Chinese chef

Chapter 54 Braised Catfish in Braised Sauce

54 braised catfish

After being stunned for a while, Mu Feng immediately asked the system, what is going on?

However, the system does not know the reason and just gives a speculative conclusion.

That is, Mu Feng was receiving new cooking techniques in a dream, so he might not be concentrated enough during the receiving process, resulting in the information received being not comprehensive enough.

For this answer, Mu Feng could only smile wryly.

However, despite this situation, the game still has to go on.

Mu Feng had no choice but to force himself to calm down quickly.

In fact, the [Braised Pig's Trotter] just now also uses the dry roasting method.

There is not much difference between braised and dry roasted in essence, it is nothing more than whether it is thickened or not.

Braised in soy sauce needs thickening, while dry cooking uses the gelatin of the ingredients themselves and the corresponding seasonings to form self-made gorgon.

However, the [Braised Pig's Trotter] just now has a lot of gelatin, so it is easy to form self-made Gorgon.

The catfish is different. The catfish does not contain a lot of oily gelatin like the pig's trotters. To make the effect of the self-made gorgon, it depends on the ratio of sugar to water and the heat.

After the [Braised Catfish] is ready, the soup will present a thick and delicate feeling in a near-perfect shape, and that kind of oily and shiny feeling can never be achieved by thickening it.

That is the charm of Shanghai local cuisine!

Fortunately, for the past two weeks, Mu Feng has been studying braised dishes, and he is very confident in the first few steps of [Braised Catfish], the only thing he is a little worried about is the final step of collecting the juice.

That is the key to the whole dish, and it is also the most difficult part to grasp.

Of course, when things come to an end, you just need to go all out.

Mu Feng immediately adjusted his mind and started to make [Braised Catfish].

Langshan white catfish is the best for cooking catfish. However, because Zou Chengming came to challenge temporarily, there are only other common white catfish in Zhonghua Building, so Mu Feng had to make do with it.

Mu Feng first washes the catfish and cuts it into pieces, then adds green onion and ginger cooking wine to the water temperature of about 80 degrees, pours the catfish in, scalds it for 2 minutes, removes it, and then wipes off the mucus on the surface of the catfish with a steel wool ball , and then wash it clean.

Then, he heated up the oil in a pan, sautéed the onion and ginger until fragrant, then took it out, poured in the catfish and stir-fried, and added cooking wine at the same time.

Then, add clear water to the pot, then pour in vinegar, add more dark soy sauce and sugar, and bring to a boil over high heat.

Then, turn down the heat and simmer slowly until the catfish is fully flavored. At this time, it enters the final step, which is to turn on the fire to collect the juice, so that the juice will form a self-made gorgon.

Mu Feng carefully carried out the last step, however, the final result was not satisfactory.

Judging from the color of his [Braised Catfish] and the one made by Zou Chengming, he has already lost.

No, this is not enough!

The ratio of sugar is wrong.

Mu Feng dumped the finished catfish into the trash can, planning to start over.

After seeing his actions, Zou Chengming immediately relaxed.

This kid is really not strong enough!

Let me tell you, how could the culinary skills improve so quickly in such a short period of time.

It seems that the [Braised Pig's Trotter] just now was purely accidental, and it probably happened to happen to be a dish he knew how to cook.

However, being able to make [Braised Pork Trotters] taste better than me is considered a talent.

It's a pity, this [Braised Catfish] is more difficult than [Braised Pig's Trotters].

Zou Chengming was secretly proud of himself, this time he was finally elated.

It's a pity that they all turned in their mobile phones just now.

Otherwise, it would be great to be able to photograph it.

Mu Feng made [Braised Catfish] again, but this time he still failed to achieve the desired effect.

So, he threw away the finished catfish again.

After failing twice in a row, not only Mu Feng felt a little irritable, but even the other people in the back kitchen felt that something was wrong.

Shi Nancheng frowned and looked at Mu Feng worriedly.

Mu Feng washed his hands, wiped it clean with a cloth, took a deep breath, and returned to the chopping board, intending to do it again.

"Master Mu, time waits for no one! I'm almost done, and you haven't even finished one. How can we compare later?" Zou Chengming said.

After hearing what he said, Mu Feng looked at him and smiled.

Then, turn your attention back to the catfish.

In normal times, he can take his time, but now it's a competition, and he really doesn't have much time.

If the next dish still fails, he can basically declare failure.

The self-made Gorgon in this [Braised Catfish] is not only about the appearance, but also affects the taste. If it is inferior to Zou Chengming's dish in terms of appearance, then there is no need to talk about the taste.

Mu Feng raised his head, intending to adjust his breathing, but found that Shi Nancheng was looking at him, so he smiled and nodded, indicating that he was fine.

