The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World

The grilled pacific saury, accompanied by small sour tangerines and grated radish drizzled with soy sauce, is ready for plating.

Fu Yu always uses a long plate for serving, a medium-sized long plate for a single fish.

The small sour tangerines are placed in a wide-mouthed round cup, and the grated radish is squeezed into a flower shape as decoration.

A server came over to collect the dish.

While plating, Fu Yu instructed, "The fish head on the left, the belly facing the customer, and the back facing outward."

The server nodded, "Got it, Chef Fu."

When the server left, Fu Yu looked up and noticed Liu Yuqing was still recording, so he casually said, "Sour tangerines and grated radish are essential for grilled pacific saury; without one, it feels incomplete."

Liu Yuqing inwardly approved: Absolutely right!

She also loved eating it this way the most.

Fu Yu continued, "For grilled pacific saury, the flesh is very tender. The innards are on the side of the fish belly, where the meat is just a thin layer. If you poke too deeply with chopsticks, you’ll hit the innards. If you don’t eat the innards, you can gently scrape off the meat from the belly with chopsticks. Pacific saury has many bones, but they’re soft. If you’re too lazy to pick bones, you can eat them along with the meat; after all, they say eating fish bones helps supplement calcium."

Liu Yuqing laughed out loud, only then realizing she could stop recording.

"Chef Fu, let’s add each other on WeChat so I can send you the video."

Fu Yu wiped his hands, took out his phone, and exchanged WeChat contacts with Liu Yuqing.

Liu Yuqing’s nickname is: Little Sun.

The avatar is a picture of a cartoon sun, looking quite cheerful.

Liu Yuqing sent the video to Fu Yu and sincerely praised, "Chef Fu, I find that you cook with such dedication, no wonder everyone says your culinary skills are great!"

Fu Yu was taken aback, suddenly remembering a reprimanding phrase Zhao Meng had once said to Sun Qingning.

Back then, Sun Qingning had just started handling the ladle, finished cooking a dish, and had Zhao Meng review it.

Zhao Meng straightforwardly said that the dish lacked soul.

At that time, Fu Yu was purely watching for amusement, listening to Zhao Meng scold Sun Qingning, not taking the words to heart.

But now, listening to Liu Yuqing compliment him out of politeness, he unexpectedly recalled that event.

He used to think that when Zhao Meng reprimanded people, saying the dish had no soul, it was merely a phrase for encouragement, casually spoken.

But, thinking back to those words, and Zhao Meng’s mindset when saying them, he suddenly had a moment of realization.

How do you cook a dish to give it soul?

Simply going through the motions to complete a job is a lackluster act.

There’s no consideration of the meaning and process of cooking.

It’s similar to filming a movie, following the script from start to finish without adding personal understanding and thought.

There’s a lack of understanding of the whole work and the story’s intended message.

So, for a dish, what gives it soul? 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Chef Fu, I’m leaving now."

Liu Yuqing said goodbye and returned to the front hall.

Fu Yu, as he had no grilling orders for the moment, also turned towards the Red Case District.

As he walked, he frowned in deep thought, feeling as if he vaguely captured some idea.

What is soul?

When starting to cook a dish, regardless of the ingredients chosen, the intended flavor, or even the cooking methods employed.

The ultimate goal is undoubtedly to make the dish well.

And the quality of a dish depends on whether it is visually appealing, aromatic, and flavorful.

Take the just-grilled pacific saury, for example.

How can grilled pacific saury be given soul?

Anyone can grill pacific saury, much like anyone can film a movie if picked randomly from the circle.

But who can achieve the best result, earning the audience’s recognition?

Essentially, both follow the same logic.

To give a dish soul, it seems the dish must be treated as a living entity.

How to integrate one’s cooking ideas and skills into the cooking process.

Consider how to make the dish more appealing in terms of color, aroma, and taste.

In that moment, Fu Yu seems to have an epiphany!

He looked at the bustling kitchen scene, lost in thought.

The key elements during the grilling of the pacific saury, were the control of heat and seasoning ratio.

The texture of the pacific saury is tender, and the skin is very thin. Although inherently rich in oils, when grilling, it’s crucial to brush oil on the grill to prevent sticking.

During operation, due to his experience in hands-on teaching practice, Fu Yu can accurately avoid all potential damages to the grilled fish’s surface.

Actually, he didn’t realize that he was already considering the best ways to grill the pacific saury, minimizing any factors that could potentially affect a customer’s appetite.

Maintaining the integrity of the saury’s skin is also an effective way to enhance the visual appeal for customers, boosting their appetite.

In the grilling process, Fu Yu pondered each step.

From the size of the charcoal fire, to the timing of flipping the pacific saury, to the degree of oil grilling suitable for sprinkling seasonings, and finally all the details in the plating process.

For the first time post-cooking, Fu Yu tried summarizing his operation.

However, in the end, there’s still a lack of experience.

Perhaps once the task is truly complete, he might develop an optimal grilling method in the realm of barbecue.

It wouldn’t just be heat control; perhaps he could innovate a well-received secret seasoning blend.

Henceforth, when mentioned by others, the name attached would be "Fu’s Barbecue"!

Thinking of this, Fu Yu couldn’t help but feel a bit excited!

Once someone sets a goal, they are immediately motivated.

Fu Yu knew clearly that what he should do now is, with an open mind, to use dedication, thinking, and summation.

The kitchen was bustling. Zhao Meng was focused on the steaming seafood.

Sun Qingning, stealing a moment amidst busyness, saw Fu Yu had returned. Just about to greet him, he saw Fu Yu was deep in thought, so he didn’t dare to interrupt.

They were quite familiar with each other by now.

Knowing that in this state, Fu Yu certainly didn’t want to be disturbed.

Sun Qingning turned around, about to continue cooking, when suddenly Fu Yu came over, saying, "Qingning, can you help me with a new record again?"

Sun Qingning was puzzled, surprised, and asked, "What record?"

Fu Yu smiled, "Remember when Master Chen mentioned that he used a secret seasoning recipe passed down from his mentors for barbecue?"

Sun Qingning nodded, "I remember! Master Chen’s barbecue seasoning is indeed tasty, customers respond positively!"

Fu Yu smiled lightly, "Do you think it’s possible for me to innovate a new barbecue recipe as well?"

Sun Qingning was taken aback, astonished, "Chef Fu, Master Chen’s recipe is a legacy from his mentors. Are you suggesting that Chef Zhao should also pass you a master’s exclusive technique?"

Fu Yu confidently replied, "Why should I rely on him? Do you believe that I can independently create an entirely new barbecue recipe!"

Sun Qingning: "!"