So, Huang Jun, excessive modesty turns into disguised arrogance..."

Huang Jun simply responded with a gentle smile, saying no more, as his mind had entirely shifted to the pork belly pieces that had been simmered just right.

It’s time for the next step: making the tantalizing garlic-braised pork.

He walked over to the stove, lifted the lid, took out the simmered pork belly pieces, and placed them on a clean cutting board.

Then, he picked up the divine kitchen knife, ready to proceed to the next step—slicing the pork.

The task of slicing pork, although seemingly simple, actually contains a lot of skill and knowledge, especially for making garlic pork slices, where there are even more considerations and aspects to pay attention to.

Among them, the most crucial point is the thickness of the slices.

The slices need to be as thin as possible, because only this way can ensure a delicate and smooth texture, while also allowing the flavor of the seasoning to fully penetrate, making every bite packed with rich flavor.

Conversely, if the pork slices are too thick, the fatty layer within the pork belly can become too prominent, bringing an oily sensation that makes it difficult to swallow.

However...

Simply pursuing thinness is far from enough; the uniformity of the slices is equally vital.

This requires the chef’s knife skills to be incredibly proficient.

The cooked meat is relatively soft, and with slight carelessness, the tip of the knife might deviate, resulting in uneven slices.

To avoid this situation, some novice cooks choose to slightly freeze the cooked meat before slicing, thereby reducing the risk of a slanted knife.

But Huang Jun is not worried about this.

Thanks to the assistance of the system and the extremely sharp divine kitchen knife in his hand, he finds slicing cooked meat a breeze.