I'm the Culinary God

"It seems it’s not just people who enjoy eating goose liver; cats love it too."

Lin Xu went upstairs again to cut a few slices for Dundun. The little guy ate with his head down for a while, then sat on the service counter, happily licking its paws.

Shu Yun curiously asked:

"If we had filmed that, I’m sure netizens would have loved it."

Shen Jiayue shook her head:

"Posting it might make people accuse us of flaunting wealth, and Dundun doesn’t really like being filmed while eating. Let’s film something else. I want Dundun to just be happy and carefree."

On the internet, the video about Skin Residue went viral.

Because not only the Yinzhou area has this delicacy, even the neighboring towns have similar treats.

In the comments, people were frequently sharing how folks from their hometown feel about Skin Residue.

Some netizens from the Yinzhou area thanked Lin Xu for promoting their local cuisine.

Many of the country’s regional delicacies aren’t widespread due to publicity issues, appearance, and presentation, only staying popular locally, and unknown elsewhere.

Lin Xu’s initiative to promote hometown cuisine won many fans’ likes.

Quite a few also commented sharing the deliciousness of their own hometown.

But while promoting, they also expressed interest in trying Skin Residue at Lin Ji, to taste how good this hometown delicacy, that Lin Xu still misses even in Beijing, really is.

Considering the enthusiasm of these netizens, Lin Xu worried about being pressed for time to make Skin Residue tomorrow.

After washing Dundun’s dish clean, he went into the kitchen, first boiling a big pot of yellow gardenia water, then fetching plenty of vermicelli and eggs from the storeroom, making several large trays of Skin Residue.

The next morning, Lin Xu woke up to find his mom already making breakfast.

She cut open the top of a Bebe Pumpkin, scooped out the inside, and stuffed it with pre-soaked Glutinous Rice, red beans, green beans, peanuts, chestnuts, and other ingredients mixed into an Eight Treasure Filling, ready to steam.

"Last night Yueyue was watching videos with me, saw someone eating this and wanted to try it, so I made a few. By the way, son, it’s almost New Year’s, can’t you go home?"

Chen Meijuan was busy in the kitchen, and upon seeing her son come in, she asked him.

There’s a three-day holiday for New Year’s, but this doesn’t affect Lin Xu much because he’s the boss, not an employee. Holidays are just a passing cloud to him.

Even employees can’t take holidays, as holidays are peak periods for the restaurant industry.

Not to mention taking time off, they actually need to work overtime.

Lin Xu said:

"I won’t go back. Once the wedding here is done, we’ll drive back home for the New Year. After all, there won’t be long after New Year’s, it’ll be soon enough."

Chen Meijuan prepared all the pumpkins and put them into the steamer pot to start steaming.

She wasn’t used to using steam cabinets, always feeling that steamed pumpkins taste better when done in the pot.

"When you get married, both your grandma and nana will be coming, you should arrange accommodations in advance, so you don’t get busy and forget the time."

"Don’t worry, mom, I won’t forget."

The wedding location has been decided, Building One at the Fishing Platform, which is He Baoqing’s venue.

The banquet hall in Building One is spacious and bright, fitting dozens of tables as if it’s a game, previously used for two cooking competitions there due to the large space available.

Besides the banquet hall, the guest room upstairs has also been reserved for three whole floors.

Originally, Grandpa Gao wanted to reserve the entire place, but later, after consulting with several elders, fewer guests were expected, and not wanting to be ostentatious, they settled on three floors.

"On the wedding day, while you offer tea to us, do the same for your master. He has been busy planning the wedding with your father-in-law in the group chat, truly putting his heart into it."

After speaking, Chen Meijuan took two potatoes from the cabinet and expertly began peeling them.

Lin Xu said:

"Don’t worry, mom, I understand... What are you doing with the potatoes? Are you planning to fry Potato Strips?"

"I intend to make some Potato Strip Pancakes. Last time Yueyue heard you liked them as a kid and wants to taste them, since I have time today, I’ll make some so she won’t keep wanting them."

Ah, having a mother-in-law like this makes it hard not to be happy.

Since mom is steaming Eight Treasure Pumpkins and making Potato Strip Pancakes, Lin Xu took out the fresh spinach he brought yesterday, and washed it whole.

Then he peeled some shrimp and cooked a simple spinach and shrimp soup.

This soup should pair perfectly with Eight Treasure Pumpkins and Potato Strip Pancakes.

To ensure nutrition, he also planned to fry a few sterile eggs, but since the meal was still not ready, it’d be better to wait until later to fry them.

After peeling the potatoes, Chen Meijuan sliced them into uniform fine strips with a kitchen knife.

Once cut, she put them in a basin, adding a small spoon of salt, one egg yolk, and a small spoon of thirteen-spice seasoning.

Using chopsticks, she mixed them evenly, then set up the frying pan, greased the pan’s bottom and poured in the potato strips, carefully spreading them into a pancake shape.

Don’t worry about the potato strips being all scattered; once the heat rises, the potatoes will soften automatically.

This is a simple delicacy that doesn’t require adding flour or making a separate batter, just relying on the starch within the potato strips to form a pancake.

To ensure the pancakes are even tastier, the potato strips should not be rinsed after cutting, as this would wash away the surface starch.

Sizzling sounds emitted from the frying pan as Chen Meijuan fried them slowly.

The sound had an itch-inducing appeal, making one always want a taste.

As the heat grew stronger beneath the pan, the potatoes gradually settled, transforming into a round pancake shape.

When the bottom was cooked to a golden crisp, she held the frying pan and flipped the Potato Strip Pancakes with a deft toss, continuing to fry the other side.