Page 106 (1/2)

Chapter 106: Ma La Tang

“Eight or ten s-ranked gems Are they made of chocolate?” The Gourmet addressed theardless “If that’s what you want, I can find a way to get it”

It was then the Gourmet kneas serious He looked from the newcomer, then to Lan Jue For Hua Li to make such a clai nonsense The very effeentleman before him must indeed be very wealthy

“Let’s eat,” he said

Preparation began when he produced a small stove, with a metal alloy plate beneath to ensure it didn’t hurt the table A covered pot was then placed on top The fires underneath were lit

Next, several plates of fresh dishes were brought out before theetables and more were arrayed fancily around the stove None of them bore any special preparation, but for bamboo shoots which impale the thinly sliced pieces So far, it certainly didn’t appear to be what you’d call a ative voice wafted forth, disappointment in his eyes

“No!” The Gour” 1

“Ma La Tang?” The depression faded from his face “You kno to ood it tasted! That fresh, spicy taste is enough to have you eating way past what’s appropriate But I hear it’s al these days Most of the required spices have been lost to us, so the result is a relatively bland copy”

“Bland?” The Gourmet tasted the word and found it unsavory “You tell ?”

Hua Li did not hesitate in the face of the Gour was a provincial treat fro aspect You need garlic, ginger, hot peppers, bean paste, black pepper, white pepper and more As for the specific proportions of each, I’m not sure Once your base is coe pot You then prepare several dishes as you’ve done here, and you can then place the, pluck it froot yourself a delicious treat”

The Gour the loquacious explanation, shook his head “Were I to give you a base in the way you described, ouldn’t be having a hot spicy meal It’d be a boiled spicy ourmet continued “What’s the difference between hot, and boiled”

Hua Li fell silent, apparently unclear on the question Lan Jue also looked on in uncertainty As they did the sound of roiling water reached their ears The lid of the pot ru a savory aroma The thick ether Just the scent alone raised their body heat, and opened their pores

The Gourmet stood, and lifted the lid from the pot

Immediately as before a faint aroma became a torrent as the stea red soup within the pot appeared before Lan Jue and Hua Li’s eyes They could just spy the spices rolling around in the boiling broth As the thick arorew more impatient to try it

The Gourmet reached down and shut off the stove

Lan Jue and Hua Li exchanged a glance They hadn’t yet eaten, they thought Why urn off the fire?

Under their wondering gaze the Gouran to place thepot He didn’t insert too many, maybe fifteen sticks jutted from the lip of the cauldron

“Theand heated is this Boiling intends to e of the heat to thoroughly cook the food placed within Generally speaking, thisrequires one to pair it with delicious sauces Because of the high heat, you can’t let the food sit within for sufficient amounts of time necessary to absorb the flavors Rather like the boiled mutton they’d often eat in Former Era China However there later arose several chefs who chose to ened to heat the food slowly, and as a result the flavors of the broth were able to infuse the food”

“So what is ‘heat’ here? Heat is actually this; once the soup has been brought to a boil, it’s easier to fill food with it’s flavors as it cools Thus, the heat allows for a better overall meal as the spices of the broth and the food’s natural flavors combine And so I shut off the fire because ant is hot and spicy Not boiled True Ma La Tang does not require any sauce for dipping What you described a o was in fact spicy hotpot The sad fact is that due to it’s troublesome nature to properly prepare, even For As a result, the broth and preparation you see here is my special secret”