After adjusting his breathing, Mu Feng put himself into the cooking of 【Braised Catfish】 again.

The steps of blanching, stir-frying, stewing, adding seasonings, and bathing in the wind are orderly.

Finally, when it was time to collect the juice from the fire, Mu Feng turned on the fire and concentrated on observing the changes in the thickness of the juice.

The soup thickened little by little and became thicker...

Become!

After Mu Feng saw the situation of the juice, his eyes lit up suddenly, and the surprise in his heart was almost overflowing.

He finishes with a drizzle of oil to brighten it up, then plates the fish.

When he put the first batch of [Braised Catfish in Braised Catfish] on the chopping board, Zou Chengming had already made three batches.

Although, the cooking time was not limited just now, but if two chefs compete to cook the same dish, if one takes far longer than the other.

In fact, this can already tell the winner.

After all, cooking takes too long, which means that the mastery of cooking techniques is not proficient enough.

After one dish was finished, Mu Feng quickly started to cook the next one.

Because of his successful experience, Mu Feng did it with ease this time.

When he realized that there was not enough time, he actually set up two pots at the same time and cooked two dishes at the same time.

Zou Chengming stared blankly.

In fact, he can do the same, and it is not difficult for him to cook two dishes at the same time.

However, in order to improve the quality of the dishes as much as possible, he chose to cook only one dish at a time.

Is this kid crazy?

Zou Chengming thought to himself.

He glanced at the [Braised Catfish] that Mu Feng had made, and from the appearance, it was indeed as good as his cooking.

However, Mu Feng couldn't achieve this effect just now, that is to say, Mu Feng just realized the correct way.

He dared to cook two dishes at the same time just after realizing it, where did he get the courage?

Zou Chengming shook his head secretly.

Young people are really...

If you lose too badly later, don't say that I, a senior, bullied you.

Zou Chengming shook his head in his heart and said.

Shi Nancheng also felt a little unsure of Mu Feng starting two pots at the same time.

After all, just now Mu Feng poured out two plates of catfish in succession.

Although when Mu Feng did it for the third time, Shi Nancheng could tell from the expression on his face that he succeeded.

However, it is even more difficult to control the heat when making two dishes this time, and it is very likely that all previous efforts will be wasted if you are not careful.

Of course, Shi Nancheng also knew that there should not be too much difference in cooking time between the two parties, so he could only calm down and hope that everything goes well for Mu Feng.

Mu Feng set up two pots, although it seems risky, but he is a very talented person, and he has reached a certain level of mastery of the fire, once he figured out how to do it, the rest is just a simple copy .

Soon, Mu Feng made two servings of [Braised Catfish].

Zou Chengming has already finished four copies, and he is short of the last one.

He glanced at the two dishes that Mu Feng had just prepared, his face slightly solemn.

This kid's talent is really good.

The game came to an end soon, and both sides had already made five servings of [Braised Catfish].

The waiter took out the ten servings of [Braised Catfish] for the guests to taste.

Zou Chengming also followed out, he wanted to see the real reaction of the guests.

For this dish, he is still very sure. He has made this [Braised Catfish] many times.

He could tell that Mu Feng had just learned how to cook this dish, no matter how talented he was, it couldn't compare to his seasoned experience.

In order to see more clearly, and at the same time, in order not to affect the guests' dining, Zou Chengming came to the second floor and stood at the railing of the corridor to look at the lobby downstairs.

Mu Feng and Shi Nancheng also followed.

Soon, the first voting results came out.

Zou Chengming got one vote.

Zou Chengming nodded, as expected, my culinary skills are better.

Then, the second vote came out.

Zou Chengming still got the vote.

Zou Chengming smiled, it seems that the [Braised Catfish] made by Mu Feng is only good for appearance, and the taste is still unqualified.

Let me just say, the way he cooks just now is obviously just learning, how could it be better than mine.

He turned his head to look at Mu Feng and smiled, his expression did not give people the feeling of domineering, but he properly revealed a kind of old-timer's comfort, as if telling Mu Feng, young people, don't be discouraged, Learn slowly later.

Mu Feng found that Zou Chengming was looking at him, so he smiled in greeting.

Then, continue to look at the lobby.

Mu Feng's heart is certainly a little dignified, but he also understands that after all, he has just learned how to make this [Braised Catfish].

It's good if you win, but there's nothing to be depressed about if you lose.

Zou Chengming focused his attention on the lobby downstairs again.

At the same time, he began to think in his heart that if he wins this round later, the opponent will definitely ask for an extra match. After all, two wins in three rounds will determine the winner.

I asked two questions by myself, and it would seem that I am not generous enough to ask another question, but I don’t know what dishes the other party will propose?

The guests in the lobby downstairs quickly gave the third vote.

