National Tide 1980.

Chapter 495
"Of course, in addition to emphasizing noodles, the more distinctive features of the Manchu diet have to be reflected in the main dishes. In fact, the Manchus do not eat much fish, and rarely eat seafood. Whether it is shark's fin, abalone, sea cucumber, dried razor clams, or scallops, in the Qing Dynasty The court is not taken very seriously."

"The emperors of the Qing Dynasty always rewarded high-end seafood from North Korea and Japan as tribute, or gave year-end rewards to princes and ministers in the name of 'roe deer reward'. They were not handed over to the imperial chef for cooking."

"In addition, regardless of the grade of banquets or the classification of eight treasures, according to the regulations of the Qing Dynasty, barbecue seats are higher than swallow-wing seats, and mountain eight treasures are higher than water eight treasures. This shows that the Manchus do not think seafood Food is something that can be eaten in heaven."

"On the contrary, the Manchus cherish the wild game from hunting very much, and they are a people who are good at eating meat. Therefore, meat is the most expensive dish in the Manchu cuisine. Not only game barbecue, but also pork and mutton are indispensable."

"Among all the meat, pork is the most gentle and nourishing, and it can be eaten all year round. Therefore, the Manchu people's preference for pork is the best in the world. It is indispensable even in summer, and they almost eat it every meal. Talking about making pork dishes , only the Manchus are the real experts. Like the braised pork, sauced pork, and barbecued pork that are popular today, they all have the food legacy of the Qing Dynasty."

"Even 'Little Pig Yipin' was extremely popular in the late Qing Dynasty, and there are many ways to do it. Roasting piglets, steaming piglets, boiling piglets, steaming piglets in oil, grilling piglets, eight-treasure milk pigs, water milling Piglets, piglets with tiger skin, piglets stuffed with honey, piglets with pine nuts, piglets steamed, smoked piglets, braised piglets..."

"These pork dishes have a great influence on the local flavors. For example, sacrificial meat was introduced into Sichuan and turned into garlic-paste white meat, which evolved into twice-cooked pork. For example, roasted piglets and roasted pigeons were introduced into Guangdong and turned into roast suckling pigs and crispy pigeons."

"It wasn't until after the Qing Dynasty that the growing popularity of these Manchu pork dishes across the country, including the Qing court's preference for barbecue and game, gradually declined. But even so, there are exceptions such as Guangdong, where roast suckling pig is still popular in the local area. It is still popular, and even keeps the sweet and sour pork. It’s just that the Cantonese sweet and sour pork is changed and sour sauce is added.”

"All in all, I have considered these factors, as well as the new standards of people's understanding of food today. I will provide barbecue seats to replace the big dishes, except for swallow's fin, sea cucumber, shrimp and crab. Although Wild game is hard to find, but roast duck, roast chicken, roast pig, and roast whole lamb can still roughly reflect the characteristics of nomads.”

"What is worth mentioning is the Deshengbao, which can replace the big dishes in the summer and autumn menu, and is juxtaposed with the barbecue. This kind of 'bao' is not the meat bun as the Han people call it, but a unique food of the Manchu. You can know its name from the title of 'Sheng Sheng Bao', and it should have some deep connection with marching and fighting."

"Its origin is said to be that on July 46, [-]th year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty, the old Khan Nurhachi led the army to fight. When he went to a place called Qinghe, which is today's Yalu River, he had nothing to eat. The local farmers After exhausting everything that could be eaten, he only sent a few pigeons, some perilla leaves, cabbage and rice to Nurhachi, and then Nurhachi roasted the pigeons and ate them wrapped in vegetable leaves with rice. After winning the battle, Nurhaci established the ancestral system. Every year on July [-], his sons will eat "Successful Buns" to remember the hardships of starting a business. Since then, this kind of food has become Manchu traditional food."

"As for why this kind of kimbap, which was created in a simple way, can become the core delicacy in our menu. This is mainly because Xitai's simple diet has been improved and turned into an extremely luxurious delicacy. According to the original The way to eat it is to wrap the pigeon meat and rice with vegetable leaves and yellow sauce. But after the improvement, countless vegetables and cold meat dishes, as well as delicacy sauce, are added, just like eating spring pancakes, which is equivalent to half a table."

"To be honest, the best thing about the method of 'taking vegetables as bowls and wrapping them up' is that they can realize the freedom of ingredients. And it is fun for everyone to do it together and operate by themselves. You can decide for yourself, and what you like to eat can be wrapped by yourself, and the taste depends on your personality. In terms of harmony and the degree of fun, it is not comparable to ordinary banquets."

