Chapter 21 Letter
It was somewhat inconvenient for Su Taotao to carry Chen Chen while working, and it was also inconvenient to put him down. After all, the kitchen was a sensitive area and there were still dangers.
Chef Xu frowned as he looked at the delicate little baby: "You carry him to work?"
Su Taotao was worried that Chef Xu would chase him away, so she could only say: "He is very well-behaved and won't make trouble."
Chef Xu frowned: "No, did you pick up the child? This is a sensitive area in the kitchen, with fire and oil, and everyone is carrying hot dishes in and out. What if he gets burned?"
Su Taotao knew it was unsafe and thought about sending him to Chen Sihai's house and asking Chen Sihai's mother to help take care of him for a while.
Chef Xu was pointing to the small room on the side: "That's my rest room. If he's well behaved, let him play in there for a while. If he's well behaved, then it's fine. If he's not, you can take him with you."
Su Taotao thanked Chef Xu repeatedly, who had a cold exterior but a warm heart: "Don't worry, my son is very well behaved."
Su Taotao carried Chenchen from her back to the front. Before she said anything, Chenchen had already looked into her eyes and nodded seriously: "Be good~~"
Su Taotao was stunned for a moment, and after a while she realized that he understood their conversation and promised to be good.
Su Taotao felt sad and tender. How could she have such an angel baby? She kissed the child's face and said, "I got up too early today. Chenchen, go take a nap first. Mom will be done when you wake up." Chenchen
nodded again.
After settling Chenchen down, Su Taotao started to make brine.
She was careful. Before leaving, she wrapped all the spices in a piece of gauze to make a brine bag. She also brought a can of brine. Now she only needed to add the appropriate amount of oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, rice wine, and MSG, and add scallions and ginger slices to start making brine.
Naturally, sugar color is indispensable. Nowadays, all state-owned restaurants have the dish of braised pork in red, so sugar color is a must. However, Chef Xu didn’t have any!
“Chef Xu, haven’t you fried sugar color today?”
Chef Xu frowned and pointed to the slurry thicker than oyster sauce: “Isn’t that it?”
Su Taotao never thought that this bowl of sticky and black stuff was actually sugar color. She touched some with her finger and tasted it. It was bitter and astringent, even worse than Chinese medicine. No wonder even a dish like braised pork in red, which tastes good no matter how it is made, can’t be sold.
Su Taotao said tactfully: "My ancestor was a chef, and there is a secret recipe for frying sugar color passed down from generation to generation. The taste and color may be better than this. How about I make one? It's quick and won't keep you for too long. Three or four minutes will be enough."
Chef Xu was also a smart man. How could he not understand what Su Taotao said: "Are you saying that my braised pork tastes bad because of this sugar color?"
Su Taotao: "..." Since you said it, she dare not say anything else.
Su Taotao tried to speak as tactfully as possible: "I haven't eaten the braised pork you made, so I don't know what it tastes like, but the sugar color we make at home is neither bitter nor astringent. I wonder if it can help improve the taste of the braised pork."
The sugar color was made by the young apprentice. When he heard Su Taotao say this, he immediately frowned: "How can you, a country woman who doesn't even have a chef's license, say that my sugar color is not good? Have you ever eaten braised pork? Do you know how to make it?"
Su Taotao didn't want to offend anyone, and waved her hands repeatedly: "That's not what I meant. I just said that the sugar color we make at home is different from this one. Maybe mine is even worse?"
After hearing what Su Taotao said, the young apprentice's face looked better.
Chef Xu tasted some fried sugar color. The color was okay, but the taste was a bit strange. He was seriously injured in the bombing on the battlefield. After that, his five senses were out of balance and he lost most of his taste. He could only taste a little salty, and it was difficult to distinguish other flavors. He could only cook by feeling. The people who tasted the food didn't dare to tell the truth. He himself had no idea what the dishes he made tasted like.
Judging from the flow of customers, it must not be very delicious.
He looked calm on the surface, but he was more anxious than anyone else in his heart, but he couldn't say it.
