Gourmet: Midnight Vending-Chapter 420 - 371: Banquet? No, It’s War!
The beef that had been marinated the previous night was taken out as a solid square block. In Chen Mo’s hand, the Black Blade was incredibly sharp. With a swift motion, the knife landed, arranging the slices into a circular pattern on the plate, adorned with a single green vegetable at the center.
According to Sichuan-style marinated beef preparation, this should be mixed with chili oil and seasonings, but since there’s already a dish of Husband and Wife Lung Slices, doing so would make the taste too similar.
Chen Mo chose to simply slice and plate it.
Hou Yao, while slicing the meat, casually popped a piece into his mouth, chewing with gusto.
"Hmm, this flavor is a bit different!"
The marinated beef, cooled to dry on the outside and moist on the inside, offered a firm chew. The position of the ingredients chosen by Chen Mo was quite particular.
The interweaved sinew and meat of the marinated beef slices displayed an amber marble pattern, with clear lean meat fibers and sinew turned to gelatin. Just looking at it made it seem delicious.
Hou Yao ate one slice, and while cutting, ate another, never stopping his mouth.
Chen Mo looked at him speechlessly a few times, and Hou Yao, sensing it, awkwardly said, "Doesn’t a cook eat the grains he prepares? It’s normal to eat a couple of bites while chopping vegetables."
As if to justify his point, Hou Yao even questioned him back, "You eat while cooking, don’t you?"
Chen Mo shook his head decisively, "I never eat while cooking."
Three black lines might as well have appeared over Hou Yao’s head.
This guy doesn’t budge, does he?
Fine, no eating then!
Clang clang clang.
Hou Yao sped up his slicing. With the two working together, it wasn’t long before the platters were set on the counter, two cold dishes prepared.
Marinated beef, marinated pig’s trotters.
The pig’s trotters were also mixed with chili oil and peppers.
Mu Mu put on an apron and transformed into a little chef, running up to Chen Mo, "Brother Chen Mo, what do I do?"
"Wrap all these with plastic wrap and place a portion on each table."
"Got it!"
Mu Mu stood at the counter, diligently tearing the plastic wrap to start the work, while sneakily taking a slice of beef from under Hou Yao’s knife and popping it into her mouth, "So yummy!"
Chen Mo sighed as he continued slicing meat; luckily, everything he bought had excess amounts, otherwise, the two of them would have eaten it all!
Chen Mo took the beef tripe cooked through the night and sliced the beef into pieces about one inch and two-tenths long, eight-tenths wide, trying to keep each slice as evenly thick as possible.
Even though it was a grand meal, striving for perfection was still essential. Chen Mo didn’t choose to mix it all in a large bowl and then divide it but took twenty slightly curved round plates instead.
He spread chopped celery evenly on each plate, then placed the sliced beef and tripe as evenly as possible on top.
He then sprinkled the braised sauce that had been stir-fried, together with chili oil, coarse peanut powder, sesame powder, and pepper powder, over it.
Jingzhou people can’t handle too much spice, so the chili oil and pepper were enough. Chen Mo didn’t add more chili powder, and after finishing, he handed it to Mu Mu to seal with plastic wrap.
"Brother Chen Mo, make some for me too. I want to taste the seasoned one!"
Just wrapping the plastic wrap made Mu Mu’s mouth water, the aroma of beef mixed with the fragrant chili oil was overwhelmingly tempting.
Sichuan Cuisine is truly the king of seasoning, with such flavors, anyone would be mesmerized.
With no other choice... Chen Mo grabbed a bowl and mixed another portion of Husband and Wife Lung Slices following the earlier method, finally satisfying Mu Mu and Hou Yao’s restless taste buds.
All three cold dishes were ready, and Chen Mo was about to showcase his culinary skills!
The pork belly with skin was put directly into a pot of cold water, with ginger slices, green onion knots, and cooking wine added. Simultaneously, he placed a piece of paper labeled: Garlic White Pork on the operating counter in front of the iron pot.
After the hot water in the pot boiled vigorously, he skimmed off the foam, then reduced it to a simmer, keeping the pot water slightly bubbling. He then placed an alarm clock next to the paper, set for a 20-minute countdown.
After sorting out the pot, Chen Mo immediately picked up a large aluminum basin with pig knuckles prepared overnight!
This dish was a grand meal’s staple hard dish, but also the one usually left over the most, with some tables barely having anyone touch it!
The main reason is people these days eat so well, with meat in abundance, so few are willing to tackle such huge chunks of meat like pig knuckles.
Especially as it’s hard for pig knuckles at grand meals to be truly rich yet not greasy.
At the moment, the basin was filled with knuckles, their surfaces smooth, clearly already cooked!
Chen Mo carefully took out each cooked knuckle with no seasoning added yet, and with the Black Blade slicing through, the knuckles were cut into chunks about five widths wide. On each slice, the visible layers of skin, fat, and lean meat were apparent.
The sliced meat pieces were placed skin-side down in the bowl, with dark soy sauce added, as well as green onions and ginger.
Finally, a splash of cooking wine was added, and the plates were loaded into a gigantic steamer, filling two trays!
This was when the earthen stove built by Chen Jinping came into play; Chen Mo placed this pot on the corner stove, fueled by lit firewood, with Brother Da Niu crouching by the stove, continuously adding wood.
"Mo’er, shall I help you serve the dishes too?"
Da Niu noticed an issue, only those chopping and serving dishes had the chance to interact with the food, and being able to interact meant sneaky tastes were possible!
Chen Mo shook his head, "Brother Da Niu, you need to do something even more impressive than serving dishes."
"What?" Da Niu was eager to act.
"Watch the fire, slowly add wood, and don’t let the water boil dry!"
