The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World-Chapter 237 - 236: So That’s How It Is

"This! This is the 'Three Turns Banquet'!"

Wu Fan immediately recognized the dishes laid out in front of him. His expression first froze, then instantly turned into one of delight.

Ji Maomao quickly said, "Teacher, today is your birthday, and we thought of giving you a surprise. I remember you once mentioned that in your hometown, there's a kind of banquet called the 'Three Turns Banquet,' which is especially delicious. You've always been nostalgic about it. So today, we specifically ordered this banquet to celebrate your birthday!"

Wu Fan leaned in to look closely at each dish, grinning widely. "Oh my! You all have put in such thought! It really is the 'Three Turns Banquet!'"

Ji Maomao relaxed inwardly, realizing this is what the 'Three Turns Banquet' was like.

Wu Fan was truly surprised. "I haven't been back to my hometown for decades. I never expected to see a hometown banquet here. Truly... oh my! I'm so pleasantly surprised!"

Seeing that the old man was genuinely pleased, everyone present felt relieved.

Ji Maomao, beaming, handed the old man some chopsticks. "Teacher, have a taste. How is the flavor?"

Wu Fan took the chopsticks with a smile and picked up a nearby small fruit.

As soon as it entered his mouth, the unique sweet aroma of millet syruped fruit flooded his palate.

"This little fruit is made authentically! They actually used millet!" Wu Fan was a bit surprised. "The most authentic way to make this fruit is to cook millet into syrup, which is xin. The quality of xin directly influences the quality of the fruit. This restaurant has cooked it well! It's no worse than what we have back home!"

After eating one, Wu Fan couldn't help but pick up another and urged others, "Come on, you all should try it too. This is a specialty from my hometown."

The old man was enjoying it, and everyone else joined in with compliments.

Truth be told, no matter how tasty these snacks are, they're just for freshness.

People nowadays have tasted all sorts of delicacies.

Once tasted, it's enough just to know the flavor.

Old kids, young kids.

As one ages, one's intellect becomes somewhat childlike.

Seeing others enjoy something he likes made the old man even more delighted.

Having been a teacher all his life, there's a deep-seated instinct for passing on knowledge and educating.

"These six items form the tea banquet, symbolizing eating while waiting for the main courses."

The others suddenly understood!

Oh... so that's how it is!

While they were tasting snacks and chatting, the server soon came over with more dishes.

This time, several dishes were served, but they didn't quite look decent.

Tofu skin? This is sautéed shredded vegetables, right? And is this lamb offal?

A total of eight dishes, if paired with a stack of beer on the side, would make an authentic drinking session!

At this moment, the old man laughed again, "Oh, this banquet is quite authentic too! Eat dishes first, then drink wine, finally suck on an apple skewer! Sweet and refreshing!"

Ji Maomao now understood that the 'Three Turns Banquet' was probably just three sets of banquets. This set is the tea banquet, all snacks. The second set is the wine banquet, all small dishes. The next set is likely the real meal?

Ensured that there was no problem with the banquet, the old man was satisfied.

Ji Maomao couldn't help but relax.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, the relieved Yao Shi simply handed the menu to Fu Yu, and the two teamed up to cook.

They could freely choose which dishes to make, completing one after another.

While they were busy cooking, the news that customer 401 ordered a 'Three Turns Banquet' spread through the kitchen.

Everyone knew the restaurant took an order, and Yao Shi couldn't manage it alone, so he specifically called Fu Yu to help.

The moment they heard the news, everyone inexplicably felt it was only natural.

Zhao Meng's hand was injured, so the only one who could help organize the banquet was Fu Yu.

Chef Gu was tied up with other orders and couldn't step away.

As for Yao Yihang...

Unbeknownst to everyone, Fu Yu had surpassed him in their minds.

The best chef in the kitchen was Yao Shi, then Zhao Meng, followed by Gu Yunwu, then Fu Yu.

As for others, there didn't seem to be anyone else who could handle matters.

Realizing this, Fu Yu's status in everyone's eyes silently advanced another step.

However, Fu Yu didn't notice these subtle changes as he was focused on cooking dumpling bites.

The dumpling bites in the specialty family banquet menu were considered a type of noodle dish.

Without a second thought, Yao Shi handed this over to Fu Yu.

Fu Yu took it without hesitation and started cooking according to the specialty family banquet menu.

The dumpling bites refer to dumpling skins that must be thin and small in size.

The specialty family banquet menu specifically noted that the diameter of the dumpling skin could not exceed three centimeters.

And the traditional dumpling tool was a "thimble."

Unable to find the tool, Fu Yu prepared the dough, rolled out the skins, and used his hands to shape them.

Zhang Jinyu was instructed to use finely chopped white radish, cabbage, carrots, tofu, kelp crumbs, daylily, and pork belly as the stuffing.

He mixed in salt, vegetable oil, and Sichuan pepper powder evenly.

Once the stuffing was ready, Fu Yu quickly started wrapping dumplings.

One large bowl held thirty dumpling bites.

Each dumpling bite was only a quarter the size of a regular dumpling.

Yet, Fu Yu managed to craft delicate floral shapes on these tiny dumplings.

Once the dumplings were wrapped, Fu Yu instructed Zhang Jinyu to boil them while he prepared the sauce.

He cut cooked pork belly, tofu, napa cabbage, carrots, green onions, wood ear mushrooms, and shiitake mushrooms into tiny cubes the size of chopstick tips.

He poured vegetable oil into the pot.

Once heated, he added scallion, then the pork cubes for stir-frying.

He added tofu cubes, cabbage cubes, carrot cubes, wood ear cubes, and mushroom cubes.

Finally, he added broken glass noodles.

He stir-fried while adding the reserved broth from cooking the meat.

Once the sauce was almost reduced, he seasoned it with Sichuan pepper powder, five-spice powder, salt, and chicken bouillon.

Fu Yu skillfully flipped and tossed the pan.

Zhang Jinyu stood by, smelling the fragrance and discreetly swallowed his saliva.

My goodness!

This sauce smells amazing!

The dumplings and sauce were ready, but there was more to do.

Fu Yu began preparing the condiments.

One plate of shredded cabbage, one plate of garlic paste, one dish of chili oil, one dish of salt, individual bowls of soy sauce and vinegar, and one dish of bean sprouts.

By this time, the dumpling bites were cooked and topped with plenty of sauce before being taken away with all condiments by the server.

This main course dumpling bites for the banquet were done.

In the kitchen, dish after dish was prepared.

The server brought in plate after plate to room 401.

With the tea banquet finished and the wine banquet tasted, the real meal was finally served.

The server simultaneously announced the dish names while serving.

"Here comes the Scholar's Chicken!"

"Fish Leaps Over the Dragon Gate!"

"Please step aside, the Tofu Pilaf is ready!"

"This is the Steamed Meatball Soup."

...

There were thirteen items in the meal banquet.

Including the main course, dishes, and soup, all served in succession.

At this time, two servers walked into room 401 sequentially.

"The dumpling bites are ready!"