However, this vote no longer belonged to Zou Chengming.

The guest voted for Mufeng this time.

Zou Chengming was taken aback for a moment, and then he was relieved. After all, the [Braised Catfish] that Mu Feng just made looks pretty good.

It is normal for one of the five dishes to be delicious.

However, after a while, he suddenly remembered that he didn't get a ticket for the [Braised Pig's Trotter] before.

Therefore, if he cannot win unanimously for this [Braised Catfish] dish, in a sense, he has already lost.

Thinking of this, Zou Chengming's mood became a little depressed.

However, what happened next made him feel even more depressed.

The fourth vote came out.

Still Mu Feng.

Zou Chengming's pupils shrank, this trend...

It would be fine if Mu Feng only got one vote, but now he got two votes in a row and became like him.

This......

His confidence began to waver.

Immediately afterwards, the fifth ticket came out.

It's Mufeng!

Mu Feng defeated Zou Chengming three to two.

Zou Chengming opened his eyes first, then grabbed the railing with both hands, and subconsciously wanted to jump downstairs.

He wanted to rush down to see what was going on!

Mu Feng and Shi Nancheng were close, so he quickly held him down.

After Zou Chengming was pinned on his shoulders, he looked around a little at a loss.

After a while, he calmed down.

The huge blow made him a little dazed. He didn't question the result of the competition, nor did he propose to try Mufeng's [Braised Catfish].

After calming down, it seemed that he had accepted this matter in his heart.

Perhaps it was because Mu Feng's previous performances had left a deep impression on him, so that he had an inexplicable feeling that it was not a particularly unacceptable thing for Mu Feng to win.

Of course, after all, he lost to Zhonghualou again, or failed to challenge at the door, which was a big loss of face.

He left Zhonghua Building with a livid face.

After returning to Fuxing Restaurant, Zou Chengming resigned.

Pan Deming asked him the reason, but he didn't say anything, and after trying to persuade him to keep him to no avail, he had no choice but to let him go.

After Zou Chengming resigned, he left Fengze City. No one knew where he went.

However, before he left, he once said such a sentence to his apprentice Ning Haidong, one day, he will definitely come back!

Afterwards, when Yan Shenghe sent someone to the Zhonghua Building to inquire about Mu Feng's reality, he accidentally learned that Zou Chengming had gone to the Zhonghua Building to compete with Mu Feng, and he lost ugly.

At that time, Pan Deming and Yan Shenghe knew why Zou Chengming resigned, and gradually began to care about Mu Feng.

Of course, that's another story.

----

That day, after Mu Feng won the game, he was in a good mood, and he had a new understanding of the dry burning method.

Then I struck while the iron was hot, and spent the whole day researching various dry-cooked dishes in the back kitchen of Zhonghua Building.

After about four or five days, Zhonghualou launched several dry-cooked dishes one after another, namely [spicy dry-cooked octopus], [squid dry-cooked pork belly], [squid dry-cooked bone], [dried bamboo shoots], 【Dry-roasted prawns】.

At the request of diners, the takeaway department also added a few more flavorful dishes, instead of simply serving light dishes.

About ten days later, one afternoon, when Mu Feng was teaching someone how to make [Dry Roasted Sea Cucumber] in the kitchen, a lot of information and experience about the dry roast method suddenly flooded into his mind.

The dry burning method that I thought was lost for some reason, unexpectedly came back by itself.

At the beginning, Mu Feng was a little skeptical, but later he figured it out, it was probably because the information and experiences were actually stored in his brain, but because they were absorbed while sleeping, they were sealed away. deep inside the brain.

The reason why it appeared now is because he was obsessed with studying various dry cooking dishes during this period of time, and the information about this aspect in his mind was constantly stimulated, which stimulated those sealed experiences.

He has a certain degree of mastery of the dry cooking method, and now with the help of the system, Mu Feng feels even more powerful, and his skill in dry cooking has reached a new level.

If he were to compare with Zou Chengming in cooking [Braised Catfish] now, Custodian would be able to beat Zou Chengming so weakly.

Time passed quickly. After teaching the chefs of Zhonghua Building, Mu Feng returned to Suji to open a shop.

Now Shi Nancheng will still come to Su Ji on time at around eight o'clock in the evening to help.

Busy until ten o'clock or eleven o'clock, Su Ji, who had been bustling all night, finally became quiet.

Everyone else has gone home, only Mu Feng and Shi Nancheng are left.

"Mu Feng, let's go to eat belly fat? Do you want it?" Shi Nancheng said to Mu Feng while closing the folding door on the right side of the gate.

"Explosive belly? Why do you suddenly want to eat exploding belly?" Mu Feng asked.

"It's autumn, it's just right to have a belly burst." Shi Nancheng said with a smile.

