The original buns were in the shape of steamed buns, so the buns that Ye Chui pinched into a semicircle were the most authentic buns. This was a kind of bun that Ye Chui created by tracing back to the origin. However, even so, this bun obviously made Qin Yiyue, Han Yuyan and An Xiaoxiao a little worried.
This is a bun competition, but it is not about whose buns are more affordable. Of course, in this kind of competition, the buns should be made as delicate and small as possible. The jade buns made by Yin Yuehua from Shenghuayuan across the street are so small and charming, like a piece of white jade. When the buns are steamed, the thin skin without leavening will directly present a translucent texture, and the green bun filling inside will directly show through the bun skin, making the buns even more charming. This is the origin of the jade bun, a green bun with a strange shape and delicious taste.
Of course, ordinary buns can be steamed in the steamer in about twenty minutes, but this kind of jade bun is not easy to steam because it is made of unripe bread skin, so it takes more than thirty minutes to steam the buns.
Han Yuyan, An Xiaoxiao, Qin Yiyue helped Ye Chui put the specially made "steamed buns" that had been pinched into the steamer. Although they were a little puzzled about the appearance of the buns, the three of them still believed in the filling prepared by Ye Chui. Next, they would see how the steamed buns would taste.
At this time, a chef from Shenghua Garden suddenly came over. He was a short middle-aged man. Ye Chui had read his profile, so he knew that his name was Lu Chen, one of the three five-star chefs sent by Shenghua Garden. He said with a smile, "Boss Ye Chui, it will take another 30 minutes for the steamed buns to be cooked. How about we have the next cooking competition during this time? It will also save time."
Before Ye Chui could say anything, Han Yuyan immediately accused him in an unhappy tone, "We're already going to have the next competition before the buns are even steamed? You guys definitely want to challenge Master in a round-robin battle, so that Master won't have any time to catch his breath, right?"
Ye Chui and the other party just agreed on three matches in total, which originally put Ye Chui at a disadvantage. Now the first match has not yet concluded, but the second match is about to begin. It is obvious that they want to drag Ye Chui down.
A trace of shame flashed across Lu Chen's face. They had indeed planned this before. He felt a little ashamed that several senior chefs were so deliberately making things difficult for a teenager. But then he thought about the difference of this teenager. Wasn't he going to challenge the nine of them? This was an insult to them, so they took turns to fight Ye Chui. Ye Chui asked for it.
Thinking of this, Lu Chen said with a bit of mockery: "We are just in a hurry. Since Boss Ye wants to challenge nine of us alone, I think he won't care about this matter. Of course, if Boss Ye wants to wait until the buns are steamed before competing with me, I can understand."
This Lu Chen was obviously very proficient in the art of speaking. After hearing these words, if Ye Chu said no, he would be timid.
Han Yuyan was a little annoyed and wanted to continue to argue with the other party, but Ye Chui patted Han Yuyan's shoulder to stop her from talking, and said to Lu Chen: "Okay, as you say, we will have the second competition before the buns are cooked. I just don't know what you want to compete with me?"
Ye Chui agreed to have a second match, and Lu Chen was immediately delighted, and the chefs from Shenghua Garden also showed happy expressions, and then their expressions turned mocking: the event that Lu Chen was going to compete with Ye Chui was very strange, it was a magical cooking skill that could not be learned without more than ten years of training. It could even be said that this cooking skill had already risen to the category of art, not the art of cooking, but... the art of carving.
What he wanted to compete with Ye Chui in was food carving.
Moreover, the kind of food carving that Lu Chen was going to compete with Ye Chui in was the most difficult to master and complete.
"Boss Ye, my cooking skills are limited, but I am quite proud of one cooking skill that I can show off. This time, I will compete with you, Boss Ye: tofu carving!" After Lu Chen finished speaking, a hint of pride naturally appeared on his face. It was obvious that tofu carving was his specialty. He was full of confidence in this aspect and was confident that he could completely crush Ye Chui.
He looked at Ye Chui, "Haha, I also know that tofu carving is a side skill in cooking. Most people won't put too much effort into it. Even Master Miao doesn't have a deep understanding of tofu carving. Boss Ye, if you think this competition is inappropriate, we can still compete with others."
After saying this, Lu Chen looked at Ye Chui with a smile. Although he said that if Ye Chui felt it was inappropriate, he could choose another one, but after he said this, Ye Chui obviously had no way to refuse.
"Tofu carving?" Qin Yiyue's face changed slightly when he heard Lu Chen's suggestion.
Culinary arts are extensive and profound, but there are some cooking skills that chefs do not have to practice. Carving is one of them. Food carving is for the purpose of color, fragrance and taste, as well as deeper meaning and shape. However, not every chef has the extra energy to delve into food carving. In large kitchens, there are usually special chefs to study this kind of side detail.
