Chapter 245: Potato Feast
A young, fair-haired girl, barely any taller than the stove—what could she possibly cook? And what kind of skill could she possess to convince Boss Chen to let her into a place as sacred as the restaurant’s kitchen?
The other chefs, in particular, weren’t staring at Bai Zhi constantly, but their conversation never strayed from her.
“What can a little girl like her even cook? Let’s hope she doesn’t ruin the Diner Inn’s reputation.”
“I saw that she only brought potatoes, but she’s cut them into all sorts of shapes. Is she planning to make a banquet out of them or something?”
“We’ve served potatoes at the inn before. You can either steam them or stir-fry them, right? What other tricks could she possibly pull off?”
Soon, their discussion trailed off as one enticing aroma after another began to waft from the kitchen.
“What is that smell?” a stout chef asked.
“I have no idea, but it’s incredible! Is that really potatoes? How come they never smelled this good when we cooked them?”
Bai Zhi had always worked quickly and efficiently. With a clear, organized mind, she was an expert at time management. She used three stoves simultaneously, single-handedly managing three spatulas without a single error.
The hot and sour shredded potatoes required a quick stir-fry, the braised beef with potatoes needed to simmer slowly, and for the salt and pepper potato chunks, the potatoes had to be boiled first. So, she started by setting the beef and potatoes to simmer, then put a pot of water on to boil the potato chunks, and used the third stove to stir-fry the shredded potatoes.
When the shredded potatoes were finished, the potato chunks were also cooked through. She drained them, smashed them lightly, and threw them back into the wok with seasonings for a final stir-fry. As soon as she finished the salt and pepper potato chunks, everyone in the kitchen crowded around. There wasn’t much to begin with, and she didn’t dare let them have a taste; one bite each and the dish would be gone.
She hurriedly had someone take these two dishes to Boss Chen and his group. Meanwhile, she took two eggs and beat them. Then, using the leftover boiled potatoes, she mashed them into a puree, mixed in seasonings she had already chopped, and formed the mixture into round patties. She coated both sides in the egg wash and dropped them into the pan to fry. When they were golden brown, she removed them. A fragrant aroma filled the air, making everyone’s mouth water.
She smiled. “I didn’t bring enough potatoes today, so I can’t let you all have a taste. The recipe is simple, though. I’m sure you’ve already figured it out. You can make some for yourselves later.”
The other chefs looked a bit chagrined. Whenever they created a new dish, they never had people crowding around, drooling like this.
Just then, the braised beef with potatoes in the other pot was also ready. She plated it and had someone deliver it to Boss Chen’s room, along with the potato patties.
As for her, she washed her face with some fresh water, tidying up her appearance before heading to the private room.
The moment she pushed open the door to the private room, she saw Jin Xiao’an snatch the last potato patty from the plate. Meng Nan lunged for it, but only managed to wrestle half of it back.
Seeing Bai Zhi walk in, Meng Nan grumbled, “Zhi, you know how to make so many different things! How come you never cooked them for us before?”
Bai Zhi laughed. “You say that as if I ever repeat dishes for you. Haven’t I made you something new every single time? I can’t just cook a hundred dishes for you all at once. Could you even eat them all?”
Boss Chen didn’t even take a moment to wipe the grease from his lips. He shot up from his seat and rushed over to Bai Zhi, his large frame moving with such surprising agility it was a sight to behold.
“Miss Bai, can you tell me about those four dishes? I never would have thought that such an ordinary potato could produce such wonderful flavors. Four dishes, all made from potatoes, yet each one tasted completely different.”
The hot and sour shredded potatoes were crisp and appetizing, and the salt and pepper potato chunks were wonderfully soft and savory. He had never tasted anything like them. They were so delicious he felt the urge to pick up the plate and lick it clean.