Chapter 125 Braised Vegetable Dishes.
This braised vegetarian dish, which was served last, was very popular with Chen Feng and his three companions. Each type of vegetarian dish had its own unique flavor, and all of them had the distinctive salty and savory taste of braised dishes, making them very enjoyable to eat.
Perhaps because I ate so much braised meat before, braised vegetables, whether lotus root, potatoes, tofu, or kelp, now feel refreshingly clean. Occasionally, when I feel that the salty and savory flavor of the braising liquid is too strong, I drink a few sips of seaweed and egg drop soup, which instantly relieves the saltiness.
A little later, Chen Feng put down his chopsticks: "I can't take it anymore, I'm really stuffed. This is the first time in my life I've eaten so much in one meal, my god, I've broken my record!"
Tao Mu also felt that he couldn't be full any more: "I can't be more satisfied this time. My first meal at Gu's Private Kitchen was really interesting. The braised meat and vegetables were so delicious. I will never forget this meal!"
Miao Junsheng didn't have time to say anything. He had just drunk a lot of soup and kept eating braised meat and vegetables. Now he felt that his bladder was about to burst, so he stood up and rushed to the toilet.
Chen Feng: "Where did this person run off to?"
Wu Yuanyang had just drunk quite a bit of soup and had been paying attention to where the restroom was. He had overheard several customers at nearby tables asking the staff for directions to the restroom. So, he calmly replied, "Going to the restroom."
Tao Mu: "Now that you mention it, I feel like I need to go to the bathroom."
Chen Feng: "I want to too."
All four of us drank quite a bit of soup. You wouldn't have noticed until it was mentioned, and now that it's been brought up, we all probably need to use the restroom.
Wu Yuanyang: "Bear with it, we'll take turns serving it later. We need to leave someone here at the table to keep an eye on things, so the staff doesn't think we've finished eating and leave and just clear away all the meat and vegetables."
Chen Feng: "That's true. We'll pack up the rest and take them back later. We can reheat them for dinner tonight. Anyway, judging from the current situation, the restaurants will probably be even busier and longer tonight. We might as well go out and play around for a while, then eat something else, and reheat the leftovers when we get back to the hotel. Tomorrow, we'll do the same thing as before and come to the restaurant early to queue. Even if we're not among the first customers to dine in, we should still be able to get a number."
They came to Jiang City specifically to eat at Gu's Private Kitchen. After lunch, they understood even more that Gu's Private Kitchen truly lived up to its reputation. The meat dishes were so delicious that they left a lasting impression. So, of course, they had to make the most of their time in Jiang City and eat there as many times as possible.
Tao Mu nodded: "I think it's a good idea. I wonder what good food we'll have tomorrow."
Wu Yuanyang: "Anyway, with the culinary skills of Gu's Private Kitchen, everything they cook will taste delicious. Don't worry, let's just wait to open the blind box at 10 am tomorrow."
Tao Mu: "That's true, now that you mention it, I'm starting to look forward to it again."
The three of them decided on this matter, assuming that Miao Junsheng would agree to the arrangement when he returned.
When Miao Junsheng returned from the restroom, his bottom had barely touched the chair when the three of them greeted him and then went to the restroom as well. Feeling they had more room in their stomachs, the four of them ate some braised meat, braised vegetables, and seaweed and egg drop soup.
Seeing that they really couldn't eat anymore, the four of them finally decided to end their delicious lunch and waved to the staff to bring over takeout containers to pack up their leftovers.
Although all the braised meats and vegetables used the same braising liquid, each had its own unique flavor. Chen Feng and the other three college students decided to splurge and ordered five takeout boxes to pack them separately to avoid mixing flavors.
After packing, they divided the food into two pretty light green bags, and the four of them got up and went to the cashier to pay without delay.
The feeling was particularly wonderful when they walked out of the restaurant after paying by scanning the code, and heard the staff leading another group of customers happily into the restaurant to eat at the table where they had originally sat.
Gu's Private Kitchen is indeed doing very well. That's why they don't dare to sit idly inside after finishing their meal. They know how tiring it is to wait in line. Their anxious hearts have nowhere to rest, and they can only find relief when they hear the staff call out their number.
Thinking about the lunch he just paid for by scanning the QR code, Chen Feng said happily, "We only spent a little over 280 yuan on this whole table of meat, and that includes the takeout fee. It's only 70 yuan per person for lunch, which is such a great deal!"
