abcnovels
Chapter 137 - 137: Your Fish Isn ‘t Authentic
Chapter 137 - 137: Your Fish Isn ‘t Authentic
Chapter 137: Your Fish Isn ‘t Authentic
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Fragrant.
It was too fragrant.
This fragrance contained the elegance of red wine, the sweetness of fish, and the aroma of some unknown spice…
White, wispy clouds of steam curled up, filling the classroom with the tantalizing smell of He Jing’s pan-fried sole. Under its influence, all who inhaled it became subjects to the kingly scent, causing countless souls to swallow their saliva, their stomachs aching with want.
It was not time to eat yet, but the mouth-watering aroma had whet the appetites of those present. It was as if they were gluttonous beasts lured over by their unfettered desires.
He Jing scooped the fragrant sole out of the pan. Everyone wanted a bite, their actions controlled by some primal instinct that demanded their stomachs be filled.
He Jing cut her sole into dozens of evenly sized portions. Only then did the class realize that He Jing had fried not one but six fish. No wonder she was so slow!
To fry six fish in one pan… Wouldn’t it take at least 30 minutes if she were to fry them one at a time? Not to mention how long it would take most to prepare the fish… When they looked at the clock, they were astounded that only 35 minutes had passed since the start of class.
Heavens! What kind of speed was this?
Hadn’t she spent a long time preparing the sauce earlier?
Could it be that the long time in their eyes was only a few minutes in her hands?
At this moment, a pure and innocent female voice sounded from the side. “It looks like a home-cooked dish.”
Zhou Qiu returned to his senses and quickly walked up to He Jing. He looked at her sauce and shook his head, pretending to be regretful. “No, this isn’t authentic French cuisine. Student He Jing, you might have to redo it.”
He Jing was plating her food when she heard her teacher’s comments. Unhurriedly, she asked, “What’s not authentic about it?”
Zhou Qiu pointed at the sauce, “Tomato sauce and mayonnaise don’t go together. Mixing a brown sauce and a white sauce would have been better. Your method doesn’t conform to the most basic tenets of French cuisine.
He Jing quirked a brow, finding it funny. “Teacher, do you know what French cuisine is?”
“Are you doubting my qualifications?” Zhou Qiu asked with a straight face.
He Jing did not answer him directly. “Although French cuisine has rigorous requirements for the method of cooking, it also emphasizes maintaining the original flavor of the ingredients used; French cuisine does not limit the chef’s imagination. Besides, ketchup and mayonnaise are staples in French cuisine.
They are key ingredients in making Thousand Island sauce.”
“The modern Thousand Island sauce is derived from this,” He Jing said slowly. “Newer versions use lemon juice, boiled eggs, sweet peppers, pickled cucumbers, and so on to lighten the strong tomato base. However, that doesn’t negate the existence of the older version of Thousand Island sauce. I’ve prepared the ketchup and mayonnaise using French techniques. Is this not
French enough, Teacher?”
Zhou Qiu fell silent, feeling choked by He Jing’s rebuttal.
Of course, he knew, but seeing the situation was worsening for Zhou Xue’er, he tried picking on He Jing. He did not expect He Jing to be so knowledgeable, however.
“Teacher, don’t tell me you’re going to disregard professional ethics just to make things difficult for Sister Jing?” Shen Qiuyu questioned loudly.
Zhou Qiu spun around and glared at Shen Qiuyu. “I’m sorry,” he apologized to
He Jing, “I must have remembered things wrongly. Indeed, this is an authentic French pan-fried sole and sauce. Please continue.”
He Jing plated the last sole and served it with the sauce she had prepared. “Teacher, it’s done,” she said. “Please judge it.”
Zhou Qiu had no choice but to return to the kitchen counter and appear like he was being fair and just.
Zhou Xue’er was unhappy with her cousin’s actions, believing he had thrown their family’s face in the gutter. Snorting coldly, she said, “All of that is just words. We still don’t know whether your food is edible or not. Teacher, eat mine first. My fish is getting cold..”