The first thing I did was to find out

Chapter 281 Braised Shark's Fin
Qin Huai and Qin Luo, brother and sister, sat at the dining table with chopsticks in their hands very stiffly.

I dare not pick up my chopsticks.

I'm afraid that once I pick up my chopsticks, I will wolf down the food and eat it all in no time, which would be very impolite.

The two of them didn't even dare to pick up the chopsticks and drank their drinks stiffly.

No one else started eating. Cao Guixiang hadn't even sat down yet and was taking off her apron.

Cao Guixiang took off her apron and came back. Seeing that everyone was just staring at the food without picking up their chopsticks, she smiled and sat down: "Why are you all staring at it? Eat."

"Yunyun and Qingqing need to take a nap after dinner, and they still have classes in the afternoon. Don't waste time. Xiaoqin, Luoluo, the two of you should be relaxed and eat whatever you want."

After hearing what Cao Guixiang said, Qin Luo didn't hesitate at all and reached out his chopsticks to pick up a piece of the duck.

Eat it in one bite.

"Woo woo woo woo!" Qin Luo exaggeratedly opened his eyes as wide as possible, and danced and pointed at his mouth as if he was a reversion to his ancestors, gesturing something completely incomprehensible, and he wished he could jump up and dance a waltz for Qin Huai.

If she would.

Qin Huai understood.

Qin Luo said: Brother, it’s delicious, this is super delicious, you should eat it quickly, it’s so delicious!
What Qin Huai wanted to eat was braised shark's fin.

Cao Guixiang used the largest plate on the table to serve the braised shark's fin, with the shark's fin in the middle and the entire plate filled with golden soup. To be honest, Qin Huai thought that if the braised shark's fin was poured over the rice, the rice would also be golden yellow. Mix well and take a bite.

hiss--

Rice can be considered a source of honor to the family.

While Qin Huai was still thinking this, Zhang Zhiyun had already done it. He stood up and scooped up the soup with a spoonful at a time, making the braised shark's fin taste like fish soup with rice.

Seeing Qin Huai staring at Zhang Zhiyun, Zhang Chu asked with a smile, "Xiao Qin, do you want some rice with you? Give me the bowl and I'll help you scoop it."

"Although it seems that braised shark's fin is not eaten this way and it seems a bit wasteful, Yunyun has loved eating it this way since she was a child. It's delicious, you should try it too."

Qin Huai handed over the bowl. Seeing this, Qin Luo was unwilling to be outdone, so he also handed over the bowl and said sweetly: "Thank you, Grandpa Zhang!"

Then he said to Cao Guixiang in a sweeter, louder and more exaggerated tone: "Grandma, your cooking is so delicious, much better than my brother's!"

Qin Huai:?
Luoluo, are you a rebel so quickly?
Zhang Zhiyun said proudly: "I told you, my grandma may not be as good as your brother at making big dumplings, but my grandma's cooking is definitely the best in the world!"

After saying that, Zhang Zhiyun proudly stuffed a big mouthful of braised shark fin rice into his mouth.

Zhang Chu was afraid that Qin Huai would not be used to the food, so he did not pour too much soup on him, but instead picked up two pieces of shark fin with his chopsticks.

The whole piece of shark fin is soaked in the soup and dyed with the same golden color as the soup. The shark fin itself is very translucent, and it is a long strip curled up on the plate. It can be broken with a chopstick, which is enough to prove how glutinous and smooth the fin meat and fin needles are.

Qin Huai took the bowl, picked up a large piece of shark fin and put it into his mouth without any hesitation.

Only after he really tasted it did Qin Huai understand why Zhang Chu said that it was a waste for Zhang Zhiyun to eat shark fin with rice.

The rice and braised shark's fin mixed together can be considered an upgrade and a bit like the moon landing porcelain.

The thin edges of the shark fins were cut off. The whole shark fin was stewed so soft and tender, which means that the shark fins were stewed for at least 6 hours. Cao Guixiang said in the kitchen that the stewed shark fins started at midnight yesterday, which is at least 9 to 10 hours.

The shark fin is stewed in a special broth that is richer and more fragrant than the one Qin Huai has tasted in the kitchen.

The delicious flavors of the whole chicken, whole duck, pork elbow, scallops, and Jinhua ham are almost overflowing in this broth.

Not to mention that shark fins are rich in collagen, and stewing for such a long time will fully stew the collagen into the soup, making the soup thicker. Long-term stewing can make shark fins very soft and rotten, and the layers of fin tendons in the meat can provide shark fins with a very rich taste. Long-term stewing can make it taste like gelatin.

Now, the braised shark fin that Qinhuai eats is covered with a thick layer of soup, and the shark fin and the soup complement each other.

It not only has a wonderful experience in taste, but also has a unique texture.

Qin Huai has eaten delicious dishes cooked in broth in Suzhou, and three-piece duck is also one of the best. However, compared with the current braised shark's fin, three-piece duck is obviously a bit...

All I can say is that these two dishes are not on the same track.

Braised shark's fin has a rich flavor and layered texture. The word "luxury" is written on the dish from the moment it is served.

