NOVEL WEB Chapter 79.2
After more than half a month of selection, Li Linfu finally chose 100 new dishes and 10 types of fine wines to be presented at the gourmet festival for Lin Beifan to taste.
On the day of the gourmet festival, the common folk gathered in droves, creating a sea of people.
Lin Beifan sat upon the dragon throne, addressing the chefs and common folk who had gathered from all around, saying:
“As the saying goes, ‘Food is the first necessity of the people!'”
“For the common people, eating is of the utmost importance; it’s not only about being full but also about enjoying delicious food! I, too, am very fond of gourmet dishes, which is why I have spared no expense in collecting fine wines and exquisite foods from all over and have organized the first Great Xia Culinary Festival!”
“If this culinary festival is successful, we will hold it annually from now on. I hope everyone will participate enthusiastically!”
“Enough talk, let the tasting begin!”
With those words, the first dish was presented.
Lin Beifan looked at the somewhat familiar dish before him and was momentarily stunned.
Because of this thing, he had tasted it in his previous life.The chef standing by hurriedly explained, “Your Majesty, this is rice that I ground into powder and then cooked with water to make a paste. After steaming, it turns into a sheet of dough, which is then filled with minced meat! The taste is extremely delicious, tender, and not sticky to the teeth! Please, Your Majesty, have a taste!”
Lin Beifan laughed, “I see this thing looks like intestines, all coiled and knotted. Let’s just call it ‘rice noodle roll’!”
The chef was overjoyed, “Thank you, Your Majesty, for the name!”
With the Emperor’s endorsement, this dish also made a name for itself!
Lin Beifan took a few bites and smiled, “This rice noodle roll tastes good, just as you said, delicious, tender, and not sticky to the teeth! If some sauce is added, like tomato sauce or mustard sauce, the flavor should be even more delightful!”
“Your Majesty’s words are most true; after I return, I will attempt this!” the commoner said.
“Unfortunately, I have tasted a similar dish like this before, so I cannot grant you my favor! However, the fact that you were able to make it shows your dedication! Here is a reward of twenty taels of silver. I hope you can use this money to open a shop so that more people can taste your cooking!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Although the chef was disappointed not to have won Lin Beifan’s favor, being named by Lin Beifan and receiving twenty taels of silver as seed money was still considered a good value.
The second dish was quickly presented.
It was a chicken wing. A roasted, fragrant, golden-brown yet plump and swollen chicken wing.
Lin Beifan fell silent, for he had also tasted this dish before.
Li Linfu said with some pride, “Your Majesty, this is no ordinary chicken wing; it contains a universe within!”
Lin Beifan’s face remained expressionless: “Minister Li, you’re not going to tell me that this chicken wing is stuffed with rice, are you?”
Li Linfu was shocked: “Your Majesty, how did you know?”
“Because I have eaten a similar thing before!”
Lin Beifan grabbed the chicken wing and started gnawing on it: “This thing is a bit like a dumpling, but it’s also a bit different! Ordinary dumplings are wrapped with dough on the outside and meat on the inside, but this thing has meat on the outside wrapping rice. How about we call it a ‘Chicken Wing Dumpling’?”
“Thank you for the name, Your Majesty!” the chef exclaimed with great joy.
“This dish tastes good. If the rice inside were replaced with glutinous rice and some cured meat were added, the flavor would be even more delicious and fragrant! It’s a pity that I have already tasted a similar dish, so I cannot grant you a reward for it. Here are twenty taels of silver for you. I hope you can use this money to open a shop so that more people can come and taste it!”
“Thank you, Your Majesty, for the reward!”
Subsequently, Lin Beifan tasted one dish after another.
With each dish, he was able to pinpoint the critique accurately and even suggest improvements.
His level of culinary appreciation was extremely high, prompting people to exclaim that he was truly a gourmet.
In fact, Lin Beifan was indeed a real gourmet.
