Chapter 99 Steamed Pork with Rice Flour, Abalone and Fish Maw Chicken. ...
This pork lung soup with apricot kernels looks delicious. Qian Lezhan picked up a soup ladle and first ladled a bowl of soup for his girlfriend, then ladled a bowl for himself as well.
The two of them started drinking the soup one after the other.
Liao Xiaolu scooped up a spoonful of the rich, milky-white soup, blew on it, and then drank it.
The soup was as rich and flavorful as I had imagined, with the aroma of pork lung and almonds. After the initial savory flavor, there was a hint of sweetness, probably from the delicate sweetness of figs and dates.
The soup lingered in my mouth for only a moment, and after savoring its rich and savory flavor, I swallowed it. I could still taste the fresh and sweet flavor in my mouth. Looking back now, I can only feel that the soup was cooked to perfection, a truly excellent soup.
Liao Xiaolu then scooped up a spoonful of soup and drank it. After savoring its fresh, sweet flavor, she swallowed it and couldn't help but let out a satisfied sigh.
Qian Lejia was very satisfied with the soup. When the soup was first served, he knew it would taste good just by looking at its milky white and rich color. And after tasting it, he was right!
The mouth is filled with fresh and fragrant flavors. The aroma of pork lung and apricot kernels from both the north and south intertwine to create a unique taste, while the sweetness of figs and jujubes is also incorporated into the flavor.
Perhaps he had just seen dried tangerine peel in the soup and vaguely tasted it.
As for the ginger slices, they were added to the pot to remove the fishy smell. This soup really doesn't have any fishy smell at all; it's full of the rich aroma of pork lung and almonds.
After taking a few sips of the soup, he couldn't help but exclaim, "This soup is of such high quality! It has completely extracted the essence of the almonds and pork lung, and the addition of ingredients like figs, jujubes, and dried tangerine peel is just right."
Liao Xiaolu nodded vigorously: "It really tastes good, the flavor is so rich. Isn't it said that this apricot and pork lung soup can moisturize the lungs and relieve coughs? I already feel that my lungs are very moisturized as I drink it, from my mouth to my lungs to my stomach."
Qian Lezhan was amused by his girlfriend's description and chuckled. Seeing her wide, round almond-shaped eyes, he immediately nodded in agreement, "You're absolutely right. I felt the same way after drinking the soup. This restaurant is quite upscale; no wonder your idol came here specifically to eat dumplings. He has excellent taste!"
"Of course! My Shuyi has such good taste! This restaurant only has a main dining area and no private rooms, yet Shuyi is still willing to come and eat here. That means the food here is really appealing to her, and the only thing she ate that day was the most ordinary dumplings!"
Liao Xiaolu confidently speculated, "I feel that Shuyi must have eaten there many times in private, probably by having someone buy it for her and deliver it to the hotel."
Since seeing the trending topic yesterday, she's learned quite a bit about Gu's Private Kitchen. She knows that the restaurant doesn't offer online delivery; you can only order through a delivery service. Not long ago, the restaurant even had a delivery subsidy program.
She was still annoyed that she, a local of Jiang City, didn't know about Gu's Private Kitchen, which had recently become so popular online, while Shuyi, who was filming in Jiang City, had tried the delicious food first.
Liao Xiaolu really wanted to eat Gu's Private Kitchen dumplings last night, since they were the same dumplings that Shuyi had eaten. Gu's Private Kitchen updates its menu daily, so you might not get a chance to try them again!
Who knew that yesterday afternoon, just before the end of the workday, the advertising proposal she submitted was returned, and she was required to revise it and resubmit it before 9 p.m. This made Liao Xiaolu extremely busy revising the draft. She even forgot that she could order Gu's Private Kitchen dumplings by errand runner. In the end, she ate takeout ordered by her boyfriend.
That's why she was so determined to come and eat at Gu's Private Kitchen today, and she came early for this reason, afraid that there wouldn't be any seats if she came late.
Qian Lezhan was already numb to Liao Xiaolu calling him "Shuyi Baby" repeatedly, and nodded in agreement: "That's quite possible. If I hadn't actually eaten here before and knew the quality of this restaurant, I wouldn't have come all this way just to eat dumplings."
Liao Xiaolu smiled and said, "Last night I saw the food photos posted by netizens on Xiaohongshu and Weibo, and I knew this restaurant was really good. The newly released menu we saw in the car today looked great. Sure enough, if we missed yesterday's dumplings, there would be even better dishes waiting for us!"