Su Taotao's arrival was more like a rare opportunity.
"Just fry the sugar color according to your method." Chef Xu said expressionlessly.
The young apprentice was startled: "Master?"
Chef Xu glanced at him with a sharp look. Without saying anything, the young apprentice had already shrunk back automatically.
"Excuse me, little master." Su Taotao walked to the pot, and the young apprentice made way for him. "Excuse me, do you have rock sugar?"
The young apprentice sneered: "I can tell you've never been to the kitchen. Who uses rock sugar to make sugar color? We all use white sugar."
Su Taotao was not annoyed, and smiled and said: "If you don't have rock sugar, white sugar will also work, but the taste of rock sugar will be a little more refreshing."
As soon as he finished speaking, a can of rock sugar was handed to Su Taotao.
Chef Xu handed it to her.
Su Taotao thanked him, took two large pieces of rock sugar and crushed them, about the amount of a large spoon, and put them into the pot with cold water in a ratio of one to one.
The young apprentice started to sneer again: "You actually added cold water..."
Su Taotao ignored him, turned the water to medium heat after it boiled, added a little cooking oil, and waited until white bubbles appeared in the pot before starting to stir it in one direction.
While stirring, she said: "There is a delicacy in my hometown called anti-sand taro. At this time, turn off the heat and fry the taro that has been fried. Then, coat it with icing sugar and fry it to make anti-sand taro."
Chef Xu's expression had changed from being nonchalant at the beginning to being serious.
After more than a minute, the sugar color in the pot turned into a light yellow color like maltose. Su Taotao said again: "This state is most suitable for making candied sweet potatoes. Candied sweet potatoes are delicious."
Su Taotao stirred the spatula a few times, scooped up a little sugar color and looked at it, and immediately turned off the fire below, leaving only a little residual heat to continue boiling, and said: "If you continue to boil without turning off the fire at this time, it will generally become bitter."
The young apprentice pursed his lips and said nothing. He usually boiled it at one fire until the desired color, sometimes it would be overcooked, but seeing that Chef Xu had not said anything, he just boiled it casually. Anyway, no matter what it was, Chef Xu would still use it to make braised pork.
At this time, the sugar color had reached the color Su Taotao wanted.
"Excuse me, where is the boiling water?" Su Taotao asked.
The young apprentice asked, "What are you going to do? Isn't it already boiled? Why don't you serve it?"
Chef Xu had already handed over the thermos.
Su Taotao thanked him and added two spoonfuls of boiling water.
The young apprentice was stunned and couldn't even speak. After a long while, he said, "You really can't cook."
Su Taotao ignored him, turned the heat back to medium, and then turned it down to medium-low heat after it boiled: "Just simmer for another forty seconds."
Su Taotao began to count silently in her mind. When she reached forty, she immediately lifted the pot and put it on the stove that was not on, and then turned off all the fire on this side.
She found a large bowl and scooped out the sugar color, just two tablespoons of it: "The sugar color fried in this way can be kept for a long time without going bad or becoming bitter. Chef Xu, can you try it?" Chef Xu
didn't even need to try it. Just by looking at the color and Su Taotao's production process, he knew that this bowl of sugar color would be good.
He pointed to the little apprentice to try it.
The young apprentice tasted a little bit and found it sweet and not bitter. The color was particularly beautiful. He curled his lips and said, "It's almost the same."
Chef Xu ignored him and randomly grabbed a waiter and said, "Try these two bowls and tell me which one tastes better."
The waiter gritted his teeth and tasted the bowl of sugar color made by the young apprentice, which was darker than soy sauce. He couldn't help but spit it out as soon as he put it in his mouth: "It's so astringent and bitter. I can't eat it."
Chef Xu passed the other bowl to the waiter . The waitress thought it was about the same, so she tried a little more. Her eyes lit up: "This bowl is good, sweet and refreshing, with a hint of caramel."
Chef Xu waved his hand to let her go, and looked at the young apprentice: "Do you have anything else to say?"
