"Honestly."
"Every time he comes up with a new dish, it's always unconventional."
"Tofu itself is extremely soft. Making it into a spherical shape and then stuffing it into ham is really difficult and completely unnecessary!"
"Cutting tofu into domino blocks and steaming it with the ham would probably be better."
"Why go to such lengths?"
Erina, who was watching curiously from the side, felt puzzled.
Clearly, Zane's new dish once again broke her understanding.
...
When it comes to cooking, simpler is often better.
Even Erina, who once believed in noble cuisine, often emphasized convenience and speed.
There is a dish called "Eggplant Paste" that uses ten different ingredients to complement one eggplant.
Such dishes, which make it hard to distinguish the primary ingredient, often annoyed Erina with her God's Tongue because she could never tell if she was tasting eggplant or chicken.
The essence of cooking should be to remove all unnecessary tricks.
Use the simplest and most effective methods to bring out the original, pure flavors of the food!
But Zane's ham-steamed tofu dish did the opposite, choosing complexity over simplicity by painstakingly making tofu balls instead of using straightforward tofu blocks.
"Sigh, I really don't understand."
"What's the point of this dish?"
Unable to figure it out, Erina just rubbed her temples and continued watching Zane cook.
...
Once steamed.
The salty flavor of the ham had completely infused into the tofu.
Especially when the steamer was opened, a rich and complex aroma spread throughout the entire Tavern.
Such a smell was enough to make anyone feel joyful just by imagining it!
But imagination is one thing.
In reality, the ham-steamed tofu didn't look very appealing.
Because the ham had 24 small holes with 24 tofu balls stuffed in them, it wasn't very attractive.
"This..."
"Zane, can you tell me the name of this dish?"
Anne, who knew how troublesome this dish was to make and how creative it was, quickly asked Zane.
"Don't judge it by its appearance; this dish has a beautiful name, 'Twenty-Four Bridges under the Moonlight'."
"Twenty-Four Bridges under the Moonlight?"
"Is that... from an ancient Chinese poem?"
Anne thought for a moment and then asked.
"Smart!"
"The twenty-four bridges refer to the 24 small holes."
"As for the moonlight, it refers to the tofu balls that look like bright moons."
Zane explained.
"Oh? Hearing you explain it like that makes me even more excited to try it."
Anne's eyes sparkled with anticipation as she eagerly picked up her chopsticks to taste the dish.
...
She picked up a slice of ham.
Its rich flavor filled her mouth instantly, making her feel delighted.
Then she tried a piece of tofu. The silky texture seemed to dance on her tongue, and the light tofu flavor lingered in her mouth.
If she tasted carefully, she could find the salty flavor of the ham contrasting with the light flavor of the tofu.
The ham added layers to the light tofu, and the tofu's softness countered the ham's richness, making the overall taste both rich and balanced.
"The ham is flavorful, and the tofu is light."
"The contrast between strong and mild, meat and vegetable, makes them blend perfectly."
"The steamed tofu absorbed the ham's salty flavor, becoming smooth and tender, filled with juice. The addition of scallion oil enhanced the ham's aroma while highlighting the tofu's freshness."
"Eating them together brings different textures colliding and blending in the mouth."
"Amazing, using just these ingredients to create such an incredible taste experience. Zane is truly remarkable!"
Swallowing the food, Anne's eyes seemed a bit dreamy.
This dish was originally created by Huang Rong to earn Hong Qigong's favor, so it naturally required a lot of effort.
Although making moon-like tofu balls in ancient times required Huang Rong's martial arts skills, modern techniques offer several ways to shape tofu into balls.
Nevertheless, the core of this dish remains the same: choosing complexity over simplicity.
It requires the chef to be meticulous, emphasizing heaviness, clumsiness, and great skill, embodying the idea that "clumsiness surpasses skill, skill surpasses power," and highlighting the essence of "cleverness."
...
Gradually.
Anne entered a strange realm.
She saw herself on a mountain peak, where a tall and sturdy figure stood like part of the mountain, blending with the surrounding rocks and trees.
He wore a white robe, with deep eyes like the sea, holding countless stories and secrets.
In the moonlight, he held a flute, smooth as jade and glowing softly.
He began to play.
The sound was ancient and solemn, evoking both sadness and grandeur!
The mountain wind gently stirred his robe, making his figure appear even more solitary and determined under the moonlight.
As the flute music faded, Anne woke up from her dream.
"Miss, would you like to play the flute with me?"
Zane, the swordsman, slowly put away his flute and looked at Anne.
"I... I would love to!"
Anne's heart pounded, and she agreed.
In the end, only Zane and Anne remained on the mountain, with the flute music lingering.
At that moment, Anne wished time could stop so this beautiful scene could become eternal, allowing her to always feel the unique charm and elegance of the Chinese swordsman!
...
"What?"
"What's happening to me?"
