Chapter 257: Chapter 177: This Garlic Sauce is Really Good! Ingredients Needed for Crystal Sugar Pork Knuckle! [Seeking Monthly Ticket]
While Lin Xu was boiling water to cook noodles, Xie Baomin soaked some glass noodles in warm water before heading to the seafood section, where he netted several oysters.
Upon returning, he swiftly pried open the shells, smeared some garlic sauce on the oyster meat, arranged them neatly on a steaming tray, and slid it into the steamer.
After a while, when the glass noodles were about half-soft, he took them out and placed them on a plate, pouring in some garlic sauce and mixing well to marinate.
Next, he went to the storeroom for two baby cabbages. After removing the tough outer leaves, he cut each cabbage in half, and then each half into three pieces. Following that, he boiled a pot of water and blanched the cut baby cabbage.
This not only reduced the steaming time but also effectively removed the raw taste of the baby cabbage.
He then removed the blanched baby cabbage, drained it, and drizzled it with garlic sauce, mixing evenly. Finally, he arranged it neatly on the plate with the marinated glass noodles.
More garlic sauce was poured over the cabbage leaves before he started the steaming process.
By the time Lin Xu had cooked the noodles and served them into a bowl, Xie Baomin had also finished steaming the garlic oysters and the garlic glass noodles with baby cabbage.
When the steamer was opened, the aroma of garlic immediately filled the entire kitchen.
Lin Xu, who had been somewhat full, felt hungry again.
The two apprentice brothers brought the food to the small staff dining room and first sampled the oysters themselves.
The oysters were large, their meat plump, white, and tender. The rich umami flavor mixed with the fragrance of garlic was enough to evoke a night market stall.
But these freshly caught live oysters were far superior to the frozen ones sold at street stalls.
Holding an oyster shell carefully, they sipped the steamed broth. The umami flavor was so intense, it was hard not to marvel at how incredibly delicious such an ingredient could be.
After sipping the broth, they carefully picked up the oyster meat with chopsticks and ate it.
The plump, rich texture and delicious flavor, complemented by the intensely aromatic garlic sauce, were enough to make one instantly fall in love with this taste.
The delicious oyster meat made the garlic sauce seem even more fragrant, while the garlic sauce, in turn, elevated the umami of the oysters. The two flavors enhanced each other, a perfect pairing.
The subtle spiciness further whetted their appetites, inevitably making them crave another.
Unfortunately, it was morning, and they still had to work later. Otherwise, Lin Xu would have definitely opened a beer. This flavor is just perfect with a chilled beer!
After finishing an oyster, Lin Xu wiped the splashed juices from his hands and then spooned some garlic sauce into the freshly cooked noodles.
He had been full from the noodles Xie Baomin had made earlier. But after just one oyster, this delightful umami flavor unexpectedly rekindled his appetite.
As soon as he added the garlic sauce to the bowl, the heat from the noodles instantly released its aroma. He stirred with his chopsticks until the noodles were evenly coated.
After mixing them well, he took a bite. The firm and springy texture of the Bamboo Noodles immediately captivated Lin Xu, who was accustomed to Northern-style noodles; he found himself instantly falling in love with this popular noodle dish from the Lingnan Region.
He truly hadn’t expected noodles could be so incredibly springy and firm! And his senior brother hadn’t even used a bamboo pole to press them. Wouldn’t they be even more delicious if he had?
The springy noodles, when chewed, brought a profound sense of happiness.
And the garlic sauce coating made the noodles even more delicious.
The occasional spicy kick from bits of silver garlic in the sauce further boosted his appetite.
This really is an all-purpose sauce!
"Hmm, these noodles are really good," Lin Xu remarked. "Next time, let’s use duck egg noodles to make some wonton wrappers. Then Building Two can start serving Wonton Noodles too."
The so-called Wonton Noodles consisted of duck egg noodles served with wontons made from duck egg noodle wrappers. This way, one could enjoy both noodles and delicious wontons. Two delightful foods meeting in the same bowl allowed the diner to experience double the joy.
After a few more bites of noodles, Lin Xu tried the garlic glass noodles with baby cabbage.
This dish, also featuring garlic sauce, tasted completely different from the oysters. During steaming, the fresh, crisp essence of the baby cabbage was released. When this unique vegetable freshness met the garlic sauce, it instantly evoked a marvelous sensation, like the poetic line: "When golden wind and jade dew encounter, their meeting surpasses countless others in the mortal world." Every bite felt like pure bliss, as if life itself was complete.
As for the glass noodles nestled beneath the cabbage leaves, they were steamed to perfection, having absorbed the garlic sauce’s flavor, making them richly aromatic and incredibly delicious.
After the meal, Lin Xu had a new appreciation for garlic sauce as a seasoning. He decided to pack it up later: half to take home, and the other half for Shen Baobao to take to his father-in-law, so he too could experience this garlic-steamed seafood. However, he’d have to remind him not to eat too much. Though delicious, seafood and beer are prime culprits for gout, and one couldn’t afford to be careless.
「After breakfast」
Lin Xu went to the front desk. Dundun, the little fellow, had already finished his mackerel and was now meticulously licking his paws and washing his face. Lin Xu didn’t disturb him; instead, he picked up the used disposable plate and headed outside, intending to find a trash can for it.
Just then, Bai Pengbo, assistant to Liao Jinming from the Dining Department, drove up to Building Two’s entrance in an internal electric shuttle. Niu Chuan and several others were with him.
"Good morning, Master Lin," Bai Pengbo said cheerfully. "I saw them just entering the main gate as I was coming to work, so I gave them a lift on the shuttle."
Ever since tasting the legendary Qingshui Furong, Bai Pengbo had developed a new appreciation for Building Two. He’d heard that Building Two offered many dishes not permitted for sale in the main dining hall. What a score it would be to get a taste!