The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World

As the owner, Dong Jun Tian had many daily affairs to deal with. After finalizing the arrangement for home service, he left with Yang Zhifang at ease.

However, when he turned around, he glanced at Gu Yunwu, who was busy tossing a pan not far away, with a complex and hard-to-read expression.

Meanwhile, Yao Shi returned to the chef’s station. After finishing the tasks at hand, he turned and quietly said to Fu Yu, ”The middle-aged man who came along just now is called Yang Zhifang. He’s a childhood friend of the owner.”

Fu Yu nodded, understanding now that he was the owner’s friend, which explained why he could visit the kitchen.

Yao Shi continued, ”Yang Zhifang’s father has been working away from home for a long time. He’s retired now and is staying in his hometown for a while. The old man has been away from home for many years and has always missed the taste of his hometown. So Yang Zhifang wants to organize a banquet at home to welcome him, and plans to invite Zhao Meng to cook.”

After explaining the situation, Yao Shi suddenly asked, ”Fu Yu, with Zhao Meng not in good health and the Yang family’s rush, I was thinking if you could manage it, you could take the helm for this banquet. How about it?”

”Their father doesn’t want to make a fuss. This time he didn’t notify anyone else about his return. The welcome banquet is just for their family, ten people or so. They’ve agreed to order just one table of dishes, a maximum of twenty. The service fee will certainly be decent.”

”Plus, Yang Zhifang is easy to get along with, not demanding. I’m pretty familiar with him and understand him a bit. Anyway, consider it. If it works, we can finalize this matter.”

Moments ago, Yang Zhifang was personally accompanied by the owner to visit the kitchen, and now Yao Shi was saying these words to him, basically just informing him.

Whatever the owner decides, he’s there to follow orders, especially when there’s money involved.

However, from Yao Shi’s words, it seemed like Yang Zhifang was looking for the authentic Qiān Lǐ Mǎ old flavor signature dishes.

But there are dozens of signature dishes, who knows if there are any dietary restrictions for their old man?

If not understood beforehand, organizing the banquet could be tricky!

After all, most of the dishes in the store have been improved.

The true old-fashioned flavors are rarely craved by young people unless they’re older customers.

Over time, the dishes ordered in the kitchen are mostly innovative and improved dishes.

The so-called old flavor isn’t quite as pure and authentic anymore.

As Fu Yu was about to ask about the old man’s taste preferences, he looked up and saw an exclamation mark above Yao Shi’s head: [!]

Alright then!

A task is coming!

[Ding! NPC Chef Yao Shi’s Task: Successfully complete Yang Zhifang’s reception banquet. Task reward: 100 RMB, 20 experience points, and one classic old flavor recipe.]

Fu Yu chuckled!

Wow!

Yet another recipe has been revealed!

Based on the previous special family banquet recipe as a reference, this classic old flavor recipe must be impressive too!

Thinking of this, Fu Yu couldn’t help but feel a bit excited.

It’s just too tempting.

No reason to hesitate!

Isn’t it just the store’s signature dish?

While Yao Shi is in the kitchen these days, he can ask him directly once he gets the recipe.

If all else fails, he could follow the cooking methods in the signature family banquet recipes.

After all, the fundamental principles are the same.

Even if it’s slightly off, with the owner’s connection, Yang Zhifang probably won’t cause trouble.

Thinking of this, Fu Yu nodded, ”Sure, Chef Yao, but I’m afraid I might not be able to handle the dishes they order. Can you give me some guidance in advance?”

Yao Shi appreciated Fu Yu’s humble and eager-to-learn spirit and nodded with a smile, ”Sure! Once the menu is settled, I’ll help you study it. We’ll bring the ingredients from here directly, and if there are any that can be processed in advance, we’ll prepare them here.”

For the next while, Yao Shi stayed in the kitchen.

That afternoon they received two old customer orders from Zhao Meng, and the rest were assigned orders.

No matter the size of the banquet, Fu Yu insisted on taking on the complex and difficult dishes and mastering various cooking methods.

This particular table was a small banquet, with the customer ordering six dishes.

Fu Yu chose four and left two for Yao Shi.

He casually stuck the order ticket on the kitchen wall and decided to start with pan-fried pomfret.

The pomfret at Qiān Lǐ Mǎ is always cooked fresh.

The customer selects their fish in the ordering area, and the order clerk helps catch it and send it to the kitchen for the assistants to handle.

Sun Qingning handed two prepared pomfrets to Fu Yu.

The fish looked quite plump and tender.

Pomfret is known for having fewer bones and tender meat, and even when Fu Yu was a kitchen hand, he enjoyed preparing them.

Pan-frying the fish requires marinating first.

These two pomfrets were quite large and would be hard to season.

Fu Yu made two cuts on each side of the fish to allow for seasoning to penetrate.

Then he used salt, sugar, rice wine, shredded ginger, and pepper to mix and marinate for 30 minutes.

In the meantime, Fu Yu quickly finished a fragrant sauce whelk and a crispy fried sea bass stick.

While plating the crispy fried sea bass stick, that magical feeling appeared again.

Fu Yu quickly turned and instructed Sun Qingning, ”You continue plating.”

Sun Qingning was now completely in sync with Fu Yu’s work rhythm.

When Fu Yu gave an order, he almost reflexively executed it.

The crispy fried sea bass stick just needed the side dishes arranged.

Sun Qingning mimicked what Fu Yu had done before, following his example, and managed to lay it out in a decent manner.

Fu Yu then took out the marinated pomfret, patted it dry, and started patting flour on it.

Just as he started doing that, an electronic prompt sounded in his ear:

[Ding! Reward for the Back Kitchen Craftsman Title: Congratulations on obtaining NPC Chef Yao Shi’s heartfelt guidance: Personal skill ”Pan-frying”]

At the same time, Yao Shi, who had been busy cooking nearby, suddenly leaned over and said, ”When pan-frying fish, make sure the pan is clean. After heating the pan, use a piece of fresh ginger, rubbing it across the hot pan, then pour in the oil, and use the spatula to spread the oil all over the pan.”

Fu Yu quickly responded, ”Got it, Chef Yao.”

He then finished patting the pomfret with flour, grabbed a skillet, wiped it clean with a paper towel, then carefully rubbed a slice of fresh ginger across the bottom of the pan.

Upon finishing, he poured oil into the pan.

Yao Shi continued, ”Add a little sugar to the hot oil. When it turns light yellow, place the fish in the pan. It won’t stick, plus it will look and taste great.”

Fu Yu’s eyes lit up.

Adding sugar to the oil while pan-frying fish, this was indeed a first-time hearing for him.

He quickly added some sugar to the oil in the pan.

Yao Shi added, ”When frying fish, once the fish goes into the oil, don’t turn it over immediately. Wait until the fish skin is golden brown before turning it.”

Fu Yu nodded, ”Got it.”

He put the pomfret in the pan and followed the instructions.

Once the fish skin turned golden brown, he carefully flipped it over.

The two of them, one teaching, one learning.

Sun Qingning stood by the side, watching in awe.

In his mind, Yao Shi was a chef-world powerhouse!

Could ordinary people like them easily learn the skills of a master?

But now, the scene of Yao Shi carefully teaching Fu Yu how to pan-fry fish was right before his eyes!

Not learning from such a great opportunity would be foolish!

Sun Qingning didn’t dare to openly steal skills.

So he multi-tasked.

Plating with one hand while keeping an ear out for what Yao Shi was saying.