PDLP Chapter 45 The banquet ended, and Old Master Xu invited...
Chapter 45 The banquet ended, and Old Master Xu invited...
The second-to-last dish was another internet-famous dish: flavored eggplant.
The so-called flavor is actually called a strange flavor, which has sour, sweet, salty and spicy flavors, but they are all blended in just the right way. It is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, not greasy or too salty.
Because of its unique flavor, it can appeal to all kinds of diners, and people of all ages love to eat it.
After Pingping served the flavorful eggplant dish, Grandpa Xu's expression suddenly turned serious.
He didn't even recognize this dish!
After all, this is not a traditional Shandong dish, but more like a local Shandong street food.
After 2000, with the economic boom and the rise of many home-style and street-style restaurants, this dish gradually became popular.
When the flavorful eggplant arrived in front of Grandpa Xu on the turntable, the aroma of caramelized eggplant wafted out, mixed with a rich sweet and sour fragrance.
The eggplant strips are coated with a layer of clear, thick sweet and sour glaze, slightly frosted, and dotted with white sesame seeds, creating a beautiful contrast of red and golden hues with a glossy sheen.
Grandpa Xu picked up a piece and put it in his mouth. The outer skin was crispy and crunchy, while the eggplant inside was soft and tender.
The sauce is sweet and sour, slightly salty, and has a touch of spiciness to enhance the flavor.
"This flavor is both strange and fragrant, it has a unique taste, how wonderful!"
At this moment, Grandpa Xu was like Tang Sanzang seeking the true scriptures, his wish fulfilled and extremely satisfied.
Before anyone could react, several braised egg vendors, each carrying a tray, walked into the tent.
Zhenzhen and Pingping worked together to serve the last dish of the day to each diner: Wensi Tofu!
He disliked the practice of serving the tofu in a large bowl and breaking up the tofu strips just to highlight how fine they were.
Lu Yuan has an extreme pursuit of aesthetics, so he presented this Wensi Tofu in a soup bowl, in the usual way of serving dishes.
In the soup bowl, the shredded tofu spread out like chrysanthemums, and the soup is clear and bright yellow, as exquisite as a work of art.
"Is this tofu? It's so thin! It's almost as thin as a strand of hair!" Xu Jianhua exclaimed.
Even though she had just felt extremely resentful towards Lu Yuan, she had to admit that she was now impressed by this dish.
"Dad, is this Wensi Tofu?"
Xu Jianguo had eaten Wensi Tofu before, but he wasn't very confident about its presentation, so he humbly asked for advice.
"It's Wensi Tofu, a dish from Huaiyang cuisine."
Grandpa Xu nodded, gently pushing the tofu strips with a spoon. He watched as the tofu strips swayed in the water like flowers, and couldn't help but sigh:
"Master, it's perfect!"
The dish's impact is so strong that it overshadows the taste.
Everyone examined the soup bowl in front of them, feeling a mix of reluctance to eat it for fear of ruining its aesthetic appeal, and a strong desire to try it without doing so.
Just then, Zhenzhen spoke up: "All the dishes have been served to you. If you need rice, please let me know."
The serving process is actually very tight; cold dishes are served one after another, while hot dishes are served no more than 10 minutes apart.
So from now on, it's actually the stage where everyone can freely enjoy delicious food.
The table was overflowing with dishes, each one a masterpiece, and the spinning wheel never stopped.
The family gathered and talked about everything from the children to their work, and then from their work to their relatives.
As they ate and chatted, the sky gradually darkened.
The afterglow of the setting sun spilled onto the river, gilding it with a reddish-golden hue.
Sitting in the tent, gazing at the fields and mountains where the Baiyang River meanders, the scenery is absolutely stunning.
Looking out the window through the screen, Xu Jianjun was moved to write:
"Around some cities in the south, some scenic villages have been developed into tourist attractions. Will Luwangtan Village also become a tourist attraction in the future?"
