Novel Full Chapter 138 - 120: Holy Shit! This Was Made by a 20-Year-Old Chef?
Chapter 138: Chapter 120: Holy Shit! This Was Made by a 20-Year-Old Chef?
Huang He thought Zhao Dong was bragging.
"What dishes did you order?" Huang He asked.
"The braised dishes, cold-dressed chicken, and Kneeling Beef aren’t being made today, so I ordered one of everything else. Mom loves the braised pork ribs and Twice-Cooked Pork, so I got an extra order of those," Zhao Dong said.
"Just these few dishes, and they don’t even make the braised or cold ones?" Huang He looked astonished. He glanced around at the other seated customers. ’And there are still eight reserved tables for a place like this?’
Zhao Shulan ran a finger over the tabletop and said with a smile, "The restaurant may be small and the decor simple, but it’s quite clean. There isn’t a single greasy spot on the tables or stools. They feel fresh and clean to the touch, which is rare for a busy little eatery."
"That part’s true. Most hole-in-the-wall places have lousy environments. They’re just cheap and the food is decent, so customers aren’t too picky." Huang He nodded. The unoccupied tables and long benches were also arranged neatly, which was pleasing to the eye.
"But I still think the chef at this little town restaurant can’t possibly be as skilled as our restaurant’s Li the Third," Huang He said with a hint of pride. "Li the Third’s senior apprentice-brother is a top chef who’s been featured in *Sichuan Cuisine* magazine. And Li the Third himself just got his First-level Chef certification last year. His skills are second to none in Jiazhou. Many customers come to our Feiyan Restaurant specifically for his cooking."
"I disagree. I’ve tried Li the Third’s cooking more than once or twice, and for the dishes on this menu, he’s definitely not as good as Zhou Yan," Zhao Dong retorted with a smile, unconvinced.
"Zhou Yan? Is there a great chef by that name in Suji? Is he from out of town?" Huang He frowned and asked Zhao Dong, "How many years has he been a chef? What’s his rank? Who did he train under?"
Zhao Shulan and Huang Bing also looked at Zhao Dong, both in disbelief.
Feiyan Restaurant was currently one of the top restaurants in Jiazhou. Li the Third was their head chef, a First-level Chef of remarkably high skill.
And Zhao Dong was actually claiming the chef at this little restaurant was better than him?
"Uncle, you can’t exaggerate that much just for a shot at my dad’s Wuliangye," Huang Bing teased.
"Exactly. If his cooking is even better than Li the Third’s, then Zhou Yan Restaurant should be the number one restaurant in Jiazhou," Zhao Shulan added with a laugh.
Huang Ying, however, looked expectant. "Uncle, is it really even better than what Uncle Li makes?"
"When have I ever lied to my Yingying?" Zhao Dong said with a smile. "Zhou Yan is only twenty this year. He trained under our textile mill’s former head chef, Master Xiao Lei. His master’s master is the famous Jiazhou chef, Master Kong Huafeng—your husband should know him, sis. As for what rank he is, I have no idea. He probably hasn’t taken the certification tests yet."
"Twenty years old? You’re hilarious." Huang He raised an eyebrow, then couldn’t help but laugh. "Looks like that badge of yours is as good as mine! I’ve been pestering you for it for years, and you never gave it up. Now you’re just delivering it right into my hands."
"At twenty, if you can even master the prep station in a kitchen, it means you’ve worked extremely hard. No wonder there are only a few dishes on the menu. I know Master Xiao. His braised fish, stir-fried pork liver, kidney, and crispy intestines are indeed high-level, but his other dishes are pretty average. Not as good as his senior apprentice-brother, Xu Yunliang."
"Grandmaster Kong Huafeng and my old man were great friends back in the day. His skill is exceptionally high—he’s excellent at braising, stir-frying, and steaming. His braised fish, in particular, is a masterpiece. When we at Feiyan Restaurant entertain important guests, we still invite him over to cook a few dishes."
"No matter how talented this grand-disciple of his is, he’s still only twenty. I don’t believe his skills could be better than his master’s. Even his own master wouldn’t dare claim to be better than Li the Third."
As the third-generation owner of the restaurant, Huang He could reel off the famous chefs of Jiazhou as if listing his family heirlooms. He had their entire lineages mapped out clearly; their families had been close for generations.
