Chapter 50

Chapter 6: The Tasting of the New Dish

At this moment, Fang Mingyuan was unaware of all this. He had just arrived at the factory gate with Zhao Ya and Feng Qian when he was stopped by Fang Bin.

"Fang Mingyuan, good news! The fish head stew with flatbread that you mentioned, Master Cheng has figured it out. He wants you to come and taste it to see how it is," Fang Bin said with a delighted expression.

"Really?" Fang Mingyuan's heart leaped with joy. In his previous life, there was a time when fish head stew with flatbread was extremely popular in Beijing, and it was also very much to his taste. For nearly one or two years, whenever he went out to eat and there were a few more people, he would definitely order this dish. He had even carefully looked up the recipe and tried to make it at home. However, while it was delicious, it was quite troublesome to prepare.

Fish head stew with flatbread is a dish that easily satisfies. The best fish to use is a wild, pollution-free bighead carp. The dish requires over a dozen spices, condiments, and seasonings, and the preparation is very meticulous, involving eight steps: blanching, marinating, braising, seasoning, coloring, thickening, reducing, and plating. When a large fish head is served, everyone can't help but look at it in amazement. Not only does it symbolize a good omen of abundance every year, but the taste is also truly delicious. The cheeks of the fish are the most tender; the lips are the best, with a smooth and gelatinous texture when pulled away from the bones; the part called the "fish brain" is entirely gelatinous, like jelly, trembling in the spoon and sliding down the throat when put in the mouth; the skin is also tempting... Fortunately, the fish head is large enough, and the corresponding parts are several times more abundant.

The flatbread that goes with the fish head is a very exquisite chicken oil pancake, golden on the outside, of moderate thickness, neither too soft nor too hard, and crispy and fragrant. When eating, it is cut into small pieces and placed in a small bamboo basket, to be dipped as needed. It is particularly absorbent, and once dipped in the soup, it becomes crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, combining the fragrance of the soup and the freshness of the fish, making it extremely delicious.

Moreover, fish head stew with flatbread is one of the few popular dishes that serve both the main and side dishes and combine the flavors of the north and south. With a few more small dishes in addition to the fish head, three people can definitely be satisfied. The cost is not high either.

Before the Spring Festival, Fang Bin had mentioned to him that he wanted to add a few new dishes to the Fang family restaurant. At that time, Fang Mingyuan thought of this dish that had once been popular in Beijing. He didn't expect that just a casual mention a few months ago, along with a rough explanation of the key points and cooking techniques, Master Cheng would actually have made it.

"How could it be fake? Over these few months, Master Cheng has made this dish nearly a hundred times! He spent a considerable amount of money on fish alone. I tried it, and it's really delicious," Fang Bin said with enthusiasm.

Fang Mingyuan couldn't help but feel his appetite stirred. Since his rebirth, he hadn't tasted fish head stew with flatbread again. Now, just thinking about it made his mouth water.

"Since it's so good, why don't we do this, Uncle: don't cook dinner tonight, and let Grandpa and Grandma, as well as Zhao Ya and Feng Qian's families, all come to try the new dish at our Fang family restaurant!" Fang Mingyuan glanced at the two girls, clearly moved by Fang Bin's words.

"Sure, I'll tell Master Cheng to prepare a few more fish heads for tonight!"

When night fell on Hai Zhuang, the three families had already gathered at the Fang family restaurant, a large private room on the second floor. Everyone sat around the table, and upon hearing that it was a new dish proposed by Fang Mingyuan, they all became very interested.

"Grandpa and Grandma, uncles and aunts, someone once said that women who eat fish are more beautiful, men who eat fish are healthier, children who eat fish are smarter, and nations that eat fish are more prosperous. Although this is somewhat exaggerated, it is true. Fish meat contains more protein than other animals, and fish oil is rich in vitamins. Fish also contain several substances that are the main components of brain tissue and cell networks, which are very beneficial for cleaning and softening blood vessels, lowering blood lipids, and improving brain function and delaying aging. Those who know how to eat fish know that the best part to eat is the head, which is rich in various beneficial substances for human health and has a beautifying effect on the skin," Fang Mingyuan's words immediately made many people's eyes shine.

"Write it down, write it down! In the future, when the waiters introduce this dish to customers, they can refer to this!" Zhao Jianguo laughed, "With so many benefits, even if someone doesn't want to eat it, they will have to!" Everyone couldn't help but laugh.

"You will definitely love it. This time, we used a fish head that weighs four pounds. The meat of the bighead carp is not very tasty, but the fish head is delicious. Master Cheng spent several months researching to master the best cooking method. The fish meat, lips, and brain are all full of flavor, mainly fresh and salty, with a slight sweetness and spiciness, suitable for most people's tastes, especially the fish brain part. It is white and translucent, trembling like semi-transparent crystal. When put in the mouth, it melts as soon as the tongue touches it, fresh, salty, soft, and smooth, fragrant, and delicious. I guarantee you won't want to swallow it," Fang Mingyuan said excitedly. He had tasted it in the kitchen and found it to be at the level of the best restaurants in Beijing from his previous life.

"Stop talking, stop talking, bring the dish quickly! You're making Feng Qian drool!" Feng Aiguo, Feng Qian's father, laughed, "Mingyuan, you have quite the talent for sales. You'll definitely be a good salesman in the future!" Fang Sheng and Bai Ping's eyes were squinted with laughter, proud of their son, who was praised wherever he went. With the Fang family's income now more comfortable, and their lives at the factory going smoothly, they were naturally in high spirits.

As they spoke, the restaurant's waiters had already brought out two large platters, filled to the brim with a large fish head. Next to them was a small bamboo basket containing the already cut flatbread. The golden, fragrant fish head, layered with fatty pork, the rich broth, and the crispy, salty flatbread were brought to the table. The aroma alone was enough to make everyone's appetite strong just by looking at it.

"Delicious! Truly delicious!" Zhao Jianguo, who had worked in the canteen for many years, naturally had the most authority to speak.

"Grandpa and Grandma, the first bite should be taken from the fish's cheek, just below the eye, where the meat is the most tender and rich in nutrients," Fang Mingyuan said, pointing and having the waiter serve the fish to Grandpa and Grandma Fang, as well as Zhao Jianguo and his wife.

Zhao Jianguo scooped a spoonful into his mouth, and what trembled was not meat but a gelatinous substance. It melted in the mouth, and the indescribable deliciousness made it hard to swallow. The flavor had already permeated every part of his taste buds in the midst of doubt and hesitation.

"Good! Delicious! Too delicious!" Zhao Jianguo exclaimed, "Mingyuan, with this dish alone, I can't say about Qinxi, but your Fang family restaurant is the best in Pingchuan County!"