Gourmet: Midnight Vending

Chapter 155: The Gradually Lost Deliciousness


[Braised, a rather special technique in culinary skills, involves simmering cooked ingredients with broth over low heat after stir-frying, making the food tender and flavorful. The key to success in braised dishes is flipping the pot skillfully.]

Ha, the smile on Chen Mo's face slowly receded.

I was just casually thinking of a Yu cuisine dish to make, how did it suddenly become such a big deal?

Fortunately, the current Chen Mo is no longer the same as before, even if faced with a slightly more difficult dish, he would not retreat, just finding this kind of challenge more interesting.

Four large lamb ribs were placed in the bowl, with all the prepared ingredients added to the bowl.

The marination method was the same as before, using primarily traditional yet unique ingredients for marinating the lamb this time.

Scallions, ginger, and Sichuan peppercorns do not need much elaboration; this is the Hui people's method for reducing the mutton's gaminess when braising meat.

Cilantro, celery, onion, carrot, and lemon.

This is a more East-West fusion method for removing gaminess, the advantage being it removes the gaminess while preserving the original flavor of the ingredients as much as possible, imparting a relatively fresh aroma to the ingredients, which cannot be matched by using spices to mask gaminess.

The marinated lamb ribs were placed in the cupboard at an optimal temperature to facilitate the marination process.

Upon seeing this, Yu Hui temporarily forgot about losing Ten Thousand Yuan and asked curiously, "What are you making?"

"Scallion-braised lamb."

As soon as Chen Mo spoke, everyone eating at Cultural Square turned their heads to look, including the Feng Family's Three Brothers and Shao Hailong, all of them.

Feng the Second ran over, abandoning his bowl of noodles, "Scallion-braised lamb? Really?"

"Yeah, Boss Xiao Chen, are you really going to make scallion-braised lamb?" Feng the Third visibly excited.

Shao Hailong originally wanted to go over and ask, but seeing so many people, he stayed put and continued eating his bowl of mutton soup noodles quietly.

Liu Yang noticed Shao Hailong's expression and actions, thinking this guy indeed has some skill, must be cautious!

"Indeed, why are you all so excited over just one scallion-braised lamb?"

Not only excited, Yu Hui's voice was practically trembling!

"This dish is a standout! No need to go to Jin Family Manor, not doing anything today, I'll just wait by your car to eat this meat!"

Feng the Second nodded like a puppy in agreement, "Yeah, who needs to go to Jin Family Manor, this dish alone is enough!"

Their strange behavior made LuLu, who was watching the scene from the side, somewhat puzzled.

"Masters, what's so special about this scallion-braised lamb that makes you so excited?"

Yu Hui took a deep breath, "This is what you young folks don't understand, haha."

"This dish is absolutely top-grade, I personally think there's only one best way to eat lamb, and that's braised meat strips!"

"Back then, I loved eating this stuff. There were a few restaurants in Kaifeng City that made a decent scallion-braised lamb. Every time I went to the city, I had to get a serving."

Feng the Second was also squinting, reminiscing, as if that legendary taste could still dance on his tongue, "Unfortunately, this dish is basically not favored by any restaurants now. I had my wife try it a few times at home, but it just wasn't right."

"How so?" Chen Mo was also curious.

He had only heard of such a dish but never tasted it.

It was actually around the time when he first got the food truck system, watching various food videos every night, especially famous dishes from various cuisines, this particular dish left a deep impression on Chen Mo when referred to Yu Province dishes.

Yu Hui smacked his lips, with a bit of regret in his tone, "Lamb is expensive by itself, and lamb ribs even more so. This dish has high costs, and after making it, the portions are small, it takes a lot of effort and heat control. Even a regular small restaurant would have a cost of sixty or seventy for such a dish, and it's a small plate, selling it would need to be at least a hundred or more."

Feng the Second chimed in, "Such an expensive dish, even if delicious, isn't ordered often. Simply put, the profit for restaurants making this dish is too small, and it gives a sense of being costly, so over time, those restaurants just aren't keen to make it anymore."

So that's the reason.

Actually, Chen Mo also felt something regarding this phenomenon.

Some dishes are just like this, a lot of effort for little reward. Putting so much effort into making them, delicious as they may be, the overall costs are high, and the selling price is often extravagantly high.

For normal diners.

Ordering a plate of lamb, with only a handful of slices, selling for one hundred and thirty more, even if it's good, there's a feeling of being ripped off.

'This might be one of the reasons why some traditional good dishes gradually decline...'

Not just Yu Hui and the others feeling regret, even Chen Mo felt it was quite a pity.

Luckily, doing the cooking in a food truck, relative, eliminates the rent and utility costs, significantly reducing overhead.

What others can't do, I, Chen Mo, can do!

"Alright, I'll let you guys enjoy it today! But as a fair warning, my version isn't cheap either!"

Yu Hui and the others laughed heartily.

All stating that a little more expensive is fine, as long as it's delicious, being able to eat something like this after so many years is worth it.

This conversation left Shao Hailong quite bewildered.

What's happening here?

Is someone actually willing to pay such a high price just to eat a dish?

Could it be that this dish truly has some sort of magic?

Shao Hailong quietly finished his noodles and mutton soup, even after two large bowls, hearing the others, he felt only half full.

At this moment.

"Big brother."

A stranger's voice appeared at Cultural Square, several people in front of the food truck looked over and then turned away again.

Feng the Second kindly reminded him, "Our village isn't holding a market today, the neighboring Jin Family Manor is having a big fair."

Outwardly a kind reminder, but in reality, Feng the Second had his own thoughts.

Another person means one more to share the pie!

The one who came wasn't a stranger, it was Yang Zhou!

"Oh, it's okay, I just passed by Dakang Stronghold thinking of checking if there's any food to eat, over at Jin Family Manor there's too many people, got to queue for food."

After speaking, Yang Zhou remained silent, sitting before Xiao Huang's table, lowering his voice, "Do we make the move now, or wait for others?"

Yang Zhou is not only Shao Hailong's most trusted partner but also the one he values most.

He has a remarkable skill in lockpicking, ordinary household locks are like non-existent in front of him, just a wire could do the job.

Even car door locks require merely a specially made metal piece.

Their gang has survived over the years, much credit goes to Yang Zhou.

By tradition, after the two meet, they first enjoy the thrill, picking those spots that look wealthy.

Then wait for other brothers to come, picking the smaller leftover loot, and they both understand this behavior without speaking.

But today, Shao Hailong's answer was somewhat unexpected for Yang Zhou.

"You have a bowl of noodles first."

Yang Zhou: ???

Boss, I thought when you mentioned eating something, you meant for us to break into somewhere first.

Turns out, you were literally asking me to eat something?

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