Gu's Private Kitchen's menu released today:
Steamed pork with vermicelli powder 58 yuan;
Abalone, fish maw, and chicken soup: 58 yuan;
Oyster omelet, 58 yuan;
Stir-fried cabbage with vinegar costs 28 yuan;
North and South Apricot Pig Lung Soup: 58 yuan.
Qian Lezhan nodded in agreement: "The dumplings may have been delicious yesterday, but today's dishes should be even better! I've been looking forward to this meal ever since I saw today's menu in the car."
He wasn't particularly interested in eating at this restaurant. He thought his girlfriend just wanted to eat there because her favorite celebrity was there, take a picture, and post it on Weibo. This kind of thing often happened when they traveled together. At most of the places they visited, she would say, "This is where my Shuyi has been. Come and take a picture for me. I want the same thing too!"
Qian Lezhan was happy to play along with her. After all, it didn't matter where they went on a date on the weekend, as long as Liao Xiaolu was happy.
On the way here, Qian Lezhan listened to her rambling on about Gu's Private Kitchen, which piqued his interest in the restaurant. After seeing today's menu, he was quite looking forward to it.
Steamed pork with rice flour is quite common, but it's difficult to make it delicious. Abalone and fish maw chicken—just from the name, you know it's a good dish. Oyster omelet is also unique. Gu's Private Kitchen dares to include it on the menu, which means they are confident they can do it well.
The stir-fried cabbage with vinegar was neither good nor bad, but the pork lung soup with apricot kernels sounded like a nourishing and delicious soup, and it was indeed very good to drink, not disappointing him.
Liao Xiaolu snorted twice: "When have I ever tricked you when I invited you to dinner? I only invited you because I thought the food was delicious. I have a feeling this will be the most satisfying meal we've had recently."
She had just overheard several tables nearby talking about how delicious the North and South Apricot Pig Lung Soup was. Some regular customers were so excited about the dishes from Gu's Private Kitchen, describing them so vividly that it was as if the aroma was already wafting into their noses, making them drool. This made her even more eager for the meat dishes she was going to try.
"Okay, okay, it was my fault. I shouldn't have doubted you. I knew you were the best at taking me out to eat, drink, and have fun!" Qian Lezhan immediately replied, wanting to make his girlfriend happy first, and of course, this was the truth.
After exchanging a few words, the two lowered their heads and continued drinking their soup.
The soup wasn't so hot anymore, so Liao Xiaolu simply picked up the bowl and drank it in big gulps. The soup was rich and smooth, and the mouth was full of freshness and fragrance. After swallowing, there was a hint of sweetness in addition to the freshness and fragrance.
Qian Lezhan, like a pump, gulped down the remaining half-bowl of apricot and pork lung soup.
He loved the rich aroma of pork lung and apricot kernels, and also enjoyed the sweetness of figs and dates. After finishing most of the soup, he felt comfortable and warm all over.
This warmth isn't the heat of summer, but a comfort that emanates from within.
He ate the pig liver in his bowl. It wasn't fishy at all, and the flavor of the pig liver was very strong. It also absorbed the fragrance of almonds and the sweetness of figs and dates, which made it very delicious.
After finishing the pork liver, I ate some figs, which were smooth and delicate, and the red dates were cooked until soft and sweet.
Qian Lezhan looked up with satisfaction after finishing his meal. Seeing that his girlfriend had finished her soup and was about to drink another half bowl, he couldn't help but call out to her, "This pork liver is really delicious! It's not fishy at all, and it's soaked up all the flavor of the soup. Don't you really want to try it?"
Xiaolu doesn't like eating liver or similar foods, so he didn't add any pork lungs when he made the soup. Now that he's tasted it and found it delicious, he couldn't help but suggest that the other person try it.
Liao Xiaolu was tempted, but after thinking about it, she finally shook her head: "Forget it, it's better not to eat. I'll just have the soup."
She was afraid that if she ate the pig liver and couldn't stand the taste, she would throw up, which would be a complete waste of this delicious meal.
"Alright, would you like to try the figs and dates? They're quite delicious." Qian Lezhan didn't insist and went on to recommend two other soup ingredients.
Liao Xiaolu nodded this time: "Okay, I'll give it a try."
She picked up the soup spoon again and scooped some figs and dates into the bowl, instantly submerging them in the rich, milky-white soup.
