The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World

Zhang Zhen furrowed his brows and muttered to himself, ”Besides the three-flavor giant dumplings, what other dish could be part of this set menu?”

Fu Yu suddenly chimed in, ”It should be the Local Style Steamed Three Flavors.”

”What?” Zhang Zhen was taken aback and looked at Fu Yu in surprise. ”Chef Fu, do you know the old eight classics?”

Fu Yu nodded, ”Yes, the authentic old-style eight classics indeed do not include the three-flavor giant dumplings, but they do have a Local Style Steamed Three Flavors.”

Zhang Zhen’s eyes lit up, ”Chef Fu, are you sure?”

Fu Yu was indeed sure that the authentic Pudong old eight classics included this Local Style Steamed Three Flavors.

However, he couldn’t guarantee that the customer was someone who truly knew their stuff.

To be safe, Fu Yu suggested, ”We can ask the customer if they’re referring to the Local Style Steamed Three Flavors.”

Zhang Zhen quickly instructed the waiter, ”Yes, go ask quickly!”

The waiter returned quickly.

”The customer said, the dish they want to replace is indeed the Local Style Steamed Three Flavors!”

Zhang Zhen hurriedly asked Fu Yu, ”Chef Fu, do you know how to make this Local Style Steamed Three Flavors?”

[Ding! NPC Chef Zhang Zhen’s task: Successfully complete a Local Style Steamed Three Flavors and satisfy the customer. Task reward: 200 yuan, an oil-free chef uniform, task experience +100]

[Ding! The Music Restaurant’s Local Style Steamed Three Flavors is not authentic, please assist the kitchen staff with corrections. Task reward: Level +1, an elective course schedule, a key to the elective course practice classroom]

Opportunity knocks!

However, upon hearing the system’s task rewards, Fu Yu was momentarily stunned!

Unexpectedly, it’s not just a single item!

An oil-free chef uniform?

An elective course schedule?

A key to the elective course practice classroom?

Level +1?

Jackpot!

Fu Yu was excited inside, but didn’t have time to inspect, as Zhang Zhen was waiting eagerly for his answer.

Fu Yu decisively nodded at Zhang Zhen, ”I can make it, let me cook this dish.”

Zhang Zhen nodded without hesitation, ”Alright, Chef Fu, I’ll assist you as a sous chef. Whatever ingredients you need, I’ll have someone prepare them right now!”

Zhang Zhen called over Zhou Yesheng.

Fu Yu said to Zhou Yesheng, ”Quick-fried fish, pork skin, salted meat...”

Zhou Yesheng immediately noted them down and started preparing.

The ingredients at the Music Restaurant were quite ample, and Zhou Yesheng quickly prepared all the necessary ingredients.

There was also an assistant to help handle all the ingredients properly.

This delay made time a little tight.

Chef Liu, along with Tian Lei, started preparing the Jin Yu Full House reunion set.

The Lucky Three Shredded Dish was already done and ready to be served at any time; other dishes had been pre-prepared, so they were quick to make.

Meanwhile, Fu Yu began processing various ingredients for the old-style Steamed Three Flavors.

Clean the black carp, and cut it into thick pieces.

Clean the pig’s feet for later use.

Peel the winter bamboo shoots for later use.

Add water to the pot, along with green onions, ginger, and cooking wine.

Add pork and pig’s feet for blanching, cooking until frothy.

When retrieving, Fu Yu paused, seemingly casual, and said to Zhang Zhen, ”Chef Zhang, my hands are full, could you please help me retrieve the pig’s feet?”

Zhang Zhen hurried over, holding a skimmer to fetch the pig’s trotters, saying, ”Chef Fu, just tell me what you need, no need to be so formal between us!”

Fu Yu smiled, took another clean pot, and started adding water.

Zhang Zhen washed the pig’s feet in clean water and put them back in the pot to continue cooking.

Fu Yu discreetly let out a sigh of relief.

There’s a flip side to every advantage.

This oil-free skimmer works great, but it’s risky to slip up and reveal too much.

Fu Yu smiled wryly and continued cooking.

Once the meat in the pot was cooked until tender, he took it out and concocted a coloring sauce with a bit of orange juice, dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, and cooking wine.

He soaked the white meat in the sauce for coloring, then deep-fried the colored meat until the skin was crispy and took it out.

Cleaned fish pieces were also placed in oil for frying.

This task was handed over to Zhang Zhen by Fu Yu.

Zhang Zhen was quite pleased.

He had never made this Local Style Steamed Three Flavors before, so while Fu Yu cooked, he helped as a sous chef and learned attentively.

Fu Yu taught as he worked, sparing no detail, explaining thoroughly.

The kitchen at the Music Restaurant was bright even during the day, lighting up the spacious room brightly. Even the bubbling oil in the pot was clearly visible, and Fu Yu’s expression was very serious and focused.

”Once the smoked fish is out, deal with the stuffed pork... turn this stuffed pork into minced meat with a food processor, season it... shape it into meatballs with a small ladle and set them in warm water, then take them out when shaped.”

”Make egg skin by pan-frying eggs, wrap the minced meat into egg rolls, steam them until cooked... use pig’s feet as the base, arrange the soaked pork skin, place the sliced boiled pork on top, then add the meatballs and smoked fish. Cut the egg rolls into diamond-shaped pieces, add bamboo shoots slices and salted meat slices... finally cover with shiitake mushroom caps, and add the original pork broth.”

Zhang Zhen quickly brought the soup, and Fu Yu poured it into the bowl.

”It’s ready to steam, generally about twenty minutes should be enough.”

”Additionally, let’s make a dipping sauce.”

”Add minced ginger and green onions to fresh soy sauce, use it to dip the ingredients inside, enhancing the freshness.”

Zhang Zhen imagined it and couldn’t help but secretly praise—it was simply perfect.

The plumped pork skin absorbed the broth, dipped in a bit of sauce, biting into it, releasing the juice in the mouth.

The dipping sauce increased the freshness while cutting through the richness, adding layers of flavors, the broth clear, the meat tender.

Moreover, eating this dish was like a treasure hunt, with various ingredients to choose from, and sipping chicken soup in between.

The mere thought of it made one’s mouth water!

Zhang Zhen felt truly impressed, realizing he had encountered a real expert this time!

This customer who ordered the dish must be a seasoned foodie with extensive culinary knowledge.

Just look at the dishes they’ve ordered, such a connoisseur!

”Try it this time, when you have more time later, you can try it yourself. If there’s anything you don’t understand, we can always get in touch. If not, we can make it again when I come next week.”

”Chef Fu, where did you learn how to make this Local Style Steamed Three Flavors?” Zhang Zhen naturally asked the question on his mind while observing and listening.

”It was just a lucky coincidence,” Fu Yu replied with a smile.

It was merely a fortuitous encounter with the system that gave him the opportunity to learn about various dishes he didn’t know before through characteristic family banquet recipes.

”Oh, so that’s how it is.” Zhang Zhen chuckled, not probing further.

Isn’t it just a stroke of luck!

Fu Yu whimsically innovated on the Three Shredded Dish, was invited by Yao Shi to teach everyone in the back kitchen how to cook it.

By another stroke of luck, they met a customer who pointed out the dishes from the old eight classics weren’t authentic, leading to the preparation of this Local Style Steamed Three Flavors.

He even promised to teach how to cook this dish methodically.

Zhang Zhen stood aside watching Fu Yu cook, always appearing sharp and steady, but now carried a genuine smile on his typically composed face, under the glow of the lights, it seemed to radiate a faint shimmer.