Daddy's Gourmet Shop-Chapter 418 - 408: Only My Heart to Give...

Yang Luyi and Liu Zishan, only after the fact, realized that if Boss Huang invited them to stay for a meal, maybe it was just out of politeness.

But they mistook this politeness as good fortune...

Wouldn’t that be a bit inappropriate?!

After all, when they went to some restaurants or hotels for interviews before, even if it happened to be mealtime, those owners never invited them to stay for a meal!

Even if there was one or two who extended an invitation, it was just a polite gesture, not sincerely meant.

Thinking this, the two couldn’t help but feel embarrassed, their faces showing an awkward yet polite smile: "Boss Huang, um, will this delay your business later?"

"How could it delay anything?"

Huang Tao instantly understood their concern and said with a smile, "You’ve been busy all morning, it’s only right to invite you two to stay for a simple meal, don’t be so reserved, make yourselves at home."

"Well, why don’t you two go wash your hands first, the meal will be ready soon."

"Oh, alright."

Hearing Huang Tao’s words, which didn’t sound like a mere polite gesture, they felt at ease and warm-hearted, and smiled: "Then we won’t be shy, we’ll enjoy the meal here."

It had to be said that Boss Huang is really a nice person, worth associating with.

At this moment, they also suddenly understood why all the neighbors liked Boss Huang so much, and why they all rushed to help him out.

Apart from his good culinary skills, his personality and way of handling things are impeccable!

Of course.

As for Huang Tao’s kindness to them, they had no way to repay it except by dedicating themselves...

Ah, no no~

They could only go back and create the perfect version of Boss Huang’s restaurant’s dishes, striving to make his food the number one in the Wenling City’s travel gourmet guide.

"Don’t say that, I should be thanking you two."

Huang Tao saw them off with a smile to wash their hands, then turned his head to the somewhat bewildered Old Qin beside him and warmly invited: "Elder Qin, why don’t you join us for a meal and taste the shredded eel in garlic sauce and give some feedback."

Old Qin looked flattered, rubbed his hands, and said, "Then I won’t be shy."

"Boss Huang, let me help you serve the dishes!"

Old Qin swiftly stepped forward to help, doing his small part.

As for any future tasks in Huang Tao’s restaurant, he was determined to be the first to lend a hand.

Soon enough.

All the dishes Huang Tao had prepared earlier were served on the table one by one.

Honeyed Ham, Dongpo Pork, Stewed Prawns in Oil, Vegetarian Shredded Eel in Garlic Sauce, Shredded Eel in Garlic Sauce, Deep-fried Tofu Skin...

Huang Tao invited everyone to sit down and said with a smile, "There’s nothing particularly special, just make do with it." 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Yang Luyi looked at the table full of dishes, feeling very satisfied, grinning from ear to ear: "Isn’t this great?"

"Even if we line up, we might not get to eat these dishes!"

Liu Zishan nodded repeatedly, agreeing: "Yes, yes, we lined up for an hour or two yesterday evening and only got to try a few dishes! I’ve been dreaming of the day I could try all of Boss Huang’s dishes, didn’t expect my dream to come true now, it’s really nice..."

"Indeed, to eat Boss Huang’s cooking, you have to fight for it."

Old Qin happily agreed, saying: "But today, thanks to you two, I didn’t have to."

Being the host, Huang Tao warmly invited, "Everyone, feel free to talk while eating..."

"Then I won’t hold back, I’ll try it first!"

Yang Luyi and Liu Zishan picked up their chopsticks, looking at the two similar plates of shredded eel in garlic sauce, momentarily unsure which one was vegetarian and which one was not.

The two hesitated, unsure of which plate to start with.

Huang Tao pointed out with a smile: "This one is the vegetarian, and this one is not."

Upon hearing this, they picked up some mushroom strips, tasted the vegetarian shredded eel in garlic sauce.

They wanted to know just how good this vegetarian shredded eel in garlic sauce was that everyone raved about.

As soon as they tasted the mushroom strips.

Their eyes lit up instantly.

