Chapter 785 - 572: The Early Bird Gets the Worm (Part 3)

Chapter 785: Chapter 572: The Early Bird Gets the Worm (Part 3)

He stood the pieces of meat upright on the cutting board with the skin facing outwards. His left hand steadily pressed the meat down while his right hand wielded a divine-level cleaver, skillfully beginning to slice.

The garlic pork dish requires the meat slices to be thin and uniform, but not too paper-thin.

About two millimeters thick is ideal!

As the divine cleaver danced lightly across the meat, each cut was impeccably precise, producing slices approximately two millimeters thick.

The thickness was consistent, and the cut surfaces were smooth as a mirror.

The glistening slices of meat looked as enticing as a piece of art, making one’s mouth water.

"Tsk tsk tsk, truly impressive, that knife skill is simply masterful!"

Qian Guoxiang exclaimed sincerely, his face full of admiration.

Although he could wield such skill himself, he had to admit that he was a bit slower than Huang Jun.

Huang Jun smiled slightly, his hand never stopping.

Once all the meat skins were sliced, he began preparing the various seasonings needed for the garlic pork dish.

Garlic paste, as the essence of this dish, was indispensable.

Apart from garlic paste, he also prepared chili oil, Sichuan pepper powder, cilantro stems, soy sauce, sugar, roasted sesame seeds, sesame oil, and balsamic vinegar among other seasonings.

The cilantro stems were added to balance out the greasiness of the meat slices.

Adding sugar was to enhance the freshness while giving the meat slices a hint of lingering sweetness.

He placed these seasonings one by one into a mixing bowl, patiently stirring until they merged perfectly into a bowl of enticingly colored, fragrant dressing.

Next, he began to meticulously arrange the meat slices on the plate.

The garlic pork dish is praised not only for its excellent taste but also for its exquisite and diverse plating art.

A good plating doesn’t just enhance the visual appeal of the dish but also stimulates the diner’s appetite.

Poor plating might make the entire dish lose its charm.

Once the meat slices were arranged on the plate in an overlapping manner, he drizzled the dressing evenly over them and garnished with a sprinkle of fresh green scallion pieces.

At this point, a dish of visually and gustatorily complete garlic pork was finally finished!

Although its taste would only be known upon tasting, its exquisite appearance and pervasive fragrance were enough to earn admiration — a masterpiece in its own right.

Just as he was indulging in the joy of his creation...

Suddenly,

A pair of chopsticks eagerly reached out, followed by a second, then a third pair.

Without looking up, he knew that it was Aunt Li and the others who couldn’t wait to taste this delicious dish.

Indeed!

The three people each picked up a slice of meat, skillfully swirling it in the rich sauce, ensuring it was evenly coated, before bringing the delicious slice to their mouths with eager anticipation.

As the meat gently melted on their tongues, an indescribable flavor immediately filled their mouths. The strong garlic aroma was just right, the salty, spicy, and savory flavors perfectly blended, with a lingering hint of sweetness in the aftertaste, making "perfect" a fitting descriptor for the taste.

Aunt Li couldn’t help but exclaim, "Oh my, this flavor is simply intoxicating!"

Aunt Lin, nodding repeatedly, with the meat still in her mouth, mumbled in agreement, "Yes, yes, yes, this taste is even more authentic than those so-called top chefs outside!"

Qian Guoxiang seemed thoroughly delighted, as if he’d just been on a journey of culinary ecstasy.

He savored the deliciousness in his mouth, and once he swallowed the meat, he slowly spoke: "Chef Huang, this dish of yours is truly exceptional! Not only is the taste irresistible, but the plating is so exquisite it boosts one’s appetite just by looking at it. After a while, the teachers in the park might all be scrambling to try it, haha."

"That’s for sure..."

Aunt Li nodded in agreement and added, "We should eat a few more pieces before they arrive, or else once we get busy, we won’t have a chance to enjoy it slowly."

Aunt Lin eagerly agreed, "Yes, seize the opportunity while it’s here."

"Yes, we shouldn’t let ourselves suffer while the teachers do..."

Qian Guoxiang nodded in agreement, using his chopsticks to scoop ten or so slices into his empty bowl, carrying it aside to enjoy slowly.

"Hey, hey, hey, Old Qian, you’re not playing fair, taking that many at once." Aunt Li scolded playfully but quickly picked another ten slices herself.

Seeing this, Aunt Lin was not to be outdone and did likewise.

The three continued to relish this rare moment of culinary delight, enjoying a moment of peace and satisfaction.

Ah!

These three little old kids...

Watching their eager behavior, Huang Jun simply smiled and continued skillfully cooking the remaining Longjing shrimp and tomato egg soup.

As the dishes were nearing completion...

Before they could call out, the teachers and Qingqing, along with Weiwei, had already followed the enticing aroma to the kitchen door.