College students have limited living expenses, but they are willing to spend money on food. They can afford a meal at a high-end restaurant that costs two or three hundred or even four or five hundred yuan per person, and they can also eat at a roadside stall that costs ten or twenty yuan per person. Today's lunch, which costs seventy yuan per person, is quite average among them.
In fact, for a popular restaurant like Gu's Private Kitchen, this average price per person is quite low. Even if you already know the prices of the dishes at Gu's Private Kitchen, it's only when you actually eat there and pay the bill that you realize how affordable it really is!
Such high-quality braised meat, braised vegetables, and soup, each dish is comparable to that of a five-star restaurant. Just the aroma alone is enough to make you crave it. Every bite of meat is fresh and firm. As a result, it only costs seventy yuan per person, and a whole table meal only costs two hundred and eighty yuan. You can also pack some leftovers to take away. The price-performance ratio is too high!
Wu Yuanyang: "What a wonderful price! And then I think about the braised meat, braised vegetables and soup I had for lunch, and the aroma makes me even happier!"
Tao Mu nodded: "Indeed, it feels like I've hit the jackpot! The joy of winning fifty yuan on a scratch-off lottery ticket is nothing compared to this!"
Miao Junsheng: "Great! This price is perfectly acceptable and incredibly cost-effective. We came prepared, and this wallet is more than enough to eat at Gu's Private Kitchen for several days in a row!"
The four chatted and laughed, even though they had just finished lunch and were still full, they were already looking forward to coming back tomorrow to eat Gu's Private Kitchen, guessing what delicious dishes would be served.
We walked to the end of Surrey Street, hailed a taxi, and the four of us took it back to the hotel, planning to get a good night's sleep to make up for getting up early in the morning, and then discuss where to go next after we woke up.
At Gu's Private Kitchen, the dining area and the area outside are always bustling, welcoming wave after wave of anxiously waiting customers and quickly seeing off wave after wave of satisfied customers.
Around 12:30, Zhou Jie finally ushered all the customers who had taken numbers and were waiting in line at the restaurant entrance into the dining room. Around 12:50, she settled the bill for the last group of customers, smiled and saw them off, then closed the wooden door and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
She moved her arms and legs and stretched her waist freely, feeling quite tired after wandering around for so long.
Sister Tang and she served customers together in the dining area, setting out bowls, chopsticks, teacups, serving dishes, clearing plates, and wiping tables. She didn't feel like she had barely caught her breath.
Seeing Zhou Meizi so relaxed, she also relaxed, twisting her neck and lifting her legs to avoid her muscles becoming too stiff.
Sister Zhou smiled and said, "Finally, I can rest for a while."
Sister Tang nodded: "Yes, it felt like we only served five more tables of customers than usual, but I don't know why I was so nervous, afraid that something would go wrong."
Sister Zhou: "Maybe it's a special day, because there are a lot of customers from out of town who have come because of our reputation. I'm actually a little nervous, afraid that I might not be able to provide the best service and leave a bad impression on these customers, which would then affect our restaurant's online reviews."
Sister Tang comforted her, "Don't think too much about it. You provided excellent service. I even overheard several customers praising our restaurant's attentive and attentive service."
Sister Zhou: "I feel relieved to hear you say that, Sister Tang. Don't be nervous, we're all here in the restaurant serving customers as a team. If the customers praise us, it means they're praising our service. Sister Tang, you're very professional too, so don't worry!"
Sister Tang pretended to breathe a sigh of relief: "That's good. Let's have a good rest at noon and try to do even better tonight."
Sister Zhou smiled and agreed.
Just as the two were about to go into the kitchen to see if they needed any help, they saw the owner and Wang Meiyu each bring out some braised meat dishes.
Since there were only four people eating, and their appetites weren't large, the kitchen had ready-made braised meat and braised vegetables, so they simply chopped some up and served it as a platter.
A combination of braised pig's feet and braised beef shank, a combination of braised chicken and braised duck, and a separate plate of braised vegetables, along with a bowl of seaweed and egg drop soup, all laid out on the table, makes for a very satisfying lunch.
Upon seeing this, Sister Zhou and Sister Tang asked what was wrong and then hurriedly went to get bowls to fill with rice. Before long, the four of them sat around the table and prepared to eat.
Gu Qingqiu smiled and said, "Sister Zhou and Sister Tang, you two have worked hard today!"
Sister Zhou shook her head: "It's not hard work, it's you bosses who have worked hard. Sister Tang and I handled the customers smoothly, and there were no problems."
