Chapter 1347: Nobody Knows Crayfish Better Than I
Thirteen-spices crayfish was a great invention.
Of course, the greatest person was the chef who invented the thirteen-spices.
Nobody knew who was the actual inventor now. However, the “godfather of thirteen-spices” who popularized thirteen-spices, Wang Shouyi, deserved to be praised.
After all, together with Lao Gan Ma Spicy Chili Sauce, Mao De Gong Spicy Sauce, and Wang Zhi He Fermented Bean Curd, Wang Shouyi Thirteen-spices were known as the four giants among condiments. Wang Shouyi Thirteen-spices was literally known by everyone, and was an indispensable necessity of many housewives.
Thirteen-spices melon seeds, thirteen-spices dried bean curd, thirteen-spices chicken thighs, thirteen-spices quail eggs…
Everything could be cooked with thirteen-spices; hence, it cemented its status in the condiments’ world.
The piping hot crayfish was bright red and aromatic. Although it was called thirteen-spices, after being modified by Wang Shouyi and upgraded by the system, there were way more than 13 spices in the thirteen-spice.
The spices weren’t added for the sake of adding, and they didn’t compete with one another. Instead, they complemented one another to create that unique layered exquisite taste of thirteen-spice crayfish.
Mag sucked on the crayfish’s head, and it was spicy and aromatic. It was so delicious that he couldn’t stop!
“It’s so delish. I like this crayfish’s flavor. It would be great if it was spicier,” Amy said as she pouted and sucked in air.
“But… I thought it’s already very spicy?” Jane huffed and puffed with red lips. She couldn’t really take the spiciness, but she couldn’t stop eating.
After eating crayfish for three days, Mag specially prepared a steamed sea bass. This was a wild sea bass that was caught on his way back. Mag fed himself a piece of the fish, and its texture was soft and tender. Its taste was even extremely tasty and fresh. It was, without a doubt, an excellent wild-caught fish.
***
“Steve, nobody knows seafood better than I. I don’t really believe you when you say this is the most scrumptious prawn on the Demon Islands. Could it be better than the King Mantis Shrimps from Phi Phi Island?” a middle-aged demon with a brandy nose and thick blond hair said to a young demon standing next to him smilingly.
As a rare gourmet among the demons, Tony Moody was the columnist for many famous gourmet magazines. He showcased the classic delicacies from all the islands of the Demon Islands Archipelago to all the chowhounds on Norland Continent. He was famous for writing all sorts of seafood reviews, and was known as the gourmet who knew seafood best.
Tony was paying a visit to the nearby Abyss Island as he prepared to write a review about its most famous roast pork trotters to prove he could write about other food besides seafood too.
However, he was a little disappointed as the roast pork trotters didn’t bring him too many surprises. Although it had the special traits of the abyss demon, with the rough roasting techniques, the porcupine battle boar wasn’t as nice as he had imagined. Hence, he had no idea what to write for his next gourmet column.
As the abyss demons were the best among the top 10 demon tribes, the magazine’s sales should be good if they used the abyss demons’ specialty dish as a gimmick.
However, apart from the gimmick, how to handle the lackluster taste and the bloody eating method in an artistic manner and yet not overly exaggerating it such that it could disappoint the customers who came after reading about it would require him to spend quite some time overcoming these problems.
Abyss Island was not far from Carapace Island, and his good friend was living abroad on Carapace Island, so he came to pay him a visit.
Steve insisted on bringing him to eat the so-called most delicious crayfish. This made him a little unconvinced as no one knew seafood better than him. When it came to prawns, the most scrumptious ones had to be the king mantis shrimps on Phi Phi Island.
No one knew how to cook prawns better than the Phi Phis on the Demon Islands.
As for Carapace Island, it had a very unique status in the Demon Islands’ culinary world. It was famous for being low-end and messy. Sometimes, some chefs there would become famous, but once they gained some fame, they would be recruited by all the other tribes. They wouldn’t choose to remain on Carapace Island.
According to Steve, this new restaurant was only just opened two, three days ago.
Although he wasn’t expecting much, it surprised him that a line made up of dozens of people had already formed at the door. This was not common on Carapace Island which was famous for being chaotic.
“You will know how it tastes after you try it. However, let me share something with you: please be conscious of your speech and behavior later when we’re in the restaurant. Although you’re a perfect gentleman, don’t show any disrespect to the lady boss and service staff,” Steve warned Tony seriously.
“Oh? Why is it so particular?” Tony was a little curious.
“On the opening day, the lady boss and little boss killed a customer who refused to pay as an offering. Yesterday, the Ten Kings Palace’s staff came to make trouble and kicked a customer. Then, all four Ten Kings Palace members were smacked and sent flying out of the restaurant. Although your tonnage is bigger, you’ll still have to behave if you don’t want to be sent flying out of the restaurant.”
“Alright, I’m scared.” Tony nodded with astonishment. A tough person who dared to send people from Ten Kings Palace flying was indeed rare on Carapace Island.
The restaurant’s door was opened before long, and a young demon walked out. He announced with a hoarse voice and an awkward expression, “The restaurant’s operation has begun. Please come in.”
“What kind of demon is he?” Tony was sizing up. He had been to almost all the Demon Islands, and knew a bit about the majority of the demons, but he couldn’t recognize what kind of demon this was that had a pair of pincers on his head which was very weird.
“I have no idea, either. I guess he belongs to those tribes that were almost annihilated.” Steve shook his head. He, too, couldn’t recognize what kind of demon that boss was.
The yard’s gates were open, and the customers streamed in. The seats in the yard were quickly filled up, and the rest of the customers walked into the restaurant, and took up all the seats too.
Jane set up a row of foldable tables and chairs along the street swiftly to enable the customers to have their seats.
“Is it really so attractive that it has reached such a standard within two days?” Tony couldn’t mumble when he saw the 100-odd customers who had taken their seats.
“I promised that you wouldn’t want to write about whatever abyssal roast pork trotters for this month’s column after you ate this crayfish.” Steve chuckled as he led Tony to sit down at a table near to the center wok.
“Ah. I have spent five days on Abyss Island for the sake of writing this column. Do you have any idea what it’s like to spend five days in the abyss filled with the stench of pig’s urine? There’s no way I would give up on such hard-to-come-by information.” Tony was flabbergasted. He didn’t believe Steve’s words at all.
Steve wasn’t in a rush to refute him. He picked up the standing number card on the table to have a look, and then delightfully asked a busy-with-his-preparations Mag, “Boss, are you introducing a new crayfish’s flavor today?”
“Yes. Tonight’s new item is thirteen-spice crayfish,” Mag answered casually.