Chapter 744 - Care For Some Four Times Insanely Spicy Grilled Fish?
The braised chicken and rice had given everyone a massively pleasant surprise, but it had also significantly elevated everyone’s expectations for Mag.
If he were to offer only a single dish, then the braised chicken and rice would definitely remain an unforgettable dish that they would look back on even years down the track.
However, he was now presenting a second dish, and everyone was eagerly anticipating this dish with lofty expectations.
The king had finished his entire portion of braised chicken and rice, which indicated that he was clearly very pleased with the chef that the second prince had invited to Rodu. This was most definitely a positive development for Josh in his quest to inherit the throne.
The attendant once again laid down a platter in front of the king in a respectful manner. “This dish is known as black pepper steak. Chef Mag advises using a knife and fork to slice the steak into small pieces, then dipping it into the accompanying black pepper sauce prior to consumption.”
As he removed the lid from the platter, the aromas of beef and wine swept through the entire palace like a hurricane.
The king’s eyes lit up slightly in response. He didn’t have any hobbies in life other than wine-tasting. He was far from being an alcoholic, but it had already become a habit of his to drink a glass of wine before going to bed every night.
The fragrance of the wine emanating from this steak was not inferior in the slightest compared to the wine that the royal palace purchased from the Buffett Winery on a yearly basis. In fact, this wine seemed to have an even richer fragrance than the premium wine from the Buffett Winery.
He had been feeling slightly full after eating an entire portion of braised chicken and rice, but he felt as if additional stomach capacity had suddenly been unlocked as soon as he caught a whiff of the steak before him. He raised a hand, and a female servant hurried over to him before picking up his knife and fork and slicing the steak into bite-sized chunks.
Abraham inhaled the aroma swirling within the palace with an intoxicated look on his face. “The fragrance of this wine is simply mesmerizing! You’d think that beef and wine would be an abhorrent combination, but the two aromas seem to complement one another perfectly!”
Abraham was staring directly at the portion of steak on the table in front of Josh, and a trail of drool was threatening to teeter over the corner of his lips. You’ve truly unearthed a treasure, Your Highness!
Josh only hesitated momentarily before turning to one of the female servants with a smile as he instructed, “Duke Abraham has always been an avid lover of good food, and I’m feeling rather full already after eating that portion of braised chicken and rice, so please give my steak to the duke.”
“Are you serious?” Abraham couldn’t help but exclaim as his eyes lit up with joy.
“Of course.” Josh nodded with a smile in response.
The female servant picked up the portion of beef from Josh’s table in a respectful manner before transferring it to Abraham’s table.
“You have my thanks, Your Highness.” Abraham only had time to deliver a few words of gratitude before his attention was completely drawn to the steak before him. Up close, the steak was smelling even more irresistible, and only now he caught a whiff of a unique aroma intermingled with the fragrance of the beef and the wine.
It was the aroma of black pepper!
For a veteran foodie like him, black pepper was naturally not an unfamiliar condiment.
Perhaps it was because this condiment was far too expensive, but he had never seen a chef who could truly make good use of black pepper in their dishes. All they did was apply black pepper to their dishes for a unique novelty effect rather than actually using it to enhance the flavor of a dish. However, that was clearly not the case for this dish!
The aroma of the black pepper combined with the delectable fragrance of the beef to such harmonious perfection that it was simply a match made in heaven. It was as if these two were always meant to be, and as if this was the only correct way that beef should be eaten.
“What a stroke of genius!” Abraham couldn’t help but praise as he eagerly picked up his cutlery. He then sliced into the steak—as carefully as if he were treating an artistic masterpiece—before gently placing the morsel of steak into his mouth.
The beef was even more tender than he imagined, and as he bit down into it, an abundance of wine and meat juices flooded into his mouth. These flavors then combined with the black pepper sauce, and he felt as if a magic caster had unleashed a spell directly in his mouth. All of his taste buds were cast into a state of complete ecstasy, and the complexity of the flavors made him feel as if he were experiencing something new and different with each passing second.
After swallowing the mouthful of beef, he felt as if a flow of warmth had slid down his throat, filling his entire body with a warm sensation that almost made him moan with pleasure.
The flavor is so warm and delicious, yet so highly addictive; is this chef an angel or a demon?
Abraham sliced off a second chunk of beef before putting it in his mouth, closing his eyes to carefully savor every single minute aspect of this amazing culinary experience.
This was by far the best dish he had tasted today.
The roast beef cubes from the day before were also quite delicious, but they were much more suited to be a street food compared to this steak.
In such a grand and illustrious palace, it was only fitting for one to eat black pepper steak with a knife and a fork in a graceful manner.
Irina inspected the steak before her with a curious expression. So he can roast beef cubes and also cooked slabs of beef like this?
Let me see what this tastes like compared to the roast beef from yesterday. Irina placed a small chunk of beef in her mouth, upon which her eyes immediately lit up before narrowing with a blissful smile. After swallowing the mouthful of beef, she licked her lips to catch the residual black pepper sauce.
As expected of my man; he can do anything! This steak tastes completely different compared to the roast beef from yesterday, but it’s just as delicious!
Irina opened her eyes and ate another chunk of beef. The blissful smile on her face had Josh looking on in a completely entranced manner.
Yes! Big Sister Irina is definitely falling in love with Father’s cooking. Amy glanced at Irina with a joyful expression before turning to Josh, upon which her little brows furrowed with displeasure. Is he staring at my beautiful Big Sister Irina? That’s not allowed! She belongs to Father! I’m going to keep an eye on you!
“Where did His Highness find such a genius of a chef? His cooking skills are absolutely extraordinary!”
“Indeed. This present is better than anything else anyone could offer to His Majesty. This really is a thoughtful gesture from His Highness.”
The officials who were familiar with each other began to discuss quietly among themselves. It was quite clear that Josh had achieved his objective.
“Luna, the one who’s offering these dishes to His Majesty couldn’t be that Mr. Mag you were talking about, could he?” The elderly man sitting beside Luna turned to her with a surprised expression. He had heard that Mr. Mag had been invited to Rodu by the second prince to cook during the king’s birthday banquet, but how could such a brilliant mathematician also be such an outstanding chef?
“That’s right, Grandpa, he is indeed Mr. Mag. He works as a chef and a restaurant owner, and mathematics is only his hobby.”
Byron Field faltered slightly upon hearing this before heaving an emotional sigh. “Even as a hobbyist, he had reached a level that I couldn’t hope to reach in my entire life. I really am looking forward to meeting this young man now.”
“That’s right, he’s a true genius.” A hint of admiration appeared in Luna’s eyes as a mental image of Mag surfaced in her mind.
…
“This one is for His Majesty, and these two are for the two princes. This one is for the elven princess, this one is for Master Krassu, and these are for the rest of the guests. All of them have different flavors, so you have to make absolutely sure that you don’t misplace them.”
Mag delivered a set of instructions to the 10 female servants with a serious expression before sending them on their way.
He looked on as they departed, and a wide smile suddenly appeared on his face. “Josh, Sean, care for some four times insanely spicy grilled fish?”