"Okay, it's been a busy day, and I'm really hungry." Mu Feng nodded with a smile.

After closing the door, Shi Nancheng drove Mu Feng to a small alley shop.

After getting out of the car, Mu Feng took a look at the store, and saw the signboard on the door with the words [Xiao Liang Bao Belly], and asked: "Isn't this a time-honored brand? It looks like it, but the name doesn't look like it." .”

"Her family is a time-honored brand, but the store she opened is not a time-honored brand." Shi Nancheng said.

"What do you mean?" Mu Feng scratched the back of his head.

"Go in, and I'll talk to you slowly later." Shi Nancheng said.

Mu Feng nodded.

Immediately, the two walked into the belly shop side by side.

There are no diners in the store.

After the two entered the door, a woman who looked to be in her 30s, with a thick face and a bit plump figure greeted her immediately.

"Hey, isn't this Nancheng? Why do you have time to come to me today?" The woman said with a smile.

"Sister Zhi, I brought friends to join me this time." Shi Nancheng said with a smile.

"Welcome." The woman Shi Nancheng called 'Sister Zhi' said with a smile.

Her name is Liang Lizhi, and she is the owner of Xiaoliang's fried belly shop.

"Sit down, please! Tell me what you want to eat." Liang Lizhi immediately asked Mu Feng and Shi Nancheng to sit down.

"Moat belly kernels, sheep mushrooms, and others, let's get some!" Shi Nancheng said with a smile.

"Okay, come right away." Liang Lizhi yelled with a smile.

Then, I went back to the kitchen.

"How do you know each other?" Mu Feng asked.

"About half a year ago, Sister Zhi's father celebrated his birthday in our Zhonghua Building, so we met." Shi Nancheng said in a low voice.

"You don't know every guest who goes to Zhonghua Building, do you?" Mu Feng said with a smile.

"How is it possible? How can I be so good?" Shi Nancheng said with a smile, "It was because of an incident that I met Sister Zhi."

"What's the matter?" Mu Feng blinked.

"Not long after I went to Zhonghua Building, Sister Zhi's father celebrated his birthday and had dinner at our hotel. Later, for some reason, Sister Zhi ran out of the box crying. I was worried that something might happen, so I went to have a look.

Of course, after I went to see it at that time, I still didn't know what happened. After all, this is a family matter, and I didn't ask if there was nothing unusual in the box.

Later, when I was going to the bathroom after a tour, I happened to meet Sister Zhi coming back. Seeing her red eyes, I went up to say hello.

However, Sister Zhi said there was nothing wrong, so I stopped asking.Later, when their family left, Sister Zhi left her handbag in the box.

I happened to be patrolling near the box, and the waiter told me that I went into the box to put away my handbag first, so as not to be taken away by others.

At this time, Sister Zhi just came back to get her bag, and she came back with red eyes, tears still in her eyes. It was so strange that she cried twice during this short meal, so I greeted her again. one time.

I originally just wanted to express my concern, and I never thought that she would tell me what happened, after all, this is her privacy.

It may be that she is so aggrieved in her heart that she really needs someone to talk to.So she just told me what happened.

It turned out that everything was caused by her father's patriarchy.

She has a younger brother, and her father is patriarchal, so his attitude towards her is completely different from his attitude towards her brother.

Her younger brother was lazy and made a lot of trouble since he was a child, but her father never scolded him since he was a child.But since she was a child, she helped out in the store whenever she was free, but her father didn't even give him a word of praise.

However, she has been like that since she was a child, and she is used to it.Then, the birthday banquet that day was arranged by her alone, and her brother didn't do anything.

Later, at the birthday banquet, her younger brother suddenly said that he would inherit her ancestral belly shop.Because her brother has always been idle, she said casually, saying that it is better to leave it to her than to leave it to her brother.

In the end, just such a casual remark was scolded bloody by her father.Said that she was going to get married in the future, it was impossible for her to give up this belly shop, and let her die as soon as possible.

To be honest, Sister Zhi herself really never thought of inheriting the belly shop. At that time, she was mainly afraid that the ancestral brand would be harmed by her younger brother.

But she didn't expect her father's reaction to be so big, she couldn't bear it for a while, so she ran out crying.

Later, when the family was about to go back, she forgot her handbag in the box because she was in a trance, and her father said that she was careless about things, and it would be better to close the store directly if it was passed on to her.

So... hey...

Later, she couldn't get angry, so she opened this fried belly shop by herself. "

After Shi Nancheng finished speaking, Mu Feng was silent for a long time. He didn't understand why there were such parents in the world.

What makes him even more sad is that this kind of thing is not an exception. In the 21st century, this kind of thing is still common. Every time he hears this kind of thing, he always feels as if he is in the feudal era.