Daddy's Gourmet Shop

Chapter 635 - 619: Would You Die If You Didn’t Take Pictures Before Eating?

"Boss, Huang said that the guests who came to congratulate have been waiting quite a while. He asked me to come over and ask you if you want to start serving the food now?" Li Chengzhan walked to the serving window and asked in an inquiring tone."Then let’s start serving the food."

Huang Tao nodded in agreement and let Li Chengzhan first bring the cold appetizers to the table.

Now.

Most of the guests who entered the restaurant were still in the dilemma of choosing dishes after scanning the QR code.

They looked at the pictures of the food in the ordering system, and every dish looked delicious.

Even through the screen, people could get tempted.

But, alas...

Their own stomachs and the limitations of their wallets left them in a dilemma about what dishes to order.

Therefore.

The kitchen wasn’t very busy at this time.

Instead, Lin Qiuyu and the other wait staff were quite busy in the dining hall.

They had to greet the guests entering the restaurant, arrange suitable seating for them, and answer all kinds of questions from the guests.

The cold appetizers were actually all one type of flavor — marinated platters.

They were: marinated beef, marinated pig’s trotters, marinated chicken wings, marinated chicken legs, marinated chicken feet, and marinated duck necks.

Originally.

Huang Tao intended for Old Qian to prepare some cold dishes too.

But Old Qin was not very skilled at making cold tea, and adding to that, Old Qian thought this marinated flavor was too fragrant. Any cold dish would be outshined by these marinated platters.

So he gave up on it!

As a chef with ambition, someone skilled in knife work and artistic presentation, Huang Tao forcefully presented these monotonous marinated dishes in a way that made them look extraordinarily high-end and unaffordable.

The busiest table in the guest area belonged to Ma Yong from the television station, photographer Lin Hongyi, and Morning News reporter Yang Luyi with her partner Liu Zishan.

The food hadn’t even started coming out yet!

They were already busy.

Busy interviewing and filming the prominent figures who came to the guest area to celebrate.

Honestly, when they first entered the store and saw one or two familiar big names, their hearts naturally skipped a beat.

Therefore, Yang Luyi went over her intended draft again and revised it.

Yang Luyi began directing the camerawoman Liu Zishan, saying, "Zishan, go shoot the decoration I just pointed out, get a close-up at the entrance, and then after the customers have ordered, get a group shot of them enjoying their meal..."

"Alright."

Zishan nodded and shared her opinion: "Luyi, I see that the TV station people are interviewing the business moguls at the nearby tables, including Deputy Director Ma’s office head Director Lin from the city’s Commerce Bureau, and Elder Wei, the former head chef of the state banquet. Should we also go over and interview these people later?"

"We’re not a business magazine, nor a food magazine; our article focuses on the opening. When it comes time to write, I’ll just briefly mention them. No need for lengthy coverage."

Yang Luyi began planning: "And then when the dishes come out, you should take some beautiful photos. I’ll do the hard work on the draft, you just get the photos right."

Liu Zishan nodded solemnly and quickly got into action.

Meanwhile, Lin Manli was also instructing her photographer Liu to take good pictures of the new dishes for the magazine column in the next issue.

All the media and magazine representatives were busy, while the other guests were much more relaxed.

Although everyone came from different fields, they all became acquainted because of the delicious food at Huang Tao’s restaurant, so they had endless things to say about the food there.

They got along very harmoniously.

"Let me tell you, Boss Huang has really improved his culinary skills over the years! That Nine-Turned Large Intestine, that Wensi Tofu, tsk tsk, absolutely delicious! Oh, and last night, he even invited me to the new store for a tasting..."

Recalling the deliciousness of those three dishes last night, Old Qin couldn’t help but swallow a mouthful of saliva.

"Tasting?"

Ma Deqiang and the others nearby caught onto the keyword, and their smiles froze in mid-air: "Boss Huang invited you for a tasting?"

