83: Grilled fish with shacha sauce

The moment the grilled fish, a fragrant bomb, came out of the oven, Yue Yifei completely forgot his promise to wait for his good friend to eat together.

"Anyway, the grilled fish stall is right here. I can just order a few more later to compensate him!"

Thinking this, Yue Yifei immediately felt at ease and called his girlfriend, ready to start eating.

His gaze swept over the first grilled fish on the left, and he knew at a glance that it was spicy.

This was because the fish was coated in a layer of red oil, with chili flakes and peppercorns scattered like flames on the surface, paired with golden crispy fish skin, making it very oily and enticing.

As the aroma filled his nose and mouth, the moment he smelled it, his nasal cavity was stimulated by the spiciness, mixed with the numbing fragrance of peppercorns and the charred aroma of minced garlic, like a fire burning from his throat to the tip of his tongue, causing him to sweat profusely even before taking a bite.

This kind of spiciness wasn't choking but incredibly satisfying, making him feel as if all his worries had been instantly cast aside, and his mind and body became refreshed and clear.

Yue Yifei wiped the hot sweat from his forehead and with difficulty shifted his gaze to the grilled fish in the middle.

This one was garlic-flavored, with the fish covered in a layer of golden-fried minced garlic, slightly charred at the edges, and side dishes like potatoes, tofu, and lettuce coated in a light golden sauce, making the overall dish appear exceptionally fresh and non-greasy.

It didn't have the intense impact of the spicy flavor, but it left a lasting impression.

A gentle wave of his hand brought a rich garlic aroma to his nose, with a subtle, sweet scent of vegetables, making him swallow uncontrollably.

Yue Yifei again with difficulty moved his gaze from the golden garlic and white fish meat to the third grilled fish.

"Hmm?"

A look of confusion appeared on his face, and he turned to ask Lu Chuan.

"This seems to be a Southeast Asian cooking method?"

Lu Chuan looked over upon hearing this, then smiled and said:

"This is also a method for Wanzhou Grilled Fish, but it's an innovation based on tradition, with a unique flavor and texture, making it stand out among many grilled fish varieties."

Yue Yifei nodded instructively, thanked Lu Chuan, and continued to look at the grilled fish.

He saw an amber-colored sauce, exuding a sweet and savory aroma, and if he smelled closely, he could detect a slightly sour seafood scent.

But this slightly sour taste was not unpleasant; instead, it balanced the sweetness of the sauce.

Looking at the surface of the fish, it was adorned with golden-fried crushed peanuts and fresh, vibrant green onions.

And the side dishes like corn and mushrooms distributed around the grilled fish, after absorbing the sauce, also appeared very rich in color.

As for the most crucial part, the fish meat, after being marinated and grilled over charcoal, had an incredibly crispy skin.

The internal fish meat was thoroughly infused with satay sauce, looking exceptionally tender and juicy.

The overall color combination of this grilled fish was pleasing to the eye.

"It's truly hard to choose!"

Yue Yifei and his girlfriend exchanged glances, saying with both happiness and agony.

The three grilled fish in front of them each had their own charm, and from the perspective of color, aroma, and taste, it was almost impossible to determine which was superior.

They were stumped as to which flavor to try first.

At this moment, Lu Chuan walked over, holding two chilled glass cups.

Seeing them hesitate to pick up their chopsticks, he smiled and said:

"Are you worried that eating one flavor of grilled fish will affect the taste of the other grilled fish that follow?"

Yue Yifei and his girlfriend nodded simultaneously.

"That's right, that's exactly what we're thinking. It would be such a shame if these grilled fish, which are like works of art, had their flavors mixed."

Lu Chuan nodded, silently giving a thumbs-up to the two who understood good food.

He handed the two glass cups to them, then went to the small cart and brought over a large insulated cup.

Yue Yifei looked at this scene in surprise, vaguely guessing something, and immediately his face filled with anticipation.

Lu Chuan smiled and tilted the insulated cup, pouring three hundred milliliters of chilled Emerald Glazed Fruit Juice into their cups.

"After eating one flavor of grilled fish, drink some of this beverage; it can dilute the taste in your mouth, so you won't have to worry about the flavors mixing."

The summer heat was intense, and fine water droplets had already condensed on the glass walls.

Yue Yifei and his girlfriend looked at the swirling purplish-red juice in their cups, and upon smelling the cool, refreshing fruity aroma, their eyes lit up.

"Little boss, do you sell this drink?"

Yue Yifei licked his lips, unable to resist asking.

"Haha, no, it's a complimentary item."

Lu Chuan smiled and waved his hand, then returned to the small cart, taking six glass cups and walking towards Zhang Kai and the others.

Yue Yifei's face showed regret.

However, he no longer had to agonize over the choice.

He picked up a piece of satay-flavored fish meat with his chopsticks, then took a gentle bite.

The charcoal-grilled fish skin was golden and crispy on the surface, making a "crunch" sound when bitten.

The fish skin was incredibly crispy, like eating a new flavor of potato chips, filling his mouth with a rich charred aroma.

With a gentle press, the fish meat inside was delicate and smooth, practically melting in his mouth.

And the incredibly delicious sauce enveloped every inch of the fish meat, with umami and sweet-spicy flavors blooming in layers on his tongue.

This elevated the already top-tier taste of the River Catfish to another level.

Such deliciousness made Yue Yifei involuntarily narrow his eyes, lost in enjoyment.

But the highlight of this grilled fish was not on the fish meat itself.

His girlfriend picked up a golden-colored crispy tofu skin roll, blew away the steam, and once the temperature was suitable, put it into her mouth.

The crispy tofu skin roll had absorbed the satay sauce, making it soft and chewy, with a delightful combination of elasticity and sweet-spicy flavor, completely rivaling the unique texture of the grilled fish, making her stomp her feet in delight.

After a few seconds, she picked up a slightly charred potato slice, dipped it in the sauce, and took a small bite.

The powdery-sweet and soft texture, combined with the sweet and spicy sauce, paired perfectly, making the deliciousness simply off the charts.

His girlfriend hadn't expected to receive such a big surprise just from eating two side dishes.

She looked at the steaming lettuce, bean sprouts, onions, and other side dishes on the plate, and a strong curiosity surged within her.

She couldn't wait to finish the potato slice, so she quickly popped it into Yue Yifei's mouth, then swiftly picked up a crisp, translucent lettuce slice and put it into her own mouth.

Her teeth gently chewed.

"Crunch."

After a pleasant crisp sound, the sweet freshness of the lettuce filled her entire mouth, washing away any greasiness like a tornado.

"Delicious!"

Her chopsticks danced; next was the fragrant, charred onion.

Then came the slender, distinct, and crisp bean sprouts... After tasting all the side dishes one by one, his girlfriend cupped her puffed cheeks, looking at Lu Chuan, who was diligently cooking the grilled fish in the distance, her eyes full of little stars.

The little boss cooks so deliciously, he's so handsome, and he speaks so gently!

How could there be such a perfect boy!

Then she looked at Yue Yifei, who was eating like a pig beside her, and couldn't help but pout.

Yue Yifei didn't know what his girlfriend was thinking; sweating profusely from eating, he picked up his glass and guzzled down a large mouthful.

"Hoo-ha!"

With one gulp, he immediately felt as if the top of his head had been lifted by the coolness.

"Refreshing!"

The summer heat was instantly cut off by this iced drink, which also greatly stimulated Yue Yifei's appetite, and he continued to bury his head in his food.