Huayu Chef

029 The Xie family ate willow catkins in an orderly fashion.

Mom, wash your feet.

This charity video once brought tears to the eyes of countless people.

Grandma Lin offered her daughter some pancakes, but instead of crying or being touched, the daughter put her hands on her hips and scolded, "Mom, you're so old, can't you be a little more careful? Where did you fall? Is it serious? Come on, I'll take you to the hospital for a checkup."

"It wasn't serious. I just fell on my bottom. Xiao Zhang, Xiao Huang, and Xiao Zhuang were passing by and kindly helped me up. They also helped me pick the willow catkins. They are all good kids."

No one knows a mother better than her daughter. Seeing her mother's familiar demeanor, Xie Baoxin knew that her mother's health was probably better than her own, which was in poor health, so she was relieved and thanked Zhang Jinxuan, Huang Mengying, and Zhuangzhuang profusely.

Zhang Jinxuan smiled and said, "Auntie Xie, you're too kind. We only helped a little. Grandma Lin helped us a lot. She lent us her kitchen to cook and film videos, and provided us with minced meat, spices, and seasonings for free. Just now, she was worried about the water bill and complained that I used too much water."

Xie Baoxin exclaimed in surprise, "Mom, why are you like this?"

Grandma Lin said angrily, "Hey, you little Zhang, you're just being a chatterbox! I was just joking. When did I ever complain that you used too much water?"

"You even complained that the three of us ate too much, because we ate all the willow tassel pancakes you made for Aunt Xie."

"You're just being difficult," Grandma Lin glared at Zhang Jinxuan.

Xie Baoxin was slightly surprised to see her mother getting along so well with the three young people. She took half a willow tassel pie from Grandma Lin, put it to her mouth, took a small bite, and praised as she chewed, "As expected of Mom's, it's so delicious. It still tastes the same after all these years. I never get tired of eating it."

"I used to think it was amazing that the filling had so much pork belly and lard, and it was so oily, I thought it would be greasy. But when I actually ate it, I found that it wasn't greasy at all, and it was very refreshing."

Zhang Jinxuan ate the willow catkin pie in his hand and casually said, "Willow catkins are a particularly fresh ingredient. When made into filling, they are soaked in oil and taste almost the same as meat, but they have a fresher flavor that balances out the greasiness and helps to cut through the richness."

Xie Baoxin laughed and said, "My mom said on the phone that you, Xiao Zhang, are a master chef. When I first saw you, you were so young, and I didn't quite believe it. But after hearing you explain it so convincingly, I believe you now."

Grandma Lin snorted, "You're just being greedy. The willow catkins in the willow catkin pie were made by Xiao Zhang, he kneaded the dough, he made the flaky pastry, and Xiao Huang and I made the filling and wrapped it together. When it comes to pastry making skills, Xiao Zhang is much more efficient than you. I don't think he's any worse than Da Ming."

Xie Baoxin exclaimed in surprise, "Little Zhang is also an expert in pastry making?"

"I know a little bit."

Huang Mengying, Zhuangzhuang, and Grandma Lin couldn't help but laugh. They were all a little allergic to the word "a little bit". Zhang Jinxuan always said "a little bit", but his "little bit" was light-years away from everyone else.

Xie Baoxin was puzzled but didn't ask any questions. She ate her pie and chatted with Zhang Jinxuan and the other three.

A while later, Xie Baoxin's older brother, Xie Baocheng, also rushed over. He looked to be in his forties, overweight and fat. He introduced himself as someone who ran a "corpse collection" company.

His body collection company is perfectly legitimate; it has nothing to do with the supernatural. They buy secondhand equipment at low prices and resell it at higher prices to make a profit.

Those who specialize in the catering industry are called "catering corpse collectors".

Xie Baocheng's business is a bit of a mixed bag; he collects office space, household goods, and catering equipment. Zhang Jinxuan chatted with him and regretted not meeting him sooner, as he had wasted a lot of money on the second-hand tables, chairs, and equipment for Wild Kitchen.

Fortunately, it's sturdy, easy to use, and convenient, which is some consolation.

The rest of the Xie family members were on their way. Zhang Jinxuan temporarily left the group chat, scooped some willow catkins out of the large antimony basin to drain the water, cracked in eggs according to the amount, added salt, stirred well, then sprinkled some flour and dry starch, stirred well again, so that each willow catkin was covered with batter.

Turn on the gas cylinder valve, turn on the gas stove, and set up a wok to heat the oil. When the oil bubbles around and a little smoke rises, place your palm 5 to 8 centimeters away from the oil. If your palm feels warm but not hot, the oil temperature is about 50-60% hot, suitable for frying, deep-frying, and other cooking methods.

Zhang Jinxuan tossed the willow catkins apart and fried them in batches until they were golden brown and crispy.

"Mengying, Grandma Lin, please take these and eat them, but be careful they're hot."

All the willow bud pancakes were baked, leaving the induction cooker empty. Zhang Jinxuan set aside some willow buds, coated them with flour, and steamed them for a few minutes.

