Tonight, Zhang Maosheng can be said to be very happy because he saw his eldest grandson.
Moreover, as a veteran gourmet with decades of experience, although Zhang Maosheng cannot cook, his research on food is definitely better than Zhang Fenglin, especially his understanding of every dish of Su Ji.
When Sansi came up, Zhang Maosheng immediately began to introduce her to his eldest grandson.
"Pingping, this dish is called "Three Shredded Vegetables with Chinese Sauce". To be more precise, it should be considered a local dish. You know local dishes, right? After your father left Su Ji, he learned local dishes, which is also Shanghai cuisine."
Before this dish came, Zhang Xueping had actually witnessed how skilled his grandfather was.
The older boy also discovered that his grandfather really knew a lot, even more than his father.
So now that the dishes ordered by his grandfather were served, Zhang Xueping listened even more carefully.
After hearing his grandfather say that his father had learned this local dish, Zhang Xueping turned to look at his father and said, "Dad, can you cook this dish? But I've never seen you cook it."
Zhang Fenglin smiled and waved his hand: "I learned this dish when I first became his apprentice, but then my father returned to Huaicheng and focused more on our local dishes, so I rarely made this dish."
Zhang Xueping asked again: "Dad, can you do it now?"
When asked by his son, Zhang Fenglin could only nod and say, "I can still do it."
Knowing that his dad could do it, the older boy smiled with satisfaction.
Then Zhang Xueping and his grandfather picked up a piece of meat with three shreds upside down on the plate with chopsticks. The big boy was instantly shocked.
"Oh my god, Grandpa, isn't this too thin?"
Zhang Maosheng nodded and said, "This is the essence of this dish. The ingredients must be cut into thin enough strips so that when they are stewed in chicken soup, the flavor of the chicken soup can penetrate into them, allowing each strip to be stewed with the flavor of the chicken soup."
Zhang Maosheng added: "Oh, the original stewing method of chicken soup is unique to Su Ji."
Then, Zhang Maosheng introduced to his eldest grandson how to make this dish.
"Use a small bowl, the opening of which should not be too big, but must be deep.
Then cut each ingredient into a length roughly the same as the depth of the bowl, then start slicing it into thin slices and then shred it.
Put a piece of mushroom on the bottom as a base, then spread the chopped mushrooms in, filling the entire small bowl little by little, and then pour in clear chicken soup. Su Ji’s method is to put it in a small bowl, seal the lid and simmer it.
This will allow the delicious taste of the chicken soup to penetrate better.
When it is done, take it out of the small bowl, put this plate on top, and then turn the bowl upside down. After removing the bowl, it is what you see now. "
As Zhang Xueping listened to his grandfather's story, it was as if he was watching someone doing it, which really made him feel extremely amazed.
"Grandpa, this dish is really amazing. Just cutting it into strips must require great knife skills."
Zhang Maosheng savored the dish carefully and said, "Yes, that's right. The key to this dish lies in the knife skills. It is an extremely delicate dish."
When we were almost done with the three-shredded pork, Lin Ruifeng’s homemade pomegranate buns were served.
Zhang Maosheng pointed at the pomegranate buns and said to his grandson, "This dish, pomegranate buns, is also a specialty of Su Ji. It can be used as a meal or a dish. Try it."
Zhang Xueping first took a closer look, then said, "Grandpa, isn't this just an unsealed bun?"
Zhang Fenglin smiled and said, "What do you mean by unsealed buns? These are not buns. Although they are made into buns, the skin is not the dough of buns."
Zhang Xueping was a little surprised: "Isn't it dough?"
Zhang Maosheng smiled and said, "Try it."
Zhang Xueping picked one up with chopsticks, placed it on his plate and examined it carefully before taking a bite from the bottom where the filling was.
Zhang Xueping took a bite and ate the filling inside. What surprised him was that there was still soup.
Zhang Xueping quickly sipped the soup and began to chew the bite.
When he started chewing, Zhang Xueping finally realized that this was indeed not a bun.
Zhang Xueping looked at his grandfather and father in amazement, and for a moment he didn't know how to describe this pomegranate bag.
After the eldest grandson finished eating, Zhang Maosheng asked, "How is it? How do you think it tastes?"
Zhang Xueping savored it for a moment and said, "Grandpa, this is definitely not a bun. The skin is a little bit elastic, and there's even soup inside. I never knew carrots were so delicious."
It turned out that Zhang Xueping didn't like eating carrots. Whenever Zhang Fenglin cooked at home, he would order him to eat some every time he made carrots.
