Gourmet: Midnight Vending-Chapter 330 - 307: Upending Culinary Perceptions!

Little Yellow Bowl.

Yu Hongtao held it, and although he wanted to immediately taste it to see if it was good, he still couldn’t help but ask his question.

"Boss, you’re selling lion’s head meatballs, so why is your bowl printed with dumplings?"

Yu Hongtao thought this was a very bizarre situation, there must be some unspeakable secret behind it.

It’s like having a barbershop sign, and when you go inside, they ask you to go to the second floor, what’s that supposed to mean?

Chen Mo’s mouth twitched, feeling awkward, "I used to sell dumplings when I first started the stall, bought too many small bowls, and haven’t used them up yet."

Yu Hongtao: ???

He was also a bit embarrassed by this response.

He had just been imagining a grand conspiracy, but it turns out the bowls were simply leftovers?

No, you used to sell dumplings, so why are you selling lion’s heads now?

"It seems like this lion’s head wouldn’t taste that great, the small boss probably changed business because his dumpling sales were bad." Yu Hongtao thought to himself.

Turning around to look, there wasn’t even a place to sit.

Of course, this was Chen Mo’s fault, he’s been away from the stall for so long he even forgot to bring out the little yellow tables and chairs.

Yu Hongtao and his wife had to stand in front of the food cart with their bowls, "Let’s give it a try first."

Yuan Xiaolin responded, "Anyway, let’s finish eating and go home."

She didn’t have any other thoughts, knowing it wasn’t easy for the kid to visit grandma’s, just wanting to finish quickly and go home, but not eat too much.

If she got too full, she wouldn’t want to move.

Yu Hongtao used a small plastic spoon to scoop towards the saucy lion’s head, the tender surface immediately split open, and the brown meat pieces squeezed out crystal clear juices that mixed into the soup, the savory aroma hit his nostrils, his Adam’s apple moved, and he sent the spoonful into his mouth.

Just as it entered his mouth.

The casualness and ease on Yu Hongtao’s face turned into a serious expression with a hint of solemnity.

The meat just melted away, a cloud-like soft texture hit immediately, the fat-interspersed mince dissolved on the tongue releasing a rich sauce flavor.

Yes, it was a sauce flavor!

But not like soy sauce, nor did it taste like light soy sauce, Yu Hongtao carefully licked his lips trying to understand this complex flavor.

That action precisely made the meat juice mix with the slightly sweet marinade overflow in his mouth, before he could be surprised, the savory taste flashed by, and a hint of sweetness followed.

"This..."

Yu Hongtao was stunned, finding it completely different from any lion’s head he’d ever had before.

You couldn’t say which was tastier, just that...this lion’s head seemed to be a whole new breed, not comparable to the traditional ones in Huaiyang Cuisine.

"Mm, it’s surprisingly delicious?"

Yuan Xiaolin immediately took a big bite, mumbling to her husband, "It’s not like what we had before!"

Could it be the same?

Yu Hongtao found it hard to describe his current feelings.

Previously, he prided himself on being a foodie, talking always revolving around food even when socializing.

Discussing food naturally leads to chatting about the cultures behind local cuisines.

Over time, Yu Hongtao had formed a small circle both locally and abroad, mainly comprising wealthy people who love to experience and critique local cuisines and cultures.

In that circle, Yu Hongtao was a key figure. There was even a saying among the group: "If Yu recommends it, it must be premium!"

But now?

Yu Hongtao suddenly realized how narrow his definition of good food was.

If what he used to eat was considered delicious, then what is this?

"All this living and eating has been in vain!" Yu Hongtao secretly shed tears in his heart, ignoring whatever his wife said, he gobbled up the massive lion’s head.

Nom nom ~

Chen Mo watched the two consume rapidly like a storm, the lion’s head he made was indeed large, barely smaller than an adult’s fist.

This guy swallowed it nearly whole; it was ridiculous.

His wife was relatively slower, though not graceful, as her mouth was too full causing some juice to spill from the edges, which she licked up after swallowing the meat.

Both finished the last bite with expressions of satisfaction and joy.

Chen Mo clapped his thigh, "Ah! I forgot something!"

Yu Hongtao exhaled comfortably, "What’s up boss? Don’t worry, we won’t skip paying. As long as it’s tasty, I’ll definitely pay you, rest assured."

Beep!

Yu Hongtao scanned the code to pay for two lion’s heads, wondering whether to have another one. If it’s about eating, surely he could manage another.

But the problem was, he had eaten a bit quickly, if it were Clear Soup and slowly nibbled with cabbage leaves, it wouldn’t be too heavy.

But with this saucy one, gulped down rapidly, honestly, it was a bit briny, and for a foodie like him, the broth was decent but slightly too salty.

Although delicious, another one might be too much.

Chen Mo was also vexed, having been absorbed in chatting he forgot to bring out his secret weapon.

Jin Province, Old Chen Vinegar!

Handcrafted, totally different from the market’s flashy goods.

"Actually, these lion’s heads should be served with a dipping dish."

Yu Hongtao: ???

Not kidding, right?

The Huaiyang Cuisine’s trait is highlighting the authentic flavor of ingredients, your saucy lion’s head is already a deep transformation, and now you want a dipping dish?

This reminded Yu Hongtao of his first visit to Sichuan, when his knowledge of local cuisines was limited, and the internet not very advanced.

He ordered dumplings in a restaurant.

The owner brought out a dish, water·dumplings.

Yes, dumplings soaked in broth styled with red oil.

At that moment, Yu Hongtao felt his culinary views were overturned, how could regional culinary differences be so vast?

But no matter how different, ultimately, it’s all just different paths to the same result.

Having traveled extensively, Yu Hongtao believed he had already adapted to various food customs nationwide, yet even so, hearing about having a dipping dish with lion heads left him.

Stunned. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Did you say...what earlier, boss?"

He felt certain the small boss must have misspoken.

"Oh...I said, I forgot to give you a dipping dish, so sorry about that! Want more? If you do, I’ll get you one."

He said it so calmly, confidently. As if having a dipping dish with a lion head was a must.

Yu Hongtao’s head buzzed.

Bring it on then!