Blissful Days After Widowhood Chapter 18: Whole Fish Feast

After going back, Ningxi handed over the stalls to Meng Shuangshuang and Ozawa to prepare for the whole fish feast three days later. Her character is that since she wants to do it, she must do her best Every step is to strive for perfection.

Ning Xi first made a list of the dishes he planned to make, and wrote down all the ingredients and ingredients needed, and then showed them to Rong Daquan.

Rong Daquan looked at it, and was greatly surprised. The little girl was so young, and there were many ingredients on the list that he had never heard of before. You must know that the chef of Quanjufu was originally He can see more rare ingredients than the chefs of ordinary restaurants. I didn't expect Ning Xi to know more than him. It seems that Yi Ya's successor should not be underestimated!

But there are some ingredients and ingredients that even Quan Jufu can't get. Rong Daquan shook his head and crossed it out, and it was impossible to make it at all.

The two discussed and made a new list of what they could make, and presented it to Shopkeeper Shen for a look. Shopkeeper Shen took a look and waved his pen. A class of practices has been crossed out, leaving only some dishes with complicated and rich colors.

Ningxi is puzzled: "Eat fish and eat fresh, for example, this shad tastes delicious and unusual, but only steaming can best present its essence, and using seasonings will only spoil the sweetness. Since I like to eat fish, I naturally understand the truth, I don’t know why Shopkeeper Shen arranges the dishes like this?”

"Nonsense!" Shopkeeper Shen shouted, "Steaming, blanching, etc., any country woman can do it. When guests come to us, we are all blessed. Naturally, they are interested in craftsmanship that outsiders don't have. How can we do it? Use such a simple method to fool your guests."

"Oh!" Ning Xi understood, but she was just showing off her craftsmanship. It's not that she didn't have to show off. On the contrary, when she was learning cooking in her previous life, she was madly obsessed with skills for a period of time and ignored the most primitive food. The taste of the food is always complex and exquisite, and the original material is not even proud of it. It was not until later that I realized that the highest level of cooking is not all kinds of cool skills, but to stimulate the food with heart. The most original flavor, let the delicious return to the original.

Although Ning Xi doesn't quite agree with Shopkeeper Shen's idea, she also thinks that since showing off her skills properly can make her more recognized in the food circle in the capital, why not do it? Anyway, she is confident and has to show off her skills, and there is really no one here who can match her.

So he laughed: "To say that this steamed anchovies also has an exquisite method, the general steamed anchovies do not scrape the fish scales, because only the fat in the fish scales melts on the fish, and the final delicious taste is obtained. But the taste is not perfect after all. My method is to scrape off the scales of the fish, thread them piece by piece with silk thread, and hang the fish evenly on the top of the fish when steaming. Infiltrating the body of the fish, the steamed shad will not only taste the hard and astringent feeling of fish scales, but also taste more delicious.”

The shopkeeper Shen heard the words and nodded: "This is fine."

It is Quan Jufu. It is not easy to buy all the ingredients that Ningxi requires. Some ingredients are not even available locally, so they can only be brought back from the outside, and all the ingredients are finally prepared. The day has come.

For this Quanyu Banquet, there were two distinguished guests, and there were two guests, King Qi and the Prince, a total of four people. Quanjufu cleared the venue early, and only prepared to entertain two distinguished guests for the whole day.

Ningxi brought Meng Shuangshuang over to help. Although she didn't know much about cooking, she was quick and easy to cooperate with Ningxi. Usually, Ningxi knew what to pass with just one look. Such a helper is a relief.

Rong Daquan went out to Quanjufu, and brought two apprentices that he personally passed down, Wang Dongping and Yuan Fugui, two half-eldest sons.

When they arrived at Quan Jufu, the two of them were taken aback. The ostentation of this distinguished guest was really big enough. Basically, the street where Quan Jufu was located was cleared. Except for Ning Xi and the others, the rest were all guards with knives, standing there with expressionless faces. Rao Ning Xi had seen the world and felt a little weak in his legs, not to mention Meng Shuangshuang. If it wasn't for being dragged by Ning Xi, he would be unable to walk.

