High-end Western cuisine emphasizes a concept of "returning to origins."
Simply put, it means using minimal seasonings during the cooking process to highlight the natural flavors of the ingredients themselves.
So, could one interpret this as victory or defeat in cooking is determined solely by the quality of ingredients? Is the chef technique actually not that important?
"Let me tell you, no matter how much they praise French cuisine, when it comes to true cooking skill, Chinese cuisine is still the best."
Shi Xiaolei commented as he added seasonings to the pot while "preaching" to Stark who sat beside him.
"Think about it carefully—'Cooking' refers to the process of a chef transforming ingredients into dishes, with emphasis on the 'transforming' part. If you don't put in any effort and just slice things up before serving them directly, can you really call that 'cooking'?"
"Making already-delicious ingredients taste good—isn't that just the bare minimum? In my opinion, turning the impossible into possible, making something nobody likes to eat into something delicious—that's true skill."
"Do French chefs have that kind of craftsmanship? I don't mean to look down on them. Just take organ meats as an example—besides foie gras and caviar, what else can they make? Now look at Chinese cuisine. hearts, liver, stomach, intestines, lungs—those are just the basics. Brains, blood, bone marrow, kidneys, eyeballs, even testicles—all can be made delicious." (T/N: Um sorry for the heavy chinese pride here. Dunno what to change it either TnT)
"That's why, just in terms of culinary technique alone, Chinese cuisine proves itself as number one in the world. I'm not exaggerating—no matter what ingredients you have, in the hands of Chinese people, they can create something amazing."
"Take these crayfish for instance. You know these things don't have a good reputation around the world. They reproduce quickly, eat anything, survive in even the dirtiest water, and dig holes, making them hard to catch. Many countries have labeled them as 'enemies that destroy native ecosystems.' But in China? Do you know how young Chinese people describe them? They call them 'the most embarrassing invasive species.'"
"The wild ones are almost eaten to extinction. To meet market demands, many people now farm them specifically. Only in China. If we switched to any place with inferior cooking skills—take France, for example. If their chefs had the ability to turn these into a widely beloved delicacy, would they still fear them becoming an infestation?"
"Besides, going through all the trouble to create seasonings and then not using them when cooking... isn't that as stupid as farming without a hoe, insisting on digging with your bare hands? If you never planned to use them, why buy them in the first place? Did you think the bottles looked pretty and bought them just to decorate your kitchen?"
While complaining and chattering, instilling the impression that "Chinese cuisine is the best in the world" to Stark, he remained focused on his cooking.
Under Shi Xiaolei careful stir-frying, the bright red crayfish tails in the wok emitted an intoxicating aroma.
"I don't know if Chinese cuisine is the best in the world, but this pot smells amazing."
Carrying two cans of ice-cold beer to the stove, Rhodes handed one to Stark, then freed up his hand to give an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
"Rock, among all the friends I know, when it comes to cooking, you're the best!"
"Thank you."
After expressing his gratitude and accepting his beer from Happy who had arrived with Rhodes, Shi Xiaolei turned his head and smiled in response.
"I'm nothing special, just home-cooking level. If you ever get a chance to travel to China, tour around the southern provinces along the Yangtze River. On any random street food alley, you can find several shop owners who cook crayfish better than me."
"Really? Then I definitely need to try it."
"After my surgery, when I've recovered enough, let's go together."
Stark said with a smile.
"Haha, that would be perfect."
"I'll be waiting. Just remember to let me know when we're leaving."
Rhodes raised his can and clinked it against Stark.
Amid the laughter and conversation, dinner was ready in no time.
Originally, steak was supposed to be the main dish, but once the plates were on the table, it was clear that the crayfish stir-fried by Shi Xiaolei attracted far more attention.
Because of this, Happy, who was responsible for grilling the meat, remained quite dejected for a while.
Fortunately, his disappointment came quickly and disappeared just as fast.
"Wow, this is so delicious! Rock, you're amazing!"
While battling with the crayfish shells using his right hand and teeth, Happy couldn't help but raise his left thumb to express genuine admiration to Shi Xiaolei.
Well, after tasting the crayfish, Happy had completely forgotten his earlier disappointment and was thoroughly enchanted by the flavor.
"Delicious, right?"
With a chuckle as his response, Shi Xiaolei deftly twisted his fingertips, and in the blink of an eye, he extracted a plump piece of crayfish meat.
As a parent, he naturally wouldn't just think of himself.
"Kanna, ah~."
With a quick flip of his hand, Shi Xiaolei stuffed the sauce-covered crayfish tail into the little girl mouth.
"Is it good?"
"Mmm~!"
As the delicious flavor exploded in her mouth, the little girl happily squinted her eyes, her small head nodding like a pecking chick.
Who doesn't want more of something delicious? Especially since the little girl was a foodie who couldn't walk away from good food.
Still chewing, her gaze had already turned toward the large metal basin.
Reaching out with her chubby little hand, Kanna picked up another crayfish and somewhat laboriously began her "battle."
"Let me peel it for you."
Feeling sorry for the little one, 2B couldn't help saying.
"No, I want to do it myself."
Although her movements were rather clumsy, Kanna had already found joy in the process of peeling the crayfish.
"Let Kanna do it herself. Just teach her how. This stuff tastes better when you peel it yourself."
With Shi Xiaolei words, 2B didn't insist further and instead began instructing the little girl.
"Am I doing this right?"
While Kanna had 2B as her teacher, the equally clumsy Stark approached Shi Xiaolei for help.
"How do you peel them so quickly? I haven't even finished one, and you've already eaten three."
"Practice makes perfect, what else could it be?"
Responding with a grin, Shi Xiaolei leaned closer to look.
"Let me see... uh, you've got the sequence wrong. Here, follow me, start from this part first..."
A meal of "commoner cuisine" that he had never encountered before allowed Stark to taste a freshness he had never experienced.
Or perhaps it was Shi Xiaolei casual remark during their chat—"You know, it's precisely because you're too wealthy and live too luxuriously that you miss out on countless delicious foods"—that touched something deep in Stark heart.
After this noisy yet warm fireside feast, a tiny sprout emerged from the depths of Stark soul.
Though not enough to immediately transform his worldview, there was no denying that this little seedling, which he had yet to notice himself, would eventually grow and strengthen, bringing about some visible changes in him.
In this sense, this road trip was truly worthwhile.
(T/N: Like the story fellow daoist?you can read 20 chapters ahead on my P@treon [[email protected]/DaoistRongyi] Thanks for your support! 😊)