Chapter 438 Wisdom

The spirit of the "festival" and the fantasy world created by this dish are enough to make people intoxicated even if it is just a thought.

It’s like having a good dream. Even though I know it’s a dream, I still hope it can stay for a second longer.

When you wake up from the dream, what remains in your heart is not regret, but a hearty sense of satisfaction, as if all the depression in your chest has been swept away, making you feel that there are still things worth looking forward to in the world.

Just like the dish in front of you, just like the thoughts that fill your heart.

Precisely because it is so illusory and does not exist in reality, it will not be dragged into the filth and stained with mud by reality. It will always maintain its purity and clarity, and is always worth yearning for and pursuing.

“It’s such a wonderful feeling. Even if you know it doesn’t exist, you’ll still be moved by it.”

"Even an old man like me has some tears in my eyes."

"Alas, if this is really possible, why would the country not prosper? Why would the people not be able to live and work in peace and contentment?"

"A wise ruler like this, and a world like this, can only exist in our imagination."

Everyone sighed in unison.

After sighing, they put their thoughts aside and began to look forward to the new dishes.

Today, only two dishes remain, representing "wisdom" and "righteousness".

Yan Xian is almost done with all the assessments.

But on the other side, Xu Qing hadn't even served the first dish yet.

The result is already obvious.

The five elders couldn't help feeling a little regretful.

I thought it would be a evenly matched fight, but the opponent made a stupid move in the first round, leading to an early defeat.

The cooking duel is not like an ordinary martial arts duel. There is no bloody fight, but the back and forth and invisible struggle between them is more complicated, more tense and exciting than a bloody fight.

If you are not careful, you will lose everything.

It's a pity that what was supposed to be a stage for two people to shine turned into a solo dance for one of them, which inevitably made them feel a little boring.

Yan Xian was concentrating all his efforts on preparing the fourth dish, the dish representing "wisdom".

The ingredient Yan first chose was walnut.

Walnuts are a symbol of wisdom and are called the "fruit of wisdom". Because their shape resembles a brain, they are considered by the people to be a food that can replenish wisdom.

In fact, this is true. Modern medicine has discovered that a nutrient contained in walnuts is an important component of brain neurons and can help maintain normal brain function.

Although it cannot replenish wisdom as folk legends say, eating more walnuts does promote healthy brain development and prevent cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease.

At the same time, walnuts can improve mood and sleep, help relax muscles and nerves, and promote sleep.

Traditional Chinese medicine has always emphasized that like cures like. The shape of walnuts resembles the brain, so it makes sense to eat walnuts to nourish the brain.

Whether in traditional Chinese medicine or folk legends, it is firmly believed that walnuts can nourish the brain, so walnuts are the most appropriate food that can represent "wisdom".

However, a dish cannot be made with walnuts alone; other ingredients need to be added.

Moreover, this ingredient must be able to perfectly match the taste of walnuts and also have a wise meaning.

If you use ingredients that you don’t want to dry, it will become a flaw in the dish.

Under normal circumstances, this little flaw would not be a big deal. However, this was the Seventh Seal Test of Mount Tai, and the three dishes before it had already raised the expectations of the five judges to the highest point.

If the dishes they prepare feel are flawed or imperfect, or if they fail to meet their expectations, they will be extremely dissatisfied.

Then all the efforts Yan Xian had made before would have been in vain.

Therefore, the closer we get to the end, the more we cannot relax.

Especially for the last two dishes, he had to strive for perfection and there couldn't be any flaws.

But what are some other food ingredients that can be paired with walnuts and also have wisdom?

Yan Xian walked quickly through the food warehouse, his eyes quickly scanning the dazzling array of ingredients.

There are many kinds of ingredients, but there are very few that can match wisdom and the taste of walnuts.

Even though there are countless ingredients in the food warehouse, in Yan Xian's eyes, they are as if they don't exist.

Suddenly, his eyes fixed.

In front of him was a bamboo cage, inside of which stood a large rooster with beautiful feathers. It was looking at him with its head tilted, as if it was puzzled, or observing him.

Its expression, which seemed both alert and thoughtful, was full of spirituality.

A flash of inspiration came to Yan Xian’s mind.

That’s right, it’s chicken!
The chicken is a symbol of wisdom in folklore.

Chickens are honored as "birds with five virtues". When they find food, they call each other to share it. When there is danger, they warn each other to protect their companions. This makes them have the virtues and spirituality that only humans have. Humans are the most intelligent creatures, so creatures with similar virtues to humans are considered to have unique wisdom and spirituality, so people regard chickens as a symbol of wisdom.

Not only in terms of meaning, but also in terms of taste, chicken and walnuts are a perfect combination.

The unique aroma of walnuts complements the deliciousness of chicken, making the dish richer in taste.

At the same time, the crispness of the walnuts forms a sharp contrast with the tenderness of the chicken, adding a sense of layering to the dish, making the taste more varied and giving people a greater chewing pleasure.

Therefore, the combination of walnuts and chicken meets the requirements of this dish.

Whether in terms of taste or meaning, the combination of the two is perfect, without the slightest flaw.

The next thing to consider is the production method.

Yan Xian still focuses on speed, and the fastest way to prepare it is stir-frying.

Therefore, the first dish Yan had to make was walnut chicken.

Wash the chicken breast and cut it into small cubes. Then peel the walnuts, blanch the walnut kernels in hot water to remove the brown skin, and then cut the white walnut kernels into small pieces.

Then add a little seasoning to the chicken and marinate for a while.

Walnuts need to be fried first, because after frying, the oil in the walnuts will be further stimulated, forming the unique aroma and taste of walnuts.

At the same time, in terms of taste, after frying, the walnuts will become more crispy and more fragrant the more you chew them.

In terms of color, after frying, a golden shell is formed on the surface of the white walnuts, which looks golden and very eye-catching.

Therefore, after frying, the deliciousness of the walnuts is fully released from the three aspects of color, aroma and taste.

After frying, pour the drained walnut kernels and diced chicken into the pan and stir-fry, add seasonings, and the walnut chicken dish is ready.

(End of this chapter)