Lychee fish isn't a dish often served in restaurants, but Ye Tian knows how to make it. This sweet and sour dish is easily prepared by experienced chefs, and Chef Jin seems more interested in competing with Ye Tian in presentation.
Master Jin is good at all kinds of carving. If Ye Tian wants to beat him, she has to work hard in this area.
They all chose yellow croaker. They took large, skin-on fish, removed the bones, and cut it crosswise. Then, they cut it into small triangular pieces. After marinating the fish with scallions, ginger, and cooking wine, they coated it in dry starch and fried it. They usually fried it twice to ensure the fish was firm and intact.
The next step is to stir-fry the sauce and serve.
Chef Jin chose a long white disk, placed the lychee-like fish balls on one side, and decorated the other side with two hibiscus flowers carved out of white radish. The presentation was very elegant.
Ye Tian also completed the work almost at the same time.
She used a traditional white porcelain round plate, outlined branches with chocolate paste, carved lychee leaves from green radishes, and placed fish balls scattered beneath the branches. Two adorable chicks carved from pineapples were placed beneath the lychees, their vibrant, lively presence seeming like a natural creation.
Ye Tian introduced her own product: My dish is called "Good Luck and Great Fortune", which takes the "good luck" from the chicken and the "profit" from the lychee. After arranging them, the whole thing forms the effect of a Chinese painting.
She already had a foundation in traditional Chinese painting, so even the simple lines of the chocolate were perfectly executed, flowing and powerful. The chicks were even more vivid and adorable. One seemed to be pecking at rice on the ground, while the other looked up at the lychees overhead, its delicate yellow feathers clearly visible.
"This...how can I eat this? I'm reluctant to pick up my chopsticks!" Xiaojuan also came over to look at Ye Tian's work.
"It's okay, we can eat this simple version first." Ye Tian actually made a big bowl of lychee fish balls, picked out the 8 roundest ones and placed them on the plate, and the rest were still in the big bowl, so she could eat them at will.
The employees picked up their chopsticks and first took the big bowl of fish balls prepared by Ye Tian.
"The fish meat on the outside is crispy and tender, and the fish skin on the inside is chewy. It has a sweet and sour taste, and is both appetizing and delicious." A chef who was not very familiar with Ye Tian commented.
"It's very appetizing and delicious, I like it!" Xiaojuan doesn't know how to give compliments in a fancy way, she just speaks very honestly.
There were less than 10 fish balls on Master Jin’s plate, which was not enough for one per person, so everyone was polite to each other for a long time before someone took the initiative to try it, and after eating it, they fully affirmed the taste.
When Chef Jin saw the color and presentation of Ye Tian's lychee fish, he knew he'd lost. He hadn't expected Ye Tian to have such a high level of aesthetic taste, incorporating traditional Chinese painting into the dish's presentation. He had simply decorated it with flowers, thinking his realistic carvings were impressive. Now he realized what it meant to be a show-off.
Sous Chef Yu had been watching from the side. He had seen others carve phoenixes and flowers, but this was his first time seeing chicks carved. Ye Tian's fingers flew up and down, carving the chicks so vividly and adorably that you could almost feel their fur.
When Ye Tian was carving, there was no need to draw lines or make drafts. She could just start carving directly. Her speed was very fast. It took the same amount of time as Master Jin to carve a flower to carve a chick.
Of course, the final result of the game does not need to be announced, everyone has made their own judgment.
Master Jin felt a little disappointed and had no appetite for dinner. No one knew how to comfort him directly, so he could only go back and adjust his mentality.
Today, Ye Tian also took photos of her work. After get off work in the evening, she posted the photo of the finished product of "Good Luck", and received exaggerated comments from netizens.
"Is this a dish? This is a painting! Are you sure you can eat this?"
"That chick is made of pineapple? Don't lie to me!"
"I originally thought the blogger was just a small-time chef working in a cafeteria, occasionally making hot pot and home-cooked meals, but today's dish is incredible. This dish is simply state banquet standard!"
Someone asked below this post:
"Master, have you ever had a state banquet?"
He replied: "Isn't it true that I haven't eaten pork but I've seen pigs run? Although I haven't been to a state banquet, I have eaten at a Michelin three-star restaurant, and the plating was definitely not as beautiful as this blogger's."
"Look at this dish. Doesn't it resemble the round fan of an ancient lady? The only difference is that round fans don't usually have lychees and chickens painted on them."
"I really want to learn sculpture, but I don't know where to go?"
Ye Tian felt that everyone was exaggerating a bit, but when she saw that someone was interested in carving, she replied: "Carving is not as difficult as everyone imagines. When I have time, I will film some simple carving processes. If you are interested, please follow my account later."
“I want to learn!”
"I'm signing up!"
"Raise your hands!"
…
Seeing that everyone was in high spirits, Ye Tian really felt like someone's master.
******
School will start soon after the New Year. Ye Tian plans to officially end her working life at Xiyuan Restaurant two days before school starts and return to her beloved campus and her favorite No. 3 canteen.
The house she rented was something she was reluctant to give up. The landlord, Aunt Wang, was very kind. If Ye Tian came home late, she would wait for her and leave the door open for her. She would only go to bed after seeing that she had arrived home safely, but she would not disturb her at other times.
