The delicacies of the heavens begin with obtaining gem meat.

Chapter 207 Food Court Delicacies

The barbecue restaurant owner took out a huge knife and cleanly cut all the barbecue meat off the grill.

Then, with a few quick snips, the large pieces of roasted ribs were cut open one by one, each one almost as long as an arm, with an astonishingly thick layer of meat.

He grilled the chopped meat and ribs over the charcoal fire a few more times, brushed on the last layer of sauce, then placed them on an extra-large plate, sprinkled with a little bit of special spices, and handed them to Jiang Yan.

The roasted meat and ribs on the plate were still steaming hot, with the skin roasted to a bright reddish-brown color and a few crispy black edges. The bright red sauce coated the meat, making it look incredibly appetizing.

Jiang Yan picked up a grilled rib and took a bite.

First, there's the crispy outer skin with a subtle smoky aroma, followed by the burst of rich, juicy meat in your mouth.

Sea monsters have firm flesh with a strong fibrous texture, but it's not dry at all; the more you chew, the more flavorful it becomes.

The most wonderful thing is the secret sauce, which is made by simmering fruit, soy sauce and spices together. It has a little bit of sweetness and a little bit of saltiness, as well as the unique aroma of spices. It does not cover up the rich meaty aroma of the sea monster meat itself, but instead brings out the freshness of the meat.

In addition, the fatty parts of the ribs are roasted until most of the fat melts away, making them melt in your mouth and not greasy at all.

The lean meat was soaked in sauce, making it savory and flavorful, with the unique aroma of charcoal grilling.

One bite, and your mouth is filled with the aroma of meat, so satisfying that you can't help but squint your eyes.

Jiang Yan finished a piece of rib in a few bites, then picked up a large piece of roasted meat, which tasted just as good and became more and more delicious with each bite.

Jiang Yan quickly devoured all the roasted meat and ribs.

He wiped his mouth, still feeling unsatisfied, paid the bill, and then continued on his way.

After walking a few steps, Jiang Yan was attracted by a clean-looking shop.

The shop is small, and the glass tank at the entrance is filled with all kinds of colorful deep-sea fish.

The sign reads "Fishman's Deep Sea Fish Restaurant".

Jiang Yan became interested and went into the shop. The owner was a sea bream fishman who was holding an extremely thin sashimi knife and cutting sashimi for customers. His knife skills were so fast that they were almost blurry. In just a few strokes, he cut a fish into neat and even slices.

"What would you like to eat, sir?"

"The live deep-sea fish in our store are killed and cut on the spot, absolutely fresh."

When the fishmonger saw Jiang Yan enter, he greeted him with a smile.

Upon hearing the question, Jiang Yan looked up at the menu written on the wall, which mainly featured various kinds of sushi and sashimi.

-

Jiang Yan's interest waned somewhat, but he still decided to try the taste of deep-sea fish.

"Give me one of your restaurant's signature sashimi platters."

"Okay, just a moment."

The boss nodded and quickly got to work.

In just a few minutes, a delicate sashimi platter was served in front of Jiang Yan.

The plate was covered with a thick layer of crushed ice, topped with neatly sliced ​​sashimi of various kinds, all beautifully arranged in color.

Deep-sea tuna belly; silver salmon loin; tentacles of an unknown deep-sea octopus — and several other deep-sea fish sashimi that Jiang Yan couldn't name.

Each one was cut to perfection, glistening enticingly under the light.

It is served on the side with a small dish of special soy sauce made from seafood and a small piece of freshly grated wasabi.

Jiang Yan first picked up a piece of deep-sea tuna belly, dipped it in a little soy sauce and grated wasabi, and put it in his mouth.

When the fish touches the tip of your tongue, the rich oil spreads throughout your mouth, carrying the unique sweetness of tuna, without any fishy smell, only ultimate succulence and smoothness.

Wasabi has a mild spiciness, not the kind that's pungent and irritating, but rather a slightly refreshing aroma that perfectly balances the richness of the oil.

The salty and savory flavor of the soy sauce brought out the sweetness of the fish, making each bite unforgettable.

Immediately afterwards, Jiang Yan picked up a piece of silver-scaled salmon loin.

Unlike the rich and fatty tuna, silver salmon has a crisp, tender, and sweet texture. When you bite into it, it has a slightly chewy texture, and its clear, sweet flavor spreads in your mouth. It is clean and pure, without any off-flavors.

Those deep-sea sashimi varieties that I couldn't name each had their own unique characteristics.

Some of the meat is firm and chewy, with a faint milky aroma;

Some have a smooth and tender texture that melts in your mouth and are full of umami flavor;

Some also have a unique slightly sour taste, making them exceptionally refreshing.

Jiang Yan ate slowly and deliberately, each type of sashimi bringing a different surprise.

The plate of sashimi was quickly emptied, and Jiang Yan ate to his heart's content.

Then Jiang Yan bought several fresh deep-sea fish from the fishmonger and put them in the "Food Restaurant" before leaving the sashimi shop.

As soon as Jiang Yan stepped out of the sashimi restaurant, a rich and mellow aroma caught his attention.

The aroma is different from the charred smell of grilled meat or the fresh aroma of sashimi. It's the aroma of a warm, rich soup that has been simmered for a long time, with the fragrance of meat and the freshness of mushrooms. Just smelling it makes you feel warm all over.

