Chapter 145: Chapter 145: The New Spokesperson for Braised Intestines in Brown Sauce!
"What, the special dish for tonight is braised intestines in brown sauce!"
"Is it the original flavor? If it’s not, I’m not eating it!"
"Hahaha, I saw it on a show before and thought the dish was specially invented by someone as a form of revenge. Turns out it’s a real dish."
"Executive Chef Jiang’s braised intestines in brown sauce, this I have to try."
At six in the afternoon, the menu changed. The special dish Jiang Feng prepared became braised intestines in brown sauce. When customers entered the restaurant and saw the name "braised intestines in brown sauce," they immediately started discussing it.
Braised intestines in brown sauce is an authentic Shandong Cuisine dish that is not commonly available in most restaurants. Most people’s knowledge of the dish still came from a food show they had watched. In that food show, a young chef was repeatedly harried and criticized by the judges. He ended up making a dish of braised intestines in brown sauce specially for them. The flavor of the intestines was fully retained. In other words, they were barely cleaned before cooking. Then he had the judges taste it. That’s how braised intestines in brown sauce started to gain popularity.
This time, Jiang Feng was determined to restore the true reputation of braised intestines in brown sauce!
Jiang Feng had made braised intestines in brown sauce before, so making it again was a piece of cake for him. It was just a pity for the young man responsible for washing and chopping vegetables, who had to wash an incredible amount of intestines these past two days. It seemed an endless task; he simply couldn’t get them all cleaned. When Jiang Feng saw this, he simply said he’d give him a 200-yuan bonus for being an excellent employee at the end of the month. The young man ultimately lived up to expectations and managed to clean all the intestines. Moreover, he washed them many times over and used various methods, including simmering, to remove any odors, ensuring the taste of the intestines wouldn’t be affected.
"Boss, everything’s ready."
"Orders have started coming in."
Zhang Hu came to report.
"Good. How did the customers like the First-Grade Tofu and the Scallion Braised Sea Cucumber you made today?" Jiang Feng asked.
The restaurant’s chefs could prepare all the dishes on the menu, and they did so very well. Jiang Feng was responsible for one dish each day, and by the next day, other chefs would take over making that dish.
"Boss, after your adjustments, everything’s fine. The customers are very satisfied, and many people are ordering those dishes," Zhang Hu replied with a smile. "Our restaurant now has quite a few signature dishes, like Sweet and Sour Pork Fillet, First-Grade Tofu, and Scallion Braised Sea Cucumber. They’re all very popular."
Indeed, as Zhang Hu said, many people ordered these dishes, and their flavors were all authentic. So, the restaurant’s business was always doing well.
"Good." Jiang Feng began to focus on making the braised intestines in brown sauce, with the young man who had washed the intestines assisting him.
Soon, one exquisite plate of intestines after another was brought to the customers’ tables.
「Meanwhile, in the main hall.」
Yang Hao, Ma Ran, and Liu Tong came to Jiangyue Terrace to show their support after getting off work. These three were all from the criminal investigation unit of the municipal police; Yang Hao was the captain of the second unit, and the other two were team members. Back when Jiang Feng had a noodle stall, they had relied on a bowl of his noodles with fried bean paste to make an offender voluntarily confess.
Ma Ran was thrilled. "I haven’t eaten anything made by Executive Chef Jiang in such a long time! Ever since he closed his noodle stall, everything I eat seems tasteless."
"I just want a bowl of his noodles with fried bean paste."
Hearing this, the other two wholeheartedly agreed. That noodles with fried bean paste was truly memorable. A few slurps filled the mouth with the rich sauce, and the meat in the bean paste was bouncy and full-bodied. As soon as one bite of noodles went down, you’d want to quickly take another.
At this moment, Yang Hao noticed the special dish Jiang Feng had made for the evening.
"Braised intestines in brown sauce?" Yang Hao frowned slightly.
"What’s wrong, Captain?" Ma Ran responded. "Executive Chef Jiang makes something different every day. I heard it was ’Four Delicacies in White Sauce’ for lunch, with delicacies like abalone and ’dragon’s whiskers’ vegetables. Then it changed to braised intestines in brown sauce for the afternoon."
Yang Hao sighed. "I don’t eat intestines. I’ve never had them, and I think they taste off."
"Ah? You don’t eat intestines? They’re so delicious! Have you never had pig intestines with noodles? It’s absolutely heavenly!" The other two were slightly shocked.
Many ingredients polarize people’s tastes. Some love intestines, while others absolutely won’t touch them. Some enjoy brain flowers in hotpot, while others feel uncomfortable at the mere sight of them. Everyone has different tastes.
Yang Hao added, "I’ve never had them. You guys go ahead and eat. I’ve heard the other dishes here are good as well. Let’s order a few. We’ve all been working hard lately."
"Sure." The three of them placed their order: one Sweet and Sour Pork Fillet, one Scallion Braised Sea Cucumber, one braised intestines in brown sauce, one First-Grade Tofu, plus a soup, three bowls of rice, and three bottles of beer.
They hadn’t had many cases recently, so they enjoyed the rare leisure time. Having some delicious food and a few drinks after work felt quite relaxing.
The order was sent to the kitchen, and soon enough, dish after dish of delicious food was served. The most critical was the braised intestines in brown sauce. On a porcelain plate as white as jade, rolls of intestines, cooked to a rich brown sauce color, were stood upright. They were garnished with chopped green onions and white sesame seeds on top and decorated with green vegetables around the edges. The whole presentation looked orderly and grand.
