Chapter 396: KFC Finger-Lickin' Original Chicken
The moment the skewer touched her tongue, Ping Xinyan was instantly overwhelmed by the most primal, appetite-stirring aroma of beef. Activated by the heat of the grill, the pure and intense meaty fragrance burst forth, enveloping her mouth in an instant and making her eyes light up.
So good!
The surface of the beef was evenly dusted with cumin and chili powder. During the roasting process, the spices had mingled with the juices and beef fat that seeped out, soaking up all the savory flavor and at the same time infusing their own aroma back into the meat.
That wonderful blend of spice and meat juices seized her taste buds the very moment she bit in, leaving her mind reeling.
Narrowing her eyes in bliss, Ping Xinyan set aside the empty skewer, lightly biting down with her pearly teeth as she chewed.
The cube of beef was just the right size—not so big that she needed to tear it apart, not so small that it lost its texture. With each chew, the juices hidden inside slowly burst forth, flooding her mouth with delicious flavor.
The cumin and chili powder, which had first dominated her palate, now gracefully stepped aside to play the role of supporting actors, perfectly highlighting the freshness of the beef juices. The meat itself hadn't been toughened by roasting; on the contrary, the small skewers, cooked quickly, had perfectly locked in their tenderness and juices. With flavor and texture exploding together in her mouth, the experience was nothing short of extraordinary.
After swallowing one veal skewer, Ping Xinyan's gaze toward the nine skewers left on the plate grew even brighter. Without hesitation, she picked up another and popped it into her mouth, a satisfied smile spreading across her face.
Although one "hand" of veal skewers came with a full ten sticks, the portion was really not much—ten bites, no more.
Very quickly, she set down her last bamboo stick, gazed wistfully at the scattered scallion bits left on the plate, and then turned her eyes toward the KFC Finger-Lickin' Original Chicken.
Finger-Lickin' Original Chicken wasn't just one part of the bird, but could come from five: the drumstick, thigh, wing, rib meat, or breast.
The drumstick needed no explanation—wrapped in tender skin, with juicy, springy flesh beneath, it was always a solid choice, free of the dryness that plagued some cuts.
The thigh, triangular in shape, was not the drumstick itself but the part connecting the leg to the body. While slightly less tender than the drumstick, it was still juicy and not at all tough. Most importantly, apart from a single small bone in the center, the entire cut was pure meat, making it the best value among the five options.
The wing, for Finger-Lickin' Original Chicken, included the tip, middle, and base. Each part had its own charm: the tip had little meat but was delicate and tender; the middle had the richest skin and the softest meat, tucked between its two bones; the base, meanwhile, was similar in taste to the drumstick and was often called the "mini drumstick."
Rib meat was another large portion, with a rib bone at the edge to set it apart from other cuts. Its texture was drier and rougher than the rest, which meant fewer people favored it.
As for the breast, it offered plenty of meat, but it was the driest of the five cuts. If not cooked well, it could be downright hard to swallow. Its only real strengths were its low fat and low calories, which made it popular with dieters.
But really now…
Would anyone actually order Finger-Lickin' Original Chicken and still be worried about dieting?
Since a chicken was symmetrical, each cut aside from the breast came in pairs. In total, a whole chicken could yield nine pieces suitable for this dish. At a certain famous fast-food chain, you could request a specific cut when ordering, but if you didn't specify, odds were you'd end up with the less popular breast or rib meat.
Of course, at Han Shi, such a thing would never happen.
Here, KFC Finger-Lickin' Original Chicken came in only one form: the chicken thigh, the highest-value cut.
Rib and breast meat, too dry and unforgiving, were discarded outright by the ever-fastidious Ru Yi. Drumsticks and wings already had their place in other fried chicken dishes on the menu, so there was no need to repeat them here. That left only the thigh, perfectly tender and meaty.
And that choice also spared customers the trouble of deciding for themselves.
After finishing the skewers, the Finger-Lickin' Original Chicken was still steaming hot. Its surface, fried to a golden crisp like burnished treasure, carried such an enticing aroma that Ping Xinyan couldn't help but swallow hard.
It looked absolutely delicious!
Carefully, she reached out with both hands, pinching the chicken piece and slowly lifting it closer to her nose.
The savory scent of chicken seeped faintly through the golden crust, blending with the fragrance of fried batter, stirring her appetite even more.
Such a big piece of meat!
The piece of chicken before her looked somewhat triangular, about the size of her palm, thick and substantial. Just looking at it gave her a sense of comfort and satisfaction, making Ping Xinyan want nothing more than to sink her teeth into it.
And that was exactly what she did.
Chomp!
Opening her cherry lips wide, she bit hard into the golden chicken in front of her. As she chewed the tender meat, a look of surprise quickly spread across her face.
The golden crust was crisp but not overly thick. Beneath that thin layer was a tender, slightly glutinous texture—the result of the chicken skin being coated in flour and then deep-fried. The flour shell had locked in the moisture of the skin, creating a uniquely delightful mouthfeel.
Underneath the skin lay the succulent chicken meat itself. Juicy and tender with not a trace of dryness, every bite released rich flavor unique to chicken. The crisp coating, the silky skin, and the juicy flesh each carried distinct textures and tastes, but as Xinyan chewed, they melded together beautifully, leaving her pleasantly surprised.
"I almost forgot." Just as she was enjoying the chicken, Qi Han came over briskly, carrying a delicate glass cup. "Here, try this. It comes free with any fried chicken set you order. It pairs really well with the chicken."
"Huh?"
Xinyan accepted the glass. Inside the transparent cup, a dark brown drink fizzed with countless bubbles, a few neat ice cubes floating on the surface. Without thinking too much, she lifted it and took a big gulp.
"Mm… hic!"
The instant it hit her tongue, the drink released a rush of carbonation. That slightly sour sweetness was wonderfully refreshing—not only washing away the faint greasiness left by the fried chicken but also blending with its flavors in a curious harmony.
One gulp of the ice-cold drink and Ping Xinyan felt completely refreshed, light and happy. Her stomach bubbled with the fizzy drink until she couldn't help but let out a small burp. Embarrassed, she looked up and asked, "Boss, what is this drink?"
"Oh, that…" Qi Han's smile deepened. "That's what we call Happy Water."
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Note:
Happy Water is Coca Cola, I don't know why, but one of the alternative name for the drink in China is Happy Water.
Here's the raw for it, 快乐水
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