Once everyone had roughly browsed through the menu, displaying expressions of surprise and astonishment, Qi Han smiled faintly and began to introduce.
"As you can see, this special food called hotpot has a completely different way of eating compared to other foods. The first eighteen items are the bases of the hotpot, while the latter are the ingredients. After ordering, I will bring fresh ingredients to your table, and then you can cook them in the hotpot according to the instructions provided."
"Different bases have different flavors. Therefore, even with the same ingredients, putting them into different bases will result in different tastes. You can try various combinations at your own discretion."
"Do we cook it ourselves?" Cao Rang's eyes showed some surprise. He had never cooked before in his life, so he didn't expect to have the opportunity to cook here.
"Yes, that's one of the characteristics of this way of eating," Qi Han said with a smile. "In addition, you can also customize your dipping sauce according to your preferences."
As he spoke, he pointed to the condiment table nearby, which was filled with various seasonings and sauces, covering a wide range of options.
"Dipping sauces are mainly divided into dry and oily types. Dry sauces are mainly made by mixing various powdered and dry seasonings, while oily sauces are made by adding sesame oil and various sauces. Both are used to dip the cooked ingredients from the hotpot. The specific ingredients vary from person to person. In addition, there are various recommended dipping sauce recipes, such as spicy, savory, and fragrant, listed on the last page of the menu, which can serve as a reference."
Upon hearing this, everyone subconsciously flipped to the last page of the menu, where indeed there were recommended recipes for various common dipping sauces, including spicy, savory, and fragrant flavors.
This revelation brought a glimmer of hope to many diners who had no cooking experience. With these dipping sauce recipes as references, the likelihood of them creating a disastrous concoction was greatly reduced. Under normal circumstances, they should be able to make decent dipping sauces.
For those with some culinary skills, this was an opportunity to showcase their talents. They could either modify existing recipes or create their own dipping sauces. Even those who couldn't cook could experiment with the provided recipes to discover their preferences and tastes.
"Alright, now you can start by selecting your hotpot base and ingredients. Each table can choose one base, or mix up to four different ones for a single hotpot."
Qi Han took a look at Qin Yao and Qin Yue standing behind him, then spoke softly, "Did you two remember the way I introduced the hotpot just now?"
Qin Yue's eyes lit up; this novel way of eating felt fresh to her. She nodded, saying, "Boss, I remembered."
Qin Yao also showed interest in her face. She had never heard of such a way of eating before, but it sounded intriguing. "Boss, I remembered too."
"Good." Qi Han relaxed slightly as he saw that Qin Yue and Qin Yao understood his instructions. "Next, you two will be responsible for recording the orders from the customers and then delivering their dishes."
With that said, Qi Han turned and walked down to the kitchen on the first floor.
Among the eighteen hotpot bases, some needed to be prepared in advance, such as the Sichuan-style spicy hotpot base made with beef tallow and various spices, which had a complex process. Qi Han had already prepared these before the opening. These bases would solidify when cold and dissolve into the soup when heated, making them easy to store in sealed packaging.
For the bases that couldn't be prepared in advance, Qi Han would mix and cook them on-site.
Soon, the Qin sisters came down with the orders. Qi Han prepared the bases and ingredients according to the orders and handed them over to the sisters to serve the customers.
Upstairs, there was a look of anticipation in Yue Lengxin's eyes. This time, Qi Han's new delicacies had truly surprised her. With Qi Han's introduction, she quickly understood the key points of this way of eating.
The process of cooking delicacies, partly entrusted to the chefs and partly to the customers themselves? It was indeed very interesting.
After looking at the dipping sauce recipes on the last page of the menu, Yue Lengxin stood up. "Fu Ya, shall we go and prepare the dipping sauces together?"
Several female members of the competition team were sitting together, and Fu Ya happened to be sitting next to Yue Lengxin. She nodded slightly and followed Yue Lengxin to the condiment table.
"I noticed that you seemed a bit down. What's wrong?" Yue Lengxin picked up a small plate the size of a palm from the side and started to mix the dipping sauce according to her own thoughts, asking softly.
She had specifically invited Fu Ya because she sensed that Fu Ya's mood seemed somewhat low after they came upstairs.
Fu Ya hesitated for a moment before speaking softly, "Senior Sister, this new restaurant is so good. Will the boss still return to Shrek City?"
Yue Lengxin's hand trembled slightly, freezing in mid-air. She forced a smile, feeling a bit unnatural. "You've known him longer; you shouldn't be asking me this question. He promised the customers that he would return to Shrek City. Do you think he's a man who keeps his promises?"
Strange, why do I suddenly feel a bit unhappy?
It must be because I'm worried that Qi Han won't come back, and then I won't be able to enjoy the delicious food at the restaurant.
Yeah! That must be it.
Upon hearing Yue Lengxin's words, Fu Ya suddenly remembered when Qi Han had promised her to return within ten days. On the last day of their agreement, he rushed back to the restaurant in a disheveled state and even let her taste three new dishes. Although two of them were deceiving her, but...
Pfft.
Thinking of the determined look on Qi Han's face as he deceived her, she couldn't help but burst into laughter, feeling like the gloom in her heart had suddenly disappeared. "Senior Sister, I think Boss is a man who keeps his promises. He will definitely return to Shrek City!"
Yue Lengxin's smile brightened a few degrees. "That's right. We should be happy when we eat." She pointed to the plate already filled with dipping sauces. "I'm done with mine. You can take your time."
With that, she turned and returned to her seat.
It seemed like her steps were a bit lighter.
"Yeah!" Fu Ya nodded, her eyes shining.
Senior Sister is really thoughtful. I was just a little worried, and she noticed and comforted me so gently.
Then, Fu Ya looked at the empty plate in her hand and fell into deep thought.
It seems like I haven't looked at the dipping sauce recipes yet?
But as she glanced at the various condiments on the condiment table, she recognized each one. A hint of uncertainty appeared on Fu Ya's face.
Should I try to mix one based on my feelings?
<+>
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