"Yes, last night at Boss Huang’s new store tasting, he specially made Boiled Cabbage, Longjing Shrimp, Braised Turtle. I was fortunate to be invited by Boss Huang to taste these three dishes, tsk tsk, truly delicious!"

Old Qin spoke with a face full of nostalgia: "Boss Huang’s culinary skills have improved so much since last year!"

Ma Deqiang and the others stood dumbfounded as if struck a heavy blow. Tears almost streamed down their faces.

Boss Huang’s new store tasting, and they weren’t even included!

What was more infuriating...

Old Qin didn’t even consider them for such a great opportunity.

Oh dear!

Missing out on trying new dishes because it wasn’t shared with them...

Too much!

Ma Deqiang and the others looked at Old Qin with resentment: "Elder Qin, you’re not being fair!"

Old Qin: "..."

There were already many people invited to the tasting; if you guys had come too, where would have been any room for him?

Therefore.

Old Qin, who had this little thought, didn’t reveal anything about the tasting to these old friends.

After all, let it be tough for anyone, just not for himself!

Especially in front of Boss Huang’s food.

And mentioning it now was, of course, to show off a bit and make these old friends envious and jealous.

It looked like it achieved the effect he was hoping for.

Old Qin’s face didn’t blush, nor did his heart skip a beat, turning into an acting expert. He folded his fan, tapped his forehead, and feigned an enlightened expression: "Ah, yesterday was so busy, I forgot to tell you guys."

Ma Deqiang and the others looked at Old Qin with expressions that said "why don’t I believe you" written all over their faces.

Old Qin remained indifferent, fearlessly gazing at them before giving a cheerful smile, then lightly shaking his folding fan, looking elsewhere. He immediately spotted Li Chengzhan and the others coming with food trays, and enthusiastically said to Wei Mingguo and the others: "Oh, the food is being served."

With those words, the others stopped bothering Old Qin and immediately perked up, staring straight at Li Chengzhan and his team.

"Hello, Elder Qin, could you please move a bit? I’m serving the food now."

Li Chengzhan reminded with a smile: "Marinated beef, marinated pig’s trotters, marinated chicken wings, marinated chicken legs, marinated chicken feet, marinated duck necks, please enjoy."

"Wow, these ordinary marinated dishes are presented so exquisitely, such meticulous plating instantly elevates the marinated dishes several notches! Even garnishing with some cilantro unexpectedly adds aesthetic appeal!"

"Marinated beef has an unshakeable place among cold dishes; even the plating is in the shape of love!"

"Exactly, exactly, just by looking at this graceful form, you can tell the marinated beef is something special! Its color is vibrant, and the pattern is very clear!"

"Delicious marinated flavors are common, but delicious and interesting marinated dishes are truly one-in-ten-thousand, and Boss Huang’s marinated dishes are that rare find..."

While everyone was discussing the presentation of the marinated dishes, Old Qin had discreetly tasted all six marinated dishes on the table.

"These wonderfully crafted marinated dishes are the flavors precipitated from the melding of ingredients and time — layers upon layers of fusion, fresh and fragrant, neither overly salty nor overly rich, moving in a myriad of tastes in the mouth, truly scrumptious!"

Old Qin squinted his eyes in enjoyment, commenting: "Boss Huang’s marinated dishes are something you never tire of!"

"Oh no, Old Qin, how could you start eating, I haven’t even taken any pictures!"

Ma Deqiang slapped his thigh with a regretful expression plastered on his face.

Lin Duzhu also resentfully looked at Old Qin, suddenly feeling like his hopes to proudly share on social media were dashed by Old Qin’s actions.

Old Qin gave them an exasperated white-eyed look that said, "would it kill you to not take photos before eating?", clearly indicating he didn’t want to bother with them, continuing to relish the food.

However.

He always had a question on his mind: aren’t those people who have to take pictures before each meal and then upload them to Weibo or WeChat tired of it?