Food Stall: Customers Chase Me across the Country-Chapter 406: State Banquet Dish, The Origin of Braised Beef in Clay Pot
The peony is the king of flowers, renowned worldwide for its luxurious, elegant, and alluring demeanor.
However, no one anticipated that, when peonies meet culinary art, they would spark such a perfect fusion.
The Peony Crystal Cake before us is a stunning masterpiece, so perfect that it leaves one in awe.
The petals are layered and transparent, as if sculpted from the purest crystal.
Each petal shows a faint pink hue, as if every perfect petal from each peony is pieced together, so delicate and tempting that one can’t help but want to touch it.
The petal edges slightly curl, as if gently swaying in the breeze. At the center, osmanthus honey forms a delicate flower core, its golden stamens add an even more exquisite touch to this dessert.
It’s so beautiful, who could bear to take a bite?!
The hostel chefs screamed internally in astonishment, just this one pre-meal dessert was enough to leave them utterly impressed.
As chefs, they all know the importance of "appearance" in culinary artistry; with this look, diners feast with an added delicious buff.
This isn’t like those industrial fast-consumer goods; this is the fruit of a chef’s dedication, possessing a soul, and can move one with just a glance at the most perfect work.
Zhuo Qianqian’s big eyes were about to turn into heart shapes. Women have no resistance to flowers, no resistance to sparkly things, and when those two buffs combine into shining, moist flowers, there’s naturally no resistance at all.
Wang Fan handed the small bowl directly to Zhuo Qianqian, "Try and see how it is?"
"Huh?"
Zhuo Qianqian pointed at herself in surprise, "For me? Wasn’t this prepared for Grandma Wu?"
Wang Fan opened the steamer again, "Here’s another one, this one was made for you."
Such beautiful food, if not prepared for one’s own girlfriend, wouldn’t align with the boyfriend’s role expectations.
"Thank you, boss!"
Zhuo Qianqian was overjoyed, happily receiving the small bowl, admiring it over and over, unable to put it down.
"We want some too!"
Kurban and the others internally cried out again, we want to smell and taste it too!
In the past, no matter how beautiful the food Zhuo Qianqian saw, she could devour it without hesitation.
After all, it’s gourmet, you won’t know how good it is until you taste it. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞
But faced with this Peony Crystal Cake, it was the first time she hesitated to bite into it.
Wang Fan picked up a spoon, and amidst the horrified expressions of Zhuo Qianqian and the chefs, he directly stabbed it into the flower core...
"It’s made for eating, not just looking, try and see how it tastes."
Zhuo Qianqian wanted to cry a bit, but thinking if she wanted more, the boss would surely make it again for her, those tears should not be wasted lightly.
Once scooped, the crystal peony flower was marred, albeit beautifully flawed, but now there was a place to take a bite.
Scooping a spoonful into her mouth, the delicate smoothness of the crystal cake began to turn into juice upon touching the tip of her tongue – ’melts upon entry’ was no longer just a phrase.
The light sweet juice hit just the right note, not overly sweet, more a fresh-tasting experience.
As she savored it, a faint floral aroma unfurled in her mouth, and Zhuo Qianqian felt as if she were amidst a sea of flowers.
"Wow, it’s so good, fresh, smooth, melts instantly, sweet but not greasy, Grandma Wu is sure to love it."
Zhuo Qianqian was not stingy with her praise, this was too delicious, she only felt her commentary fell short. Going back to school, she’d first have to brush up on how to commend deliciousness.
"Deliver this to Grandma Wu first."
The rich aroma of beef already informed Wang Fan that as the main course, it was about to undergo its final transformation.
Kurban couldn’t sit still, Wang Fan wasn’t busy at this moment, and seeing the main course about to come out, he rubbed his hands giggling, whispered, "Master Wang, is it convenient to ask you a few questions at this time?"
Indeed, Wang Fan was relatively unoccupied and didn’t waste time correcting the title, "What question do you have, ask away, there’s a bit of time now."
Kurban quickly asked, "Is this beef you are making? What’s its name, and could you share some details or points of caution?"
When they arrived, this beef was already stewing in the pot, he identified it by its aroma.
Wang Fan explained, "This dish is called Braised Beef in a Pot, a banquet dish created in 1959, it has 65 years of history. It was composed by the first head chef of the state banquet, Wang Xitian. This master from Lu Cuisine had studied international cuisine in our Harbin during his youth, and this dish combines the delicacies of the Great Mao Country’s Braised Beef in a Pot with his hometown’s distinctive preparation method.
Initially, various ingredients are simmered gently for two hours, then red dates and stir-fried tomato juice with beef brisket are placed into a specially made clay pot to stew, which not only accelerates the beef’s maturation but allows the red date’s sweetness to permeate the beef fibers perfectly.
Yet, Master Wang Xitian was not satisfied. He tried adding a few drops of brandy and chopped tender garlic sprouts into the stewed beef, sealing it with a lid. When unveiled upon serving, the aromas of brandy and garlic sprouts blend into a fragrant feast that fills the room."
As Wang Fan spoke, he lifted the lid of the clay pot, pointing at the beef inside, "The finished dish has a pink sauce, perfectly thick and sweet with a delectable chewy texture of the beef. It’s a classic state banquet dish, beloved by a great figure and the most respected person, and praised by visiting foreign dignitaries."
Kurban and others listened excitedly, trembling, aware that the revered dish appreciated by a great figure, if prepared by themselves, could fulfill their entire culinary careers!
Upon viewing the pot, indeed, the beef broth was tinted pink by the tomatoes, bubbling with aromas stirring cravings.
Fetching five small soup tureens, he ladled a portion from the pot into each, adding a small handful of garlic sprouts from another bowl into each, then finalizing by drizzling a few drops of brandy into each before covering them with a lid.
"Not much is made, just let everyone taste a little, hope you don’t mind."
Wang Fan’s words reached Kurban and his group’s ears like celestial music.
Wide-eyed, they pointed incredulously at themselves, "We... can taste it? Is this for us?!"
Wang Fan nodded, "Let it simmer for 3 more minutes for the alcohol and garlic aromas to merge better."
