The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World

Chapter 388: Chapter 387: Now That’s Impressive

Next, without waiting for others to remind her, Zhang Xueyao took the initiative to pick up the congee bowl and started tasting the seaweed barley congee.

Unlike the usual soft and sticky texture of congee, this bowl of congee had a distinct granularity upon entry, allowing her to chew the unique fragrance of barley and the particularly savory flavor of seaweed.

It was very refreshing and reduced greasiness, perfectly paired with the mild fish soup and dried scallop cabbage heart.

The cameraman took separate shots of Zhang Xueyao dining, and even specifically included Fu Yu in the frame, recording his demeanor as he introduced the medicinal dishes.

After the shoot, Fu Yu did not linger and left the private room with Yao Shi and the cameraman.

Upon exiting, Yao Shi specifically instructed the server responsible for the private room to close the door from the outside and not disturb the young lady while she was dining.

Returning to the kitchen, Fu Yu continued to simmer the loquat leaf syrup.

This time, Fu Yu handled it all by himself.

The young and handsome chef stood in front of the steaming purple copper medicine pot, stirring while constantly skimming off the foam on the surface.

His movements were skillful and efficient, exuding an indescribable elegance with every gesture.

The photographer sought angles, and within a few minutes, had snapped over a hundred shots.

”Time’s up.”

Fu Yu casually said, starting to filter and extract the medicinal liquid.

Zhang Zhen instinctively glanced at the wall clock: ”Exactly 2 hours.”

Next to him, Tian Lei muttered to himself in confusion: ”Did he ever check the time?”

The two new chefs looked at each other: ”Well, it seems like he didn’t, right?”

Fu Yu’s mastery of timing was his personal skill and advantage. With the support of precise heat control, decocting herbs was just second nature to him.

After filtering the medicinal liquid, the dregs were added with cold water and simmered again.

When pouring water, Fu Yu relied solely on his precise feel, executing seemingly casual actions that were, in fact, meticulous and precise at every turn.

This prompted Chef Lin and others watching by the side to express their admiration.

Talent, indeed, cannot be replicated!

At this moment, Yao Shi stood in front of the kitchen counter, arms crossed, watching intently as Fu Yu continued to concoct the herbal remedy.

He was truly surprised to learn that Fu Yu was still able to make herbal syrups.

Loquat leaf syrup is a readily available prepared herbal product on the market.

You can buy the finished product easily at a pharmacy.

However, Fu Yu was now concocting a syrup tailored according to the customer’s physique and ailment, based on diagnosis and differentiation.

This was impressive!

He was able to prescribe the right remedy for the customer and precisely control the dosage.

This kid... truly has some courage.

However, thinking of his consistent approach to doing things, Yao Shi couldn’t help but feel relieved.

Fu Yu had always been someone who pursued perfection in everything, handling matters personally.

Especially when it came to cooking.

Observing the process of concocting herbal syrup firsthand for the first time, Yao Shi became somewhat intrigued.

After all, this was a homemade syrup, different from the ready-made products on the market.

It could be symptomatically accurate, guaranteeing quality and quantity.

If it truly proved effective, then there would surely be no worries regarding its marketability!

Thinking of this, Yao Shi couldn’t help feeling a bit excited, with a hint of anticipation.

Perhaps... they could launch a new series of innovative medicinal meals for children?

This round of medicinal cooking was indeed spectacular!

Unknowingly, everyone in the kitchen began to pay attention to Fu Yu’s operation.

After all, decocting traditional Chinese medicine was nothing new, but making syrup, was that something anyone could just watch?

Wasn’t it involving some ancestral secret recipe or exclusive method?

In a scene rarely seen, everyone displayed a level of tacit collective attention.

Chef Lin, at this moment, regarded Fu Yu with admiration mingled with a hint of praise, with a trace of liking among the admiration.

Although it was decocting medicine, whether it was Fu Yu’s control over the heat or the precise timing, it left people full of wonder.

This was all honed through learning culinary skills!

Tian Lei even wished to squeeze in beside Zhang Zhen, watching Fu Yu’s operations without blinking.

The technique was just too adept; had he not seen it with his own eyes, who would have thought Fu Yu could make medicinal dishes so well?

Zhang Zhen, moreover, carefully observed Fu Yu’s expressions and movements, ready to lend a hand if needed, so as not to distract Fu Yu.

As for taking advantage of the opportunity to learn...

Forget about it...

This type of complicated operation, with strict ingredient proportions for medicinal cooking.

This freaking... is this a skill I, a chef specializing in red meats, can learn?

It’s just way beyond the syllabus.

Moreover, this particular medicinal meal was meant to treat acne. Once Zhang Xueyao’s symptom was cured, the recipe would no longer be needed.

Although the medicinal meal hadn’t been formally served yet, from the bottom of his heart, Zhang Zhen already firmly believed that Fu Yu’s prescribed medicinal regimen could certainly cure Zhang Xueyao’s symptoms.

And he was unshakeably confident about it.

Fu Yu repeated the decoction process twice more, combining the medicinal liquid, letting it settle, and then filtered it three times using four layers of gauze, aiming to reduce impurities in the liquid as much as possible.

The decocted liquid was then simmered over low heat for evaporation and concentration while constantly stirred with chopsticks to prevent caramelization.

Watching the medicinal liquid in the pot gradually form a thick paste, Fu Yu took the opportunity to scoop the concentrated liquid with chopsticks, dropping it onto a piece of dry parchment paper.

With his actions, Zhang Zhen couldn’t help but hold his breath, fearing that his breathing might interfere with Fu Yu’s operation.

When Fu Yu dropped a drip of medicinal liquid onto the parchment paper.

The surrounding crowd could not suppress their curiosity and gathered around to watch.

Zhang Zhen, being closest, observed that around the drop of paste, there was no visible water trace; it was indeed a perfectly round drop.

Wow!

It actually succeeded!

Zhang Zhen sincerely exclaimed: ”Chef Fu, is it done? You’re really amazing!”

Fu Yu replied helplessly: ”This is just the clear paste; precious herbs should not be simmered together with others, to avoid wastage.”

Zhang Zhen suddenly realized there were also valuable herbs to consider!

Generally quite perceptive, Zhang Zhen then asked proactively: ”Is there still a need to make herbal soup? Should I do it? You’ve been standing for a long time, take a break.”

Fu Yu smiled appreciatively, nodding: ”What’s left is to collect the paste.”

Fu Yu added donkey-hide gelatin, tortoise shell glue, and a proper amount of honey and cane sugar to the thick paste-like medicinal liquid.

Then, adjusting the heat appropriately, he instructed: ”You need to keep stirring evenly with chopsticks.”

Zhang Zhen nodded, adopting a solemn expression, earnestly grasping the chopsticks for stirring.

Beside him, Tian Lei quietly asked Chef Liu: ”Master, should I help?”

Chef Liu shook his head: ”No need.”

Though unfamiliar with herbal cooking, this paste collection seemed akin to reducing sauce in cooking, crucial indeed.

Hadn’t it been said that precious herbs were being added?

If this wasn’t done well, all the hard work put in for such a long time would be in vain.

At this time, Fu Yu carefully ground ginseng and cordyceps into a fine powder, meticulously adding them into the pot, which Zhang Zhen gradually integrated into the paste.

The subsequent tasks, Fu Yu didn’t intervene further, telling Zhang Zhen: ”Thanks for your hard work.”

Then he stepped aside.

Fu Yu simply stretched his neck and wrists.

Even with advanced physical fitness, standing straight in front of the kitchen counter to make medicine was indeed a bit too exhausting.