Chapter 513: Chapter 511: Who in Their Right Mind Eats Two Plates of West Lake Vinegar Fish?

This West Lake Vinegar Fish seems different from what I know.

Once Wang Fan started the cooking process, he stopped talking, while Sanxin and Fu Zixin watched Wang Fan’s skillful performance with full attention.

Marinating, simmering over low heat, taking it out of the pot, thickening the sauce—every step was unhurried and full of grace.

With such composure, it seemed as if everything was under control.

When the dish was finally ready, they were surprised to find that Wang Fan didn’t use a disposable food box, but instead took a plate from a steamy basin, dried it with absorbent paper, placed the fish directly on the plate, and then poured the heavy, thickened sauce over it.

Zhuo Qianqian had already set up a small table outside the car, with two small stools placed beside it.

Wang Fan explained, "This dish must be eaten hot. Using something cold affects the taste, and it must be eaten within three minutes after coming out of the pot, or else the taste will be compromised."

!!!

Simultaneously, three big exclamation points popped up in the minds of Sanxin and Fu Zixin.

Who the heck knew that eating West Lake Vinegar Fish had so many requirements?!

The locals born and bred here didn’t even know this!

Suddenly, the two had some new expectations for this dish.

As soon as they sat down, Wang Fan placed two plates on the table with his steady hands.

"Eat while it’s hot. I’ve removed all the fish bones, so you can enjoy it without worry."

Nodding unconsciously, the two of them eagerly picked up their chopsticks.

Could this dish, which the whole country criticized, have a second chance under Boss Wang’s hands?

Sanxin felt that just as his chopsticks touched the fish, without much effort, the flesh tore away effortlessly.

Moreover, the state of the fish was completely different from before.

The fish they had before was in small chunks, but this one wasn’t; it was very tender and soft.

No, not soft and mushy, but soft and tender!

The fish picked up by chopsticks was in a complete shape, and although it seemed that a little force could break it apart, its appearance was intact.

You could feel the difference just by picking up the first bite, let alone eating it.

Fu Zixin, being carefree, directly popped a piece of fish into his mouth.

Sour, sweet, and slightly spicy with minced ginger, the same sauce flavor but in a different proportion, creating a completely different taste.

After these three magical flavors blended on his palate, he unexpectedly tasted the fresh and fragrant flavor that you get from freshly cooked crab claw meat.

This amazing discovery made him widen his eyes and look at Sanxin, "My gosh, Xin, is this the real West Lake Vinegar Fish? It feels completely different from before."

Sanxin, holding some meat that he hadn’t eaten yet, instinctively became wary after hearing this, "You’re not trying to trick me, are you? To deceive me into thinking it’s delicious?"

Fu Zixin immediately swore, "If I’m lying to you, I’m a puppy! It’s really delicious! It actually feels kind of like eating river crab, and a very flavorful one at that."

Sanxin sniffed the fish on his chopsticks—nothing but a rich vinegar aroma and a touch of ginger fragrance; where’s the crab smell?

Cautiously putting the meat into his mouth, the rich, savory taste surprised his palate as well.

My gosh!

Is this truly the taste of West Lake Vinegar Fish?!

Such a tender texture, such a fresh and savory flavor, the sour is that sour, the sweet is that sweet, but when combined, it somehow feels totally mismatched with the notion of ’West Lake Vinegar Fish’?

This isn’t scientific!

Raising his head incredulously to look at Wang Fan, "Boss Wang, is this really ’authentic’ West Lake Vinegar Fish?"

He truly believed Boss Wang could make grass carp delicious.

But for Boss Wang to make ’West Lake Vinegar Fish’ delicious, that was something he really found hard to believe.

If you said the ingredients and method were altered, then being tasty would be possible; following the authentic way and still being delicious, that would be like a slap in the face to those Hangzhou restaurant chefs, wouldn’t it?

Wang Fan really didn’t change the formula.

Marinating, selecting fish, slow simmering, etc., had not changed, perhaps with a slight tweak to the seasoning at the end to suit his taste, but that didn’t amount to any real improvement in this dish.

"Yes, it’s authentic West Lake Vinegar Fish, except I didn’t use fish from West Lake."

Wang Fan’s answer genuinely took them by surprise.

They didn’t change it?!

Still doubtful, the two picked another piece of fish, tore the tender meat open, and popped it straight into their mouths.

Without specially dipping it in the sauce, the sauce’s flavor was slightly weaker, and the side touching the plate hardly soaked up any sauce.

But because of this, Sanxin truly tasted what made this fish different. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

The fish underneath wasn’t fully marinated, and it almost had no flavor with each bite.

But this allowed him to perfectly savor the freshness and delicacy of the grass carp.

The tender fish melted in the mouth, with a light fresh sweetness enough to dazzle the entire palate.

Furthermore, while chewing, it seemed possible to squeeze out fresh sweet juice from the fish, a sensation never experienced before.

Is this the magic of hot plates?

Hiss...

Sanxin took a sharp breath.

Here I am in distant Guizhou, eating delicious and genuine ’West Lake Vinegar Fish’!

If this title goes up, won’t it stir a lot of furor?

I’m just scared that the local Hangzhou hotel chefs might mince me for a dish...

This idea is pretty dangerous!

But what should one do when it’s the truth?

Fu Zixin, who had been hungry all morning, wasn’t burdened with such thoughts.

After experiencing thrilling rafting and now enjoying Boss Wang’s culinary masterpiece, a dish notoriously known for being unpalatable yet unexpectedly delicious, West Lake Vinegar Fish.

To him right now, nothing in the world is more significant than a full belly.

Let’s feast!

Boneless fish is incredibly tender and refreshingly sour, boosting the appetite of his already hungry stomach.

A 1.5-pound fish was disappearing before the naked eye.

In the end, he greedily picked up the fish spine without any tiny bones and sucked all the spine meat clean.

Patting his belly, "Is this just five-tenths full?"

"Xin, don’t you like it? Boss Wang said we should eat it quickly, let me help you finish some, okay."

As he spoke, the greedy chopsticks had already extended toward Sanxin’s plate.

"Hey! Let go of that piece of fish!"

Sanxin was about to shout when he remembered that this was his buddy he brought along.

Since he brought him out, he must make sure not to let him be shorted; if he liked it, let him eat. Anyway, I could always ask for more!

"Little Brother Wang, another two large portions for me!"

Standing right there with the chef, wouldn’t be afraid of not getting more fish?

Wang Fan responded and went on to start cooking again, but the scene left the onlookers who just came ashore dumbfounded.

West Lake Vinegar Fish!

That is authentic West Lake Vinegar Fish!

Even made by Boss Wang, how could the authentic version be delicious?

What kind of warrior could go for a second bite?

No, it isn’t even just the second bite, it’s the second fish!

A set-up!

It must be a set-up!

I just can’t believe they’d finish a second one!

What kind of decent person could consecutively eat two West Lake Vinegar Fish?!