But now this pomegranate bun has diced carrots in its filling, but Zhang Xueping finds it delicious.
After saying this, Zhang Xueping quickly ate the rest of the pomegranate bag.
He even ate the scallion knot that tied the bun.
After eating, Zhang Xueping felt that it was really great. It was the first time he had eaten a dish that looked like steamed buns but was not a steamed bun. It made him feel that his grandfather was better than his father and that his grandfather was good at ordering dishes.
Zhang Maosheng smiled as he watched his eldest grandson wolfing down the food, and he was also very happy.
After the eldest grandson finished eating, Zhang Maosheng said: "Su Ji's pomegranate dumplings are different from those outside. Although they are all made of egg white as the skin, Su Ji's fillings are very unique. Not only is the soup added, but the seasoning is also very unique, which gives people the feeling of eating fresh and tender soup dumplings."
After explaining it briefly, Zhang Maosheng asked his son, daughter-in-law and his son's apprentice to have a taste as well.
Although the three of them ate a lot, seeing Zhang Xueping eating with relish, they also wanted to try it.
So Zhang Fenglin took the lead, and Xue Huan and Liu Quan each picked one up and started eating.
As soon as Zhang Fenglin took a bite, he immediately understood the uniqueness of Su Ji’s pomegranate buns. The soup inside flowed out the moment he bit into it, and it tasted quite refreshing and sweet.
Then pair it with the egg white skin and the various ingredients in the filling. When you chew it in your mouth, it really tastes better the more you chew.
Compared with the pomegranate buns that Zhang Fenglin made before at Fujinglou, this one at Su Ji is completely different.
Xue Huan was also surprised by what she ate today. She had tasted delicacies from all over the world before with Zhang Fenglin.
Pomegranate buns are a common dish in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang areas. Although the preparation methods of each restaurant are slightly different, they are basically the same.
The skin is made of egg white, and the filling is stir-fried diced mushrooms, bamboo shoots, meat, onions, carrots, and some diced ham.
In short, after stir-frying and seasoning these fillings, wrap them with egg white skin and tie the opening with scallion knots.
Its shape is very similar to a pomegranate, so it is called "pomegranate bag".
Most of them are steamed after wrapping and then served directly. Some are drizzled with a thin sauce to make the pomegranate buns look brighter.
No matter which method is used, Xue Huan said that the taste is not much different.
But today, after tasting Su Ji’s pomegranate buns, Xue Huan really tasted a different flavor.
Because the soup of Su Ji’s pomegranate bun is inside the bun, after you bite it, the light and delicious soup enters the mouth, which makes people feel very refreshed and opens up the taste stimuli of the mouth and tongue.
And because there is soup inside, Su Ji’s pomegranate buns do not taste dry like other pomegranate buns after being steamed.
After finishing a pomegranate bun, Xue Hua couldn't help but say, "Dad is really good at ordering food."
Zhang Xueping immediately agreed with his mother: "Yes, grandpa is better at ordering food than dad."
Zhang Fenglin smiled and asked, "Why? Do you think the dishes I ordered are not tasty?"
Zhang Xueping waved his hand and said, "It's not that it's not delicious, it's that the dish you ordered, Dad, lacks a little bit of elegance. Look at what Grandpa ordered, it looks like white pomegranates, and there's something mysterious inside, that's called elegance. Of course, what you ordered, Dad, has a different kind of elegance."
After hearing his son's words, Zhang Fenglin also laughed: "That's true. I ordered some rough dishes, and your grandfather ordered some more elegant dishes."
While the family was chatting, Feng Yifan brought up the last bowl of chicken porridge.
It just so happened that I took advantage of the fact that I wasn't too busy to come and meet Zhang Maosheng and his family.
Standing in front of the table, Feng Yifan put down the chicken porridge and said to Zhang Maosheng with a smile: "Uncle Zhang, it seems that you and Senior Brother have reconciled? That's right, whatever grievances you have had between you and your son should be put aside after so many years. Let Senior Brother be filial to you in the future."
When Zhang Fenglin saw Feng Yifan coming out, he also stood up and reached out to hold Feng Yifan's hand.
"Yifan, thank you so much. Without your advice, I might not have the courage to come here and talk things out in front of my dad and say sorry to him. I really thank you so much, brother."
Feng Yifan held Zhang Fenglin's hand and said, "Brother, you are too polite. We are brothers and sisters, and we are also a family. It is my duty to help you and Uncle Zhang to reconcile. I am really happy that you two can sit together for dinner like this."