Then she first drank the soup, savoring its fresh, sweet flavor, before picking up her chopsticks to eat the figs.
Figs have a smooth and delicate texture with a unique fragrance; you can swallow them whole after just a few bites. Jujubes, on the other hand, are cooked until soft and mushy, crumbling at the slightest bite, their sweetness spreading throughout your mouth – also quite delicious.
After she finished eating the figs and dates in her bowl, the waiter brought over a plate of steamed pork with rice flour.
The white porcelain plate is covered with slices of pork belly. The slices, with their alternating layers of fat and lean meat, look glossy and oily. Each slice is covered with fried rice grains that are also dyed in soy sauce. A few chopped green onions sprinkled on top add a lot of color to the dish.
In addition, there was a ring of white steamed buns around the outside of the white porcelain plate, each with a slit cut in the middle, presumably for stuffing with steamed pork.
Qian Lezhan swallowed hard and said, "I have a feeling this steamed pork with rice flour will be delicious!"
"You'll know once you try it!" Liao Xiaolu said, taking the lead by picking up a piece of steamed pork with her chopsticks and putting it in her mouth to bite into.
The steamed pork with rice flour was surprisingly soft and tender, yet not mushy or greasy, with a savory and fragrant flavor. The addition of ground rice flour added a satisfying chewiness. The aroma of the rice and the meat, which had already permeated each other during steaming, intertwined with each bite, filling the mouth with a delightful fragrance.
The meat slices are steamed until they almost melt in your mouth. After a few chews, they turn into a meaty aroma with oil, mixed with the fragrance of rice, making them particularly addictive. You can't help but savor the aftertaste even after swallowing them.
Liao Xiaolu immediately picked up another slice of steamed pork and continued eating.
Qian Lezhan ate a piece of steamed pork and felt that the pork slices were very flavorful, with a rich salty and savory aroma and a hint of sweetness. They were very soft and tender, and not greasy at all.
The aroma of meat and rice blended together, creating an even richer and more delicious flavor that stimulated his taste buds. His whole being, from his heart to his stomach, was screaming that he wanted to eat more, to eat more!
He couldn't care less about anything else at this moment, and immediately reached out his chopsticks to pick up a piece of steamed pork belly and continued to eat. He savored the soft, savory flavor of the pork belly as he chewed, and carefully tasted the aroma of the meat and the fragrance of the rice.
After eating three pieces of steamed pork with rice flour, Liao Xiaolu felt that the dish was quite magically made, and the Gu family's private kitchen was indeed quite good.
Logically speaking, this kind of meat dish is easy to get tired of, but when she ate the steamed pork with rice flour, she only felt the rich, pure aroma of the meat, which was soft, glutinous, salty and delicious. Even the ground rice flour spread on the meat slices was fragrant.
She truly understood what it meant to be rich but not greasy; she would want to eat it again and again.
This time, she directly picked up a white steamed bun, used her right hand to pick up some steamed pork with chopsticks and stuffed it into the already cut slit. Then she picked up three more slices and put them in, filling the slit of the white steamed bun completely.
Liao Xiaolu held the steamed bun in her left hand, put down her chopsticks with her right hand, and then came over to pinch the steamed bun, holding it with both hands so that the steamed pork stuffed inside would all fall out when she took a bite.
She held the steamed bun to her mouth and took a big bite. After the firm texture of the bun, she tasted the savory and flavorful pork belly. Mixed with the bread, the pork belly seemed to become even softer, and with just a slight bite, she could taste the melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness.
This time, in addition to the aroma of meat and rice, there's also the fragrance of flour. Steamed pork with rice flour mixed with steamed buns is just like eating steamed pork with rice flour, doubling the deliciousness and bringing a sense of happiness.
The sauce and oil that seeped out during the steaming process from the pork also seeped into the inside of the steamed bun, making the originally dry bun moist and savory.
Even without the steamed pork to go with it, the steamed buns themselves are so delicious that you can't help but chew and swallow them.
After finishing a palm-sized steamed bun with four slices of steamed pork inside, Liao Xiaolu felt more than half full.
She couldn't help but exclaim, "You have to try this steamed bun with steamed pork! It's amazing! It's even better than the steamed bun with preserved mustard greens and braised pork we had at Meilinju before!"
