The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

Baron Fernando was a playboy just like Sebastian I. Although the two were more than ten years apart in age, they had many common topics and had a good relationship in private.

Sebastian I waited for everyone to leave, then asked, "Pedro, is there anything fun going on recently?"

Baron Fernando said, "Your Majesty, I have been busy organizing my grandfather's birthday party recently and have not been out of town much. I just went to the racecourse to run a few laps."

Sebastian I glanced at him and said, "Don't fool me. When did your grandfather's birthday party need you to arrange it? Aren't your father and brothers enough?"

Baron Fernando smiled and said, "I dare not lie to your Majesty. I hired the chef for my grandfather's banquet this time. I was the one who took care of everything from tasting dishes to arranging ingredients."

Sebastian I was skeptical: "Is it true?"

"It is absolutely true! Your Majesty will be able to enjoy the food they cooked later."

Sebastian I listened with great interest: "The chef you chose must be quite good. I am looking forward to it."

Baron Fernando said firmly, "I will definitely not let your Majesty down."

Sebastian I looked around and walked into the living room. He saw the new painting hanging in the living room and asked curiously, "What is this?"

"This is a birthday gift given to my grandfather by the chef I hired to cook. It's a painting of Chinese ladies," Baron Fernando introduced.

"Why does he paint Chinese paintings?" Sebastian I became even more curious.

Baron Fernando said: "They are two Chinese. They were rescued from the Indian Ocean by Captain Reis of the Shark."

Sebastian I's eyes widened. "Are they really two Chinese? Are they still in Lisbon?"

Baron Fernando nodded. "It is true. They are cooking in my kitchen right now. If Your Majesty is interested, please ask them to come and see you when they are done."

Sebastian I said, "I have never seen Chinese people before. Do they look strange?"

Baron Fernando shook his head. "It's not strange. He is similar to us, with fair skin, but black hair and black eyes."

"Call him back and let me see him. Tell me about the customs and people of China." The playful Sebastian I was born adventurous. He once went out to sea alone on a small sailboat, which scared the ministers in the court. If he was not a king who needed to govern the country, he would have sailed across the ocean on a large sailboat.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Baron Fernando agreed readily.

Sebastian I once again focused on the painting, looking up to admire the painting "Magu Offering Longevity": "This is the first time I've seen Chinese figure paintings. Their painting style is completely different from ours. Unlike oil paintings, which require a long distance to see the whole picture, theirs can reveal many details even if you look closely. It's interesting!"

Baron Fernando said: "Not necessarily. Chinese paintings also need to be viewed from a distance. He painted a landscape for me. When you look at it from close up, it's just a ball of ink, but when you look at it from a distance, it becomes a landscape. It's very magical."

"Where are the paintings?" asked Sebastian I.

Baron Fernando smiled and said, "At my house."

The king snorted, "Why don't you share your good stuff with others instead of showing off to me!"

The baron quickly apologized with a smile: "Your Majesty, calm down. I didn't know you were interested in Chinese paintings. I will send them to the palace for you to enjoy."

"All right!" The king turned back to look at the painting of the lady. "Why did your grandfather give you a portrait of a beautiful young woman for his birthday?"

The Baron quickly explained the reason.

After listening to this, the king said, "I heard that there are people in China who are seeking the method of immortality. I wonder if they have ever succeeded?"

The baron said, "We'll know when we hear what they say later."

"Good!" Sebastian I felt that this trip was worthwhile, as he actually got to know the news about two Chinese people.

The baron invited the king to sit on the sofa and poured tea for him personally. The servants presented cakes and biscuits. The baron said, "Your Majesty, now it is Chinese tea with Chinese snacks. Please taste it."

If Min Xi heard it, he would definitely say that this is not Chinese tea with Chinese dim sum, but Chinese tea with foreign dim sum.

Sebastian I first tried a cookie. As soon as he took a bite, he raised his eyebrows and said, "It's much crispier than I thought."

"That's right, these are the cookies baked by the Chinese chef," said the Baron.

Sebastian I scooped another piece of cake with his spoon. It was soft, sweet, and melted in the mouth. "This one is delicious too. Was it also made by the Chinese chef?"

"Correct!"

"Not bad, there is some level. The Chinese are obviously better than us in food," said Sebastian I.

Although the baron agreed with this, he did not dare to speak in front of the king. Now that the king had said it himself, he certainly agreed: "I also think it is very well done, so I invited you to cook at my grandfather's banquet."

"I'm a little looking forward to it." Sebastian I nodded.

Soon, the king was invited to the table by Baron Fernando's father.