Jun Wuye met Ningxi that day, and it wasn't that big of a show, so who would the other distinguished guest be? Ning Xi was secretly shocked.

In the kitchen, Ning Xi and Rong Daquan first selected the freshest fish from the prepared fish to use. Rong Daquan casually ordered the two apprentices to follow Meng Shuangshuang to handle the ingredients. Meng Shuangshuang was not polite, and let him Wang Dongping went to shave the ginger, and asked Yuan Fugui to peel the onion.

Wang Dongping is nothing, he is an honest boy, he can do whatever the master asks him to do, Yuan Fugui is not happy, after all, he is also the direct apprentice of the chef, and he is also praised in the kitchen of Quanjufu on weekdays He was used to holding it, but was pointed at by a little girl about his own age, can he bear it?

But look at the master, listening to what a younger girl is saying with an educated expression, but he didn't even look here, and he was even more resentful. He didn't peel the onion, and looked at the basket. There are quite a few sparrow eggs, so I took a big bowl and beat the eggs.

Meng Shuangshuang hurriedly said: "Hey, I said how do you move around, Ningxi hasn't said how to make this egg, don't break it."

Yuan Fugui said "scoff!": "This is the kitchen of Quanjufu. My master hasn't spoken yet. Where is your little girl's turn!"

Meng Shuangshuang shouted anxiously: "Ningxi, look, he messes with your sparrow eggs!"

Ning Xi looked up and saw that Yuan Fugui had already broken several sparrow eggs in a bowl, and said, "This one has to be cooked before peeling."

Rong Dacheng also reprimanded Yuan Fugui with a few words: "Who told you to make your own decisions? Fortunately, there are more materials prepared, otherwise I will not skin you if I make a mistake! Listening to Miss Meng's instructions, she let me What are you doing, you are not allowed to move if you are not allowed to move."

Yuan Fugui didn't dare to contradict the master, and bury his head in hatred to peel the onion, looking down at the ground with eyes full of resentment.

In the elegantly furnished and heavily guarded private room upstairs, an old man dressed in bright yellow clothes is the current Emperor Hongxian, the first person in Dazhou who advocates eating meat to strengthen his body. Among them were the fifth prince, Jun Qianyu, the king of Qi, and the prince of the king of Qi, Jun Shaofeng.

"Old fifth, does the female cook you mentioned really make the fish so delicious?" Emperor Hongxian asked the fifth prince.

Jun Qianyu said: "Father, don't be impatient, just wait a moment and taste it."

Emperor Hongxian smiled heartily: "You brat knows how to fool your father and emperor. Today, I left a lot of government affairs in the court to come out with you. If you don't do well, you mustn't forgive you lightly."

Jun Qianyu said with a smile: "The affairs of the court have left the eldest brother to work hard. The father and the emperor have devoted themselves to the country and the people for decades, and now it is time to enjoy the happiness."

"You are lazy and want to drag your father into the water. Look at the two of you. You only know how to eat, drink and have fun. When are you willing to go to the court to help?" Emperor Hongxian With a cough, Qi Wang said, "You Qi Wang's mansion only has such a son, do you have the heart to see him idle like this?"

King Qi sighed: "My mother wants to spoil me, what can I do?"

Jun Qianyu also shouted injustice: "My son is not idle, he has been in the countryside to recover from his injuries a few days ago, and he has only returned to Beijing for more than ten days. When he tasted something delicious, he brought his father and the emperor to eat. Oh, this is a piece of filial piety for the servants!"

As he was talking, the dishes began to be delivered. Several people stopped and looked straight at the **** who passed the dishes and the chef Rong Daquan who was holding a tray beside him. When he pressed it down, he immediately felt that he was a little short, and he didn't dare to glance at it, so he could only stare at the bright and clean high-footed silver plate in front of him.