Jiang Yan followed the aroma and soon saw a shop with a long queue in front of it. The sign read "Grandma's Turtle Soup Restaurant".

The people in line were all eagerly waiting, clearly all there for the turtle soup.

If so many people are queuing up, the taste must be pretty good.

Jiang Yan then joined the back of the line and slowly moved forward with the crowd.

While queuing, Jiang Yan asked the customers in front of him and learned that the restaurant's rich soup was made by simmering deep-sea turtle, more than a dozen different kinds of mushrooms and precious ingredients over a low flame for a full twelve hours. It was only possible to make such a pot of rich soup, which was limited to one bowl per person every day. If you came late, you would not be able to drink it.

After waiting in line for about twenty minutes, it was finally Jiang Yan's turn.

The shop is not large, with a few small wooden tables. The person in charge of cooking is an elderly woman with gray hair, but she moves very quickly, using a large soup ladle to serve the customers thick soup.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Grandma, give me a bowl of turtle soup."

Jiang Yan said somewhat impatiently.

"Okay, just a moment."

The old woman smiled and replied, picked up a porcelain bowl, filled it with a bowl of thick turtle soup, scooped out a few pieces of stewed turtle meat from the pot and put them in the bowl, sprinkled a little chopped green onion on top, and handed it to Jiang Yan.

Jiang Yan took the soup bowl and found an empty seat to sit down.

The soup in the bowl was milky white, with a thin layer of golden oil floating on the surface. It was steaming hot, and the rich aroma filled the nostrils. Just smelling it made one feel warm inside.

Jiang Yan picked up a spoon, scooped up a spoonful of the thick soup, and put it in his mouth.

With just one bite, Jiang Yan's eyes lit up.

The soup has a smooth, silky texture; it slides down the throat as soon as it touches the tip of the tongue.

The ultimate umami flavor from the ingredients explodes in your mouth.

The rich, meaty flavor of the sea turtle and the sweetness of the mushrooms blend together perfectly, creating a surprisingly complex and delicious taste.

-

The saltiness is just right; a touch of salt brings out the umami flavor of all the ingredients without making it greasy. On the contrary, it becomes more and more delicious with each sip.

A sip of hot soup warmed me from my throat to my stomach, and all my fatigue vanished instantly.

Jiang Yan scooped up another piece of turtle meat from the bowl and put it in his mouth.

The meat has been stewed until it's incredibly tender, melting in your mouth with the slightest touch. It's soaked in the rich broth, not dry at all, but soft, succulent, and fragrant—so delicious you can't stop eating it.

Even the mushrooms in the soup are soaked in the broth. When you bite into them, the delicious broth bursts in your mouth, and the texture is crisp and tender, making them exceptionally delicious.

Jiang Yan finished the bowl of soup in just a few gulps, feeling warm and comfortable all over.

At this moment, the gourmet cells in Jiang Yan's body became unusually active, and his strength was also improved to a certain extent.

Due to limited supply, Jiang Yan had no choice but to leave, feeling somewhat unsatisfied.

Despite having eaten a lot of delicious food, Jiang Yan felt even hungrier and couldn't wait to continue.

A crowd had gathered in front of the fried food shop. The owner was putting small fish coated in batter into the boiling oil. With a sizzle, oil splattered everywhere, and the aroma instantly wafted out.

-

Jiang Yan also bought a portion of freshly fried small fish. The outer skin was golden and crispy, and when you bit into it, the fish meat inside was snow-white, tender, and full of juice.

Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper and chili powder, and it's salty, fragrant and slightly spicy, so delicious that you'll want to lick your fingers.

The grilled conch shop next door was also bustling. The owner dug out fresh large conch, cleaned it, stuffed it back into the shell, added butter, minced garlic, and herbs, and grilled it over charcoal.

The butter melts when heated, mixing with the aroma of minced garlic, creating an irresistible fragrance.

Jiang Yan bought a few, picked up a bamboo skewer, picked out the grilled snail meat, and put it in his mouth.

The snail meat is firm and chewy, with the aroma of butter, the smoky fragrance of garlic, and a touch of salty freshness from the sea.

They were so satisfying to eat them one after another.

Continuing on, we encountered candied hawthorn berries coated in sugar, crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, sweet but not cloying;

The freshly baked seafood pizza has a crispy crust, stretchy cheese, and is topped with fresh shrimp and scallop meat. Every bite is packed with ingredients.

Fish roe cakes made with flying fish roe burst open in your mouth with every bite, bursting with fresh and delicious flavor.

What amazed Jiang Yan the most was the sea salt caramel pudding he ate at a dessert shop.

The small glass bowl contains pale yellow pudding, topped with a layer of crisp caramel crust, and garnished with a few mint leaves and fresh raspberries, making it look exceptionally delicate.

Pick up the spoon and gently tap the caramel crust on the surface, making a crisp cracking sound.

I scooped up a spoonful of caramelized pudding and put it in my mouth.

The pudding has an incredibly smooth texture, melts in your mouth, and has a rich egg and milk aroma.

The caramel on the surface has a slightly bitter, caramelized aroma that blends perfectly with the sweetness of the pudding.

It also contains a tiny bit of high-concentration sea salt from Water Seven, a subtle saltiness that perfectly balances the sweetness of the caramel and pudding, creating a rich and layered flavor that isn't cloying at all.

One bite, and it's sweet but not cloyingly sweet, smooth and creamy. After swallowing, a rich aroma of caramel and egg milk lingers in your mouth.