In short, food carving belongs to the category of kitchen helpers. There are not many real chefs who specialize in food carving. Even Qin Yiyue, although he has studied food carving seriously, his level is still not up to the standard.
Han Yuyan and An Xiaoxiao's faces also changed slightly. Even if they didn't know the difficulty of food carving, they could imagine it. And tofu carving...carving with soft tofu is undoubtedly even more difficult. This competition is simply too difficult!
They all looked at Ye Chui with some worry.
Then they saw Ye Chui was smiling, a very calm smile. He smiled and said to Lu Chen: "Tofu carving? Well, let's compete in tofu carving."
Ye Chui agreed to the competition so calmly, which was beyond the expectations of many chefs in Shenghua Garden. Lu Chen thought that Ye Chui would choose to retreat with an embarrassed look on his face, but he didn't expect him to agree so calmly. He snorted coldly and continued, "Okay, let's get started now. Manhanlou should have prepared enough tofu here."
"Of course." Ye Chui nodded, turned to Han Yuyan and said, "Dayu, go to the cabinet and get the tofu that we prepared this morning."
The restaurant is not open for business yet, but Ye Chui had already thought of this kind of competition, so he had people prepare all kinds of ingredients early in the morning. Han Yuyan agreed and took out a whole piece of tofu from the freezer. The tofu was of the best quality, with a white color and a uniform texture. If you touch it lightly, the whole piece of tofu will tremble slightly, showing great elasticity.
Lu Chen was very knowledgeable about tofu. After taking a look at it, he cut off a piece from the whole block of tofu.
Ye Chui also cut off a piece here.
Tofu carving needs to be done underwater, which is a skill and also a feature of tofu carving. Of course, some people choose to freeze the tofu slightly and then carve it after it becomes stiff. However, if they do this, the texture of the tofu will change. Although it will be easier to carve into shape, the taste will be inferior.
Ye Chui and Lu Chen both chose to carve underwater.
At Ye Chui's signal, Qin Yiyue called Meng Gang, Huang Yong and other waiters, moved two fish tanks from the water room nearby, filled them with water, and this was the place for tofu carving.
Meng Gang, Huang Yong and others had just arrived, and after knowing what was happening, they were all watching nervously outside the kitchen.
Lu Chen took out a shiny and slender kitchen knife. In the traditional Chinese food culture, kitchen knives are divided into six categories, namely, civil knife, military knife, civil and military knife, small knife, chopping knife and hatchet knife. The one Lu Chen took out was a small knife, which was specially used for cutting fruits and could also be used for some chef carving. With a smug look on his face, he held the tofu in one hand and the knife in the other, and reached deep into the water tank.
"Master, what kind of knife do you want to use?" Han Yuyan didn't know much about food carving. When he saw the knife used by Lu Chen, he immediately asked Ye Chui hurriedly.
"Just use that incense-cutting sword."
Ye Chui said with a smile, took out the chopped incense from the wooden box, and also held the tofu in one hand and the kitchen knife in the other hand and put it into the water.
Using chopped incense to make tofu carving
No matter whether it was Qin Yiyue, Han Yuyan, An Xiaoxiao, the chef from Shenghuayuan opposite, or the waiter standing at the kitchen door watching, they were all stunned: You know, although Zhanxiang is a top-quality kitchen knife, it is too heavy. It is definitely easy to use it to cut meat, but carving tofu... isn't this a little inappropriate
Tofu carving is obviously a very delicate job, and using a large kitchen knife is simply a bit wrong.
Lu Chen took a look at Ye Chui's actions and smiled coldly, obviously believing that Ye Chui was just messing around. It was only Ye Chui who came up with the idea of using a kitchen knife to carve tofu. He ignored Ye Chui and started carving in the water tank with ease. White tofu crumbs kept falling off, and the transparent water tank instantly became turbid and white. His vision was blocked, so he was carving blindly at this time, which was also one of the difficulties in tofu carving.
The chefs from Shenghua Garden were discussing in low voices.
"Chef Lu's tofu carving skills are very advanced. He has won awards in national food carving competitions. It's almost impossible to beat him!"
"His tofu carvings are lifelike and, most importantly, natural, and are considered works of art!"
"Some people even came to Shenghua Garden just to admire Master Lu's tofu carving skills. How can a young chef compare to him? I wonder what else Boss Ye can do to compete with him... Hey, why did Boss Ye take his hand out of the water tank?"
“Has he finished carving?”
"How is that possible? I think you accidentally broke the tofu so you want to get a new one!"
Amid the discussion, Ye Chui took his hand out of the water tank. On his palm, a flying dancer as crystal clear as white jade was alive and graceful, as if she could fly away at any time... (~^~)