Chapter 278: Did the Boss Stir Up a Nest of New Dishes?
The Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish in front of him was beautifully arranged, with each strip of fish fanned out like a daisy, evenly coated with a glistening red sauce. The glossy sauce, thickened perfectly, gleamed like fresh tomato juice under the light, giving off an irresistibly appetizing sheen.
Although only a few green peas and shrimp were sprinkled on top, the bright green of the plump peas and the pale pinkish hue of the tender shrimp created a striking contrast with the red sauce, making the dish appear even more vivid and appealing.
The colors alone were already captivating, but this Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish had an even more alluring fragrance.
What kind of food smells the most tempting?
If you've ever been to a bustling street food market or a place brimming with various delicacies, you'd answer without hesitation—fried food.
Though undeniably high in calories, the aroma of fried food is equally undeniable.
When food comes into contact with hot oil, the surface temperature rapidly rises, causing caramelization, protein denaturation, and the breakdown of other compounds, resulting in a unique fried aroma.
Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish is a dish that is entirely fried during preparation. Its rich and enticing fried aroma is complemented by the fresh, sweet, and sour flavor of the sauce. The fruity scent of tomatoes masks the greasiness of the fried aroma, allowing the fish's fragrance to stand out more prominently.
As the dish was placed on the table, the overwhelming fragrance immediately filled Qi Han's nostrils, making him instinctively close his eyes in delight.
It smelled incredible.
Picking up his chopsticks, Qi Han eagerly reached for a strip of fish.
Crunch!
With a crisp sound, the strip broke off cleanly at the base. Its surface was coated with a thick, glossy tomato sauce, resembling a delicate piece of fried potato.
Thanks to Qi Han's precise knife work, every cut had perfectly sliced through the flesh without damaging the skin. As the strip came off, not a shred of fish meat remained, leaving only a small curled, crispy piece of skin exposed.
Unable to resist any longer, Qi Han quickly popped the strip into his mouth and began chewing.
Crunch, crunch
The crisp sound echoed as the rich, sweet, and tangy sauce perfectly melded with the crunchy yet tender fish, creating a uniquely delightful experience for his taste buds.
Most fried foods develop a crispy surface during frying.
This happens because when food contacts hot oil, the surface temperature quickly reaches 100°C, causing water to boil and evaporate rapidly. The steam expands the structure of the food, making it porous, while the loss of moisture hardens the surface, resulting in the characteristic crunchiness of fried food.
But that's not its only advantage.
This crispy layer on the surface acts like a hard, airtight shell, preventing the internal moisture from escaping. The increased steam pressure inside the food, similar to how a pressure cooker works, raises the internal temperature, speeding up the cooking process and giving fried foods their signature crispy exterior and tender interior.
This is the secret behind the unique flavor of Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish.
After swallowing a mouthful of the fish, Qi Han's expression showed a lingering desire for more.
Because the excess oil had been thoroughly drained and the fruity, sweet-and-sour flavor of the sauce balanced everything perfectly, the dish left no greasy aftertaste. Each bite filled his mouth with rich flavor.
Beneath the crispy fried coating, the fish was tender and juicy. Every bite delivered a burst of fresh fish flavor without any dryness, and the stark contrast between the crispy exterior and tender interior further highlighted the fish's freshness. The pairing was so perfect that Qi Han couldn't help but marvel at the culinary wisdom of their ancestors.
Crunch, crunch—
The crisp sound continued non-stop, and before long, the only thing left on the plate was the lone fish head standing upright.
Satisfied, Qi Han patted his stomach, a contented smile naturally forming on his face—the unmistakable expression of a true foodie.
He was full.
After cleaning up the dishes and utensils, Qi Han headed toward the door.
Four staff members were already waiting outside.
"Good afternoon, boss!" they greeted him energetically in unison as he walked into the shop.
"Hmm?"
Foya's nose twitched as a unique scent she had never encountered wafted into her nostrils.
It was the lingering fragrance of the Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish that Qi Han had just finished eating, still spreading through the dining area.
"Boss, what's that smell? It's so fragrant!"
"Oh, this?" Qi Han smiled faintly. "That's the new dish you'll be tasting this afternoon."
"Huh?"
"Huh?!"
The four women were stunned in unison.
There was a new dish at lunch yesterday. There was a new dish at lunch today. And now, this afternoon...
Another new dish?!
Did the boss stumble upon a nest of new recipes or something?
Why are there so many new dishes?!
…
Meanwhile, at the Shrek City Culinary Association:
This association was founded by food lovers in Shrek City who shared a deep passion for cuisine, functioning much like a hobby club.
Unlike other groups, this association strictly prohibited restaurant owners from joining, allowing only genuine food enthusiasts to become members. This rule ensured that the association remained unbiased, fair, and impartial most of the time.
Additionally, the Culinary Association was the organizer of the Shrek Food Festival, which took place every three years.
Most of the time, this association existed in name only, but during the triennial food festival, its significance became undeniable.
With only seven days remaining until the Shrek Food Festival, the association was finally busy once again.
In a spacious conference room, dozens of figures were seated. At the head of the table sat a short, plump figure dressed in a loose-fitting white robe. His round face bore a few wrinkles, giving him a slightly comical appearance, but everyone present looked at him with a hint of respect.
If Qi Han were here, he would instantly recognize this man.
After all, Qi Han had a vivid memory of his astonishing appetite.
It was Divine Ox Douluo, Xuan Ye, a veteran elder of Sea God Pavilion.
In every organization within Shrek City, powerful individuals who had graduated from Shrek Academy and chosen to stay in the city took on leadership roles. This system allowed Shrek Academy, as an academic institution, to maintain order in the city.
Originally, the Culinary Association, being a relatively niche and casual group, didn't require the involvement of an elder of Xuan Ye's level—a Spirit Sage or Spirit Emperor would have sufficed.
However, Xuan Ye had an overwhelming love for food and took a particular interest in the association, wanting to be involved.
After all, elders generally had a lot of free time.
Since Xuan Ye voluntarily expressed his desire to join the Culinary Association, it was only natural for the association to place him in charge.
"Ahem." Xuan Ye cleared his throat as he glanced at everyone. "It's been a long time, hasn't it?"
As soon as he said that, a burst of laughter echoed throughout the room.
Indeed, the last time they had gathered was three years ago during the previous food festival.
"It really has been a while."
"Let's cut to the chase. With seven days left until the start of the festival, let's discuss the specific implementation plan for this year's event."
As soon as he finished speaking, all eyes turned to a man seated further down the table.
The members of the Culinary Association came from all walks of life, each with their own specialties. Every previous festival had been successfully organized through collective brainstorming and collaboration.
The person they were now looking at was a middle-aged man who exuded a refined and scholarly demeanor. He was a senior executive at Douluo Bank and an expert in management. As a result, he was responsible for drafting the initial plan for each festival, which the rest of the group would then review and revise.
Noticing everyone's gaze, the middle-aged man gave a resigned smile, as if to say, I knew it would be me again, before pulling out the pre-prepared plan from his bag and distributing copies. "I've already finished this year's plan. Take a look and let me know if there are any issues."
The other members chuckled and began distributing the documents, carefully reading through them.
Soon, the room was filled with lively discussion and occasional laughter.
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