Chapter 483: Chapter 476: Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way
Finally, after arranging the back kitchen affairs properly, Zhang Zhen hurriedly went to the barbecue area to find Fu Yu. He had a few cooking questions he wanted to consult with Fu Yu.
After painstaking practice during this time, Zhang Zhen gained a new understanding of his culinary skills.
The thought of Fu Yu possibly showing an appreciative expression upon hearing his insights and realizations about cooking made Zhang Zhen secretly delighted.
He walked briskly yet lightly, feeling like when he was a student who had independently solved a difficult exam question, eagerly anticipating the teacher’s correction and praise after handing in the paper.
When Zhang Zhen arrived at the barbecue area, he saw Fu Yu working together with two helpers.
Master Chen was also busy with an assistant, doing the grilling.
Next to the serving table stood a serving staff, reaching out to take the tray from the assistant.
Everyone in the barbecue area was working systematically, busy but orderly.
Seeing that Fu Yu was actually doing the marinating, Zhang Zhen smacked his lips.
It’s often said that a teacher for one day is a father for life.
In the past, Qianlima had Fu Yu under Master Chen’s guidance for a while, and now their relationship was obviously closer.
Master Chen utilized Fu Yu just like the other helpers under him, without any difference.
Thinking about the efforts he put in to please Fu Yu and make friends with him, Zhang Zhen couldn’t help but sigh.
Indeed, those who are close get the first advantage!
Compared to his own weekly interactions, Master Chen’s mentoring relationship with his disciple was certainly more solid.
However, it all depends on the efforts!
The more they interacted, the more Zhang Zhen admired Fu Yu.
He had a good personality, was perceptive, smart yet not arrogant, modest, talented, and diligent.
The most crucial point was that Fu Yu was very tight-lipped.
During everyday interactions, he was never heard talking behind others’ backs.
The things he talked about were always insignificant trivialities.
He never mentioned his family’s matters outside.
He was a very discreet person.
Such a person would easily get noticed and cultivated by the leaders, no matter where they went.
Gradually, Zhang Zhen could understand why someone with Zhao Meng’s temperament would look at Fu Yu with special regard and take him as a disciple.
Thinking of this, Zhang Zhen greeted with a smile, "Chef Chen, busy?"
The people around, busy with their tasks, turned simultaneously to look at the entrance upon hearing this.
Master Chen smiled, "Chef Zhang, is the red kitchen getting ready to close?"
Zhang Zhen stepped forward, "It will take a while. I just assigned the tasks. There are two big banquet bookings at the store tomorrow, so we’re working overtime tonight to be prepared, making it easier tomorrow."
Master Chen nodded understandingly, "Indeed, I heard one of the banquets is an engagement party?"
Zhang Zhen laughed, "Are you talking about the one on the second small floor?"
Master Chen’s eyes lit up, "Is it true?"
Zhang Zhen nodded. The two exchanged a smile and a knowing glance.
Fu Yu who was nearby, just about to greet them, saw the two exchanging mysterious glances.
The second small floor of the music restaurant is a cross-level banquet hall, accommodating over one hundred eighty tables. Those who could book it must have significant status.
Fu Yu didn’t know who they were talking about but could guess that it must be someone influential in the Bei’an Territory.
After some small talk with Master Chen, Zhang Zhen turned to Fu Yu, "Are you marinating?"
Fu Yu and two helpers were busy coating the sauce onto the ingredients.
The grilled cabbage at the music restaurant is a very popular specialty dish.
First, the cut cabbage is marinated before grilling.
This way, the marinated cabbage tastes original and even, with bright color, and when grilled with the restaurant’s special sauce, it is exceptionally delicious and unique.
Worried about disturbing their work, Zhang Zhen walked over to the side.
He peeked in and found Fu Yu had prepared the cabbage. The helpers were skewering it while he busied himself with marinating the mutton.
The music restaurant uses fresh mutton, and the marination time isn’t long. The focus is on the marination technique, requiring the mutton to be pressed and kneaded to allow the marinade to penetrate well.
Fu Yu isn’t bad at marinating, is he?
Zhang Zhen couldn’t help but look at Master Chen with doubt.
Master Chen was managing three grills on his own, busy with steam rising from his head, having no time to pay attention to Zhang Zhen’s side.
Zhang Zhen then looked at Fu Yu.
Last time, Fu Yu said he wasn’t good at marinating; why is he now specifically working here with the helpers in the grilling area?
Thinking of this, Zhang Zhen couldn’t help but feel very curious.
Even he did not realize that no matter what incomprehensible things happen, as long as it concerns Fu Yu, they somehow seem very natural.
Since Fu Yu would do it this way, there was naturally his reasoning.
Zhang Zhen stood by without speaking further, watching Fu Yu marinate with full concentration.
When marinating, the control over seasoning and the requirements for the technique are very high.
When marinating barbecue ingredients, you can’t use too much soy sauce or other salty seasonings.
Because sauce will be brushed on during grilling, you need to pay extra attention to the ratios.
Moreover, during marination, there is a time limit. You can’t soak for too long, so you rely on finger pressing to help the juice seep into the surface cracks of the meat.
Fu Yu had his own unique technique during marination.
When using alcohol for marination, he would evaporate the alcohol in advance.
This method was only mastered after repeated learning in practical teaching classes.
The electronic voice at that time originally said: If using alcohol to marinate any food, it’s best to first evaporate the alcohol. Retaining alcohol inside would prevent the food from completely absorbing the flavors in the marinade.
After personal attempts and tastings, Fu Yu strongly agreed with this viewpoint.
Fu Yu put the alcohol in a frying pan, then added seasoning.
He heated it to evaporate the alcohol, then cooled it and poured it over the meat.
The entire process was performed effortlessly by Fu Yu.
Zhang Zhen was not very familiar with grilling, so when he saw Fu Yu’s operation, he only felt his technique was very skillful, inexplicably carrying a kind of indescribable beauty.
Yet, the two helpers were dumbfounded.
Was this steaming the alcohol?
How did he know?
Such a method Master Chen had previously mentioned, saying it wasn’t worth using due to the difficulty in controlling the heat and timing.
After all, if the alcohol doesn’t fully evaporate, doing it would also waste time.
But now Fu Yu not only did it, but it looked perfect!
The two helpers exchanged glances.
No wonder!
Earlier, Master Chen said he wanted Fu Yu to give him some pointers on his grilling techniques.
At that time, they thought Master Chen was just being polite.
Never expected Fu Yu’s grilling techniques to be this sophisticated.
Even mastering such niche tricks.
It shows how exquisite his grilling skills are.
From then on, when doing marination, the two helpers treated Fu Yu with increasing respect and courtesy.