The young apprentice blushed and retorted: "You didn't say anything when I usually cooked it like that..."
Chef Xu was furious, thinking, if I had a healthy sense of taste, would you still have the chance to stay here and argue with me?
He pointed at the door: "Go away, you don't have to come tomorrow."
The young apprentice was stunned: "Master, I, I have a day off tomorrow?"
Chef Xu got angry: "Get out, don't come again!"
The young apprentice had to rely on many connections to come here as an apprentice. When Chef Xu said this, he was completely confused: "Not Master, why? What did I do wrong?"
Chef Xu looked at him coldly: "You are right, I am wrong, I am not worthy to be your master, I don't have to Come, please?"
The young apprentice panicked: "I'm wrong, Master, I'm really wrong, I won't be able to do it again, I really won't be able to do it again!" He pointed at Su Taotao angrily, "Is it because of her? Are you going to take her in as your apprentice? Master, she is here to cause trouble!"
Before Chef Xu could say anything, Su Taotao said: "I'm sorry, I really don't plan to be an apprentice."
Chef Xu glanced at the others: "What are you still standing there for? Get out!"
The second chef and the chopping board reacted and kicked the young apprentice out.
Su Taotao: "..."
Chef Xu stopped talking, silently poured out the sugar color fried by the young apprentice, no, the previous young apprentice, and replaced it with Su Taotao's sugar color, and started to make today's braised pork.
Su Taotao also added a proper amount of sugar color to the bubbling brine, and began to prepare the pig's feet, ears, and tail. These things had been cleaned up when they were brought from Chen Sihai, but in order to increase the flavor, Su Taotao still found a handful of straw and put them all in the straw pile to roast, and then turned them out when the skin turned yellow.
Others looked at Su Taotao from time to time, but they did not ask anything in front of Chef Xu. As the saying goes, laymen see the excitement, while experts see the doorway. Now they all know that Su Taotao is a "master", at least a master whose cooking skills are better than Chef Xu.
Chef Xu just watched silently and did not ask anything.
The straw-roasted pig skin has a very special fragrance. Su Taotao washed it clean without cutting it, and put it into the brine. Her work was done, and she could just leave it to time.
Su Taotao went into the rest room to check on Chenchen. The child was sleeping soundly, with thick eyelashes like two rows of small eyes covering her eyelids without permission. The slightest movement seemed to brush against Su Taotao's heart. The corners of her mouth rose unconsciously. The most gratifying thing about coming to the 1970s was to be a mother painlessly, and to have a well-behaved, smart and beautiful little angel like Chenchen.
Su Taotao tiptoed out, and Chef Xu suddenly handed her a spoonful of soup. Su Taotao didn't understand what was going on, so she looked up at him.
Chef Xu's face was unnatural, and he said stiffly: "Without my little apprentice, there is no one to help me taste it."
Su Taotao understood, dipped a little soup and tasted it, and said honestly: "Adding a little more rice wine and a little more salt should be better."
Chef Xu did not taste it himself, but followed Su Taotao's instructions and added half a spoonful of rice wine and a little salt.
Chef Xu started to make other dishes. After making each dish, he asked Su Taotao to taste it and then made adjustments based on Su Taotao's opinions.
When Chef Xu's dishes were finished, Su Taotao's brine was almost brine-free.
She opened the lid of the pot and let the brine thicken a little more, so that it would be more flavorful.
When the juice is almost dried up, Su Taotao turns off the heat to let the halogen cool down naturally. This process allows the ingredients to better absorb the flavor of the halogen.
But time was limited, so Su Taotao picked out a little of each, cut it into small pieces and handed it to Chef Xu: "The name of this dish is Brine Platter, please try it and see if it pleases your taste?"
The thick red sauce had an alluring aroma, the straw-roasted pork skin and the spices in the brine complemented each other, adding a bit of gamey flavor. This dish was just right in color, taste and softness. The pig's trotters and tail were just right to be boned without being too soft, and the pig's ears were slightly chewy. They came out of the same pot but had different flavors. Even Chef Xu, who had lost 80 to 90 percent of his sense of taste, could taste the deliciousness of this brine platter.