The moment the dish enters your mouth, the delicious and rich flavors fill your entire mouth.

Such delicacies can be mixed with rice.

I can only say it’s great to have a grandma.

After finishing the two pieces of braised shark's fin that Zhang Chu picked for him, Qin Huai closed his mouth and savored the taste for a long time before taking a look at the other dishes on the table.

Qin Huai did not eat other dishes immediately, but looked at Cao Guixiang and asked: "Master Cao, I want to ask how to eat braised shark fin?"

Zhang Chiyuan and Zhang Siyu paused while eating abalone with oyster sauce. The brother and sister looked at each other, their eyes full of questions: Isn't braised shark's fin eaten just like that? How else can it be eaten?

Cao Guixiang asked happily, "Xiao Qin, do you think eating like this is a bit off?"

"It feels like something is missing." Qin Huai said uncertainly, "It tastes really good. I've never eaten such delicious food, but after eating it, I always feel like something is missing."

After these words were spoken, question marks began to appear over Zhang Chu's head.

Zhang Zhiyun asked Qin Luo in a low voice: "Does your brother dislike shark fin? What else can be missing from such a delicious dish? My grandma doesn't usually cook this dish, and she didn't cook it during the Chinese New Year this year."

Qin Luo thought so too, but she wanted to protect her brother's face: "My brother must have his reasons for asking this."

"It's something that's missing, the rice wine that's not at the right temperature." Cao Guixiang said with a smile, "Braised shark's fin is the first dish of the bird's-fin banquet. The best way to taste this dish is to pair it with wine."

"Before the bird's nest and shark's fin banquet, six side dishes are served. Drink two liang of rice wine with the side dishes before eating, and then the braised shark's fin will be served. When you eat it, you won't feel that the braised shark's fin tastes too mellow, but will feel that the aftertaste is long."

"In fact, we have some side dishes today, braised duck liver. Even if you don't drink, it will taste better if you eat the side dishes first and then the braised shark's fin."

"But when you eat at home, you don't have to be so particular. You really have to follow the specifications of a bird's nest and shark's fin banquet. The dishes have to be served one by one, and you have to rinse your mouth between each dish to rinse the smell."

"If we do this, a complete bird's nest and shark's fin banquet will require six dishes of appetizers, 10 main dishes, including a dessert. After the meal, we need four dried fruits, four fresh fruits, and a cup of hot tea. I will be exhausted after preparing this banquet." Cao Guixiang even laughed at herself. "So family members don't care about so many things when they eat. We can eat whatever we want. It's a waste of food for Yunyun to mix braised shark's fin with rice. We have been eating this way since we were young."

Hearing what Cao Guixiang said, Zhang Zhiyun, who was busy eating, raised his head with a look of longing: "Grandma, when can our family have the feast you just mentioned?"

It can be seen that Zhang Zhiyun didn’t even remember what the bird’s nest and shark’s fin banquet was called, she just remembered that there were many dishes and they were delicious.

Hearing his son say this, Zhang Chiyuan quickly scolded him: "Didn't you hear your grandma say that the banquet was too much and tiring? You are such an ignorant child."

Zhang Chiyuan didn't remember it either.

Cao Guixiang said with a smile: "It's not tiring. When Yunyun is admitted to a prestigious university and the admission letter arrives at home, grandma will make you a complete bird's nest and abalone feast."

After saying that, Cao Guixiang looked at Chang Qingqing: "Qingqing is the same."

Zhang Zhiyun & Chang Qingqing:!

When Qin Luo heard about this good thing, he was so excited that he wanted to recognize Cao Guixiang as his grandmother on the spot and looked at Qin Huai. Qin Huai: ...

Your Zhang family’s encouragement to study... is very effective.

"Don't think about it." Qin Huai looked at his sister with a fake smile, "I won't do it."

And with Qin Luo's grades, unless the Qin family's ancestors' graves are smoking, there is no way he can get into a key university.

If Qin Luo didn't go to an international high school, she could get into an ordinary undergraduate program, even the worst second-tier one. Zhao Rong would have to go to the temple to fulfill her wish and thank the gods for their blessings.

Qin Luo: QAQ
Qin Huai picked up a piece of wild rice stem for Qin Luo with chopsticks: "Eat some vegetables."

The calorie count of the soup dishes on the table today is extremely high. Children are in the growing stage, so they need to eat some vegetables to balance their nutrition.

Qin Luo reluctantly stuffed the wild rice stem into his mouth, chewed it twice, and showed a surprised expression again: "Brother, this wild rice stem is also delicious, can you learn how to make it!"

Qin Huai:? Do you think I, your brother, am a god?

It is no exaggeration to say that all the dishes on the table today, except the white rice, are of grade A or below.

He, Qin Luo and Zhang Zhiyun's white rice was mixed with the soup of braised shark's fin. It was hard to say what quality the rice was.

Luoluo, do you know what today's meal represents?

Every dish on the table today can be included in the opening issue of "Taste" magazine in the new year, which is enough for Xu Cheng to write about for several years.