Liu Zishan couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise, "Isn’t this made of real eel? Why does it taste exactly like actual eel!"

"Not only does it taste like it, but it also looks so much like real eel!"

Yang Luyi also said, "The crispy outside and tender inside, full umami of the garlic sauce, simply amazing!"

Huang Tao asked with a smile, "This vegetarian shredded eel in garlic sauce is made with mushrooms, don’t you notice a hint of that unique mushroom aroma?"

Yang Luyi and Liu Zishan exchanged glances, both seeing the word "astonishment" in each other’s eyes.

They reached for more of the vegetarian shredded eel in garlic sauce, sampling it carefully.

Yang Luyi said, "Well, if you put it that way...you can indeed taste a trace of the mushroom flavor, but it’s so subtle, without careful tasting, you wouldn’t detect it."

"Yes, who would have thought this dish that looks and tastes so much like eel is made with mushrooms."

Liu Zishan nodded in agreement and couldn’t help but sigh, "It’s really hard to tell apart..."

"This just shows how great Boss Huang’s culinary skills are."

Old Qin nodded, lightly fanning himself, and said with a smile, "In fact, using mushrooms, you can not only mimic the texture and taste of eel strips, but even create something more valuable, like abalone..."

For Old Qin’s latter comment, Liu Zishan and Yang Luyi didn’t pay much mind.

Who cares about idle talk when the food’s so delicious!

They quickly turned their attention to the non-vegetarian shredded eel in garlic sauce.

Yes, delicious!

The tender and delicate eel strips, originally a light dish, became much richer once made with garlic sauce flavor.

They intended to just taste it, but after one bite, they couldn’t stop.

Old Qin saw their eating and knew that this shredded eel in garlic sauce must be exceptionally delicious.

He also picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of eel strip tinted faintly with caramel color, and tasted it.

Mm~

The eel strips had tightly packed fibrous meat, fully absorbing the sauce, with fragrant, sweet, umami flavors meticulously blended together.

The meat retained its tenderness, with a smooth texture, slightly spicy, sour, sweet, salty, and delicious.

Delicious and perfect with rice.

"Nice, very tasty."

Old Qin smiled, praised it, and then offered a small suggestion: "The only downside of the eel strips is that its aroma isn’t strong enough, making the stir-fried dish a bit mild. Using lard to fry it would compensate for this shortcoming, making it even better."

"Boss Huang, what do you think?"

Although Old Qin made a valid point, Huang Tao had a different view: "Using lard would indeed enhance the aroma, but this would overshadow the eel’s original flavor and characteristics."

Thinking it over, Old Qin realized that Huang Tao was quite right.

If you fry this dish with lard, while the aroma would be stronger, it would make it taste exactly like shredded pork with garlic sauce, losing the eel’s unique flavor and characteristics.

Thus, the dish would lose its meaning!

He suddenly felt that compared to Huang Tao’s culinary insights, he was only worthy of fetching his slippers.

Sitting by the window, he turned his head and saw the neighbors outside still playing cards and lining up, he couldn’t help but wave at them with a smile.

Oh, still playing cards?

Oh, still queuing up?

I’ll just start eating first!

The older folks outside the shop, seeing this, turned black with anger.

Li was fuming, "Hey, how did Old Qin get to start eating again?"

Mr. Cheng suddenly understood: "I was wondering why he was so diligent today, even volunteering to help Boss Huang haul goods, turns out it was for this bite! That Old Qin, really sly!"

Lao Liu, seeing Old Qin abandon him, go off to enjoy exclusive food at Boss Huang’s, felt extremely agitated, he proposed, "How about we play flicking foreheads when we play chess later?"

"I agree, if I don’t make his head full of bumps by afternoon, I won’t be called Cheng!"

"I have no objections."

Unaware of the enjoying food Old Qin, didn’t realize that while he was relishing the food, tempting everyone to envy, they were plotting to flick his forehead.

Of course, even if he knew, he would think a pressed forehead is a small price, chess more precious; for the sake of good food, both can be cast aside.