Free Web NovelChapter 610: Chapter 603: A Thought Stirred
Private room 104.
The food runner placed the clay pot on the pre-set stove.
As the lid was lifted, a rich aroma and steaming heat immediately overflowed.
Han Liang leaned in for a look and smiled, "Yes, this is it!"
Saying this, he expertly grabbed the spice jar placed next to the clay pot.
"I remember you also like the taste of pepper?"
Han Liang opened the lid for a look, confirmed it was white pepper, and looked at Han Ning beside him.
Han Ning nodded, "Yes, I like it!"
Han Liang laughed heartily, "Right, when eating a seafood stew, it lacks that special something if you don’t add a bit of white pepper."
Saying this, he sprinkled some white pepper into the pot and gently stirred it with a spatula.
Indeed, the seafood stew made by Qianlima was authentic!
Just a glance with the spatula revealed this pot had been stewed entirely without being stirred during cooking.
Only this way could the dish remain visually appealing, and the flavor be the best.
"Come on, have a taste, let’s see if they still use butter for this one."
If not for Han Liang’s close relationship with Dong Jun Tian, he wouldn’t have known about the secret recipe for this seafood stew.
The key is using butter for the stew base, instead of regular salad oil.
Salad oil could work, but after trying, butter is indeed more fragrant.
Han Liang took a small bowl, first scooped a piece of crab with plump meat, then added some rich broth.
He then turned and handed the small bowl to Han Ning beside him.
"Careful, it’s hot!"
The warm porcelain bowl had just entered Han Ning’s hands when a somewhat blurry scene flashed in her mind.
A similar porcelain bowl, filled with equally steaming seafood.
Looking around, after thinking carefully, this private room seemed vaguely familiar too.
It felt like she had been here before, bringing an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
A closer look at the crab in the porcelain bowl made it simply irresistible.
Taking a sip of the broth and a bite of the fleshy and tender crab meat.
To be honest, the seafood stew was perfectly tender, spicy enough to burn the tongue, but with another bite, it became incredibly delicious, leaving an endless aftertaste.
On a cold day, enjoying such a steaming hot stew is indeed an indulgent pleasure.
Especially the taste of this stew, incredibly fresh and aromatic, spicy and heartwarming.
After finishing a small bowl, one feels a warmth spreading from inside out.
Han Liang also served himself a bowl,
No wonder the seafood stew by Qianlima stood out among many restaurants, becoming a widely-known popular dish.
Partly due to its good taste and partly due to the generous ingredients.
Every piece of seafood was fresh and large, with thick and juicy meat.
Even the ordinary shrimp tasted much better than elsewhere.
Good food reaching the palate uplifts the mood as well.
In the steaming pot, various seafood pieces were ample, a single crab piece was as big as half a fist, looking overwhelmingly bold, grand, and generous.
The boiling broth seafood stew was placed on the table in front of the two.
Han Liang reached in with chopsticks for big chunks of catfish, placed them in Han Ning’s bowl first, then taste-tested himself.
Although these were foods often eaten, at this moment, he ate as if he were a long-starved gourmet, with meat juices staining the stubble by his lips, and his nape steaming with sweat.
Uncle and niece shared this afternoon tea, the table enveloped in spicy warmth, their expressions filled with familial affection and warmth.
Han Liang ate quickly, and as he was about done, he paused, turned to watch his little niece devour large chunks of seafood and relish the crab shell juices at alarming speed, finishing two large bowls of thick soup.
Watching this filled Han Liang with immense joy, and he happily asked, "Ningning, how is it, delicious?"
Han Ning wiped her mouth, nodded, and hummed, "Delicious! Uncle, how could I forget something so tasty?"
Han Liang finally sighed in relief.
He cherished this niece dearly since she was little. They had been apart for so long; the closeness from the past clearly couldn’t be regained, but his affection for the little girl remained.
Recalling the past, he wanted to be good to his niece.
So he specifically brought her out to wander around Bei’an city, searching for those old memories.
Seeing this meal leave his niece extremely satisfied, a look of contented satisfaction showed in Han Liang’s eyes.
As they heartily ate the stew, with food still left, the waiter approached them again.
This time, a small cart was pushed in, carrying various dishes.
First came two plates of fish slices, followed by some vegetables for shabu-shabu.
Seeing this, Han Liang quickly called out, "Ningning, hurry, scoop out the remaining items from the pot, let’s have them add in the broth directly."
Once most of the pot’s content was scooped out, Han Liang called the waiter to refill it with soup.
At this moment, the waiter also poured a half bowl of sauce brought from the kitchen.
After the waiter finished adding the soup and left.
Han Ning couldn’t help but remark, "Why did they add clear water directly?"
Han Liang, accustomed to it, replied, "You don’t understand! Their seafood stew’s sauce is rich in flavor, spicy, fresh, and slightly numbing. Adding bone broth would ruin the pot’s base taste. Clear water works best, especially when combined with the original sauce, yielding the same taste as the stew."
Lotus root, lettuce, potato, and other vegetables were added to the pot, with fresh fish slices added last.
Once the ingredients were cooked, a bowl was served out, tasting spicy hot, fresh, and richly fragrant.
The head chef at Qianlima had impeccable skills, delivering the same taste as before.
Satisfying in flavor, both uncle and niece were happy.
Before leaving after finishing their meal, Han Liang specifically took Han Ning to Dong Jun Tian’s office.
Having arranged to invite Dong Jun Tian for a meal at home next time, they left contented.
Listening to Han Liang’s praises of the seafood stew, Dong Jun Tian couldn’t help but be intrigued.
The dish had been taken off the menu before due to a lack of interest.
Now looking at it, there seemed to be a nostalgic appeal.
If they reintroduced it, capitalizing on the familial bond during the New Year season, it might very well become a hit again.
As the thought arose, Dong Jun Tian could hardly stay seated.
If he wanted to revive it, he needed to act quickly since the New Year wasn’t far off.
Dong Jun Tian went straight to the kitchen, planning to discuss this with Yao Shi.
Little did he expect, Yao Shi wasn’t there.
Since Yao Shi was the only one who could concoct the sauce for the seafood stew, nobody else could make this dish without him.
With enthusiasm, Dong Jun Tian arrived at the kitchen, only to find everyone on Gu Yunwu’s side lounging and resting.
Except for Zhao Meng’s area, where everyone was busy with closing tasks.