Sister Tang nodded: "Yes, I was a little nervous, but luckily I didn't make any mistakes."
Gu Qingqiu praised, "I occasionally peek out from the glass window and see that you two are very warm and generous in serving customers. The whole process is smooth and professional. You performed very well, and the customers' feedback is very satisfactory. Don't be nervous. Just serve customers as usual, no matter what day it is."
She and Wang Meiyu only worked a little harder in the kitchen in the morning when preparing ingredients for braising and stewing. After the restaurant opened, chopping and plating vegetables according to the orders handed to them became much easier. This was much easier than standing in front of the stove and constantly swinging a spatula.
Wang Meiyu seemed more relaxed today: "Yes, Sister Zhou and Sister Tang, you two have done a great job serving customers. I'm not good at these things. I always get tongue-tied when communicating with customers. Working in the kitchen is more suitable for me."
Sister Zhou: "Thank you for your kind words, boss. Meiyu, please don't say that. You and the boss work very hard in the kitchen. Preparing ingredients tests your culinary skills, and cooking takes a lot of physical and mental energy. Without the delicious dishes you stir-fry, where would we get customers to come and serve us?"
Sister Tang smiled and agreed.
Wang Meiyu smiled as she listened.
Gu Qingqiu praised each of the three people and urged them to eat quickly.
The four of them started tasting the braised meat. Gu Qingqiu and Sister Zhou had eaten these on May Day last time, and this time they felt that the taste was even better.
Gu Qingqiu thought to herself, it seems that her cooking skills have improved over this period of time. The braising liquid she prepared tasted just right, and she controlled the heat of the braising well. In addition, the ingredients themselves were fresh and of high quality, so the taste was naturally delicious!
Tang Jie and Wang Meiyu were eating braised pig's feet for the first time. They could tell how delicious it was from the aroma when they served the dishes to customers and when it was being braised in the kitchen. But now that they were actually eating it, they realized that the deliciousness was indescribable.
The braised pork trotters are tender and juicy, lean yet not dry, and fatty yet not greasy. When you bite into them together, they are oily and fragrant. The pork skin is soft and chewy with a rich gelatinous texture, sticking to your lips. Even after you have swallowed the pork trotters, your tongue can't help but sweep around your mouth, not letting go of any remaining salty and savory flavor.
The two of them ate three pieces of pork trotters before they could barely stop eating.
Sister Tang: "Boss, now I finally understand why this braised pig's trotter is our restaurant's signature dish. It's so fragrant! The salty and savory flavor of the braising liquid is incredibly strong, and the pig's trotter is braised until it's tender and flavorful. Eating it feels like being in heaven!"
Wang Meiyu nodded: "Indeed, the meat dishes you usually cook are also very delicious, comparable to the level of a five-star restaurant. But this braising liquid is very unique, the meat and vegetables braised in it are especially fragrant, no wonder it is a signature dish."
Gu Qingqiu smiled upon hearing this: "If you like it, eat more. There will be more tonight. I plan to make this batch of braised meat for sale. The remaining braising liquid can be used to braise meat a few more times. We'll buy more meat later and braise it for our own consumption."
Sister Zhou was pleasantly surprised: "Really? That's wonderful! I've been craving that braised pork from the restaurant for ages, I never get tired of it."
Sister Tang: "I'm really looking forward to it! Being able to eat a few more meals of braised meat than those customers would be a happy thing, hahaha! These employee benefits are really good!"
Although Wang Meiyu did not participate in the preparation of the brine, she knew that there were quite a few steps involved: "Indeed, it would be a waste to use this brine only for two or three days. It would be more cost-effective for us to use it more often on our own."
After saying that, she suddenly smiled and said, "We are lucky to be able to eat such delicious braised meat a few more times."
Gu Qingqiu smiled and agreed: "So let's have a good lunch first, replenish our energy, finish our work quickly, and go back to rest. We can continue our hard work this afternoon."
The three of them smiled and agreed, then buried their heads in their food.
After eating several pieces of braised pig's feet, Gu Qingqiu ate two pieces of braised beef shank. The beef shank was very fresh, and the best part was the tendon that was slightly chewy and easily separated when bitten.
The braised chicken was tender and firm, the braised duck was soft and juicy, and even the seaweed and egg drop soup was sweet and hot, making it all very delicious.
Towards the end of the meal, Gu Qingqiu casually asked, "Hey, Sister Zhou, why didn't you bring Fangfang over this morning?"
