Free Web NovelChapter 573: Chapter 566: This Is Talent
Stuffed tofu is not a fancy dish.
But after several generations of innovation and improvement by the Liu Family, it became a signature dish with a bit of fame at Shangshi Private Kitchen.
While Fu Yu was cooking, Wang Yulong stood by the kitchen counter, helping out while giving instructions.
The meat filling and minced mushrooms were already chopped.
Fu Yu mixed the minced pork with minced mushrooms, chopped green onions, cornstarch, salt, soy sauce, pepper, and lard to make a sticky filling.
Wang Yulong watched Fu Yu’s operation, originally intending to give some advice on the condiment ratios, only to find Fu Yu had a precise grasp of the quantities.
So he changed his words to another sentence: "The minced pork must be hand-chopped, otherwise, the grains are too small to stuff into the tofu."
This was also an experience gained by the Liu Family through repeated cooking trials.
Hand-chopped meat filling is indeed more fragrant than that made with other mincing machines.
Fu Yu nodded and timely asked: "Chef Wang, when cutting the tofu blocks, is there a size requirement?"
Wang Yulong said: "Yes, they should be cut approximately 4cm long, 3cm wide, and 1cm thick. Of course, this is your first time cutting, you might not manage well..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Fu Yu had already quickly cut the tofu.
Fu Yu’s speed was so fast that Wang Yulong looked at the neatly stacked tender tofu blocks on the cutting board and swallowed his words.
Even without using a ruler, with years of cooking experience, Wang Yulong could estimate, those tofu blocks looked as if carved out from a mold, just the size he mentioned.
This feel is simply superb!
Wang Yulong looked at Fu Yu, his heart truly conflicted.
Envy!
Very envious!
Really especially envious!
How come Liu Yunong could have such a good apprentice! freewёbnoνel.com
After cutting the tofu blocks, Fu Yu turned to let Wang Yulong inspect: "Chef Wang, is this okay?"
"Yes!"
Very good!
Wang Yulong nodded: "Once the tofu blocks are cut, you can start stuffing them."
"Place the tofu block on your palm, yes, just like that... poke a hole in the middle with chopsticks, then take an appropriate amount of meat filling and place it at the opening, use the chopsticks to poke the meat filling into the hole."
This step is very technical, clumsy hands won’t do well.
And to do it perfectly, and fast, there is no shortcut other than extensive practice.
Wang Yulong is very experienced in cooking this dish.
In the current urgent situation, he had no selfish thoughts at all, earnestly instructing: "Too much filling is likely to burst the tofu, too little won’t taste good, filling all on the surface is also not good."
"The technique is to lightly surround the tofu with the thumb, index, middle, and ring finger tips, and the pinky, to avoid bursting the tofu."
However, the spoken operation method is not as accurate as a demonstration in person.
Wang Yulong could only express his meaning with his understanding.
He originally thought if Fu Yu really didn’t understand, he would demonstrate with his left hand.
Although the left hand is far less handy than the right, posing is still okay.
As soon as this thought floated in his mind, Fu Yu had already fully grasped his meaning, and precisely started the stuffing process.
Fu Yu stuffed the meat filling while asking, "Chef Wang, is this okay? Should I add a bit more filling?"
Wang Yulong hurried up to check.
Very perfect!
Both the technique and the amount of filling were very well controlled.
The difficulty of this dish is in the stuffing, to make it delicate takes time.
And now the kitchen is most lacking in time, finishing cooking faster can get the dishes out earlier.
Every second is a luxury!
Wang Yulong sincerely wished Fu Yu could do it faster.
However, he could not think, nor dare to think, how shocking the next scene would be!
Only to see a full spoon of meat filling being accurately and quickly stuffed into the tofu block with chopsticks, Fu Yu’s fingers operated so flexibly, as if he were a machine on an assembly line, completing every detail operation quickly and precisely.
Fresh tofu is very tender, stuffing the meat filling into the tofu block, while careful not to burst it, is very challenging.
Yet, Fu Yu seemed not to be affected by the delicacy of the tofu at all.
Stuffing!
Speed!
Very fast!
One piece after another of tender tofu was stuffed.
Fu Yu’s series of actions were very smooth.
And Wang Yulong, who stood by watching Fu Yu do the stuffing, was left speechless.
Even having witnessed the Liu Family Cuisine’s two generations known for their hand speed cooking, having experienced countless battles himself.
Yet Wang Yulong could not have imagined Fu Yu having such speed.
How astonishing is this?
Fu Yu quickly completed all the stuffing, turning to seek opinions: "Chef Wang, I’m done, should I directly fry them now?"
Wang Yulong quickly nodded: "Yes, this batch is just enough for two plates."
As they spoke, without intentionally lowering their voices, Liu Zhangpeng, standing at the diagonally opposite kitchen counter, turned his head to look as well.
He saw Fu Yu already starting to heat oil in the pan.
And a large plate of stuffed tender tofu blocks was clearly placed in front of the kitchen counter.
Seeing Fu Yu’s situation clearly, Liu Zhangpeng instinctively glanced at the clock on the wall, swallowing unconsciously.
This... how fast?
Less than three minutes...right?!
Wang Yulong looked at Fu Yu, his eyes full of excitement and shimmer.
This progress is too rapid!
Clearly, yesterday’s stuffing technique looked slightly inexperienced. It could be completed smoothly, and the finished product was nice.
However, the speed was very slow, and the damage rate was a bit high too.
Who would have thought, just overnight, it’s as if a different person.
Both the stuffing technique and completion speed showed obvious qualitative leaps!
Truly astounding!
This is talent!
Born to be a culinary student!
This time, Wang Yulong was completely filled with a sense of cherishing talent.
Although not his apprentice, since he apprenticed under Liu Yunong, he would be a successor of Liu Family Cuisine in the future.
In all fairness, everyone could be considered to have come from the same school, all one of us, Fu Yu mastering his culinary skills, he could benefit too in the future.
The assistants watching this scene were also amazed.
Especially the assistant responsible for delivering dishes and bowls, after seeing Fu Yu’s stuffing technique and speed, their admiration was endless like the Yangtze River, continuous and boundless.
Taking advantage of the head chef and chef each being busy, the assistants discreetly chatted about Fu Yu.
"This Chef Fu... I heard is a chef at Qianlima, so young, probably just been in the industry for no more than two or three years."
"What! I heard from Chef Liu that Chef Fu graduated from culinary school, just been in the industry for a year!"
"And to be accepted as an apprentice by our boss? Truly amazing!"
"Who wouldn’t say! When he first came, I thought he and our boss had that kind of relationship!"
"What are you thinking, I heard from Brother Zhang, the boss can’t get along with men, if a man is cold to her, she’ll be colder, if a man is warm to her, she’ll run away at light speed."
The topic unintentionally sidetracked, no one noticed, while they chatted quite joyfully.