Meilinju is a Hunan cuisine restaurant. They ordered a dish called "Meicai Kou Rou" (braised pork with preserved mustard greens). The dish consisted of a plate of braised pork with preserved mustard greens surrounded by a ring of steamed buns, which were used to serve the pork with preserved mustard greens.
Back then, I only thought this dish was incredibly delicious. But now, after tasting steamed buns with steamed pork, I realize that there is no end to delicious food, and there will always be more delicious dishes waiting for them in the future.
"Is it really that delicious? Then I have to try it." Qian Lezhan became interested after hearing this.
He had a strong memory of the steamed buns with preserved mustard greens and braised pork that he had eaten last time, and he had been thinking about finding time to eat them again.
He had just eaten three slices of steamed pork with rice flour, and he really liked the dish. He secretly thought that compared to braised pork belly and braised pork with preserved mustard greens, this steamed pork with rice flour was the best. Hearing his girlfriend say this made him even more excited.
He reached out his left hand, took a steamed bun, and placed it in his palm. He slightly arched his hand and used his fingers to open the bun along the seam in the middle. With his right hand, he used chopsticks to pick up four slices of steamed pork and stuffed them in, filling the bun completely.
Qian Lezhan then put down his chopsticks, held the bulging white steamed bun in both hands, and took a big bite.
The steamed bun has a firm texture. After taking a bite, you can feel the rich aroma of the dough, followed by the soft, savory flavor of the steamed pork. As you chew, the oil that seeps out soaks into the inside of the white steamed bun, and the sauce on the steamed pork itself adds a lot of savory flavor. Eating the steamed bun and the steamed pork together is especially delicious.
The high-quality combination of carbohydrates and meat made Qian Lezhan feel extremely satisfied while eating.
Steamed pork with rice flour melts in your mouth when eaten alone, and when sandwiched in a white steamed bun, it becomes a perfect whole. Every bite offers the aroma of flour, the savory fragrance of pork, and the aroma of rice flour. The three flavors intertwine, making you want to savor the taste even after you've finished eating.
He has a big appetite and doesn't hold back when he eats.
After finishing one steamed bun, he immediately took a new steamed bun and placed it in the palm of his left hand. With his right hand, he picked up his chopsticks again, picked up some steamed pork with rice flour, and stuffed it into the gap of the steamed bun.
Watching the white steamed buns gradually bulge under his assembly, with the steamed pork peeking out from the gaps looking savory and flavorful, glossy and oily, Qian Lezhan was particularly satisfied. He held the buns in both hands and brought them close to his mouth to eat them in big bites.
Liao Xiaolu didn't have the same appetite as her boyfriend. She knew that if she had another steamed bun with steamed pork, she wouldn't need to eat any of the other meat and vegetables that hadn't been served yet.
She was really looking forward to the meat dishes later on, like abalone and fish maw chicken and oyster omelet – just hearing the names of these dishes made her think they would taste delicious.
She simply picked up her chopsticks, took a slice of steamed pork with rice flour, and ate it on its own, stopping occasionally to drink it with iced lemon water while waiting for the next dish.
Fortunately, she didn't have to wait long, and the staff quickly came over and served abalone, fish maw, and chicken.
A brown clay pot bowl holds abalone, fish maw, and chicken soup with a rich, golden broth. The abalone, with its slightly curled edges marked by decorative cuts, is mixed with golden-brown chicken pieces, and small pieces of fish maw can be seen scattered around. The equally golden broth looks very tempting, and it probably doesn't even cover half of the abalone and chicken, glistening with oil.
Liao Xiaolu had been waiting for this dish for a long time, so she immediately picked up her chopsticks and ate an abalone first.
The abalone was quite large, scored with decorative cuts that curled outwards, its edges slightly curled, and its color blended well with the golden broth. Biting into it, the abalone meat was firm, slightly chewy, and had a strong seafood flavor. Perhaps due to the broth, it had a slightly sticky texture.
Liao Xiaolu knew that this was the texture that came from the gelatinous substance released after the fish maw was cooked. While enjoying the delicious abalone, she was also looking forward to the fish maw later.
This also shows that the restaurant uses high-quality fish maw to make this abalone and fish maw chicken dish. The abalone already has a sticky texture when dipped in the soup, and the taste will only become richer when you actually drink the soup.
Liao Xiaolu shifted her attention to the abalone in her mouth, carefully savoring its seafood flavor.
Perhaps because they were cooked together, the abalone absorbed some of the savory flavor of the chicken, making each bite firm and chewy, leaving a lingering aftertaste.
