Chapter 304: My Beloved Girl is Amazing!
Just like last time, four dishes, a soup, and a dessert, but the portions have to be increased this time.
Having Tong Sanlang as her assistant, Qiao Xiaomai quickly got to work.
This time she decided to make something new: Buddha Jumps Over the Wall.
As the name suggests, it’s a dish so tempting that even a Buddha would be compelled to jump over a wall.
Of course, the ingredients are equally tempting.
The traditional Buddha Jumps Over the Wall dish uses dozens of ingredients, but Bailu Town has its limitations. However, that pales in comparison to the use of water from the Spiritual Spring. Just a dozen ingredients are enough to astonish the locals.
Her method was simple; she layered pre-prepared abalone, sea cucumber, shark fin, bamboo shoots, tendons, chicken, mushrooms, pork, and fish maw one by one in a jar over two feet tall. Then she added the rich soup previously boiled with Spiritual Spring water at home and placed it on the stove to simmer over low heat.
The chef, Niu, by accident, caught a glimpse of her rudimentary approach and couldn’t help but sneer.
What a waste, to mix such precious and high-quality ingredients haphazardly!
Ignorant of the contempt she had aroused in the chef with her simple and rough approach, after placing the jar on the stove, Qiao Xiaomai began cooking the remaining dishes.
Braised Lion’s Head.
West Lake Vinegar Fish.
Veggies with dried tofu.
Rice Wine Sweet Dumplings.
Out of these, the Braised Lion’s Head was the most complicated, involving both mincing and frying, which takes a long time.
Soon after she finished cooking these dishes, she began to make the last dessert: Sugar Steamed Crisps.
This dessert originated from the novel ‘Dream of the Red Chamber’. She would’ve liked to make a later generation’s baked dessert, but without an oven, she had to give it up.
When all her dishes were ready and the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall was still gently simmering, Chef Niu hadn’t finished his dishes yet, so she and Tong Sanlang sat down together on the small stool in front of the stove.
Tong Sanlang looked at her, secretly giving her a big thumbs up.
Having simmered the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall for so long, its aroma had long since spread and dominantly suppressed the scent of the other dishes. It was particularly enticing.
This had never happened before.
The other dishes were also not inferior in any way.
So, she must be praised for this dish and her cooking skills.
Qiao Xiaomai saw the praise in his eyes, raised her mouth smugly, and blinked at him. Her clear, bright eyes complemented by long eyelashes, were charming in a playful way.
Tong Sanlang gazed at those eyes, obviously startled for a moment, then opened his mouth silently, and mouthed, “Beautiful”.
Qiao Xiaomai understood what he meant and, unable to hold back, burst out laughing.
Seeing the reminder in his eyes, she quickly covered her mouth with her hand.
But her eyes still carried a joyous and accomplished look.
Her skills were praised by the one she had feelings for.
Her beauty was appreciated as well.
How wonderful!
Tong Sanlang maintained a stern face, but the laughter and affection in his dark eyes betrayed him. Having his beloved girl sitting beside him, he also felt wonderful.
Yang Ye sat in the audience, unable to see Qiao Xiaomai and Tong Sanlang’s flirtation because of the high platform and the stove in the way. However, the increasingly tempting aroma made it impossible for him to sit still, as if he was sitting on a pin cushion.
The aroma, it really was absolutely heavenly!
He had lived for twenty years, tasted countless delicacies, but never smelled such an enticing aroma.
All the delicacies he had eaten before faded in comparison with this dish.
At this moment, he completely forgot about the taste of those famous dishes; his whole being was captivated by this dominating aroma.
With no regard for his image, he stretched his neck towards the large jar, the fan in his hand flickering restlessly.
To be able to smell it but not taste it was just torture!
When is it going to be ready!