Ye Tian was grateful, but she had only had three days off since her holiday. She had wanted to send some of her own food to Aunt Wang, but she only sent beef balls at the beginning. When Chen Chi made braised chicken and pork belly, there wasn't enough for him, so he didn't send it to the landlord in advance.
On the seventh day of the first lunar month, Ye Tian finally had a day off. She decided to cook a meal for the landlady and her family, so she made an agreement with Aunt Wang the night before.
The next day, Ye Tian went to buy the ingredients needed for cooking.
The landlord divorced her ex-husband, and there was only her and her 10-year-old son Xiaoou at home. The three of them couldn't eat much, so Ye Tian decided to make four simple dishes.
Then make the restaurant's signature abalone braised pork and crab meat lion head, steam an extra fish, and stir-fry some vegetables. That's enough to eat, and the combination of meat and vegetables is also reasonable.
"The beef balls you sent me last time were so delicious. Xiao Ou loved them too. You're such a great cook at such a young age. It's amazing. Otherwise, you wouldn't be able to work in a restaurant as big as Xiyuan." The landlady was very excited. Seeing Ye Tian carrying so many vegetables, she quickly said, "I was going to go grocery shopping soon. Now that you've bought them, why don't you come to my house and cook? My kitchen is bigger."
"Okay, then let's use your kitchen! I don't have gas where I live, and I'm afraid the electric cooker won't be that effective." Ye Tian thought so too.
She carried the vegetables into the kitchen, and Aunt Wang helped her clean and prepare them.
"Sister, are you making beef balls today?" The landlord's son Xiao Ou also came to the kitchen.
"We're not making beef balls today. We're making bigger meatballs, also called lion's heads. Do you like meat? I can also make a very delicious braised pork." Ye Tian told him patiently.
"Sister, you are so awesome!" Xiao Ou's eyes lit up.
An hour and a half later, they started eating.
“My mother often makes braised pork, but it doesn’t look like the same dish as my sister’s.
My sister made it with a bright red color, the fat melts in your mouth, and it tastes amazing! "Xiao Ou's mouth was covered in the grease from the braised pork.
"These two dishes are made in our restaurant. You don't have to go to a restaurant if you want to eat something in the future. Just tell me. I can basically cook them all." Ye Tian was happy to see the mother and son enjoying their meal.
Aunt Wang asked curiously, "We've never been to Xiyuan Restaurant, but I think it's really expensive. This braised pork would cost at least 100 yuan there!"
Ye Tian smiled and said, "More than that, this abalone and braised pork is 388 yuan, and the crab meat lion head is 98 yuan."
"Then we ordinary people really can't afford it!" Aunt Wang was shocked when she heard it.
"Mom, we don't have to go to a big restaurant. I think Sister Ye's cooking is the best. It's better than the food in all the restaurants!" Little Ou is a smart kid with a very sweet mouth.
"Xiao Ye, this stir-fried kale looks shiny and oily, and tastes tender, crisp and tasty. How did you make it?" The landlady took the opportunity to ask Ye Tian for advice, and also hoped that she could cook better.
Ye Tian patiently explained, "I added a little pork belly when I was stir-frying, and only added the vegetables after the oil was released. I also added a little oyster sauce, so it tastes more delicious. If you want the color to be green, you must stir-fry quickly over high heat, not simmer, and add salt just before serving."
"Sister is really good at cooking. I want to be a chef when I grow up and make delicious food for mom." Xiao Ou looked up at Ye Tian.
"Then you have to learn from Sister Ye. She is not only a great cook, but also a good student. She was even admitted to Lakeside University." Aunt Wang took the opportunity to lecture her.
When it comes to studying, Xiao Ou lowers his head and stops talking.
The landlady opened her mouth, but in the end said nothing and sighed silently.
"How about I come and help Xiao Ou with his homework every weekend?" Ye Tian held it in for a long time before finally saying this. It wasn't that she didn't want to help. Xiao Ou wasn't stupid, he was a very well-behaved boy. She was really worried that she, an ancient person, wouldn't be able to learn what the elementary school students were learning, and that would be embarrassing!"
"Really? Thank you so much, Xiaoye. I originally wanted to find a student from Lakeside University nearby to help him with his studies, but he was always reluctant. It's rare that he gets along so well with you. This is really great!" Aunt Wang was very excited.
She continued, "If you help Xiao Ou with his studies, then don't give up the house. I'll keep this one for you. It'll be there for you when you want to cook for yourself, or when you need to come home late. It's settled!"
Ye Tian hadn't thought about this at all. Was this taking advantage of the landlady? But tutoring fees outside were easily over 100 yuan an hour, and giving Xiao Ou two hours a week covered her rent. This gave Aunt Wang peace of mind, and she had a free place to cook and film videos. It was a win-win situation, wasn't it?
That's right, she needs to take her elementary school textbooks back and study online. Oh, and she can also teach Xiao Ou some calligraphy and cooking. It seems like Xiao Ou is the lucky kid. It's not easy to have her as a teacher, and Li Bing can only be considered a non-staff member!
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