The soul, hailing from a civilization with a 5,000-year-old culinary culture and having served as an Emperor for so long, had tasted all sorts of exquisite things. Naturally, his level of appreciation for fine food was high.
However, after sampling dozens of dishes, there were hardly any that satisfied him.
His exacting standards greatly worried the chefs who were yet to present their creations.
Among these chefs was a pair of a granddaughter and a grandfather.
The granddaughter was quite young, only about 10 years old, and she expressed her concern, “Grandpa, the Emperor is too picky. Will our dish be good enough?”
“Nannan, don’t worry! This is a recipe I’ve spent over a decade perfecting. It will certainly gain the Emperor’s approval!” the grandfather said with conviction. However, his clenched fists and the sweat on his palms betrayed his inner turmoil.
At that moment, Lin Beifan’s table was served with 10 new dishes, accompanied by a jar of wine.
Lin Beifan was somewhat bewildered: “What is this…?”
“Your Majesty, these dishes and wine are all provided by an elderly chef!” Li Linfu explained.
“I see!” Lin Beifan turned his head and saw an elderly chef with graying hair but a burly figure, accompanied by a cute and delicate little girl who seemed somewhat timid and scared.
Lin Beifan first tasted the first dish.
When the lid was lifted, Lin Beifan was stunned: “Is this bear’s paw?”
He picked up a piece with chopsticks and tasted it, then laughed: “This is bear’s paw, yet it is not bear’s paw!”
“Your Majesty is wise!”
The old chef bowed with his hands clasped together: “This is a bear’s paw made from tofu, which not only replicates the taste of a bear’s paw but also makes it even more delicious and rich!”
Lin Beifan was greatly pleased: “This dish is excellent; does it have a name?”
“This is the first time I have served it, so it does not yet have a name. Please, Your Majesty, would you honor it with a name?”
“Then let’s call it ‘Lotus Bear’s Paw,’ since it is made from tofu, which is as tender and white as a freshly bloomed lotus!”
“Thank you for the name, Your Majesty!” The old chef bowed joyfully.
“This dish is very good; I have never tasted anything like it before. Reward him with a hundred taels of silver!”
“Thank you for the reward, Your Majesty!”
Lin Beifan tasted the second dish and discovered it was yet another new creation.
The third dish, the fourth dish, the fifth dish…
Ten dishes in total, and each one was a new culinary experience. Lin Beifan was so enchanted by the flavors that he lavished praise and rewards.
Even the wine was new and exceptionally delicious.
The common folk all exclaimed in amazement.
“Goodness, just like that, he’s earned 1,100 taels, equivalent to more than 40 cement houses!”
“What, 1100 taels? If he contributes the method of production, that would be 11,000 taels of silver!”
“And there’s even a chance to become an official, impressive!”
“What’s the background of this old chef, to be so awesome?”
Thus, the myth of wealth was born, and everyone envied this chef to death.
After finishing the meal, Lin Beifan wiped his mouth and said with profound meaning, “Old man, each dish shows great skill, and I have never tasted any of them before. It seems you are no ordinary chef!”
The old chef gritted his teeth, bowed with his hands clasped and said, “Your Majesty, I was once a royal chef in the Shang Kingdom!”
“Why did you stop working there?”
“Because I was falsely accused of poisoning the food, and thus I was thrown into the great prison! If it weren’t for Your Majesty leading your troops to accidentally rescue me, my granddaughter and I might have lost our heads! Your Majesty, you are like another parents to my granddaughter and me!”
Lin Beifan laughed, “I didn’t expect such a twist of fate! I very much enjoy the dishes you prepare, and since you have previously served as an Imperial Chef, I now invite you to enter the palace and cook for me. Would you be willing?”
“I am willing, and I thank Your Majesty for your great kindness!” The grandfather and granddaughter were overjoyed.
Following that, Lin Beifan continued to taste the delicacies.
However, there were hardly any that satisfied him completely, but he still rewarded them with money to encourage their efforts.
The first Food Festival came to a successful conclusion, but the impact it had was just beginning.
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