The original meaning of Rong Daquan was to let Ning Xi serve the dishes in person. She made the dishes. He was just playing by the side. He didn't even let him see the key points. When the question is asked, he may not be able to answer it, right?

How could shopkeeper Shen give this opportunity to show his face to an outsider? For such a beautiful thing, it is natural to let your own chef come forward.

Jun Qian asked curiously, "Where's Miss Ning? Why isn't she the one to cook?"

Shopkeeper Shen hurriedly stepped forward and replied: "Five princes, Quanjufu did indeed invite a girl Ning to help you today, but the country girl behaved rudely, lest she collided with the holy car."

Jun Shaofeng "Pfft!" With a smile, he remembered the last time Ning Xi was rambunctious when he talked. If he let her out today, it would be really bad luck. He still wanted to keep her and eat more delicious food in the future. , then waved his hand and said: "That's right, don't ask her to come up, if the food is delicious, the fifth brother will give you a lot of rewards."

Rong Daquan then carefully put down the silver plate. The silver plate is smooth and gleaming. The surrounding is inlaid with dragons, gold and phoenixes. The patterns are vivid and luxurious.

Opening the dome cover on the silver plate, I saw that the plate was red and green, dotted with various fruits and vegetables, crystal clear and jade-like, like many emerald agate scattered on the plate. Good mandarin fish.

Emperor Hongxian smiled and said, "This dish is full of richness and nobility. I don't know what the dish is called?"

Rong Daquan bowed in front of him, holding a silver chopstick in his hand - inserted it into the fish's belly, gently picked it up, the upper half of the fish body was turned over, and at the same time he said loudly: "The name of this dish is 'Old Clam Huaizhu'. !”

When the fish's body was turned over, the heat in the fish's belly steamed out, and the silver plate was like a cloud and mist. After the smoke gradually dissipated, everyone saw that the fish's belly, which was spread out into the clam shell, was actually hidden in the fish's belly. With a bright pearl.

The pearls are the size of a thumb, white and round, and end with jewels.

Jun Qianyu took the lead in scooping two pearls into the bowl of Emperor Hongxian: "Father, please taste."

Emperor Hongxian took a closer look and realized that this was not a real pearl, but an egg of unknown origin, boiled and peeled.

Rong Daquan explained in a timely manner: "These pearls are wild sparrow eggs, and they have a unique taste."

Emperor Hongxian gently picked up a pearl and put it into his mouth, chewed it for a while, closed his eyes and nodded, as if he was quite satisfied.

After eating it, King Qi also sincerely praised: "It has both the freshness of mandarin fish and the fragrance of bird eggs. The taste is soft and glutinous, which is absolutely beautiful."

The second dish was the braised silver carp head that Jun Qianyu and Jun Shaofeng both tasted last time. Jun Qianyu specially let Emperor Hongxian taste the tender and smooth eye ointment, but he took a piece Fish lips, both crisp and tough, quite chewy. And after repeating it, the fresh and fragrant taste became stronger and stronger, and it was almost reluctant to swallow.

The next dishes will be served one after another, including steamed anchovies, hibiscus fillets, West Lake vinegar fish, squirrel mandarin fish, deep-fried carp, braised bream, pickled fish and chestnut sweet and sour carp... It's dizzying, but Emperor Hongxian just tasted everything, and he was already a little full.

The last thing that came up was a stomach-nourishing porridge.

Ningxi's porridge is also very particular, using first-class new rice, smashing the rice into two or three pieces, rinsing, mixing well with oil and salt, marinating for a while, and then putting it in a large clay pot to cook. When it is boiled until the water and rice are harmonious, the porridge water is boiled in the shape of chrysanthemum, and when the layers are turned from the inside to the outside, the porridge water is scooped up from the flower-heart, which is the porridge green, which is the essence of the porridge, sweet and soft. Smooth as soup.

The paper-thin fish fillets are slightly marinated with oil and salt, put into a bowl, and then pour the boiling porridge into the bowl with a spoon. All are the umami of fish. This porridge is really warm from heart to stomach.