Ch55 – Aromatic Pan-fried Steak
After returning home, Ruan Tang used a rice cooker to make a large pot of beef and egg congee. He instructed the smart butler, Xiao Bai, to put it into a preservation box the next day to be send to Gilbert and his party.
After all, his body hadn't yet fully recovered. In order to prepare for the reception banquet, he had spent a lot of energy these past two days and he felt quite tired. He wanted to have a good night's sleep. He used rice congee to get their breakfast out of the way and for lunch, he'll give them their much loved meat.
With that settled, Ruan Tang went to sleep after a simple wash.
Ruan Tang slept well that night.
The next day Ruan Tang slept until noon but still felt like he had no strength. So for today's broadcast he wanted to make something easy and convenient to save some energy.
After thinking about it, Ruan Tang decided to make a delicious steak for that afternoon's broadcast. This was considered relatively simple among Western dishes.
He went on to the Star Network and to the shopping mall to buy three large pieces of beef tenderloin and a large piece of beef striploin. It weighed almost twenty pounds. The beef tenderloin could be said to be the tenderest part of the cow. It was what people often ate as fillet steak. While beef striploin contained a ring of tendon and was very chewy. It was what was commonly known as sirloin steak. Ruan Tang personally liked sirloin steak better so this piece of beef striploin was bought for himself. As for rib-eye and T-bone steaks, he'll make them next time.
The beef was quickly delivered, and after a simple preparation, the live broadcast was started.
The moment he entered the live broadcast room, Ruan Tang's eyes were overwhelmed by the bright special effects from all the gifts. After a few minutes, he was finally able to make out the live chat.
[Tah Li Ya: Woo hoo, the anchor is on air! ! ! ]
[Fat thief: All my flowers have withered from waiting so long QAQ]
[ID18220102: Huhuhu, anchor, I want to eat those dishes from the banquet! ]
[Miao Miao loves to eat all the dishes of the anchor: I also want to eat roast suckling pigs! ! ]
[Can't stop hugging trees: If not the roast suckling pig, the fish in chili oil was also good … They looked like they enjoyed it so much when they ate it! I'm soooooo jealous!!! ]
After two days of no broadcasts, these viewers were already waiting anxiously for Ruan Tang. How could they endure after having gone through watching but being unable to eat such a feast of culinary delicacies?
Unable to withstand the pleading of the adorable audience, Ruan Tang smiled and said, "Okay. When there's time in the future, I can make some for you to taste."
When he has recovered his energy, he would make another roast suckling pig. Because he had been called away by Gilbert and the Emperor halfway through his meal, he wasn't able to eat his fill. The rest of the roast suckling pig was finished off by President Gu and Tao An. They didn't leave even a single piece for him! They had absolutely no sense of brotherhood!
[Qqqqqqing Dou: Long live! Anchor, you're the best!]
[Lu Mo Xi: Anchor, I love you! Sending crystal flowers!]
"Hello everyone, I am the anchor, Ruan Tang and today I want to bring you aromatic pan-fried steak." After his routine introduction, he took out the freshly-delivered beef.
[Gilbert: Meat! Meat! Meat! I love meat the most! ]
Ruan Tang: "…"
With one look at this name, you could already tell who it was. This manner of directly using his real name as his username rendered people speechless.
[A Thousand Years: the Rute leader has unexpectedly appeared in the live room!]
[Lotus Green Light: Take a screenshot! ]
[Zhai Li Xin: Our live room is becoming more prestigious by the day, even the leader of the Rutes have become a fan of the anchor…]
[Madame Qu: Do you still remember that His Excellency tried to make off with our anchor yesterday…?]
[Xi Mo: That's right! No! We mustn't let him succeed!]
He took out a pan and heated it. He slowly melted a piece of butter on it. Butter was one of the newly developed dairy products from the Academy of Sciences. Cream and other dairy products would surely follow soon, making it easier for Ruan Tang to cook in the future.
After the butter had completely spread, he put the steak in.
Ruan Tang turned down the heat. The side faced down on the pan had already changed color along with the high temperature. At this point, Ruan Tang turned the steak over to the other side and continued to fry. The steak sizzled on the iron plate, the oil in the beef was completely fried out, and a seductive scent slowly spread out.
[Ding Wangwang: Hey, it smells so good! My mouth's starting to water!]
[Watching Starry Sky: God, no wonder it's called a fragrant steak, it really smells so good!]
"Everyone can cook their steak according to their own preferences. Fry it according to your preferred level of doneness. For those who want it tenderer, you can cook it until it's medium well, around 5 minutes. For those who don't want any blood in their steak, better to cook it until it's well done, around 7 to 8 minutes. I don't like it raw so I cook mine for about 7 minutes." Ruan Tang explained as he took the steak out of the pan. "Like this, is about well-done."
He used the remaining butter in the pan to sautee the chopped onions and garlic. When the onions and garlic turned fragrant, he put in some ground black pepper and a little soybean paste. He also added a small bowl of water, and once it started to boil, it slowly turned into thick and rich black pepper gravy. He slowly drizzled the gravy on the pan-fried steak, making the smell of the steak even richer.
The aromatic pan-fried steak was done. As was his custom, Ruan Tang arranged it on a plate with some boiled corn, broccoli and cauliflower. He also carved a small flower from a carrot and included that to the plating. With the different colors, it turned into a very beautiful dish that excited people.
Next, Ruan Tang used a knife and fork to cut the steak into small pieces to make it easier for the audience to have a taste.
[Xiang Xiao Xiao: My God! This steak is so tender! And it tastes so good!]
[Ling Ling Lingzi Ling: This sauce is absolutely perfect. It seems so simple to make. How can it be so delicious?]
