I'm the Culinary God-Chapter 516 - 259: Dishes That Comfort Homesickness! Unexpected Gains from the Opening Ceremony? [Vote for a 10K-word - ]

Chapter 516: Chapter 259: Dishes That Comfort Homesickness! Unexpected Gains from the Opening Ceremony? [Vote for a 10K-word Chapter]

"This soup is really fresh."

Han Shuzhen tasted a spoonful of the soup her son-in-law passed to her, finding it fresh and sweet. It was not only free of any fishy smell but even had a pleasant aftertaste reminiscent of eating seafood. Beyond its sweetness, one could discern a subtle taste of Chinese herbs. The flavor was neither too strong nor too weak, just perfect. Her son-in-law’s senior apprentice is indeed worthy of being the head chef at Fishing Platform. He managed to prepare the wild turtle to such a surprising degree.

Lin Xu took a sip and was also stunned by the taste of the turtle soup. Is this really made from the seemingly smooth yet greasy and fishy-smelling turtle? Even if one used live seafood, could it be any better than this? In my astonishment, I can’t help but feel impressed. My senior apprentice truly deserves to be the five-time champion of the Fishing Platform cooking competition. This skill is truly breathtaking.

Guo Weidong said with a smile, "Your senior apprentice usually holds back when cooking. Looks like he really wanted to nourish his body with this turtle soup, showing his full prowess today."

As a Cantonese cuisine master, Guo Weidong had always believed that soup-making was his forte. It was only after tasting the turtle soup prepared by Xie Baomin that I truly felt this rascal’s five consecutive wins were justified. The Kung Fu in preparing the soup has even reached a level of returning to simplicity and originality. A typical chef making turtle soup would use a multitude of condiments and spices: some to enhance flavor, some to remove fishiness, some to add aroma, some to improve presentation... However, in the turtle soup made by Xie Baomin, I could only taste salt, pepper, and sugar. Such a bold approach to ingredients could easily result in a bowl of greasy and fishy soup. Yet Xie Baomin found the perfect balance between seasoning and ingredients. The soup is not only fresh and tasty but also forms a perfect complement with several herbs. Such enviable talent! To think that Lin Xu’s talent is even greater than this rascal’s; the prowess of this master-apprentice pair is simply terrifying. The only downside is their scarcity. But perhaps it’s just as well; if there were more of them, that rascal Xie Baomin would probably become insufferably arrogant.

While everyone was marveling at Xie Baomin’s soup-crafting skills, Shen Jiayue, who had just finished a piece of the turtle’s gelatinous skirt, picked up a piece of Soy Sauce Chicken, took a bite, and suddenly exclaimed, "Wow, this Soy Sauce Chicken is so delicious! The skin is crispy, and the meat is so tender."

I haven’t had the turtle soup yet, so I can only start with the meat dishes on the table. After all, how can we fill our stomachs by just admiring a bowl of soup? Compared to the soup, eating meat is more satisfying.

Especially a dish like Soy Sauce Chicken, which was so well-seasoned and flavorful, was irresistibly tasty. The Soy Sauce Chicken was savory and slightly sweet on the first bite. With a gentle chew, one could savor the crispy, springy chicken skin and the fresh, juicy meat. Have a piece of meat, then scoop up some rice. This experience is just wonderful.

Soy Sauce Chicken was not as famous as Plain Chicken. However, in terms of flavor and texture, its sweet and salty taste was more aligned with the dietary preferences of Northern people. For Northerners, Plain Chicken went well with alcohol, but it was rather bland with just rice. But Soy Sauce Chicken had no such restrictions. It could be enjoyed both with liquor and rice. One could even pour some of the soy sauce used for cooking the chicken into a bowl, mix it with rice, and the flavor was indescribably delicious.

"You like it that much? Then I’ll make it for you often," Lin Xu said.

I was just worrying about not having a guinea pig for practicing Soy Sauce Chicken. Since Shen Baobao likes it, this is perfect!

He tried a piece of the chicken himself. Indeed, it tasted great. The rich soy sauce flavor had a hint of sweetness. Paired with the savory chicken, it was appetizing and went perfectly with rice. Combined with the tempting reddish-brown color of the Soy Sauce Chicken, it truly was an ideal choice for a chicken dish.

It’s a pity I don’t have a Cooking Learning Card on hand. Otherwise, I would have definitely mastered this dish today, adding another tasty item to my repertoire.

After finishing the Soy Sauce Chicken, he quickly ate some rice and picked up a piece of braised turtle. This was the turtle’s leg. It was covered with a gelatinous layer, but the meat inside was tender and delicious. Complemented by the rich braised flavor, it was appetizing and perfect with rice. The dishes prepared by my senior apprentice might be questionable in terms of nourishing the body, but they are certainly first-rate for accompanying rice.

The braised turtle had a lustrous red color, its surface coated with a rich, fragrant sauce. The savory flavor was delightful, with a hint of fresh green pepper mixed in. After eating it, a light sweetness lingered, tantalizing the taste buds and making one involuntarily crave another piece. Besides the turtle, the chicken was also cooked to perfection. With both meats cooked in lard, their savory flavors contrasted strikingly. Following the meat, he had a piece of yam that had been stewed until soft and flavorful.

Ah, satisfying!

As he was eating, the private room door was pushed open, and Shu Yun came in carrying spicy marinated small turtles prepared by the marinade section. The turtles were small and thoroughly marinated. Just as she entered, the strong, savory aroma of the marinade wafted into everyone’s noses.

"The spicy marinated small turtles are here. Please have a taste," she said, placing the dish on the table.

After serving, Shu Yun looked at Lin Hongqi and Chen Meijuan and asked, "Uncle, Auntie, do you need anything else?"

Chen Meijuan, looking at the full spread on the table, laughed and said, "No need, Manager Shu. Please sit down with us and have some. Try these wild turtles; they must be hard to come by in Beijing."

Shu Yun waved her hand with a smile. "I’ve already had a taste, Auntie. When they were fetching the turtles, a leg fell off, and I shamelessly took a bite. It tasted really good."

After saying this, she didn’t disturb them further and left the private room with a smile.

I never thought Little Xu could lure Manager Shu from Fishing Platform over here.