Thinking of this, Qin Huai suddenly felt that his fruit was not very valuable.

It turns out that there are many masters among the people. The flower-growing country is so big, and a small Qiu County is so full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Qin Huai dare not even imagine how many low-key retired masters are hidden in other places.

Otherwise, why do people say that the village gossip group is the strongest intelligence team?

Without the old branch secretary's help, Qin Huai would not have been able to meet Zhang Chu and Cao Guixiang.

I have to make more snacks for the old branch secretary during the Chinese New Year next year. Maybe I can introduce him to you next year.

After a hearty lunch, everyone was burping with fullness, the food stuck in their throats, and they collapsed in their chairs, unable to move.

Qin Luo was paralyzed, and whispered to Zhang Zhiyun and Chang Qingqing: "Why are you the same as me?"

Your grandma/grandmother is so awesome, how come she is as worldly-wise as me?

Zhang Zhiyun opened his mouth tentatively first, so as not to burp and spill food, and then he slowly said, "Can it be the same?"

"Qingqing and I don't usually get to eat something this good."

"My grandma doesn't cook braised shark's fins for me more than once a year. The dishes she cooked on my 10th birthday were not as sumptuous as today."

Zhang Zhiyun was almost feeling sad. She looked at Qin Huai with eyes full of jealousy, which showed me that my grandma loves you more than she loves me as her grandson.

Cao Guixiang: ...

My eldest grandson, you don’t understand. This is how we, the Tan family, deceive people.

If you don’t cook all your best dishes, you won’t be able to fool people.

Cao Guixiang stood up and said, "Okay, Yunyun and Qingqing ate so much today, they probably won't be able to sleep at noon, go watch TV, don't sit here and bother your grandfather to clean up the dishes."

Zhang Chu and his son, daughter and their family started to clean up. Qin Huai also wanted to help but was called aside by Cao Guixiang.

"Xiao Qin, I've picked out a few kitchen knives for you. Try them out and see which one feels better." Cao Guixiang led Qin Huai to the room.

"Feel?" Qin Huai didn't quite understand. "Master Cao, I actually have a set of kitchen knives. My friend gave me a set. It's quite expensive."

Qin Huai rarely used the set of kitchen knives that Gong Liang gave him, and asked Chen Huihong to take them back to Shan City before the New Year.

Qin Huai knows that the prices of kitchen knives can vary greatly. Some famous chefs have their kitchen knives custom-made, while some chefs prefer a certain brand of kitchen knives.

But this is the first time Qin Huai has heard of the feel of it.

"It's just the feeling." Cao Guixiang walked into a small room, which was a storage room, and took out 6 kitchen knives.

"This room used to belong to Qingqing. I took care of Qingqing and Yunyun when they were young. Later, when they went to school, Lao Zhang and I couldn't help them study, so we sent them back to live with their parents."

"For beginners, the feel of the kitchen utensils is very important. I believe you should also have a mold that fits your hands well and a rolling pin that you are used to."

Qin Huai nodded.

“It’s the same with kitchen knives. When you’ve reached a certain level of skill, you can choose a kitchen knife that you like more based on its performance. But when you’re just a beginner and even the best kitchen knives are all the same to you, feeling is very important.”

"A kitchen knife that is too expensive and too sharp may not be suitable for you. These six kitchen knives are very ordinary ones. I picked them up at the market these two days. You can pick one up and try it out first."

Qin Huai didn't understand why, so he held each kitchen knife to try out the feel.

Didn't try it out.

He felt that they were all the same. He didn't have the feeling of a protagonist touching his own natal magic weapon and resonating with it.

"It feels...all the same." Qin Huai said in a low voice.

"They should be the same. I want you to try to see if there is a knife that you are not used to holding." Cao Guixiang said, "I asked Lao Zhang to make you six cutting boards, but the wood he ordered has not arrived yet, so you have to wait for two days."

"He just told me during dinner that the timber merchant made a mistake with the wood and needed to re-deliver it."

"You can use my chopping board to chop vegetables first. Once you have mastered the details, I can let you use the other six chopping boards when you go to Shan City for online classes."

"When that time comes, every time you chop up a chopping board, you will clearly feel that your knife skills have made a qualitative leap."

Although Qin Huai had just held the kitchen knife, he was already starting to look forward to it.

I look forward to my sword skills making a comeback, reaching the master level, and reaching the peak of my life.

"Master Cao, what should we practice first?" Qin Huai asked excitedly.

"Cut radishes, white radishes." Cao Guixiang said, "When we were in the kitchen just now, you should have seen the white radishes on the vegetable rack, right?"

Qin Huai nodded. He noticed it. When he looked at the vegetable rack, he was wondering why there were so many white radishes. There were four layers of vegetable racks. If you didn't know, you would think it was a supermarket shelf.

At that time, he was still lamenting that the Zhang family loved eating white radish too much.

"I bought those radishes this morning, and you need to cut them this afternoon."

Qinhuai: (((o(*▽*)o)))
Cao Guixiang gave a meaningful smile: "In the days to come, you may have to cut a lot of white radishes."

(End of this chapter)