Sister Zhou explained with a smile, "I was worried that business might be busy this morning and at noon, and that bringing Fangfang over would only cause trouble, so I had her stay home and do her homework first. I figured if things were going well at noon and not too busy, I'd bring her over when I came to work in the afternoon."
Gu Qingqiu nodded: "Okay, then bring Fangfang over this afternoon when you're at work. Just make sure she doesn't get bored when we're open and no one's playing with her."
Sister Zhou: "It's okay. She's been wanting to come and see you, Boss Sister. She's so happy. Besides, kids these days, just give them a phone and they'll sit there and play all day. If you try to talk to them, they won't even talk to you."
After she finished speaking, she couldn't help but laugh and shake her head.
Wang Meiyu couldn't help but laugh when she heard this. Her child was just like that; once he got the phone, he acted like he had won a treasure, and from then on, nothing in the world could attract his attention.
She usually strictly controls her child's screen time, and she'll do anything to get him to play on the phone for half an hour.
Tang Jie's child has been working for several years. When she was younger, her mobile phone had fewer functions than the old-fashioned phones we have now. Naturally, she never experienced the days of wits and struggles with her child over mobile phones.
However, she has witnessed similar incidents between relatives and neighbors several times in recent years, and has some feelings about it.
Gu Qingqiu laughed and said, "Kids naturally find playing with phones novel since they don't have them. We adults also love playing with phones, but we only put them down when we're tired of them. Anyway, it's National Day today. After studying for so long, this is the first day of the holiday, so let her have some fun."
Sister Zhou smiled and nodded: "That's what I think too."
Following this topic, Sister Zhou chatted with Wang Meiyu and Sister Tang about their children, and the three of them suddenly had endless things to talk about.
Gu Qingqiu sat to the side, listening with a smile. She didn't have much to say on this topic, so she just listened.
As she listened, she picked up her phone to check the messages. After briefly replying to her aunt on WeChat, she went to Xiaohongshu to look at the notes posted that day.
The returning dishes, which had been announced in advance and selected through a vote, had been highly anticipated by countless fans from the very beginning. After the menu notes for the day were released at 10 a.m., they gained more than 600 likes and more than 200 comments in just a few minutes, showing that netizens were all waiting for it.
It was a little over three hours after it was published. Gu Qingqiu clicked into the note and, unsurprisingly, saw impressive numbers—46,000 likes, 23,000 favorites, and 6,800 comments.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, this will be one of the top five entries in terms of data since the official account of "Gu's Private Kitchen" was launched.
The top-ranked video is still the previous milk chicken strip tutorial vlog, which continues to receive many likes and saves every day. Some netizens have also commented that they are looking forward to when another tutorial vlog on a different dish will be released.
The note I posted today will continue to spread and grow over time. Many customers who have dinner this evening will also leave long reviews and comments under this note, which will bring a new wave of activity and lead to continuous sharing and recommendations, attracting new netizens to come in. All of these may translate into impressive clicks and reviews.
Gu Qingqiu scrolled down to read the comments section. As expected, the first few comments were all long reviews, accompanied by tempting pictures of food, attracting thousands of likes and more than 99 comments.
[Inspirational Traveler Across China: Ahhhhh, I can't help but scream! It's finally my turn to share my thoughts on Gu's Private Kitchen! I'm the luckiest person today! Who understands that feeling of salvation when you're queuing up at a restaurant, getting the last number on your slip of paper, and hearing the staff announce to the people behind you that there are no more numbers left? It's truly a matter of one step to heaven and one step to hell. Luckily, I was fortunate enough to get there a step faster this time (laughs)]
I've been following Gu's Private Kitchen for a long time and really wanted to try it, but I never had the time. I could only drool over the photos in the comments section every day. This time, I had a relatively long holiday during the National Day holiday, so I decided to go to Jiang City, mainly to eat at Gu's Private Kitchen.
It's quite a coincidence, really. I was one of the early fans of Gu's Private Kitchen. The first time I saw it was during the May Day holiday with their braised pig's feet, braised beef, and braised platter. This time, when I saw that the returning dishes, like braised pig's feet and braised beef shank, were selected through voting, I was incredibly excited. Yesterday, after work, I even took a late-night flight to Jiang City to get there early and queue up at Gu's Private Kitchen. Luckily, my efforts paid off, and I was able to eat there!
