BXBX NOVEL Chapter 200: Hidden in the Fog
Chapter 200: Hidden in the Fog
As Qin Lang carried the Fish Belly Hidden Lamb out of the kitchen, a thick and rich aroma dispersed at an astonishing speed.
Sniffing this aroma, the expressions of the four Food Recommenders gradually changed.
Such an intense and tempting aroma…
It truly makes one unconsciously yearn for a taste!
Even Zhao Wenchang, who was standing by the side, swallowed hard.
Too familiar.
For him, who had tasted Fish Belly Hidden Lamb several times already, this aroma was all too familiar!
Yet amidst this familiarity, there was a tad bit of strangeness.
Because this time, the Fish Belly Hidden Lamb that Qin Lang cooked, surpassed every previous time in terms of aroma.
The full upgrade in the quality of the ingredients brought the dish to the next level.
If possible, Zhao Wenchang also wished to join the tasting team.
But that was simply impossible.
“To the dining room.”
Zong Nian got up, leading the others to the dining table next to the living room.
Soon, the Fish Belly Hidden Lamb meticulously cooked by Qin Lang was served in front of the four Food Recommenders.
“Fish Belly Hidden Lamb, please enjoy.”
Qin Lang introduced briefly, waiting patiently by the dining table.
“I see the fish, but where are the mutton and mountain delicacies?” Jiang Zhan chuckled, “Could it be that they are all hidden inside the fish’s belly as the dish’s name suggests?”
“Just open it and you’ll know.” Xi Chen took out a dining knife and made an incision into the fish’s belly.
The very next moment, the expressions of all four Food Recommenders changed simultaneously.
The aroma diffusing through the air changed!
hidden inside the fish’s belly – mutton, Shiitake mushrooms and bamboo shoots – they exploded with an unprecedented strong aroma upon the incision.
The aroma, suppressed for a long time and then suddenly bursting forth, filled the surroundings almost instantaneously, intertwining with the original rich lard and refreshing carp’s aroma.
The slightly gamey yet fresh mutton, the mushroom aroma overflowing from the Shiitake, the crisp and refreshing bamboo shoots, the rich and thick lard, and the pure and beautiful freshness of the carp – all these came together, like vivid colors on a blank canvas, painting a vibrant picture.
At this moment, the four Food Recommenders seemed as though they had been transported to an ocean of aroma, seemingly catching a glimpse of a mountain forest full of bamboo shoots and Shiitake mushrooms, and envisioning the herds of highland spotted sheep grazing and frolicking amid the forest.
A Highland Spotted Sheep seemed startled by their presence, jumping away and splashing water on a dark-colored carp as it crossed a stream.
The picturesque, layered aroma, caused the four Food Recommenders to show their appreciation all at once. Even Mr. Zong Nian, had a hint of surprise etched on his face.
Xi Chen quickly divided the whole carp into four portions, moving one portion onto her own plate, and began tasting it earnestly.
She saw bits of mutton, Shiitake, and bamboo shoots scattered within the belly of the carp.
Despite the considerable changes in color and state of the ingredients after cooking, Xi Chen could still easily identify them.
As a Food Recommender specializing in mountain delicacies, she needed to taste the mountain delicacy portion first.
Picking up a mix of Shiitake bits and bamboo shoot bits with her chopsticks, Xi Chen’s almond-shaped eyes squinted pleasurably.
The top-tier Shiitake and bamboo shoots had completely retained their original flavors after stir-frying, yet they had an added layer of flavor.
That was the rich mutton flavor from the lamb fat released during stir-frying the lamb with them, which had remained on the surface of the Shiitake bits and bamboo shoot bits, and penetrated into their interior during the subsequent roasting process.
That was the unique taste absorbed by the Shiitake bits and bamboo shoot bits when the freshness of the carp had seeped in during the roasting process.
The freshness of the fish and lamb blended wonderfully inside the already flavorful mountain delicacies and overflowed between Xi Chen’s lips with each chew.
This freshness moved Xi Chen.
“I pass!”
Without hesitation, she started eating voraciously.
Although she loved mountain delicacies, she would never reject meat!
Jiang Zhan, sitting beside her, also revealed a look of surprise after tasting the mutton she had sent to her mouth.
The stir-fried mutton had fully exuded the sheep fat concentrated within, and some of it was absorbed by the shiitake mushrooms and bamboo shoots, significantly reducing the greasiness of the mutton.
The premium quality lamb brain meat was incredibly tender, and this tenderness was maximized under Qin Lang’s perfect cooking skills.
During the stir-frying process, the heat caused the surface of the mutton pieces to contract, locking in the abundant meat juice.
Then, during the subsequent roasting process, the impermeable fish belly acted like a steamer, allowing the savoury flavors of shiitake mushrooms and bamboo shoots to infiltrate the mutton under higher pressure, fully absorbing it while retaining its own juices without drying out due to roasting.
Moreover, the deliciousness of the carp gradually permeated throughout the texture of the mutton, giving the mutton an indescribably amazing taste.
What’s even more impressive is that despite the multitude of flavors, none overshadowed the main flavor.
The deliciousness of the mutton is the main course, the rest are secondary.
“It passed.”
Jiang Zhan gave a slight nod, expressing his opinion second.
On the other side, Li Yunxi maintained a calm expression, but his heart was churning with waves.
This fish…
He was actually able to taste two different flavors in a single piece of fish!
On the outside of the fish, there was the rich aroma of roasting and the unique flavor of rich and heavy pork lard.
The inside of the fish was filled with the unique taste of mutton, shiitake mushrooms, and bamboo shoots that permeated into the fish as a result of heat expansion.
The difference was not just limited to this. The well-timed cooking made the roasted carp skin crispy and aromatic while the flesh inside was firm and tender.
Lightly chewed, the completely fish-free meat seemed to be able to seep out juice, which made Li Yunxi couldn’t help but marvel secretly in his heart.
“It also passed for me.”
He did not hesitate to give his own answer.
“Yay!”
Zhao Wenchang, who was watching from the side, couldn’t help but whisper a cheer.
All three first-level food recommenders have passed!
Dan Bao and Spicy looked at each other, their faces also filled with joy.
Their Spirit Chef is the strongest!
Qin Lang restrained his excitement and looked at Mr. Zong Nian who was sitting at the top.
Now, only the final step of Mr. Zong Nian’s test remains.
That is to satisfy Mr. Zong Nian himself.
The three first-level recommenders who had already expressed their opinions also looked at Mr. Zong Nian.
Under the nervous gaze of everyone, Mr. Zong Nian put down the chopsticks in his hand.
The plate in front of him was already empty.
“I deliberately chose a lamb dish for you, which you had never cooked in a competition or food fight before” Zong Nian looked at Qin Lang and slowly started, “And you gave me a satisfactory answer.”
He rose from his seat and walked step by step to Qin Lang, placing a badge embossed with a silver base, depicting a sunset, pavilions, towers, and pagodas hidden in the green mist, in Qin Lang’s hand.
“Congratulations, you have obtained the Fog Hidden Badge.”
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