Siheyuan: Tanjia Cuisine He Daqing, destroying Yi Zhonghai

He Daqing took out some commonly used seasonings from the cupboard, placed them on the table, and said, "The most important thing for a chef is to grasp the taste. You have now mastered the basic heat and techniques, but if you want to improve further, you must learn to distinguish the taste of various seasonings. Today, I want you to taste these seasonings and see if you can distinguish the subtle differences between them."

He Yuzhu was a little nervous when he heard this, but more excited. He knew that this was a very important training opportunity and a key step to improve his cooking skills. So he nodded and said that he was willing to accept the challenge.

He Daqing first picked up a small spoonful of soy sauce and handed it to He Yuzhu, "This is soy sauce, but you have to taste it carefully and tell me its characteristics."

He Yuzhu took the spoon and sipped the soy sauce. The salty aroma of the soy sauce immediately spread in his mouth, but he felt it carefully and found that the soy sauce had a hint of sweetness. This sweetness was not obvious, but it made the taste of the whole soy sauce more mellow. He closed his eyes and tried to remember this taste in his mind, and then he said: "Master, this soy sauce tastes very salty, but the aftertaste is a bit sweet. It should be blended with some sugar or other sweet seasonings."

He Daqing nodded with satisfaction. "Yes, you can feel the sweetness in it, which means that your taste buds have begun to become more sensitive. Remember, there are many levels of taste. You must learn to distinguish more details from the simple salty and sweet taste."

Then, He Daqing picked up some more aged vinegar and handed it to He Yuzhu. "Here, try this again and see if you can distinguish the acidity and other flavors of this vinegar."

He Yuzhu carefully tasted the vinegar again. The taste of this vinegar was stronger and more acidic than the vinegar he usually used. But after the strong sour taste, he caught a hint of subtle fruity aroma, which surprised him a little. He thought for a while and said, "Master, the acidity of this vinegar is very strong, but I feel a little fruity aroma. It should be brewed with fruit."

He Daqing smiled approvingly. "Very good. This is an aged vinegar made from apples. One of its characteristics is its fruity aroma. The fact that you can detect these subtle flavors shows that your sense of taste is indeed improving."

He Yuzhu was delighted to hear the chef's praise. He knew that this was not only a test of his taste, but also a further improvement of his cooking skills. Through these subtle taste training, he began to realize that every seasoning in a dish is an important element in the overall taste, and the slightest deviation will affect the final taste.

Next, He Daqing asked He Yuzhu to try several different seasonings, including pepper oil, sesame oil, bean paste, etc. Each seasoning has its own unique flavor, and He Yuzhu must carefully distinguish the subtle differences in the tasting process and remember the application of these flavors in different dishes.

During the tasting process, He Yuzhu gradually found that his sense of taste was constantly being stimulated and becoming more and more acute. He could not only distinguish the main flavor of the seasoning, but also capture the secondary flavors hidden in it. This feeling was like clearing away the fog and gradually approaching the essence of the taste, which took his understanding of cooking to a higher level.

After a morning of training, He Yuzhu was able to skillfully distinguish the subtle differences between a variety of spices, which made him feel sincerely satisfied with his progress. However, this training is not just to make him remember the taste, but also to cultivate his sensitivity to taste, so that he can more accurately control the use of spices in future cooking and create dishes with richer layers.

During the break, He Yuzhu said to his master with some emotion: "Master, today's training made me feel that the world of taste is really profound. In the past, I only knew the basic tastes of salty, sweet, sour, and spicy. Now I realize that each seasoning has so many details."

He Daqing nodded, with a trace of deep thought in his eyes, "Xiao Zhuzi, taste is indeed a profound subject. Every excellent chef has gradually found his own taste system through countless attempts and failures. You are just getting started now, but I believe that as long as you keep working hard, you will be able to go further on this road."

After hearing this, He Yuzhu was filled with expectations for the future. He knew that he still had a lot to learn and many areas he had not yet explored. Although the road ahead was still full of challenges, he no longer felt confused, but was full of confidence and motivation.

In the following days, He Daqing continued to train He Yuzhu's taste in various ways, even asking him to taste the seasonings in different dishes with his eyes closed, trying to make him accurately distinguish the changes in taste even when he lost his vision. Although this training was hard, He Yuzhu enjoyed it because he clearly felt that his taste was gradually improving and his cooking skills were constantly improving.

As time went on, He Yuzhu's grasp of flavor became more and more precise, and he began to try adding more complex seasoning combinations to his dishes, creating some refreshing dishes. Customers also began to notice that his dishes had more subtle and rich flavor changes, making every bite memorable.

He Daqing saw this and felt both relieved and a little proud. He knew that He Yuzhu had gradually entered a higher realm of culinary skills, and there would be a broader world waiting for him in the future. But at the same time, He Daqing also understood that as a master, his mission was far from over, and He Yuzhu still had a lot of areas to improve, and he was willing to accompany his apprentice until He Yuzhu could really stand on his own.

That night, He Daqing and He Yuzhu sat in the courtyard of the quadrangle. The night breeze blew gently, and the fragrance of flowers in the courtyard filled the air. The two talked about the future, the prospects of the He family restaurant, and He Yuzhu's dream.

"Master, I want to continue learning and go further. Maybe one day, I can make more advanced dishes and let more people taste our flavors." There was a determined light in He Yuzhu's eyes, and the goal in his heart was becoming clearer and clearer.

He Daqing nodded, with encouragement in his tone, "Xiao Zhuzi, I believe you can do it. But remember, no matter how far you go, never forget our original insistence - to cook every dish with heart. Only in this way can you truly perfect your cooking skills."