[Following broadcasts to learn cooking: I learned a new dish. I'll try to do it when I get home!]
The beef tenderloin was rich and tender. After frying, it had layers of taste. First was the rich and spicy taste of black pepper sauce, then next was the savory flavor of the beef itself. All kinds of rich and meaty flavors and textures were fused together. It was so delicious it made people want to close their eyes and slowly savor the steak.
"User 'Gilbert' gave the anchor a meteor shower."
[Gilbert: Mr. Ruan Tang's cooking is really heaven and earth! It makes me deeply worried, I'm hovering between life and death! Hey – my stomach is jumping again! Lord of the Universe, is this the call of love?]
The meteor shower full-screen gift effect concealed the entire chat, leaving only the sickeningly sappy and dubious confession hanging in the centermost position in the chat.
Ruan Tang: "…"
[Miao Miao Miao: I don't even know if I should first ridicule this level of idiom use or be shocked indignant by this dreadful confession…]
Ruan Tang still wasn't sure how to respond when suddenly, a meteor shower exploded in the live broadcast room.
"User 'HE' gave the anchor a meteor shower."
[HE: No, it's just brotherly affection.]
Seeing this comment from He Yun Chen, Ruan Tang almost barked out a laugh immediately. Seeing his reaction, the live broadcast viewers all suddenly sided with He Yun Chen!
[Lan's Heart is like Water: The room manager's comeback was beautiful!]
[Misty: Hmph! Even if I hand over the anchor to the house manager, I wouldn't marry him off to the Rutes!]
[Qi Qiu Mo Ran: 1! You should never let your own fertile water flow into another's field! ╭(╯^╰)╮]
Watching them discuss the issue of his marriage, Ruan Tang simply didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Even if the empire has already allowed same-sex marriage, it didn't mean that he's a bride to be married off, okay!
He was now in a bad mood and he quickly interrupted them. In a brisk manner, he said, "In order to thank everyone for their concern, we will have a lucky draw. Today, there are only three lucky winners. I wish you all good luck."
[White clothed wine seller: A bolt from the blue! There are only three places! I subconsciously glanced at the number of people online…and then…=口=]
[Qiu Qiu is not cute: the odds of winning is one in a hundred million! = mouth =]
[Little Swallows fly: Hahahahaha… This definitely can't be anchor's revenge! [Feeling wronged and crying.jpg]
Ruan Tang started the draw in the background, and when the many names began to float around, Ruan Tang casually selected three.
"Congratulations to the three lucky viewers — salted fish is originally fish, the twilight, and the Night is Still Young in the Cold Palace. The packages will be sent later, please remember to check and receive it."
[Can't stop hugging trees: Haha, see? I told you money and power won't get you any privileges. ╮(╯_╰)╭ The anchor is just and fair!]
"…"
Not actually.
Ruan Tang didn't know how they would react if they knew he had already promised the Emperor that he would be providing meals for the Rutes during their stay.
It could be said that today's pan-fried steak was actually done for Gilbert. He had also promised to prepare for the two brothers He Yun Chen and He Yun Yi every time he cooked, so today was no exception…
Looking at the audience who were still laughing foolishly in the live broadcast, he could only silently think: ignorance is bliss.
"Today's live broadcast is over. In the evening, I will cook Shui Zhu beef for everyone. The way to make it is similar to that of Shui Zhu Fish." With a bit of an uneasy heart, after saying this bit, Ruan Tang turned off the broadcast amidst the viewers' cheers.
After quickly pan-frying the steak, Ruan Tang had Xiao Bai help pack them and send them to the winners, Gilbert and the He Brothers.
***********
In the Rutes' residence.
Gilbert and several of his subordinates were in the room, anxiously waiting for the arrival of the express delivery.
"It's here! It's here! The delivery is here!" A Rute excitedly ran in carrying a large delivery box.
Gilbert was very excited and he immediately opened the box and took out four preservation boxes, each containing three hot steaks.
It was completely worth it! They had made discreet inquiries regarding Ruan Tang's home location and had the Emperor set their residence nearest to that location. Because of that, they were able to receive their package in just three short minutes!
He was definitely the first to be able to eat this!
The only problem was, this serving portion was still a little insufficient for these Rutes who had big appetites.
After Gilbert finished eating, he still felt a little unsatisfied. He rubbed his stomach, sighed and lamented, "My stomach is crying pitifully. Is it crying out my love? Oh, look at this man, brought low by love!"
Two government officials who were specifically assigned to accompany and entertain the Rute people have become accustomed to this kind of scene and were extremely calm.
The official who was more used to handling people, proposed, "There is a canteen at Military Headquarters. The chefs there are Ruan Tang's disciples. Their dishes are not bad. If you haven't eaten your fill, would you like to have a bit more to eat there?"
Gilbert naturally didn't disagree. So this group of people who hadn't had enough food rushed to the military.
While they were en route, the two government personnel applied for access for Gilbert and the others. Thus they were able to enter the military headquarters smoothly.
When he entered the military building, Gilbert saw He Yun Chen walking towards the elevator with a huge express delivery box.
His eyes lit up in an instant. Wasn't this the un-cheerful younger brother Marshal He that he had gotten along with like a house on fire!
It was just that the other party didn't seem to have noticed them. At first he was still walking towards them but then he suddenly made a turn and headed for the elevators.
"Marshal He!" Gilbert hurriedly called out to He Yun Chen.
He Yun Chen stopped and politely bowed to Gilbert, "Hello."
Noting the delivery box he was hiding behind him, Gilbert curiously asked: "What's that in your hand?"
He Yun Chen slightly averted his gaze.
"...documents."