When they took their seats, the King naturally sat in the most honorable seat, with today's birthday boy, the Duke, to his right and the Marquis of Merlot to his left.

Sebastian I said, "Pedro, come and sit next to me."

Baron Fernando was flattered. He was not qualified to sit at the main table, but now that His Majesty had summoned him, he dared not disobey. He took a seat next to the Marquis. Of course, it was the Marquis who offered up his seat on his own initiative. He could not let an eighty-year-old man give up his seat.

The first dish was pan-fried cod, a traditional flambé dish, but served with precious sturgeon caviar. The cod had been cooked for at least an hour and was now completely cold. Although it is suitable to eat cold dishes in summer, if it is too cold, the fish meat will become hard and fishy, ​​affecting the taste.

Sebastian I took a bite and said, "Is this what the Chinese chef you mentioned made?"

The baron said hurriedly, "Your Majesty, today's dish was prepared by our Fulanji chef and the Chinese chef. This dish was prepared by the Fulanji chef."

Sebastian I took another small bite and shrugged: "It's just average." Then he stopped eating the fish and only ate some caviar as an appetizer.

The second dish was served soon. It was Buddha Jumps Over the Wall. It was already warm and bowls of it were placed in front of the guests. When everyone saw this dish, they thought it was a fresh dish that they had never eaten before and had no idea what it was.

The baron said: "Your Majesty, this dish is made by a Chinese chef, please try it."

Sebastian I scooped up a spoonful of the thick soup, put it in his mouth and tasted it. Then his eyes lit up, and his appetite, which had not been aroused by the fried fish just now, was revived at this moment: "It tastes great! What is this made of?"

The Baron said: "A variety of ingredients are used, including chicken, duck, deer tendons, shellfish, mushrooms, yellow croaker maw, etc." He did not dare to mention pig tendons and shark fins. After all, these were inferior scraps, and pigs were so lowly.

Sebastian I ate heartily. The portion was small, and he was addicted to it. He finished it all. The king looked at the empty bowl with a reluctant look: "It's delicious, but it's too little."

The baron said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. There is more to come."

The next dish was lobster baked in cream. Sebastian I did not ask this time, but he knew at a glance that it was the work of the Florentine chef, as it was a traditional Florentine dish. He ate two or three bites to give him face, and then waited for the next dish to arrive. He probably guessed that the two chefs' dishes would be served alternately.

Sure enough, the next dish served was boneless roast chicken.

Sebastian I took a bite and fell in love with it: "I like this dish, it is juicy, salty and delicious, and it is very satisfying to eat."

The Baron also liked this dish, even the bones. The portion was not too much, but not too little, and four people shared a chicken. After eating, the Baron still felt unsatisfied, thinking that the restaurant would promote this dish in the future, so he felt relieved and went to the restaurant to satisfy his cravings whenever he wanted to eat it, and ate a chicken by himself!

Sebastian I ate all the chicken on the plate and satisfied his meat craving.

The dishes cooked by Chef Fulangji were not bad actually. Under normal circumstances, they would definitely be praised. However, compared with the dishes carefully prepared by Min Xi, they were far inferior.

Among the dishes selected by Min Xi, except for the boneless roast chicken which used a lot of spices, the other dishes used very few spices. The main focus is to bring out the most original flavor of the ingredients and win by the cooking method.

Moreover, Chinese food is fresh, delicious and delicious for the guests, which makes it hard not to be impressed.

Even the most ordinary salt and pepper shrimp is more popular than Chef Flangji's dishes, and few people dislike the other dishes.

After eating the staple food, when the dessert of custard buns came, the women and children were completely captivated. This Chinese chef is so good at cooking. Whether it is soup, vegetables, staple food or dessert, there is nothing he is not good at.

Sebastian I was very satisfied with the meal: "Thank you for your hospitality today. The food is delicious. I like roast duck and squirrel fish the most. What is your favorite dish, Duke?"

The Duke said, "It is an honor for me to satisfy your majesty. I love the roast chicken the most. It is soft and delicious, and it is most suitable for an old man like me with bad teeth."

The Duchess said: "The first course of soup is also very good and rich in flavor."

The baron added in time: "I forgot to say that the name of the soup is Fu Shou Quan, which is a dish with excellent meaning. I wish my grandfather happiness and longevity."

When the Duke and Duchess heard this, they smiled with satisfaction.

Sebastian I said, "I am very happy today. I attended a banquet that I will never forget. The Duke must live a long and happy life as the name of the dish says. Pedro, when you have time, bring the two Chinese chefs to the palace to talk to me."

"I will obey your Majesty's orders!" the baron agreed quickly.