The braised pig's trotters truly lived up to their reputation as a signature dish. Although it was a pity I couldn't order the 88 RMB "Four Golden Pieces" version, I was still very satisfied with the whole plate of braised pig's trotters when it arrived. The pig's trotters had a perfect balance of lean and fat, braised until tender enough, and the lean meat wasn't dry or greasy when eaten together. It had a rich, savory flavor that was very appetizing. The braised beef shank was also delicious; the beef was tender yet slightly chewy, and when you bit into the tendons, it melted instantly, becoming gelatinous and having a crisp, tender, and bouncy texture. I didn't order the braised chicken and duck combo or the braised vegetables; I plan to save them for later, since I can't eat that much by myself in one meal.
Seaweed and egg drop soup is also incredibly delicious, with a fresh and sweet flavor. The seaweed is tender, the egg drop soup is fragrant, and the minced meat mixed in has a nice texture. The dried shrimp adds a lot of sweetness. After eating braised meat that leaves your mouth full of savory flavor, taking a few sips of seaweed and egg drop soup is simply wonderful!
I was extremely satisfied with this braised meat feast at Gu's Private Kitchen; it didn't disappoint after all this time. Even a simple seaweed and egg drop soup was cooked to perfection. It's truly trustworthy and worth trying! I'll share more about the rest after dinner tonight, if I'm lucky enough to have some.
[Braised pig's feet.jpg, Braised beef shank.jpg, Seaweed and egg drop soup.jpg, Half-eaten Quan Cai Fu.jpg]
[Thank God: As a lucky person who got to eat Gu's Private Kitchen braised pork for the second time, I couldn't help but climb up here to share! Hehe, I'm a regular customer of Gu's Private Kitchen. I ate there once a few days after the restaurant opened and have been craving it ever since, often coming back for a treat. Being a local from Jiang City, I have a unique advantage in this regard (I've never been so proud).]
I can say with certainty that the braised meat at Gu's Private Kitchen this time is even better than the one we had during the May Day holiday. Those who get to eat at Gu's Private Kitchen today are truly blessed!
The braised pig's trotters are consistently tender and juicy, savory and flavorful, rich yet not greasy. The perfect combination of lean and fatty meat is the most delicious part. While we often use collagen-rich ampoules for skincare, my suggestion is to try the skin hanging from the pig's trotters. It's soft, chewy, and full of gelatinous texture, leaving a sticky residue on your lips.
The braised beef shank is savory, tender, and flavorful, with a characteristic chewiness of beef. The tendon is the best part; it melts in your mouth with a slightly gelatinous, sticky texture, and the surrounding shank is also tender and bouncy. The braised chicken is firm and tender, with a subtle, sweet juice that oozes out as you chew. The braised duck is equally tender, but even more so, it's crispy, fragrant, and melts in your mouth. This combination is well-braised and flavorful, savory and perfect with rice.
The seaweed and egg drop soup was surprisingly delicious, made with fresh and abundant ingredients: seaweed, egg drop, minced meat, and dried shrimp. It rivals some of the better soups I usually have. Indeed, with skillful cooking, even the most ordinary soup can be transformed into an irresistible aroma.
[Braised pig's feet.jpg, Braised beef shank.jpg, Braised chicken and duck combo.jpg, Seaweed and egg drop soup.jpg]
[It's hard to meet again: Here I am, another day of successfully enjoying Gu's private kitchen. With such a wonderful start to this National Day holiday, I think the days to come will be very happy! So many people are sharing braised meat, so I'll share some braised vegetables instead. Of course, all the braised meats are especially delicious. My family and I ate until we were stuffed before we could stop.]
Braised vegetables are basically a pot of various vegetables braised together, including lotus root, potatoes, dried tofu, kelp, and tofu skin... To be honest, we were initially focused on the braised meat, and this dish only arrived because we habitually ordered everything on the menu. In fact, after eating so much braised meat, this braised vegetable dish was incredibly refreshing and delicious. The lotus root was crisp yet slightly powdery and stretchy; the potatoes were smooth and creamy; the dried tofu had a crisp outer layer and a tender, bean-flavored interior; the kelp was crisp and refreshing with a salty, savory taste of the sea; and the tofu skin was also quite good. The first flavor of these vegetables is the savory aroma of the braising liquid, followed by the original flavor of the ingredients themselves—a truly wonderful combination! Even if you don't eat braised meat, this braised vegetable dish is definitely worth trying; you won't regret it!
Hehe, to prove that I not only ate braised vegetables, but also various braised meats and soups from Gu's Private Kitchen, I'll post all the photos.
[Images of braised vegetables, braised pig's feet, braised beef shank, braised chicken and duck combo, and seaweed and egg drop soup]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