"How could a simple dish like ham-steamed tofu make me... I can't... this is too much!"
Coming back from her fantasy, Anne shuddered and almost fainted.
It took her a while to calm down and regain her composure.
"Zane, it's said that Chinese cuisine values harmony and balance, which is likely reflected in this dish too, right?"
"Impressive."
"Your understanding of cuisine is truly exceptional."
Zane took a deep breath and nodded, "In fact, all Chinese dishes follow the principles of yin and yang."
"The distinction between yin and yang can be viewed from many angles."
"Active animals are yang, like cows and sheep, while lazy animals are yin, like pigs."
"Low-moisture foods are yang, like ham and carrots."
"High-moisture foods are yin, like tofu."
"So, this 'Twenty-Four Bridges under the Moonlight' dish indeed reflects the traditional balance of yin and yang."
Hearing this, Anne pondered and then realized, "So Chinese cuisine aims to find what's suitable for oneself."
"It's not about pursuing high-end food but ensuring balance and health. Even simple home-cooked dishes can be the best as long as they achieve this."
"Exactly."
"In my view, every ingredient has its own value and use."
"Bitter melon is bitter but nutritious, while honey is sweet and beneficial."
"It's about how you discover these values!"
"Yes!"
"That's well said, and I fully agree."
Anne nodded in agreement.
...
"Alice, are we in the right place?"
"Mom, we are. Zane must have renovated the Tavern again."
Just then, Leonora and Alice entered the Tavern, their reactions very different.
"Renovated?"
"Zane truly is capable!"
Leonora found a seat near the cooking area and marveled at the changes.
Today, she wore a simple lavender dress that accentuated her figure perfectly.
Her mature charm was enough to captivate anyone.
"What a pleasant surprise!"
"Here are some of our new coffees to try."
Zane brought over two cups of coffee and smiled at the mother and daughter.
"Zane, it's been a while."
Alice's eyes sparkled with joy.
"Alice, since you came with your mother, have you decided what to eat?"
Zane continued, looking into Alice's eyes.
"No, we thought you could recommend something."
"How about Fire Dumplings?"
"Fire Dumplings? Do they actually shoot flames?"
Alice asked curiously.
"Of course not. They're called Fire Dumplings because they look like flames."
Zane chuckled.
"Alright, two orders of Fire Dumplings, please."
"Okay, wait a moment."
...
In northern China, pork is the primary meat for dumplings.
"Good pork is from the shoulder or belly," the saying goes.
According to Zane's experience, the best pork for dumplings is from the shoulder, leg, or belly, while other parts are inferior.
He chose pork with a 30/70 fat-to-lean ratio.
Using the cleaver technique, he finely chopped the pork.
Then he added soy sauce, salt, and other seasonings, mixing it thoroughly in one direction.
This allowed the protein in the pork to bond, making the mixture sticky enough to hold the vegetables and other ingredients.
"It's not shrimp dumplings but pork?"
Temporary worker Erina realized that these so-called Fire Dumplings were not shrimp dumplings but pork dumplings.
"Erina."
"Why are you here at the Tavern?"
Hearing the familiar voice, Alice looked up, surprised to see Erina.
"I've been standing here for a while. Now you notice?"
Erina pushed her hair back coolly, "Since the residential training ended, I've been working here as a temp!"
"What?"
"A temp?"
Alice was completely shocked.
She never expected Erina to stay at the Tavern this way.
...
A 30/70 fat-to-lean ratio is ideal for pork.
Such meat is tender, without sinews, and juicy.
All lean meat is usually dry and tough, and it doesn't make good filling.
But overly fatty meat also affects the dumpling's taste, making it less appetizing.
Of course.
Even the best pork is still just pork!
Using shoulder, leg, or belly won't make much difference.
"It seems like he's using very ordinary ingredients."
"I can't see how these Fire Dumplings differ from regular dumplings."
Leonora
sipped her coffee, secretly watching Zane cook.
Before, seeing a chef use ordinary pork for dumplings would have disappointed her.
But knowing Zane's cooking never ceases to surprise, she remained expectant.
...
After preparing the pork filling, it was time to make the dumpling wrappers.
Zane poured flour into a bowl, added boiling water, and quickly stirred it with a rolling pin.
Then he sprinkled cold water, broke it into small pieces to release the heat.
Finally, using his deft hands, he kneaded it into a dough, covered it with a damp cloth, and set it aside.
He rolled the dough into rounds, filled them with pork, folded them into half-moons, and crimped the edges.
Thus, the raw Fire Dumplings took shape.
"Fried dumplings?"
At this moment, Leonora finally understood.
These Fire Dumplings were like pan-fried dumplings!
He placed the dumplings on a bamboo mat inside a unique Chinese clay pot.
He coated them with chicken oil and covered the pot, letting them cook over heat.
"Wait."
"How is this possible?"
Leonora, realizing something, covered her mouth in shock.