Food Stall: Customers Chase Me across the Country-Chapter 397 - 398: State Banquet – Lamb Stew with Radish

Chapter 397: Chapter 398: State Banquet – Lamb Stew with Radish

Wang Fan was already finishing up the final touches.

As he lifted the lid off the clay pot, a rich aroma of lamb filled the entire kitchen. As Shayif Khan reached the doorway, his mouth was already watering, leaving him somewhat incredulous.

He wasn’t unfamiliar with gourmet food, so what kind of delicacy could make even him almost unable to hold back his drool?

Wang Fan didn’t notice Shayif Khan at the door. He had already picked up a handful of green garlic sprouts and placed them into the pot, adding a small splash of Sichuan pepper oil.

With a gentle stir, the pepper oil quickly blended into the broth, while the green garlic sprouts adhered to the lamb ribs.

He scooped out a few pieces of lamb ribs and placed them into a large soup bowl. The ribs were now fully cooked, with slightly yellow lean meat and pure white fat, constantly tempting the visual senses to their limits.

Wang Fan used a spoon to scoop up the broth from the pot, not too rich yet by no means bland, and poured it slowly and evenly over the lamb ribs.

At that moment, the broth streamed down like a creek, forming a crystal-clear thin film over the lamb ribs.

The lamb ribs, soaked in the broth, gleamed with an enticing color, as if silently inviting others to devour them swiftly.

He then scooped out a few olive-shaped white radishes and placed them into the soup bowl.

The white radishes had been simmered to a very soft state, appearing semi-translucent with a jade color that complemented the tender hue of the lamb ribs, emitting a drool-worthy glow.

The broth had a slight pale yellow tint, with specks of oil floating on the surface, continuously releasing a rich fragrance.

A few green garlic leaves clung to the ribs, adding a touch of vibrant life.

Now, Shayif Khan was truly impressed.

He was filled with curiosity about Wang Fan.

Even if this person started learning to cook from the womb, how could he have such profound skills at such a young age?

He considered himself someone who had witnessed many grand occasions, but even the hosting meals prepared at the provincial level were never made into such a perfect amalgamation of color, aroma, and taste, refined like a piece of art.

"Mr. Wang, what is the name of this dish you’ve prepared? It looks exceptionally exquisite."

Wang Fan placed the lid on the soup bowl and said, "This is called Lamb Stew with Radish. It was once prepared by the master chef of a national banquet, Master Hu. It benefits qi, helps with weakness, boosts kidney health, strengthens muscles and bones, and enhances immunity, making it very suitable for the elderly."

A national banquet!

Okay, I admit I haven’t seen much...

Upon hearing these two words, Shayif Khan felt that his earlier thoughts were somewhat shameless.

Although the provincial level is quite high, there’s a significant gap to the national level.

A national banquet - he’s only ever seen it online and in newspapers.

However, surely the elderly have tasted it before. I just wonder if Mr. Wang’s creation differs from the true national banquet.

If there is a difference, this dish already has me in awe. What kind of deliciousness would the real national banquet be?

Wang Fan had already placed a plate of yellow tofu on the tray.

"This tofu is called Great Border Tofu, primarily made with sheep’s milk and soybeans. Its taste is sour with a hint of sweetness, and it’s rich in milky aroma, also very suitable for the elderly."

Shayif Khan smiled and said, "You don’t need to explain it to me; why not deliver it to the elders yourself?"

By now, he had already elevated Wang Fan’s level to somewhere between provincial and national banquet status, speaking with much more courtesy.

Wang Fan did not decline. He would never rush to curry favor with high officials, but being able to cook and explain to such esteemed scientists made him feel that his culinary skills had not been learned in vain.

Wang Fan carried the tray into the room, and the elderly immediately beamed as he saw him, "Old Lin, bringing me something delicious again?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Wang Fan felt quite awkward—it wasn’t appropriate to agree, nor was it right to stay silent.

If he agreed, although it would just be for show, he truly couldn’t bring himself to call a 90-year-old lady "sister."

"Uh... yes..."

He answered vaguely, with sweat almost breaking out on his forehead.

Others in the room, seeing Wang Fan’s embarrassed look, couldn’t help but stifle their laughter, biting their tongues hard to prevent themselves from laughing out loud.

"It smells wonderful; Old Lin’s skills have truly improved."

The elderly spoke softly but clearly, proving that his health was still robust.

Wang Fan quickly placed the tray on the table, lifted the lid of the soup bowl, and introduced, "This is the Great Border Lamb Ribs stewed with white and carrot radish. Not only is it delicious, but it’s also very good for your health. Please give it a try."

Grandma Wu took the spoon Wang Fan handed over, moved it around the soup bowl to scoop out a spoonful, blew on it, and gently sent it into her mouth.

Fresh.

Even with significantly dulled taste buds, at the first sip of this soup, the elderly immediately sensed its deliciousness.

After removing the gamy taste, the white radish retained only a refreshing flavor, with the carrot’s sweet aroma adding a vibrant touch.

The lamb, which was never too gamy, under the triple effect of Sichuan pepper and black and white pepper, left only a rich umami fragrance.

The meat’s aroma and the fresh sweetness of the vegetables combined into one bite of soup, making the elderly smile uncontrollably as she drank.

"So delicious."

Wang Fan felt his heart fill with happiness, a kind of excitement he had never experienced before.

"The lamb ribs are now very tender, and your teeth can chew them easily. Please try the meat as well."

Whether it was the after-effects of Kong Weide’s strategy or an uncontrollable emotion in front of the elderly, Wang Fan was now overly attentive, almost as if he was seeking a favor.

Grandma Wu used her spoon to pick up a piece of rib. The ribs had been specially modified for ease of consumption.

A small piece of rib entered her mouth, and the richly concentrated umami flavor immediately took over the taste buds.

The lamb was indeed very tender, even the membrane next to the bone was almost imperceptible, easily chewable.

The rib meat was marbled, and the creamy white fat melted instantly in her mouth, effortlessly turning into a rich meaty aroma.

The lean meat fibers were also soaked with broth, rendering it richly flavorful and tender, requiring only minimal effort to chew.

Bai Zongchen and others, who were initially concerned, finally relaxed as they watched the elder happily chew the meat.

The senior seemed to truly enjoy the dish, eating it eagerly without further persuasion from Wang Fan.

After eating two pieces of lamb, she even picked up a piece of radish.

Typically, the radish in this dish is cooked to about eighty percent doneness to retain a slight crunch, but the elderly obviously couldn’t chew that, so Wang Fan made it fully cooked.

The fully cooked white radish had become very mushy, requiring no biting at all, and was filled with the essence of lamb soup. Each bite seemed even tastier than the lamb by threefold.

The elderly clearly enjoyed the flavor of the white radish, picking and choosing until she had eaten all the radish in the soup bowl.

Bai Zongchen estimated the portion and couldn’t help but give Wang Fan another look of admiration. The portion of this soup bowl was quite suitable for the elderly, ensuring she wouldn’t overeat.

For the elderly, getting too full is definitely not a good thing. With inherently weak stomachs, overeating can easily lead to indigestion, which is often the culprit of many common old-age ailments.