"Wow, this tastes delicious! Is it made with willow catkins? How is it made?"

"Simple, just coat it in batter and fry it."

"Dad, why don't you do it, Jian Dan?"

"I'm busy making pastries."

Huang Mengying picked up a few willow tassels with her chopsticks, held them protectively in her hand, and presented them to Zhang Jinxuan, saying with a smile, "Your fried willow tassels are absolutely amazing, hurry up and try them."

"Thanks."

Zhang Jinxuan opened his mouth and sucked the willow catkins into his mouth. The outer shell of the catkins was crispy and crunchy, while the inside was fleshy, fresh, tender, and very delicious. He wanted to eat a second one after eating one.

"Want more?"

"We'll eat later, I cooked some vegetables."

The hot oil used for frying willow catkins has not yet cooled down, so there is no need to reheat it and it will not cause flavor mixing. Theoretically, it can be used for stir-frying, but for home cooking, it is best to save on oil.

Leave a little oil in the pan and heat it up. Zhang Jinxuan then poured in the beaten egg mixture and willow catkins all at once. The egg mixture solidified into a ball, and after stir-frying it a couple of times, he added some salt and then took it out of the pan and plated it.

Wash the pot and then make stir-fried willow catkins. This dish is also simple and can be quickly cooked and plated.

The steamed willow catkins are ready too.

The remaining dishes, willow catkin salad and willow catkin tofu salad, are both cold dishes, and they couldn't be simpler to make.

Remove the tofu cubes and willow catkins, drain the water, put the tofu cubes in a small bowl, add the squeezed willow catkins, and then add chili oil, sesame oil, salt, light soy sauce, and balsamic vinegar in that order. Pick up the small bowl and shake it a couple of times to let the seasonings and ingredients blend fully. Serve a plate for everyone to enjoy.

The methods for making cold willow catkin salad are largely the same.

The willow catkin banquet consisted of eight dishes: willow catkin pie, willow catkin scrambled eggs, stir-fried willow catkins, steamed willow catkins with rice flour, willow catkins with tofu, cold willow catkin salad, and deep-fried willow catkins. Only the last dish, willow catkin dumpling soup, was missing.

"Xiao Zhang, why are you still bringing noodles? There's plenty of food. Come and eat."

"I'll make another willow catkin soup."

Xie Baocheng came over and pulled Zhang Jinxuan aside, saying to the camera, "Xiao Zhang has been busy all day, already making seven dishes. He's done a great job. Let him eat first, and he can continue cooking once he's full."

Huang Mengying came over and advised, "If everyone is silent, it means they agree. Brother Xuan, let's eat first."

"OK."

Zhang Jinxuan wasn't one to stick to his principles. He washed his hands, sat down next to Xie Baocheng at the table, and when he saw Xie Baocheng about to pour him a drink, he quickly stopped him, saying, "Uncle Xie, I'm driving, I don't drink."

"Have a drink, Baoxin will take you home tonight."

"We still need to film a video, so I'm not drinking anymore. You and Uncle Daming can drink."

"Okay, eat more vegetables. Xiao Zhang, your cooking is amazing."

Lu Daming exclaimed in surprise, "I heard from Bao Xin that Xiao Zhang is also an expert in pastry making and has opened a braised food shop. He's trying to master all of Chinese cuisine!"

"Uncle Daming, you flatter me. Chinese cuisine is as vast and complex as the ocean. I only have a superficial understanding of it and am far from proficient."

"Brother Xuan, where is your shop located?" Xie Baocheng's son, Xie Xiaoguang, asked.

Do you know the Beijing Film Academy residential area across from the Beijing Film Academy?

"Yes, I know. I've been to the Beijing Film Academy several times."

"It's located on the commercial street in the Beijing Film Academy residential area."

"I'll buy some to eat another day."

Xie Baoxin and Lu Daming's daughter chimed in, "I'm going too, cousin, let's go together."

"Okay, I'll call you."

"Welcome, welcome! The first order is free, and I'll give you a discount on the second order."

"Thank you, Brother Xuan."

Zhang Jinxuan smiled, picked up his rice bowl, picked up some food, and tasted all seven dishes of willow-shaped dishes, including willow-shaped pie and crispy fried willow buds.

The tofu in the willow catkin tofu salad is tender and smooth, while the meaty willow catkins paired with the sour and spicy seasoning create a rich flavor that is both appetizing and satisfying.

Stir-fried eggs with willow catkins are a complete reversal of the natural order; it feels like the eggs are just an accompaniment to highlight the deliciousness of the willow catkins.

Stir-fried willow catkins and steamed willow catkins are both about enjoying the fresh and delicate flavor of the willow catkins themselves. The different cooking methods result in different flavors, but both are delicious.

Everyone was very satisfied with the willow catkin banquet; they ate to their heart's content and praised it highly.

After finishing a bowl of rice, Zhang Jinxuan walked towards the camera as he was filling his second bowl, giving a summary of the day to the lens.