The Spirit of Gourmet

Chapter 386 Grand Opening

The next morning, as soon as Qin Lang and the others stepped out of their room and into the hotel lobby, they saw Di You already waiting for them there.

Standing next to Di You was Wei Shasha, who also planned to take advantage of the Magnolia Food Festival to relax and unwind over the next few days.

Once the group of seven had reunited, the minibus that Di You had arranged took them to the Magnolia Food Festival.

On the way, watching the city rushing past the car window, Qin Lang couldn't help but wonder, "Isn't the event being held in the city center?"

“No.” Di You said with a smile, “The annual Magnolia Food Festival is held in a place called Flower Valley Plain on the outskirts of Lanqiu City.”

"That area is no less large than Lanjin Garden, and it is covered with endless wild night-blooming cereus. It is the place with the most night-blooming cereus in Lanqiu City, apart from Lanjin Garden."

“Of course, when it comes to the quality of night-blooming cereus, Flower Valley Plain can’t compare to our Orchid Garden,” Wei Shasha added with a smile. “After all, the night-blooming cereus growing there are all wild.”

Wild animals can never compare to those that have been cultivated by humans.

Everyone nodded in understanding, but their anticipation for Flower Valley Plains remained undiminished.

“Every year when the Magnolia Food Festival opens, the night-blooming cereus in the Flower Valley Plain is at its most luxuriant.” At this point, Di You changed the subject, “Although the Magnolia Food Festival is a month earlier, the scenery is still not much less spectacular.”

"You'll see in a moment."

As Di You spoke, the number of vehicles around them suddenly increased. The roads in the suburbs, which should have been smooth and accessible, became increasingly congested as they went further.

"Wow, so many people!" Zhao Qian couldn't help but exclaim. "Everyone is heading in the same direction; they must all be here for the Magnolia Food Festival."

"I didn't expect that the Magnolia Food Festival would be moved up so quickly this year, yet so many people still arrived on the first day," Cao Dongdong exclaimed in amazement.

“The association has ways to quickly notify the public.” Di You smiled, not surprised by the scene. “We didn’t arrive early, but the atmosphere was just right when we got there.”

As he was speaking, the minibus was once again blocked by the car in front.

With about a kilometer left to their destination, the group discussed it and decided to get off the bus early and walk the rest of the way.

As soon as they got out of the car, a rich fragrance of night-blooming cereus wafted into Qin Lang and the others' noses. Looking around, apart from the road where vehicles travel, the area along the roadside stretched out as far as the eye could see, a boundless sea of ​​night-blooming cereus.

"Wow!" Zhao Qian's eyes lit up instantly. She took out the camera she had brought with her from her backpack and started snapping away.

Because the traffic jam was quite severe, tourists in other vehicles soon got off and formed a long line of tourists on the roadside.

Following the long line, Qin Lang and the others soon saw the entrance with the six large characters "Magnolia Food Festival" carved in front of them.

The writing, with the protective film just peeled off, was clearly from last night.

As they entered the entrance, a rich aroma wafted towards them.

Those were the stalls set up in the entrance passage.

"None of you have had breakfast, have you?" Di You turned to look at Qin Lang and the others, and suddenly asked with a smile.

"Of course not." Qin Lang shook his head, a hint of anticipation in his eyes. "If you're going to come here, you should save your appetite."

"Now, it's time for a feast!" Di You pointed to the surrounding stalls. "This is the food reception area at the entrance, featuring many classic dishes from Lanqiu City, and..."

He paused, then smiled, "These delicacies are all provided free of charge for tourists to try." Hearing the word "free," everyone's eyes lit up.

Although they are not people who cannot afford to pay, who can resist free food?

"Charge! Charge!" Zuo Ge and Cao Dongdong pounced on the stalls next to them and quickly devoured everything. Zhao Qian, along with Wei Shasha and Fatima, also strolled around the stalls with great interest.

Qin Lang chuckled and stopped in front of a nearby stall.

The vendor was making a small cake, about the size of an egg, using a special baking pan. A rich, sweet aroma wafted out the moment the pan was opened.

The vendor placed the cake into a small cup and smiled at Qin Lang, "Young man, would you like to try the Night Orchid Cake, a specialty of Lanqiu City?"

"Thank you, I'd like to try it." Qin Lang nodded curiously, took it, blew on it slightly, and took a bite while it was still hot.

Crispy and soft, with a rich egg flavor and sweet but not cloying, the Night Orchid Cake tastes quite similar to ordinary baked cakes. The only difference is that you can smell the fragrance of Night Orchid throughout the cake.

but…

Qin Lang raised an eyebrow, took another bite uncertainly, and then couldn't help but ask, "Uncle stall owner, the night-blooming jasmine in this night-blooming jasmine cake..."

"Why does it feel more layered than the others?"

"You can tell?" The stall owner laughed. "These night-blooming jasmine flowers are not ordinary night-blooming jasmine flowers. Some are picked during the day and some are picked at night. The aroma of night-blooming jasmine flowers picked at different times is different."

"The essence lies in the fusion of two types of night-blooming jasmine."

“Even different proportions can create different feelings.”

"I see." Qin Lang suddenly looked enlightened.

By intertwining the flavors of the same ingredient in different states, they can blend together because of their common origin, and become more layered because of their differences.

I never imagined that such a simple local specialty could contain such culinary ideas.

He cut the remaining cake in half and gave the pieces to Danbao and Lala, who were drooling over it, before heading to the second stall with great anticipation.

Taste, discuss, taste again, discuss again.

Every stall owner here is exceptionally talkative, and when tourists ask questions, they are generous in sharing their cooking techniques. Through these simple yet unique dishes, a more complete and culturally rich image of Rancho is sketched in the minds of every tourist.

When they reunited with the others, everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, and their faces showed a mix of emotions and thoughtful expressions.

“There are quite a few similar food and beverage venues.” Di You grinned, satisfied with Qin Lang and the others’ reaction. “This is just an appetizer.”

"Now that everyone has enjoyed the delicious food, it's time to digest." Di You paused for a moment. "In half an hour, the first legendary performance of the Magnolia Food Festival will begin."

"Let's go!" Zuo Ge, who was contentedly stroking her belly a second ago, suddenly perked up. "What are we waiting for? Let's go now!"

"Legendary performance, here I come!"

(End of this chapter)