Old Master Xu shifted his gaze from the window to the folding fan on the table, stared at it for a while, and then spoke:
"From a natural landscape perspective, Luwangtan Village has the necessary conditions. As the saying goes, food is the most important thing for people, and perhaps the food from Boss Lu is the key to this transformation."
Outside the small tent next door, Lu Yuan and a few others sat on the rocks by the river, enjoying the refreshing breeze.
As he kept serving dishes, Lu Yuan's clothes became quite soaked, a feeling very similar to when he first became the head chef.
Lu Fa watched Lu Yuan prepare the entire banquet, and his heart was still filled with shock. He asked:
"Master, how long will it take me to reach your level?"
Before Lu Yuan could answer, Lu Jie tapped Lu Fa on the head and said:
"This requires talent, you know? Have you read 'The Smiling, Proud Wanderer'? My master is like Linghu Chong; others have to sacrifice oxen to master their divine skills, but he didn't need to sacrifice anything to become the best in the world!"
Lu Yuan couldn't help but laugh out loud at Lu Jie's ramblings:
"Eldest disciple, why are you looking at this in such a mess? Linghu Chong didn't practice the Evil-Slaying Sword Manual; he practiced the Dugu Nine Swords."
After hearing this, Lu Jie patted his braised head and suddenly realized:
"I knew everyone else was getting their penises cut off, how come he's so skilled even though he didn't? That son of a bitch Lu Hua lied to me!"
The brothers were chatting when Pingping, her little leather shoes clicking on the floor, came running up to Lu Yuan.
"Brother, Boss Xu is looking for you."
Lu Jie asked, "How's their food?"
Pingping covered her mouth and laughed, "They ate it all up!"
Lu Yuan smiled and followed Pingping to the tent.
The moment they saw Lu Yuan, everyone except Xu Jianjun and his family of three stared in astonishment.
"I never expected Boss Lu to be so young! Truly, a young hero emerges!"
Grandpa Xu was very polite; he stood up and shook hands with Lu Yuan.
Although Mr. Xu has been retired for a long time, his long-standing high position has given him an air of authority.
Lu Yuan had met many so-called high-ranking officials and dignitaries, and he could tell at a glance that this old man Xu was no ordinary person.
So he bowed slightly, grasped the other person's hand with both of his, and responded politely:
"You flatter me. What do you think of today's dishes, Mr. Xu? I hope you can offer some valuable suggestions."
"I can't even recognize all the dishes you make, how could I dare to give Boss Lu any suggestions!"
Grandpa Xu loosened his grip and laughed, then gestured for Xu Jianjun beside him to make room for Lu Yuan.
Xu Jianjun was also very polite, picking up Manman and sitting her on his lap, giving his seat to Lu Yuan.
Lu Yuan didn't refuse. He patted Manman's head and greeted her before sitting down next to Grandpa Xu.
"Boss Lu, may I ask which cuisine this flavorful eggplant dish, with its perfect balance of spicy, sour, sweet, and salty flavors, is a specialty of?"
Lu Yuan hadn't expected that this old man was also a gourmet, not only loving to eat but also being particular about his food and having a deep understanding of its history.
Then Lu Yuan spoke:
"This is a specialty of Boshan, Shandong Province, and its origins can be traced back to the Republican era. Back then, Boshan miners didn't have much to eat, but they had big appetites, so they thought of making the eggplant more flavorful to go with their rice. They tried all the flavors of spicy, sour, sweet, and salty, and unexpectedly created a strange taste that turned out to be very delicious. So the Boshan area popularized this strange-flavored eggplant, and now, to make it sound more elegant, it's called 'flavored eggplant'."
The Xu family's guests listened with great interest, and Old Master Xu nodded frequently as he listened.
"I see. Even such a niche dish, Boss Lu, has such detailed knowledge of it. No wonder his culinary skills are so superb at such a young age!"
"You flatter me!" Lu Yuan listened to Old Master Xu praising him one compliment after another, guessing that there was something to it.
As expected, Old Master Xu changed the subject and said:
"Boss Lu, I have a favor to ask. I'd like to invite you to host a banquet in another city."