Chapter 8, Four Parts Ingredients, Four Parts Culinary Skills

May I eat now

Ten large prawns were arranged in a circle, all of which had been processed to remove the intestinal vein. A few wild lotus seeds were placed in the center of the prawns, and there was a hint of faint black inside the prawns. When the prawns were nearly cooked, Gu Zheng used a straw to inject soy sauce into their bodies, allowing the prawns to fully absorb the aroma of the soy sauce without affecting their own freshness

It is ready now, you all sit at the dining table, I will go serve the dishes

Gu Zheng was deep in thought when he suddenly noticed three pairs of eyes staring intently at him. In the brief moment he had been communicating with the spirit of the vessel, the three dishes and one soup on the table had been consumed completely, leaving no trace behind, and not a single grain of rice remained in the bowls of the three individuals.

Holding the black-bone chicken soup, Gu Zheng said again. The three of them raised their hands simultaneously, and Wang Tao said with a hint of grievance: "While you were cooking, we had already washed our hands three times, knowing your rules, and we are all waiting to eat"

Gu Zheng nodded lightly, and upon hearing this, the three immediately rushed towards the dining table, their speed astonishing Gu Zheng, who was taken aback; they had never reacted this way before.

The voice of the spirit suddenly appeared, and Gu Zheng quickly picked up another piece of chicken, while wondering to himself: "I have eaten many delicious dishes and have made many as well, but I have never created anything this tasty. Why is that?"

Delicious

Wash your hands before eating

Before Gu Zheng could speak, the spirit of the vessel continued: "For instance, in your case, if it were not for the honey of ordinary quality, such a good effect would not be possible. Although the chicken you selected has not been contaminated and has consumed some inferior ingredients, without the honey of ordinary quality, it would at most just have a slightly better taste, but it would definitely lack such allure"

It is just average, but for you, it is already quite rare

Wang Tao swallowed hard and whispered something. Before Gu Zheng could respond, Du Yang and Zhao Yongkui simultaneously extended their jade-green bamboo chopsticks, each picking up a chicken wing.

The ingredients here are of very poor quality. In the primordial era, a single piece of excellent natural ingredient, without any cooking, is far more delicious than anything you have here. As for the remaining two points you mentioned, they refer to cultivation. Cultivation can enhance culinary skills and elevate the quality of ingredients. The higher the cultivation level, the better the food produced. The delicacies made by the esteemed Immortal Chef are renowned in the primordial era for being exceptional.

Of course, the quality of the sorghum is also very important. Gu Zheng understood that if it were replaced with another type of sorghum, it would not only be of inferior quality but would also lack this distinct flavor

Despite the many rules, a few people still look forward to the delicious dishes made by Gu Zheng because they are so tasty

This time, Gu Zheng did not refute the words of the spirit. He is a chef and is well aware of the role honey plays in this context. It is no wonder that the Immortal of Gluttony categorizes ingredients into different grades, as the difference between each level is indeed significant. Just by using ordinary ingredients like honey with the black-boned chicken, the flavor becomes so delicious. For the first time, Gu Zheng felt a sense of anticipation for the ingredients collected by the Immortal of Gluttony

The lid of the black-bone chicken soup pot was first opened, and the three of them took a sniff. This soup was the first one made, simmered for a full two hours, allowing the nutrients of the black-bone chicken and wild ginseng to blend into the rich broth. Previously covered, it now released a burst of accumulated aroma as soon as the lid was lifted, eliciting exclamations from the three.

The hands of the three individuals are indeed clean. Gu Zheng refrains from mentioning this matter again and one by one presents the delicacies. Gu Zheng's tableware is made of Jingdezhen porcelain, specifically ordered for this occasion. Gu Zheng is unaware of the exact firing process, but most of this tableware, along with the illustrated books, is exported abroad for use in renowned restaurants.

Is there any left after eating?

So fragrant

Biting into the chicken wings, the two made indistinct sounds. Seeing that the chicken wings were gone, Wang Tao hurriedly picked up a small drumstick. Gu Zheng looked at them and shook his head with a smile, gently picking up a piece of the cut drumstick and placing it in his mouth

According to the spirit's words, the collection of the Devouring Immortal contains many high-grade items, and the excellent quality of the exquisite ingredients is tastier than any existing delicacies without even being cooked. I truly cannot imagine how delicious the dishes made from high-grade ingredients must be.

I understand, you are correct. Without honey, this honey-glazed chicken will definitely not have such a flavor, even if the other ingredients are of inferior quality

Are you ready, Gu Zheng? If it doesn't get better, I will either starve to death or be driven to desperation!

You are not wrong in what you said; I believe the proportion of ingredients should be higher. How did it become four parts ingredients, four parts culinary skills, and what are the remaining two parts?

The last dish prepared is honey-glazed chicken, made using the wings and thighs of black-boned chicken, along with some cut pieces of chicken breast.

The golden chicken wings and drumsticks were arranged in a crescent shape. As soon as the lid was opened, the rich aroma that had been accumulating beneath it for a long time burst forth completely. This time, even Gu Zheng couldn't help but inhale deeply. If it weren't for the presence of several others, he would have wanted to take a piece and taste it right away

Gu Zheng could not help but exclaim that what he had just made smelled wonderful; he knew that, but he had not tasted it. This flavor was equally unexpected for him. He had eaten many good things before, but none had such a taste.

Gu Zheng's eyes suddenly brightened, the chicken was rich yet not greasy, dispersing as if it had melted. The sweet and fragrant chicken made Gu Zheng unable to resist chewing quickly, his mouth filled with the enticing flavor that stimulated his saliva, and soon the entire piece of chicken was swallowed down.

Du Yang spoke urgently, while the other two nodded vigorously. They were unwilling to go outside, leaving behind the enticing aroma of Gu Zheng's cooking, yet it was tormenting them greatly.

Three dishes and one soup, each person has a small bowl, in which lies slightly golden sorghum. The sorghum emits a faint sweet aroma, greatly stimulating one's appetite

Delicious, truly delicious

Next served is stir-fried wild lotus seeds. After Gu Zheng has stir-fried the wild lotus seeds, they are arranged in a heart shape, with two green leaves beneath the heart, resembling hands supporting a green heart. Surrounding the wild lotus seeds are a few mountain mushrooms, which do not clash with the overall presentation but rather enhance the richness of the colors.

Sorghum has been cooked; sorghum is classified as a coarse grain. When simply steamed, its texture is average. However, adding honey can enhance the flavor of the sorghum, increase its aroma, and make the meal more delicious

Pour the last few drops of honey into the sorghum, and Gu Zheng let out a heavy sigh of relief

So beautiful

Gu Zheng ate while asking, the chicken was delicious, and the sorghum was not bad either. The honey he added to the sorghum was simply a stroke of genius, not only completely changing the texture of the sorghum but also making it much smoother, resulting in a pleasant and tasty experience.

"Just a moment, it will be ready soon"

There are indeed many traditional customs. When he is cooking, others are not allowed to enter the kitchen or offer assistance. Before eating, one must wash their hands, and during the meal, one should not speak loudly among other rules

In any cuisine, the quality of the ingredients is of utmost importance. Even with the most skilled cooking techniques, if the ingredients are subpar, it is impossible to create truly delicious dishes. According to your customs, if a dish is rated a perfect ten, then four points are attributed to the ingredients and four points to the culinary skills

What are you doing?

As soon as he opened the sliding door of the kitchen, Gu Zheng noticed three people standing behind the door, looking very sneaky.

This set of ancient disputes was ordered by his father