Ma Ran and Liu Tong couldn’t wait. They immediately picked up a roll of intestines and stuffed it into their mouths. Instantly, the aroma assailed their senses. There was not a hint of any off-flavor in the intestines, only pure aroma. Moreover, the intestines were tender yet firm, with a perfect texture—chewy but yielding easily after a few bites. Once the intestines were in the mouth, the fragrance of the pork intestines came through first, tantalizing the taste buds. In the aftertaste, there was a subtle spiciness from raw garlic and a hint of bitterness.
The key to braised intestines in brown sauce is the balance of sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, and salty flavors. When savoring it, one could feel the sour, sweet, and salty flavors, along with the spiciness brought by pepper powder. But at the same time, none of these flavors overpowered the others. They complemented each other, making each flavor very comfortable for the palate. This was incredibly rare. It’s very difficult for ordinary people to cook braised intestines in brown sauce well. Either the sweet and salty taste or the sour and sweet flavor dominates, neither of which is authentic. This classic Shandong Cuisine dish still needs a master chef’s touch.
"Wow, it smells amazing!"
"I really can taste the sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, and salty flavors, all of them, just like the description."
"So satisfying!" Ma Ran exclaimed, smacking his lips as he ate.
Liu Tong chewed enthusiastically, his mouth full of rich flavor, and smiled in response, "It’s delicious, really delicious!"
Seeing their enjoyment, Captain Yang Hao found his mouth watering. He picked up his glass and took a drink, partly to avoid the awkwardness of visibly swallowing his saliva.
"Captain, you should try it! It’s really good, absolutely no off-flavors, don’t worry!" Ma Ran turned his head and urged Yang Hao.
Yang Hao looked at the plate of braised intestines in brown sauce, hesitating a bit. Since he put it that way, giving it a try wouldn’t hurt.
"Alright, I’ll have one." Yang Hao picked up his chopsticks and selected a coil of the braised intestines.
This dish had been carefully cooked, containing multiple layers of flavors. The last time the city bureau came for an inspection, this dish had been served to the leaders. They had all heard about it. Eating it now felt like they were enjoying a privilege usually reserved for leaders, purchased with their own money.
A coil of intestines went into his mouth. The most prominent sensation was its fragrance. At first, Yang Hao was somewhat worried, afraid he might taste something odd, but with one bite, there was not the slightest off-flavor. Then he started to chew. The intestines themselves had a very nice texture: very soft, very springy. Having been meticulously prepared, they had fully absorbed the rich sauce, making the taste even better. Every bite was a different experience. More and more flavors burst forth from the intestines. As he chewed, his mouth filled with fragrance. Mixed with saliva, it stimulated his taste buds—warm and delicious. With another swallow, his body felt comfortable from the inside out.
"Whew, delicious!" Yang Hao exclaimed, his face full of praise. He had never eaten intestines before because he had always had a deep-seated aversion to them. But after trying it just once, his many reservations seemed to vanish.
"Captain, I told you it was good! Executive Chef Jiang’s cooking is truly exceptional," Ma Ran chimed in, quick to offer praise.
Nearby, Liu Tong also spoke up, "So many people come here just for his reputation. The taste of this dish is beyond reproach; it’s spot on."
Yang Hao nodded. "It’s quite amazing when you think about it. Who would have thought that the noodle stand owner from the food stall in the shopping center across from our unit could have such incredible culinary skills?"
"To open a restaurant at such a young age and be able to cook anything—that’s real talent, not just talk!"
The three of them were thoroughly enjoying their meal. They raised their beer glasses and downed a drink. Liu Tong, who was driving, drank a non-alcoholic fruit beer. The rules within the system were becoming stricter, and everyone adhered to them, fearing they might cross the line.
This meal was quite a success. Apart from the braised intestines in brown sauce, the other dishes were also very good and appetizing, making one want to eat more even after finishing. Moreover, they were not heavy on salt or oil, which further brought out the natural flavors of the ingredients. This was the specialty of Jiangyue Terrace.
Jiang Feng trained his chefs not to rely on heavy salt, oil, or seasonings. He wanted his guests to enjoy their meal without feeling overly full or finding the food too rich afterward. This might sound trivial, but looking across the catering industry, larger restaurants almost invariably use heavy oil to make their food seem more delicious. When a lot of oil is used, it’s hard for food not to taste good. Consequently, after eating a rich meal at such a restaurant, people often have little appetite for a second one, as it doesn’t align with healthy eating habits. Jiang Feng understood this well, which is why he had specific quality requirements for his dishes. This approach might seem like thankless extra effort, but it was actually a better way to build a solid reputation. That’s the long-term strategy.
Inside the restaurant, customers who tasted the braised intestines in brown sauce were blown away, utterly surprised.
"So this is what braised intestines in brown sauce are supposed to taste like! It’s so delicious!"
"So fragrant! This is yet another dish I’m trying for the first time; I’m so inexperienced!"
"I thought this dish would have some peculiar taste, but it’s actually so delicious!"
"I was almost deceived by TV!"
"This is a famous Shandong Cuisine dish; how could it not be delicious?"
"He’s the new spokesperson for braised intestines in brown sauce!"
The patrons discussed among themselves. The videos and photos they shared quickly appeared online.
Previously, the young man on TV who had deliberately made "original flavor" braised intestines in brown sauce—preserving the ingredients’ inherent taste—had been dubbed its spokesperson, a true maverick. This time, Jiang Feng’s personally cooked braised intestines in brown sauce had, at least locally, restored the good name of this Shandong Cuisine dish.