"You guys try it too. In fact, it will taste better if you leave it for a few more hours. It's even better if you leave it overnight in winter."
The other people in the kitchen had been working while smelling the smell. They couldn't help themselves and after tasting it, they also praised it and gave Su Taotao a thumbs up.
The guests who arrived earlier couldn't help but look into the kitchen: "Did you change the chef today? Are you going to serve new dishes? It smells so good!"
"Yes, yes, I smelled it when I just passed the door. What new dish is it? Why does it smell so good?"
"I was originally planning to eat at Jiefang Road, but I was attracted by this smell. Comrade waiter, what's the menu today? What do you have to eat?"
...
The waiter said with a stern face: "Just eat whatever you have, why are you talking so much?" She also wanted to know what the new dish was. She had been smelling this smell all morning and it made her hungry.
But Chef Xu didn't say anything, so they were too embarrassed to go into the back kitchen to taste the food.
The second chef came out to hang up the menu, and the brine platter (limited edition) was listed. After asking clearly that it was a new dish, it was sold out in a short while, and the other dishes were also bought out.
Dishes were served one by one, and the diners were full of praise for every dish today, especially the halogen platter, which was so delicious that the tongue wanted to swallow it up. Even the waiter wanted to take a portion home to eat. I believe that in a short time, the whole Qinglian County will know that the First State-owned Hotel has changed a very powerful chef, who is so delicious that eyebrows will fall off.
"Tell me about your purpose." Chef Xu was convinced by the young female comrade in front of him.
The strange thing is that she said before that she didn't want to stay in the state-owned hotel to work, and she didn't even hide her ancestral skills.
Nowadays, everyone knows that teaching apprentices will starve the master to death. Who doesn't hide a good skill for fear that others will steal it? Su Taotao is not like that. Not only does she share it generously, but she also spares no effort in pointing out other dishes. Chef Xu really can't figure out her purpose.
During the chat, Su Taotao had already explained her background.
Seeing Chef Xu asking this, she also said frankly: "You can see that my child is still young, and I don't plan to stay in the county for a long time, so I don't ask for a formal job, but I need money to raise my child."
Su Taotao pointed to the pot of brine and said: "In this weather, this pot of brine can be reused for three or four days. Just remove the impurities after each use, boil it and leave it alone, boil it again before leaving work, and boil it the next day. Add appropriate amount of water and brine according to the amount of ingredients, and the taste will be stronger than the first day. The same is true on the third day. Then you must replace the brine and brine oil. First, brine will easily deteriorate if reused for too long, and second, it will not taste the same. "
In later times, some places claimed that brine was a hundred years old and was reused, but Su Taotao didn't know whether it was true or how to preserve brine. Anyway, she thought it was better not to reuse it too many times.
Chef Xu frowned and asked, "Do you want to sell brine bags and brine oil?" This is like digging into the corner of socialism, right? Inappropriate, right?
Su Taotao shook her head: "I am a good comrade who abides by the law and will not do anything illegal or criminal. I want to apply to become a consultant or non-staff member of your hotel. Any title is fine. I can take on some of the purchasing work.
The tractors of our brigade only come to the county town on market days, just like today. I will use this day to replace new brine bags and brine. All the materials used will be paid on a reimbursement basis. You can apply to the unit to give me the remuneration I deserve."
Su Taotao paused, and seeing that Chef Xu was thinking about something, she continued:
"The brine platter is just my first dish to test the waters. It can be kept as a signature dish. However, no matter how delicious the food is, you will get tired of it if you eat it every day. In the future, I will provide a new dish and a recipe on the first market day of every month. Except for the recipe for brine, which I cannot provide to you for the time being, I will provide all other recipes unconditionally. There will be more than a dozen new dishes in a year. You can sell whichever dish you think is suitable, and you can also adjust it according to the season.
