Chapter 930: 930

The second dish served by Yuan Zhou was Boiled Meat Slices . But the Boiled Meat Slices here was different than what they got at other places . The meat slices here were tender and white and were not of the original reddish color of pork meat .

Since their appetite had been stimulated by the first dish, this second dish was finished very quickly .

The Boiled Meat Slices were placed in a blue bowl, and on top of the meat slices, pieces of scallion were scattered about . After adding some scalding oil on it, Yuan Zhou covered the bowl with a wooden lid to cover the smell and only lifted the lid after the dish was served .

A wide expanse of white meat slices were in the bowl with some chopped onions . And below the layer of glossy red spicy oil was some milky white broth . The moment this dish was served, everyone had the urge to give this dish that looked so different a try .

“I won’t be holding back . I’ll try it first,” Zhou Shijie was somewhat more polite than Lee Yanyi and only started eating when nobody objected after his declaration .

After Zhou Shijie picked up the first piece of meat, the others started eating as well . Everyone moved quickly .

“I think watching others eating is very easy to make yourself feel hungry,” remarked the crew-cut guy inwardly as his stomach rumbled while he watched them eat .

“This is definitely the same as instant noodles . Looks nice but nothing special once you tried it,” commented the crew-cut guy inwardly . He was being a sour grape, but it was good behavior . After all, should he praise the grape he couldn’t have so as to torture himself?

“Chairman, you were the first to eat . So this last piece should be mine,” Hu Yue declared solemnly with his chopsticks resting on the final piece of meat .

“Chairman Zhou, this final piece should come to me, the chairman of Sichuan Cuisine Association so I can give this dish a proper tasting . You are frequently here anyway, so this opportunity should be mine,” Zhang Yan said .

“Stop fighting . When it comes to tasting, I should naturally be the one to do it,” Lee Yanyi said .

“You should respect the old and cherish the young . This final place should be mine,” Chairman Zhou said with a wide smile .

To the side, the two advisors, Ma Cheng and Zhao Xin looked at each other before placing their chopsticks down reluctantly . Their eyes were still looking at the final piece of meat longingly .

After all, if even the four were fighting over it, there would be no hope for the two of them . Since the four were of completely different status than them, they did not dare to fight with the four .

“I need to come and eat here when I’m free,” Ma Cheng decided inwardly .

“I’m doing this for the sake of gathering information, not because the food here is good,” Zhao Xin convinced himself .

The members of the appraisal team had many thoughts in their minds, but that was the same for the crew-cut guy and his crew members .

“I didn’t feel this hungry during filming yesterday . I must have eaten too little for breakfast . That is definitely the case,” the crew-cut guy and the guy beside him reached the same conclusion .

While they were gloomily watching Zhou Shijie and the others fighting over food, Yuan Zhou was already preparing the third dish .

The fight over food ended when Zhou Shijie obtained the final piece of meat .

“Everyone . What do you think of the white meat?” Zhou Shijie started a topic in order to prove he had not eaten the last piece for nothing .

“I am unsure of how the dish was made, but I have once read about it,” Lee Yanyi glared at Zhou Shijie before speaking .

“Are you referring to the records of the great painter, Zhang Daqian?” Hu Yue asked .

“Yes,” Lee Yanyi nodded .

“Grinding Leaf Sauteed Beef, are you referring to this dish?” Zhang Yan said after thinking about it .

“That is a dish created by Zhang Daqian himself . The beef would be sauteed with edible tree fungus . After the dish was cooked, there would be a clear separation of white and black, looking very nice . But it is impossible to recreate this dish with the preparation method listed in the legends,” narrated Lee Yanyi .

“That’s right . But I think this dish was made using that preparation method,” Zhou Shijie nodded before voicing his opinion .

“But just with thin slices and washing it with water will not have such a result,” Zhang Yan said with a frown .

“But when eating it, the taste of the pork loin is very strong . It is rich in flavor and does not feel like it has been washed over with water,” Hu Yue said with a nod .

In truth, there were records of Zhang Daqian’s Grinding Leaf Sauteed Beef . In the records, it was mentioned that the beef only needed to be sliced into thin pieces and rinsed it with water for 20 minutes before mixing a little amount of cornstarch to it . Finally, after sautéing it with some scalding oil, it will be ready .

But that method was not easy to accomplish . Moreover, pork and beef were different . If one did the same with pork, the flavor would have been washed off and the meat would taste bland .

“It might be hard for others, but Little Yuan had just finished the Three Fragrance to the Ocean not long ago . Yes, it’s the dish recorded in Song Za Zu, and he reached 100% completion on it,” Zhou Shijie declared with a wide smile .

“Isn’t that only a dish that exists in legends?” Zhang Yan cried out .

“Song Za Zu? Is that some ancient food menu?” Hu Yue asked as he had never heard of the name .

“No . It’s a general knowledge book, and within, only the flavor, appearance, and name of the dish was recorded . It’s quite a pity . But Little Yuan took only three days of research to recreate it,” Zhou Shijie said expressionlessly .

“It is obvious you are being smug here…” Hu Yue remarked inwardly as Zhou Shijie’s bragging had caused him to choke on his own words .

“Can you bully others just because you have talent?” Zhang Yan was looking at Yuan Zhou with an odd gaze .

That’s right . That was too excessive . A dish that only its name was recorded had been recreated after only three days of research .

“It is his responsibility to research about cooking . There’s nothing worth praising him about that . Don’t make him grow smug after hearing the praises,” Lee Yanyi said sternly .

“Hoho, can you stop showing off?” Hu Yue muttered inwardly .

“Recreating a dish from the name alone? That is a remarkable achievement . Is the humility shown only an act?” Hu Yue thought to himself, his gaze fixed on Yuan Zhou .

Of course, he had still decided to come give Yuan Zhou an interview after this .

Zhou Shijie had praised Yuan Zhou in a smart manner this time, causing everyone to fall into silence . Inwardly, Ma Cheng was already filled with admiration .

As for Zhao Xin, as usual, he repeated to himself inwardly, “I am not listening . Not listening to the bastard . ”

“Third dish, Mapo Tofu . Enjoy your meal,” Yuan Zhou served the third dish and broke the silence that had fallen .

The Mapo Tofu was served on a flat square plate, the blocks of tofu were all arranged neatly .

The side of the tofu facing the eaters gave off a feeling that it was white and exquisite, looking like a piece of jade . As for the other side that was not facing the eaters, it was covered by a layer of red, giving the tofu a red and glossy look . On top of the tofu, garlic shoots were spread about .

And in between the blocks of tofu, reddish-gold mincemeat was scattered everywhere, perfectly blending in amid the tofu pieces .

And if one paid more attention, one would be able to see some brown dots on the tofu . Those were the Sichuan peppers sprinkled by Yuan Zhou .

It was precisely the Sichuan pepper that had brought life to this dish, giving it an intense aroma that waffled about in the air .

“It looks good,” Lee Yanyi remarked .

“But we can only judge after eating it,” Zhang Yan no longer held back and immediately picked up his chopsticks .

“That’s right . We should judge after eating,” Hu Yue nodded and prepared to eat as well .