The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World-Chapter 44 - 43: Showing Off and Intimidating Others
Receiving Zhao Meng’s approval, as for Old Zheng’s opinion, Fu Yu didn’t mind it at all.
He was the chef invited to arrange the banquet, so naturally, he called the shots in the kitchen.
Fu Yu habitually prepared to follow the recipes he found online for the dishes.
On the side, Zhao Meng quickly said, "Chef Fu, please hold on, I’ll start with the prep now."
Fu Yu: "!"
After speaking, Zhao Meng turned around, grabbed a vegetable washing basin from the kitchen counter, and carried it over to the walk-in fridge to select ingredients.
Watching Zhao Meng’s back, Fu Yu finally realized his current role.
He was now Chef Fu, the head chef of this family dinner!
Whoa-oh-hey!
It really feels great being the head chef!
There’s even someone helping with the prep!
Especially when the person helping with the prep is Zhao Meng!
A little bit of glee rose in Fu Yu’s heart, but he quickly suppressed it.
He carefully looked over the specifics of the "Eight Dishes Eight Bowls Feast" and their cooking methods.
That’s when he realized the so-called Eight Dishes Eight Bowls actually didn’t have a standard fixed menu.
The Eight Dishes Eight Bowls emphasizes eight cold dishes and eight hot dishes.
The eight cold dishes include four meat and four vegetable dishes, while the eight bowls are mostly meat-focused.
Online, there were recipes and banquet photos uploaded by locals from Fushun.
Fu Yu looked closely at the dishes and found that they indeed closely resembled the sketches in Guan Tiantian’s mind.
Although some individual dishes were slightly different.
Fu Yu hesitated a little, but decided to choose the menu based on Guan Tiantian’s memory.
Because Guan Tiantian’s memory was very complete and clear, suggesting that this banquet was likely one she attended with her parents, and her parents were probably very satisfied, hence the deep impression.
Fu Yu listed out the specific menu.
The eight bowls: Stir-fried Pickled Greens with Small Tofu, Braised Shrimp Tofu Egg, Braised Pig’s Feet, Fried Meatballs, Chicken and Mushroom Soup, New Year’s Pork Stew, Imperial Court’s Spring Fish, Ah Ma’s Sacred Pork.
The eight dishes: Steamed Rice Cake, Wide Vermicelli and Cucumber Slices with Wood Ear Fungus, Bean Sprouts with Pork Shreds, Aspic Pork, Stir Fried Soybean Sprouts, Red Braised Fish, Sautéed Intestines, Cabbage Stir-fried with Wood Ear Fungus.
The original plan for Poached Frog had to be temporarily changed to Fried Meatballs due to lack of ingredients.
Fortunately, substituting one dish didn’t have much of an impact on the entire banquet.
Unfamiliar with the Qin Family’s kitchen, Fu Yu seized the time while Zhao Meng was prepping to find and arrange all necessary kitchen utensils in his usual working positions.
Old Zheng suddenly walked over and took out a non-stick pan from the cabinet, "This is quite handy, you can use it."
Fu Yu took it and said, "Thank you!"
Old Zheng didn’t say more and just leaned against the wall with a detached look.
Seeing this, Fu Yu smiled indifferently and glanced at the non-stick pan.
The pan was nice, heavy in hand, suitable for frying things.
Unfortunately, he wouldn’t need it for today’s menu, and non-stick pans were somewhat redundant to him.
After all, no matter what pan, in his hands, it wouldn’t stick or burn.
Fu Yu had almost everything ready, and Zhao Meng had also gathered all the ingredients.
The two had always worked in harmony.
With Zhao Meng keen to assist, tasks like frying meatballs and mixing salads were all handled by him.
After chopping the chicken, Fu Yu suddenly remembered something and turned to instruct Old Zheng, who was standing by with folded arms and an indifferent expression.
"Chef Zheng, could you please get some pork aspic, pig head meat, pig intestines, and pig blood sausage?"
"What!!"
Old Zheng’s exclamation startled Zhao Meng, who was intently picking bean sprouts, causing him to drop the sprouts he’d just picked.
Fu Yu repeated his request, "Please make it quick so as not to waste time."
Old Zheng stood still, dissatisfied, and demanded, "Do you really plan to make some Eight Dishes Eight Bowls? Is that even a banquet?"
Fu Yu ignored him and turned towards the kitchen door, calling towards the living room, "Madam Qin?"
Old Zheng quickly caught up, "What are you trying to do?"
Qin Yue, who was with her son and future daughter-in-law in the living room, hurried over upon hearing Fu Yu.
Fu Yu said to Qin Yue, "I need some ingredients, could you help me buy them?"
Qin Yue immediately agreed, "Alright, just tell Old Zheng what you need."
She then instructed, "Old Zheng, use the family’s car to make it quick, don’t delay things!"
As Old Zheng was about to protest, Fu Yu repeated the list of ingredients he needed.
Despite Fu Yu maintaining his previous demeanor, Old Zheng felt this young chef was quite cunning.
Clearly using Madam Qin to pressure him.
With a change of expression, Old Zheng swallowed his words and agreed, heading outside.
He seethed internally, thinking: "The dog bites Lü Dongbin, not recognizing a good heart! Fine, let him do his Eight Dishes Eight Bowls... when the dishes hit the table and anger the Guan Family, let’s see how he handles it then!"
Seeing Fu Yu starting his prep, Qin Yue hurried over, wanting to take a look.
Suddenly, her son’s voice called from outside, "Mom! Tian Tian’s parents have arrived!"
Qin Yue quickly responded and rushed out to greet them.
With no outsiders in the kitchen, Fu Yu and Zhao Meng got to work even more efficiently.
When Fu Yu tried to assist Zhao Meng, he was stopped, "No need, most dishes are either stewed or steamed, nothing too complicated. You’re the head chef today; I’ll be the assistant."
Zhao Meng also realized that Chef Zheng was not very friendly, and if he caught any mistakes, it would be hard to explain.
With the sketch as a reference, Fu Yu cooked with ease, knowing exactly which ingredient to use for which dish.
Zhao Meng initially had doubts about two of the dishes, feeling they differed from what he remembered eating.
But Fu Yu confidently claimed he found the information online, saying this menu was the most authentic and what Zhao Meng had eaten was a folk-improved version.
Speaking with such assertiveness, Zhao Meng, with the prep complete, decided to follow Fu Yu’s selected menu.
When Old Zheng returned with the purchased ingredients, Fu Yu and Zhao Meng had finished all the prep work.
Before Old Zheng, Fu Yu naturally took on the role of head chef!
"Spatula!"
"Cooking ladle!"
"Slice the pig head meat and arrange it on a plate!"
Whenever Fu Yu called out a command, Zhao Meng would promptly hand over the items.
Fu Yu realized, having an assistant really felt great!
No wonder everyone wanted to be the head chef.
Except for some slow-boiled dishes, all other dishes were quickly prepared and served.
Once the last dish, New Year’s Pork Stew, was on the table, all the dishes for the family banquet were ready.
Fu Yu, with a sigh of relief, smiled and said, "It’s done!"
Old Zheng, eager to show the hosts the so-called Eight Dishes Eight Bowls, could barely contain himself!
He hurried over to the front hall and quickly invited everyone to come and see.
Once everyone was seated, the table was filled with dishes ready to showcase!