He was forty-eight this year and had grown up in the restaurant. He had seen more than his fair share of chefs, including plenty of geniuses. Some later went to Rongcheng to advance their careers, and a few even went to the United States.
He knew perfectly well what level a twenty-year-old chef would be at.
"I’ll add a bottle of Moutai to the bet—the one you saw last time you came over." Huang He looked at Zhao Dong and said, "If you lose, you give me your other badge too. I’ll take the short end of the stick; it’s fine."
"You said it! Don’t you dare go back on your word in front of the kids." Zhao Dong’s eyes lit up. He only ever got to drink Moutai during New Year’s at Huang He’s house; he could never bring himself to buy it himself.
"You have my word. I’m not trying to trick you." Huang He thumped his chest, guaranteeing it with an exceptionally brilliant smile.
It was a sure thing. He wasn’t the least bit worried.
"I’ll be the witness! Totally fair and square!" Huang Ying raised her hand, grinning. "Don’t worry, Uncle. If my dad tries to back out, I’ll sneak it out of his liquor cabinet for you."
"Yingying, how can you take an outsider’s side against your own family?" Huang He was exasperated but also amused, a bit helpless when it came to his precious daughter.
"She’s my dear niece. How could that be considered an outsider?" Zhao Dong said smugly.
Everyone at the table laughed along with them.
Mrs. Xiang chuckled as well. It had been a long time since things were this lively.
Just then, Zhao Tieying came to the table with the food. The first dishes to arrive were two portions of braised pork ribs and a portion of beef braised with dried bamboo shoots.
Following that was a small wooden bucket of rice with a wooden serving spoon resting inside.
The eyes of the Huang family immediately fixed on the two dishes.
This wasn’t just about Huang He’s two bottles of liquor; the honor of their Feiyan Restaurant was also on the line!
Could a dish made by a twenty-year-old chef from a tiny restaurant in Suji Town really be better than what their own First-level Chef could produce?
"GULP." Huang Ying was the first to swallow hard, her eyes glued to the plate of ribs closest to her. "These braised pork ribs smell so amazing! They look so tempting, too. I feel like they look even more appetizing than Uncle Li’s."
With that, she picked up a piece of braised pork rib, placed it in Mrs. Xiang’s bowl, and said with a smile, "Grandma! You’re the guest of honor today, you eat first!"
"Alright!" Mrs. Xiang nodded with a smile. She picked up the rib with her chopsticks and brought it to her mouth. The moment she pressed her lips to it, the meat fell right off the bone.
The old woman didn’t have many teeth left. She gummed it for a moment and swallowed, then nodded with a smile. "Mmm, so fragrant! It’s cooked so tender! The flavor is wonderful."
"Then I’m digging in!" Huang Ying couldn’t wait any longer. She picked up a piece of braised pork rib. It quivered, coated in a glistening, ruby-red sauce and steaming, looking absolutely irresistible.
She popped it into her mouth and took a gentle bite. The fragrant, tender, and flavorful meat immediately exploded between her teeth, juices bursting forth. It was just too delicious!
She sucked the bone completely clean before she could bear to spit it out.
"Delicious! So much better than Uncle Li’s cooking!" Huang Ying immediately gave her verdict, her delicate eyebrows raised high. "About a hundred times better!"
"It really is good. Very fragrant!" Huang Bing also praised.
Hearing this, Huang He’s expression grew serious. He picked up his chopsticks and took a piece of the braised pork rib. The spareribs were chopped into uniform pieces and coated in an amber-colored sauce, looking glistening and seductive. Even served on the cheapest white plate, the presentation was impeccable.
He sniffed it. The aroma of meat wrapped in the fragrance of the sauce wafted up to his nose, without the slightest hint of any unpleasant meatiness.
The rib went into his mouth. With a press of his lips, the meat instantly separated from the bone. The fatty parts melted on his tongue while the lean meat was tender, flavorful, and fell apart. The small bit of cartilage had a springy chew to it. The texture was incredibly layered, and the rich juices exploded in his mouth. It was absolutely sublime.
He spat out the bone, the fragrance lingering on his lips and teeth.
Huang He stared at the plate of braised pork ribs in front of him, silent for a moment. Then he looked up at Zhao Dong, grinding his teeth:
"Holy shit."
"You’re telling me a twenty-year-old chef cooked this?"
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