Zhang Maosheng also spoke up: "Yifan, thank you too. Today, I helped your uncle Zhang to resolve this knot in his heart."
Feng Yifan looked at Zhang Maosheng and said with a smile: "Uncle Zhang, you're welcome. Once you untie your knot, you'll feel better. When you're in a good mood, you'll become more energetic."
When Feng Yifan came out, Zhang Xueping had already stood up from his seat and stood aside, looking at Feng Yifan seriously, his eyes filled with ardent admiration.
But he was acting out of character and didn't dare to speak actively at this time.
When Zhang Xueping looked at Feng Yifan for a long time and didn't know how to start.
Suddenly, a voice rang out beside him: "Big brother, big brother, why are you looking at my dad? Do you have something to say to my dad? You should be bold enough to tell my dad. My dad is a good person and he won't be mean to you."
Hearing the voice beside him, Zhang Xueping looked down and saw Feng Ruoruo standing beside him.
Feng Ruoruo's big watery eyes blinked as she looked at her older brother.
Seeing the older brother standing there in a daze, the little girl continued, "Big brother, tell me, tell my dad, there's no need to be afraid."
After hearing what the little girl said, Zhang Xueping came to his senses and felt even more embarrassed.
But Feng Ruoruo became bolder. She reached out and held Zhang Xueping's hand. She also asked her good friend to help push from behind. She managed to pull the older brother in front of her father.
Zhang Xueping was completely confused as he was pushed in front of Feng Yifan by three little girls.
Feng Ruoruo pulled the big brother in front of her father, let go of his hand and threw himself into his father's arms, looking up and saying, "Dad, this big brother keeps looking at you. He is embarrassed to talk to you, as if he is afraid of you. Don't be mean to him. Talk to the big brother nicely."
Yang Xiaoxi then rushed to Feng Yifan and said, "Father Feng, please talk to my brother."
Chen Yaofei followed up and said, "Father Feng, Big Brother is embarrassed, you should give him some encouragement."
After listening to the three little girls, Feng Yifan looked at Zhang Xueping with a smile and said directly: "You are my senior brother's son, so should you call me uncle-master?"
Zhang Xueping finally came to his senses at this time. Although he had talked to Feng Yifan when he came back before, he was still a little nervous now.
After another moment of silence, Zhang Xueping finally opened his mouth and called out, "Hello, Uncle Master."
Feng Yifan smiled and nodded: "Well, hello, I heard that you regard me as your idol? Your father is also a good chef, why do you regard me as your idol?"
Zhang Xueping hesitated for a moment when he heard this, then turned his head to look at his father behind him.
After thinking for a while, Zhang Xueping replied: "Because I think you are very cool, and I watched your cooking videos online, and I think you are very handsome when you cook."
At this time, some diners in the restaurant also joined in the fun.
"Boss, you are the most handsome chef I have ever seen."
"Yes, little brother is right, the boss is the most handsome."
"I also really like watching the boss's cooking videos. I really think he is so handsome. He looks so cool and natural. He is so handsome."
This is indeed what makes Feng Yifan’s videos attractive.
Feng Yifan's cooking movements are concise and accurate. When he was shooting the video, it was just like when he usually cooks, with almost no unnecessary movements.
He is not the type who tries to act cool on purpose. His cooking skills are quick, accurate, ruthless and smooth, which makes people feel very pleasing to the eye.
In the eyes of diners who have watched his cooking videos, Feng Yifan’s capable figure when cooking really left a deep impression on them.
After the other diners in the restaurant started to make a noise, Zhang Xueping asked seriously: "Uncle Master, can I, can I learn to cook from you in the future?"
Feng Yifan was a little surprised, then looked at Zhang Fenglin with a smile.
After exchanging a glance with Zhang Fenglin, Feng Yifan could tell from Zhang Fenglin's eyes that he intended for his son to become his disciple.
Feng Yifan smiled and said: "You have to understand that being a chef is very hard. You can see in the video that my very concise and precise cooking process is the result of long-term practice, and I have to endure the loneliness in the kitchen, and practice it step by step.
I don’t want you to learn cooking from me just to look cool, so I advise you not to learn it.”
After a brief pause to let Zhang Xueping digest his words, Feng Yifan continued, "Besides, I think your father, my senior brother, is also a very good chef, so you don't have to learn from me. If you can really endure the hardship of learning to cook, you can learn as well as your father."