I can provide the purchase channels for the ingredients of each dish. When it is inconvenient for me to purchase, your buyer can follow up. I have already arranged the ingredients for tomorrow's brine. You only need to go to the meat processing factory. Find Comrade Chen Sihai and report my name, and just follow the normal procurement process.
Finally, in order to protect the rights and interests of both parties, I hope to sign a labor contract. We will first sign a three-month trial period. If you feel it is suitable, we will continue to maintain this labor relationship. If you feel it is not suitable, we will terminate the labor contract once the three-month trial period is up. "
In fact, Su Taotao had selfish motives for signing the three-month trial period. She didn't know the exact time when Fu Zhengtu would return. Anyway, it would be between three to six months. After that, she would definitely go to the base with Fu Zhengtu. The role of a father is indispensable. If conditions permit, Chenchen should grow up with his parents. This is Su Taotao's principle.
Chef Xu never expected it to be like this.
He took all aspects of this female comrade into consideration. According to the current business situation of the hotel, he could not find any reason to refuse. Moreover, her request was not excessive. Even if the higher-ups were unwilling to add this non-staff member, he could make her his apprentice and subsidize her a little from his salary. This would make the matter work.
Chef Xu was delighted. Su Taotao's arrival was a great thing for him and the hotel. He wanted to keep Su Taotao even if he had to pay for it all out of his own pocket.
"You did a detailed investigation before you came. You know everything about us, right?" Chef Xu's tone actually showed that he had accepted Su Taotao's conditions.
Su Taotao held the dust in her other hand, smiled and shook her head: "No, except that I heard that the business of the First Hotel was not very good, I don't know anything else, and I don't need to know."
There is no such thing as a diamond drill to pick up porcelain work. She has enough confidence in herself, and she just thinks that she has a greater chance of success by finding the one with the worst business.
Chef Xu said nothing more: "Make a list of the materials you used today and claim reimbursement, and come on time next market day."
Su Taotao was overjoyed: "Do you agree?"
Chef Xu did not say anything very final, but just said: "I still have to ask the superiors, and I can give you an answer when you come next market day."
Su Taotao thanked him repeatedly, and explained the precautions again, and said that if Chef Xu didn't want to make braised pork, he could just put the pork belly in the brine to have a different flavor, and he could also add eggs, and later he could improve the brine formula and use it to blanch various offal, etc.
Everyone was stunned and admired him very much.
After the staff meal, Chef Xu packed a portion of braised pork and salted fish and eggplant for Su Taotao. These were dishes that she had suggested improvements on and that diners raved about. She even provided good suggestions on the presentation of the dishes.
Since Chef Xu became the head chef of the First State-owned Hotel, he has never felt as fulfilled as he did today. He knows that his job was earned through hard work and he will never lose his job. However, he cannot describe the feeling that diners raved about every dish he served. In short, he is now convinced of Su Taotao.
Su Taotao is not only a great cook, but also has a golden tongue. She can basically tell the ingredients and various pros and cons of the dishes she has eaten. Compared with her former apprentice, she is simply a treasure.
It was almost three o'clock in the afternoon when we returned to the tractor parking area. Chenchen had a good sleep and was no longer sleepy, but Su Taotao was already very tired.
"Chenchen, I'm sorry. Mom originally wanted to take you around for a walk, but I really can't walk anymore. Let's rest first."
Chenchen shook his head, lay down in his mother's arms, and said in a baby voice, "No, I don't want to go around~~"
Su Taotao was about to kiss the little baby when a comrade dressed as a postman came over: "Excuse
me, are you Comrade Su Taotao from Qinglian Commune?" Su Taotao nodded: "Yes, what can I do for you?"
The postman handed her a letter: "There is a letter for you. I don't have to make another trip now that I meet you."
Su Taotao thanked him and took the letter. Some familiar, vigorous and powerful words that could rival those of a great calligrapher came into her eyes. Her heart skipped a beat. When she saw the sender's name, she was stunned for a long time before she came to her senses.