Chapter 376 - 155: The Third Floor is Ready, Crazy Home-style Dishes

Chapter 376: Chapter 155: The Third Floor is Ready, Crazy Home-style Dishes

The next part was simple.

All it needed was for the sauce in the pot to simmer for a few minutes, allowing the flavors to seep deep into the tofu. That would make it even more delicious.

’Traditional mapo tofu is seasoned with chili powder and Sichuan peppercorns, but I’d better skip those for this version.’

Since they weren’t used to intensely numbing and spicy flavors, most people from Jingzhou hated biting into a whole Sichuan peppercorn while eating.

That sensation could ruin the experience of the entire dish!

Another thing they hated was unexpectedly biting into a piece of ginger, especially when it was cut to look just like the other ingredients. A single bite was enough to classify the dish as a culinary nightmare!

He let the sauce in the pot simmer until it was level with the tofu, then drizzled in a bit of Sichuan peppercorn oil and his homemade chili oil. After stirring it all together, he added a spoonful of cornstarch slurry.

"Perfect!"

The sauce in the pot immediately thickened after the slurry was added, looking as if it was merging with the cubes of tofu.

The small, seared morsels of beef were now coated in the sauce, clinging tightly to the tofu cubes.

"Time to plate!"

After plating it, he sprinkled a handful of chopped scallions and a spoonful of ground Sichuan peppercorn over the top. This was the ultimate secret to a delicious mapo tofu!

The final dusting of Sichuan peppercorn powder would leave a lingering numbing, spicy, and savory flavor in the mouth.

"Perfect!"

Looking at the score, which had reached the A Level standard, Su Chen knew he had nailed the dish on his first attempt.

Even with a reduced level of spice and numbness, this was the minimum flavor profile a mapo tofu had to have. He couldn’t completely change the fundamental character of the dish just because a customer might want a non-spicy version.

That would be like throwing away the watermelon for a sesame seed.

So, he couldn’t expect everyone to like this dish. As long as it was delicious enough for those who already enjoyed it, Su Chen considered his mission accomplished!

’*Phew...* First dish is done. Now to finalize the process.’

Leaving the test kitchen, Su Chen sat back down at his desk and began to jot down notes with a pen and paper.

He tried to make the steps as clear and standardized as possible—ideally, to the point where they were foolproof and anyone could follow them without having to think too hard.

Once he had finished writing the procedures, Su Chen headed back into the test kitchen.

’Second dish: Yuxiang Shredded Pork!’

A short while later, Su Chen looked up from his work, then buried his head once more to continue writing out the process.

’Third dish: Braised Eggplant!’

...

He repeated this process over and over. Time flew by, the sky outside darkening and then brightening again. By the time Su Chen was hunched over his desk writing yet another checklist, having completely lost track of which one it was, it was already eight in the morning.

On the third floor of the Meiweilai Company.

Ling Shuyu watched Bai Xiaobo hang the sign with large characters above the door and finally let out a long sigh of relief.

"Our company is growing so fast! It’s only been a few days, and we already have a new department!" Bai Xiaobo said, staring at the sign on the wall.

He couldn’t help but ponder the situation.

’Right now, the company’s situation is this: the 19th floor is under Su Chen’s direct management. It might not look like much on the inside, but that’s the real heart of Meiweilai!’

’It’s also the floor with the highest prices.’

’The second floor is mainly for the kids’ meal service, which is now pretty much handled by Zhang Li and He Shuting. The adult section on the other side is responsible for making breakfast and lunch.’

’The focus there is on being affordable, effectively providing a cafeteria for the people from Xinghui.’

’The person in charge is really just the chef. It used to be Liu Ahbao, and now it’s Zhang Heping.’

’And now, the third floor is opening.’

’Even though it’s going to become the athletes’ dining area for a while, that’s just temporary. You can tell just by looking at the sign.’

’This floor is destined to be Meiweilai’s new core!’

’Delicious Home-style Cooking!’

’Its focus will be home-style stir-fries. The prices are unknown for now, but they’ll definitely be higher than the second floor’s.’

’It’s not yet clear who will be in charge of this floor.’

’I have to make a good impression and try to secure the manager position for the third floor!’

Bai Xiaobo schemed to himself.

’Anyway, Liu Shengnan is in charge of finance for the whole company. President Ling has obviously become Boss Su’s most trusted subordinate, so she definitely won’t be focusing her energy on a single floor.’

’So who does that leave in the company?!’

’Besides me, Bai Xiaobo, who else is there?’

’They can’t possibly put Aunt Fang in charge, right?’

"Were there any problems with the test run just now?"

Bai Xiaobo immediately answered like a model student, "Don’t worry, President Ling! I’ve checked everything one by one. All the tools and equipment are functioning normally and ready for use at a moment’s notice!"

Ling Shuyu then had a few workers go through and test all the equipment one more time with her. Only after ensuring everything was perfect did she leave the third floor, satisfied.

The Meiweilai employees hadn’t slept all night. Back on the second floor, Ling Shuyu told everyone to get some rest, but stressed that they all had to be back at the company before two in the afternoon.

As for herself, she made a cup of coffee and went back to her office. She contacted a few taxi services, preparing to start picking people up at the scheduled time.

These fellow chefs were rushing in from all over the country, not just because of Cui Yufen’s reputation, but even more so for Su Chen’s.

Of course, the compensation Ling Shuyu had promised them also played a significant role.

For example...

"As long as you can make it, I guarantee Boss Su will teach you some of his trade secrets. If you can master those skills... well, you know what that means."

Or...

"You’re only making a little over ten thousand a month now, right? It’s fine, just come. As long as you’re here, I’ll pay you at a rate of one thousand per day!"