Chapter 267: Chapter 180 Are you hungry? Then I’ll make you barbecue! Guessing the competition questions! [Seeking Monthly Ticket]_2
"Why are you tarnishing someone’s reputation out of thin air? I do have a leave slip."
Shen Jiayue shared the crispy Fish Scales she was holding with the girl.
"Try this, a snack made from Fish Scales. It’s super crispy and delicious."
Geng Lele, half-doubtful, pinched two pieces and popped them into her mouth. Her eyes instantly widened in surprise.
"Wow, it really is tasty!"
"Wait till later, there’s even tastier stuff coming. Xu is going to make me some barbecue. Do you want to try some?"
"Yes, yes! I was just thinking about finding something to eat."
By this time, Dou Wenjing had also finished work.
The three chattered away, and Lin Xu had to go to the supermarket by himself to buy meat.
"Boss Lin, what would you like today?"
Old Mr. Yu saw Lin Xu and couldn’t help but praise the Winter Melon candy he made.
"That candy is really tasty. Can you make some more for me when I finish this batch?"
"No problem, but eat less of it. The sugar content is so high, too much could make your blood sugar unstable."
After saying that, Lin Xu headed to the chilled section.
He began selecting ingredients for the barbecue.
Some pork belly, a bit of slightly fatty beef, a large box of chicken wing mid-sections, and a piece of lamb leg meat that was half fat, half lean.
While picking, he saw a fresh Beef Tongue in the chiller and quickly had it packed and weighed.
This is great stuff. Perfect for barbecuing.
After buying all this meat, Lin Xu also picked up a few tender round lettuces.
Lettuce is essential for barbecue; not only is it refreshingly crisp and cuts through the grease, but it also effectively helps prevent internal heat. It’s the perfect partner for barbecue.
After purchasing the barbecue ingredients, he saw water chestnuts in the fresh produce area and bought a few.
Water chestnuts, also known as Horse Hoof, can be cooked with sugarcane to make a sweet soup.
With the ingredients packed, Lin Xu headed to the home appliance section and bought a large electric grill.
Making barbecue at home with an induction cooker and a flat pan would do, but that’s not professional. The meat might end up burnt or undercooked, and it isn’t as convenient as using an electric grill.
After paying at the checkout, Lin Xu said goodbye to Old Mr. Yu and left the supermarket, carrying his purchases.
When he entered the supermarket, he remembered that only Shen Baobao, Geng Lele, and Dou Wenjing were outside, eating crispy Fish Scales and chatting.
But now, coming out, he found Wei Qian and Guo Xinghai had joined them.
Huh? Wasn’t Guo Xinghai supposed to be organizing the Cantonese Cuisine Museum? He’s back already?
Seeing Lin Xu laden with bags, the two came over to help.
Wei Qian took the electric grill and said, "I was busy in the back kitchen when Xinghai mentioned he was in Beijing and wanted to hang out with you. So, I found a coworker I don’t get along with and swapped shifts. I even promised him all my days off next month."
Lin Xu: ????
You’re at a loss, aren’t you? But then he thought about his plan to poach Wei Qian next month. What loss would that be! Hmm, to prevent his brother from losing out, he’d have to poach him regardless.
He looked at Guo Xinghai and asked, "When did you arrive?"
"Got here at two in the afternoon. I hung out at Building 10 all afternoon and witnessed Chef Song’s sugarcane supply go from plentiful to non-existent."
The group arrived at Lin Xu’s house. The girls continued to play with Dundun, while Lin Xu, Wei Qian, and Guo Xinghai went to the kitchen to get busy.
The preparation for the barbecue was quite straightforward: just wash, slice, and marinate.
With all three participants from the Fishing Platform present, it was a good opportunity to discuss the competition.
Guo Xinghai clearly had done a lot of preparation.
He skillfully peeled the thick coating off the Beef Tongue as he spoke, "Our opponents this time are all strong, especially the China World Hotel, which is also known as the second State Guesthouse. Their Chinese restaurant is the famous Xia Palace, and its culinary skills rival those of the Fishing Platform."
The second State Guesthouse? That sounds formidable indeed.
"Additionally, Yanjing Hotel, St. Regis Hotel, Capital Hotel, and Great Wall Hotel—all venerable establishments catering to foreign guests—possess significant strengths and profound legacies. They all hope to make a big comeback through this competition and re-enter the public eye."
While cutting pork belly, Wei Qian muttered, "Sounds like the Six Factions besieging Guangming Peak..."
After cutting the meat, he didn’t immediately marinate it. Instead, he took out the dipping sauce to taste it, intending to adjust the marinade’s seasoning based on the sauce’s saltiness.
Tasting the dipping sauce, Wei Qian immediately exclaimed, "Lin Xu, did you make this sauce? The flavor is amazing!"
Hearing this, Guo Xinghai also came over to taste it.
"Hmm, it really is good. It tastes a bit like the dry dip used in Sichuan-Chongqing spicy beef butter hotpot. But compared to that, this sauce’s spiciness is much milder. Lin Xu, when did you learn this skill?"
Lin Xu replied, "I don’t know how to make this. This is from Chef Dai at Building 18. He lost a bet to my senior brother and sent over the prepared chili powder."
"So it’s Chef Dai’s work, I see now. Chef Dai is exceptional at making Sichuan cuisine. A few years ago in the competition, my third uncle nearly lost to him."
The pork belly for the barbecue doesn’t require much marinating. Just add some Light Soy Sauce, oyster sauce, Cooking Wine, and some Scallion and Ginger. Mix everything well, cover with plastic wrap, and place it in the fridge.
After marinating for ten to twenty minutes, it would be ready for the grill.
After setting the meat to marinate, Wei Qian began washing the lettuce.
Lin Xu had originally planned to peel the sugarcane and boil it with the water chestnuts to make a sweet soup. However, Guo Xinghai, who was more skilled at making them, took over the task.
"Next time, you can also buy some reed root. Add it with sugarcane, water chestnuts (Horse Hoof), lotus seeds, and such to a stew pot, and double-boil it for an hour. The sweet soup made that way will taste even better."