Liao Xiaolu had originally planned to try some chicken with fish maw after eating the abalone, but after finishing one abalone, she couldn't resist picking up another and continuing to eat.
She savored the tender, chewy texture in her mouth, the salty and sticky flavor, the seafood and salty aromas mixed with the chicken aroma, it was delicious.
After finishing the abalone in her mouth, Liao Xiaolu picked up a piece of chicken to eat.
The chicken was cut into even pieces and tasted even more tender and juicy than I expected. The outer skin was also a bit crispy, and the chicken was savory and flavorful while still retaining its original taste.
The same piece of chicken, soaked in the soup, also became a bit sticky and absorbed the seafood flavor of the abalone, creating a unique taste.
The chicken was cooked until very tender; you could easily tear off a large piece of meat along the muscle fibers with a gentle bite. It had a rich chicken flavor and tasted very fresh.
While Liao Xiaolu was gnawing on chicken, Qian Lezhan finally finished his steamed bun and immediately picked up his chopsticks to try the new meat dish.
He also picked up the most conspicuous abalone to eat first.
The abalone was larger than the ones we usually eat, and it was firm and chewy with a strong seafood flavor. It also absorbed the chicken flavor. Because of its slightly chewy texture, it took a little effort to eat.
But precisely because of this, he had more time to savor the aroma of abalone.
After finishing an abalone, Qian Lezhan changed the direction of his chopsticks and picked up a piece of chicken to eat.
This chicken was cooked to his liking; with one bite, you could tear off a large piece of meat along the grain. The meat was tender and juicy, bursting with a sweet, refreshing juice, while also infused with the seafood flavor of abalone, adding a touch of sweetness.
Qian Lezhan noticed that both the abalone from before and the chicken now tasted a bit sticky. After sharing this texture with Liao Xiaolu, he asked in confusion, "So this tastes like fish maw?"
After all, he ate both the abalone and the chicken in this abalone and fish maw chicken dish, leaving only the fish maw uneaten.
Upon hearing this, Liao Xiaolu knew that he didn't usually eat fish maw or other nourishing soup ingredients.
She explained, "It's the taste of fish maw. When fish maw and other tonics are cooked, they release collagen and other nutrients, which blend into the broth and make it feel a bit sticky. Or you could say it has a lingering, lip-like feel. Abalone and chicken are also cooked in the broth, so they definitely have a sticky texture too."
"I see." Qian Lezhan nodded, looking like he had learned something new, and then praised, "I must say, this tastes really good! It's sticky and gooey, which makes the abalone and chicken taste even better than usual."
Liao Xiaolu nodded: "Of course. The fact that it can be cooked to such a thick and sticky consistency means that the fish maw used by the restaurant is of pretty good quality. This dish is worth far more than its price."
These days, it's such a good deal to eat a dish with abalone, fish maw, and chicken outside for 58 yuan.
Qian Lezhan agreed: "Indeed, with such high-quality ingredients, it's great value for money! No wonder so many people love to eat here."
Liao Xiaolu had already picked up her chopsticks, picked up a small piece of fish maw, and put it in her mouth.
The fish maw pieces are as white as jade, and they are soft, chewy, and bouncy like jelly. Every bite is full of sticky, gelatinous texture, and of course, they are infused with the seafood flavor of abalone and the fresh aroma of chicken.
Liao Xiaolu's family also makes fish maw and lean pork soup in winter. Back then, it tasted quite bland, but now it has a rich, savory flavor and you can really taste the deliciousness of the fish maw.
After chewing and swallowing a small piece of fish maw, the mouth and teeth were filled with that sticky feeling, and even the lips were sticky and a bit gelatinous, which was the feeling of hanging on the lips that she mentioned earlier.
Liao Xiaolu was still savoring the taste after finishing her meal when she picked up a piece of fish maw with her chopsticks and continued eating.
Qian Lezhan was also eating fish maw and thought it tasted surprisingly good. It was soft like eating jelly, and a little chewy. The stickiness was the most intense part. When chewing, you could also taste a bit of abalone seafood flavor and chicken aroma.
This abalone and Sichuan peppercorn chicken dish is absolutely amazing! Both the abalone and chicken are fresh, large, and of high quality, and the fish maw is also of such good quality. We really made the right choice in bringing them here today!
The two ate meticulously, taking turns enjoying abalone, chicken, and fish maw.
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