"Finally, I would like to emphasize that many items in my menu seem simple, but they are not. For example, the Bazhen tofu handed down from Kangxi must strictly use tender tofu, mushrooms, mushrooms, and pine nuts. Ren'er, green beans, chicken breast, ham, shrimp, and then boiled chicken soup with bean curd, it's not enough."

"Even small dishes like mustard puffs and gold cakes are different from what you usually see. Mustard puffs are sprinkled with candied hawthorns, peaches, and apricots to enhance the taste. Gold cakes can't be as red and shiny as the outside, The color should be like red gold. Sweet and sour, soft, just right. Even fried food must be served with perilla salt, not just salt and pepper."

"As for these, if you can do it well, of course you are better than other families. It is said that mules or horses come out for a walk. At that time, you don't need to say it at all. Whether you are cooking for the common people or the palace, guests I can understand it myself. The other two palace restaurants must also understand it in their hearts."

"There are also some names of dishes. I deliberately used the names of the palace in the past. For example, the dish that is now called Guotai Rou in the Northeast, according to the original name of the palace, it must be called golden meat. We ordinary people call it the pickles of potherb mustard. , the name in the palace is Pidaoying. Winter melon boiled meatballs are called winter melon Xierzhan in the palace. After autumn and winter, there are more original Manchu dishes that can be eaten, such as roasted lamb black fork, Harba, Saile slices, lala meal..."

"At that time, let's make a total calculation and add what can be added slowly. This is what I can help you, restore the old look of the palace diet to the greatest extent, and pursue the original taste as much as possible. I think this is the only way to let anyone with a discerning eye Only after you take a look, can you know that this royal meal of yours is not deceitful, not bluffing, not kidding around..."

After "Zhang Dashao" finished speaking, Ning Weimin not only gained knowledge, but was also really moved.

Only then did he feel how much effort and brain cells it took to figure out such a menu.

How much knowledge and insight are needed.

It's nothing to say, the old man is too worried about him, and he is too dedicated to planning for him.

On the contrary, the favor he begged for has grown considerably, far exceeding his original expectations.

If you continue to pretend to be confused while pretending to understand, it will be a bit unbearable.

So Ning Weimin took the initiative to mention the issue of remuneration.

"Master Zhang, I am so lucky to have you as my consultant and staff. You are my timely rain. No, that little gift can no longer represent my admiration for you. Whatever you say, I will You have to show it with practical actions.”

"If you don't mind, why don't we set a monthly consulting fee of [-] yuan? I'm still saying, this is not a job offer, you don't need to do it, and you don't need to go to work. I just hope that you will continue to pay for it in the future." Give me one or two pointers, and I will be content."

"It's not that I'm so rare and strange. As far as your knowledge is concerned, it's really a treasure. It's the treasure of all the peoples in our country. You actually keep it in your stomach all the time, and don't use it? Hey, I will do it for the whole country. The people feel distressed..."

"Zhang Dashao" laughed when he heard this. "You kid, there are only three advantages. One is knowledge, the other is generosity, and the third is sweet mouth. However, the consulting fee is fine, and we really don't need to mention money."

"I have my chapter book. Since I promised to help you, I won't leave you halfway. It depends on you to set up the restaurant. You just say hello, I'm sure. As long as you listen Persuasion, if you are willing to do what I say, I will guarantee you to overwhelm those two when it comes to food."

"Okay, don't try to persuade me anymore. When you make money, think about me again. Don't look at the fact that I was not polite to you when I asked for the rent, but we didn't have friendship at that time. People of my age I don’t care if I have money or not. What’s more, my monthly salary and rent are quite a lot, which is enough for my expenses. It’s too late to ask for so much money.”

"Actually, it is more meaningful for me, an old man, to see the authentic royal cuisine reappeared in the world through the restaurant you run. I am not afraid of your jokes. When life comes to an end, I always want to leave something behind. In the past, I stuck to things that were not passed on to the outside world. Now it is not so expensive. On the contrary, I am afraid that I will not be able to keep it. It is a kind of fate that you and I can meet, and it is also fate that you beg me for this court dish. Can you trust me so much? It's more fate. Otherwise, why should I help you? All three factors come together, which is called a coincidence..."

Ning Weimin was very moved, but he couldn't say anything.

For nothing else, people just don't want money, this is no longer a category he can understand.

For a while, he really couldn't think of how to thank him.

The night he got the menu back was a very exciting night for him.

Just thinking about the beauty of these dishes is enough to make him sleepless.

If it is said that before opening this restaurant, he was still worried about the dishes, which he once regarded as his biggest weakness.

Well now this thinking is completely reversed.

Instead, he was vaguely looking forward to the day when he could see Zhenzhang as soon as possible, and compete with the other two in terms of dishes.

(End of this chapter)