Chương 15: Chapter 15: Cuisine That Makes People Happy
Biên tập viên: Dragon Boat Translation
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"Beep."
At this moment, the oven had preheated to 160 degrees, and the red wine and water in the cast iron pot had boiled. Xia Yu wrapped a cloth around the hot pot rim, lifted the pot, and placed it in the oven.
He closed the oven door; the set time was 30 minutes. Xia Yu turned and walked toward the kitchen counter, leaving two bewildered assistants and Chef of Xiazhiqiu, who couldn't believe the baking time he saw displayed.
"Out of the oven in 30 minutes?"
"Impossible! We just followed the standard procedures and didn't see him do anything special to the beef. How can it be done in 30 minutes? With a regular oven, it would take at least one to two hours."
Chef of Xiazhiqiu listened to the murmured discussions of the two assistants and frowned deeply.
What was different in the process?
He supported his chin with his hand, thinking back from the initial beef cutting to the final oven step. As he pondered back and forth, a flash of inspiration struck him, and he realized in surprise, "Could it be... that he used a special knife technique?"
Regardless of outsiders' speculations, Xia Yu, with his back to them, continued his busy work.
He continued frying mushroom slices in the melted butter in the frying pan.
A half-hour passed quickly, and the oven beeped. Xia Yu turned around, took the cast iron pot out of the oven, and poured all the broth into a frying pan, carefully skimming the foam and fat off the surface with a spoon.
This was a fat-removal step. For stronger flavors, you could add salt and pepper after the fat removal.
The broth, poured out, needed to be heated to a boil, then poured back into the cast iron pot, along with the fried mushroom slices, and continue to simmer on the gas stove.
In fact, many Western restaurants finish the preparation of Burgundy Red Wine Stewed Beef at this step, covering it and placing it in the fridge for the next day.
In other words, they save the almost-complete dish for the next day, ready to serve with a quick reheat when a customer orders.
Imagine, without special processing methods, an average of four hours is needed to cook a Burgundy Red Wine Stewed Beef. Which restaurant's patrons have such patience to wait?
"Tap tap tap..."
The silver chef's knife danced on the cutting board as Xia Yu finally grabbed some chopped parsley and sprinkled it over the plated dish, completing this vibrant and flavorful Burgundy Red Wine Stewed Beef.
"Serve it now—"
Xia Yu said as he removed his apron and chef's hat, instructing the two assistants.
During the plating process, the aroma of the dish had reached its peak, with the entire kitchen filled with the rich scent of beef.
Throats uncontrollably gulped.
The two assistants, sniffing the fragrance in the air, suddenly realized they were hungry, with stomach acid rapidly secreting.
Seeing the two salivating assistants stuck in front of the kitchen counter, Xia Yu chuckled as he washed his hands, "There's a little left in the pot, didn't fit on the plate, you can try my cooking."
"Really?" The two assistants' eyes shone.
"If you don't want it, I'll eat it myself. I've got a big appetite, never too much…"
"No way!"
One assistant quickly grabbed a fork and handed another to his companion. The two surrounded the cast iron pot on the kitchen counter, closely inhaling the dish's aroma wafting from it, their eyes glowing with ravenous hunger.
"Ssh."
The gleaming fork gently pierced a piece of beef.
The beef's surface caved in slightly, and a rush of broth found an outlet, quickly seeping from the puncture made by the fork.
"So tender... Why does the beef hold so much broth, and why is the elasticity so astonishing even after pan-frying and baking...?"
Chef of Xiazhiqiu's gaze sharpened nearby.
With the beef in their mouths, the two assistants' facial expressions shifted from initial shock to delighted savoring, ending with a sort of reverent awe, as if climbing a sacred mountain.
Appetite momentarily dominated thoughts as Chef of Xiazhiqiu picked up a fork and knife, carefully sliced off a corner of beef, and slowly put it in his mouth.
A rich meaty aroma spread instantly over his tongue.
Then, the sweet taste of red wine filled the mouth.
The initial sensation was breathtaking. Chef of Xiazhiqiu savored it for a while before gently biting down, chewing the beef further, the intense flavor confounding him, with the broth hidden within the beef swallowed together.
Gulp.
As he swallowed, the look of pleasure on Chef of Xiazhiqiu's face suddenly transformed into shock.
His body felt warm, like floating in bliss.
Why did just a small taste fill one's heart with happiness?
...
Starlight Revolving Western Restaurant.
Three male patrons impatiently shouted from their seats.
"Almost an hour, where's our Burgundy Red Wine Stewed Beef?" The bald patron rolled up his suit sleeve, checked his watch, and kept loudly complaining, "Making patrons wait this long is this your restaurant's service? Poor rating!"
Two young women, both locals, quietly sat not far away.
"Gourmet hooligans are just disgusting."
The cute, round-faced woman posted a complaint on Weibo, sneakily taking and uploading a photo, writing, "Such a disappointment. Met the infamous gourmet rogue today in Ameyoko, Neon Tokyo. The restaurant's head chef was too green, almost fell for their trap, but I, big sis, happened to meet an interesting young fellow."
The Weibo post ended with a smiling face emoji.
"The dish is here!"
Her companion suddenly tugged on her sleeve. The female tourist quickly put away her phone, holding her round face with both hands, showing an eager expression.
Assistants and waiters brought six white round porcelain plates with stewed beef, side dishes, and broth, placing them on two tables, three for each table.
As the dish arrived, the attention of the two female tourists was immediately drawn.
"Perfect color and aroma!" The round-faced tourist couldn't wait to pick up a knife and fork, slicing off a bit of beef and putting it in her mouth. With just the first bite, her mouth wouldn't close from surprise and delight.
"So tender, the texture is amazing! I've never had beef this tender, how was it prepared?!"
After swallowing the beef, the round-faced tourist turned to stare at the two assistants.
"Moreover, the beef hasn't become mushy after frying and stewing. Instead, it remains fine, smooth, swallowing it with the broth feels almost transcendent..."
The tourist eagerly prattled on, her big eyes sparkling, but suddenly remembered this was a Western restaurant in Japan, leaving the two assistants who couldn't understand Chinese standing embarrassedly.
A young kitchen assistant replied with a heavy-accented English, slowing his speech, "Sorry, ma'am, this isn't Chef of Xiazhiqiu's creation."
Both female tourists understood.
"…That young fellow?" Both women, familiar with this Western dish, exchanged a look of disbelief.
Not long ago, they had tasted Chef of Xiazhiqiu's Burgundy Red Wine Stewed Beef, which was indeed good, above average among many Western restaurants.
But tasting this subsequent Burgundy Red Wine Stewed Beef, comparing the previous dish's flavor, the superiority was clear.
More brutally, the flavors weren't on the same level.
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-- Nhận quà