Chapter 471: Sense of Pride
Translator: Xiong_Guoqi Editor: DesTheSloth
With various spices inside, the authentic fried rice with the UAE taste was unique. Normally, the Chinese wouldn't feel comfortable eating that.
Just because of that, many restaurants either abandoned those unfamiliar spices directly or added a few ones that suited the local people's taste. That was why Silika didn't feel comfortable eating them.
It was as uncomfortable as the people from the Sichuan Province eating fake Spicy Hotpot and people from Hu'nan Province eating the fake Small Spiced Lobster.
Therefore, Silika wasn't in a good mood these few days. It was also the reason why a simple Vegetarian Pilaf could make him satisfied.
Luckily, Yuan Zhou cooked very quickly. Even if the rice was braised for a short while, he quickly made it.
"Here are the dishes for the three of you." Zhou Jia carried the dishes to them.
"Thank you." The three of them thanked her at the same time.
"Please enjoy your meal." Zhou Jia said that courteously and then went to carry other dishes.
"Oh. There isn't the slightest fragrance?" Silika knitted his brows and felt a little disappointed.
"Manager, don't feel disappointed so quickly. You'll understand after you eat some." Ma Zhida hinted to him with a smile.
"Yeah, he's right. Eat some and you might be able to find a surprise." The director felt like she was riding a tiger and could not get off easily, because she also found there was no fragrance from the rice.
Even those unauthentic Vegetarian Pilaf served in other restaurants had at least some taste of spices. Here in this restaurant, however, there were none. That was sufficient reason enough to explain that. Nevertheless, it wasn't a good time to give up the hope.
"Alright. Judging from the color, it looks good." Silika shrugged but had totally given up the hope inwardly.
The rice was placed in an ordinary black porcelain pot. The long pale brown rice grains were well-separated. In the center of the rice, there was even something like raisins, sesame seed and peanuts.
"Please taste it now." Ma Zhida said to him again.
"Okay, alright. I will." After a nod, Silika took the spoon and started to eat.
He scooped up the rice and stuffed it into his mouth directly without even looking at it.
"Um?" Silika raise his eyebrows in surprise.
Once the rice was stuffed into his mouth, a strong taste of spices rushed straight into his throat. It was exactly the UAE taste that Silika was familiar with.
Following that was the softness and chewiness of the rice. While being chewed, it tasted like gelatin.
A strong taste along with a little bit spiciness and pungency suffused his mouth at the beginning, then came the fragrance of the rice that could not be neglected, which made the pungency more distinct.
"Ka Ka", Silika bit the peanuts into pieces. Then, the characteristic fragrance of the peanuts rushed out immediately and right after that was the sour and sweet taste of the raisins.
The raisins were definitely the top-grade goods. They tasted soft and tender with some unnoticeable grape juice but also had the peculiar taste of gelatin at the same time.
"It's way too delicious." Silika swallowed up a mouthful of fried rice and a shine immediately appeared in his eyes as he said loudly.
"Why is there such an authentic pilaf in China?!"
"This chef has absolutely been to the Middle East, or else, he's from the Middle East!" Silika made the judgement resolutely.
"Boss Yuan is a Chinese. I don't know if he's ever been to the Middle East before." Ma Zhida explained.
Silika felt it unbelievable, "How could there be such an authentic taste?"
"Manager Silika, it's great as long as you are satisfied." There appeared a complacent and proud expression on Ma Zhida's smiling face.
"Oh, definitely. I'm more than satisfied. The taste is really wonderful, even better than most chefs in the Middle East." Silika said sincerely.
"Little Ma's recommendation is fairly nice." The director felt it was a wise decision on insisting him to eat just now.
It was the very first time that Silika had revealed a satisfactory smile while eating.
"Okay, let's stop talking. It won't be so good when it gets cold later." Silika wasn't in the mood for talking at all. He started to eat once he lowered his head.
"Director, shall we eat now?" Ma Zhide said to the beautiful director proudly.
"Sure. Perhaps, this dish is also fantastic." The director pointed at the food in front of her and said with a big smile.
"Of course it's delicious." Ma Zhida nodded his head affirmatively.
"Hey, don't talk. Concentrate on eating." Silika raised his head and looked at the two chatting people discontentedly.
"Okay, alright." The director immediately answered smilingly.
Seeing the two people eat silently, Silika nodded his head with satisfaction and continued enjoying his delicacies.
"There wasn't any fragrance when it was served at the beginning, but now it's so tasty. Miraculous!" While eating, Silika was still talking and sighed with emotion.
Then, he gulped down another big mouthful of the fried rice.
While he was chewing, Silika was enjoying the various stimulating tastes released in his mouth from the fried rice.
"It's absolutely delicious." Silika signed with emotion.
Like always, Yuan Zhou's fried rice was only enough for one to be 80% full. Besides, one would feel that the portion was even smaller when eating something delicious.
Therefore, the rice was already all eaten when Silika felt that the meal just started.
Looking at the empty black pot, Silika was a little muddled.
"Did I eat it up so quickly?" Silika said unbelievably.
"Yes, sir." Ma Zhida nodded his head with a quite earnest expression.
In his heart, however, he was laughing at him, "Hey Hey. So now you can see how great Boss Yuan's craftsmanship and rules are!"
"Miss, please get me another serving of fried rice." Silika said to Zhou Jia standing at the side after he came out of his daze.
"Sir, I'm sorry. But according to the rules of our restaurant, one can only order one dish of the same type every time." Zhou Jia went up and explained carefully.
"What?" Silika felt that his Chinese was too poor to understand that.
"I mean you can't order what you have just eaten again." Zhou Jia explained frankly.
"Hey, I don't understand. I need the fried rice ordered just now, the delicious fried rice." Silika pointed at the empty bowl in front of him and said seriously.
What the foodies could do for delicious food was far beyond imagination, let alone Silika hadn't eaten a satisfying meal for quite a few days. This delicacy suited his taste and tasted even better than those served in Michelin Three Star Restaurants in his own country. He rarely came across such a tasty dish and once it was available right in front of him, how could he keep calm?
Not to mention that he only waited for one hour before he managed to eat such a delicacy. It was his decency that stopped him from leaping and dancing.
So it was quite easy to pretend that he couldn't understand Zhou Jia.
"Mr. Ma, can you please explain to them?" Zhou Jia smiled and said to Ma Zhida.
"Alright." Ma Zhida shrugged and answered. Just when he prepared to explain, however, the director suddenly said ahead of him.
"Little girl, that man is your boss, isn't he? Please trouble him to come here." The director said to Zhou Jia.
"Yes, that's my boss. But a rule is a rule. My boss won't agree with you." Zhou Jia nodded her head and then said resolutely.
"Not necessarily. I'd like to offer ten times the marked price and order one more serving." The director said with an exceptionally good-looking expression.
"Ma'am, someone offered one hundred times the marked price last time, but he still didn't make it. After all, Boss Yuan's nickname is Compass." Zhou Jia grinned and said.
"Compass is the kind of person that won't make even a 1cm mistake." Zhou Jia continued saying.
"Director, don't bother doing that. I got an idea." Ma Zhida immediately stopped the beautiful director from speaking.
That's right. The beautiful director was prepared to call Yuan Zhou directly. After all, Silika came for inspection on behalf of the parent company. She was unable to endure that this important person couldn't even eat his fill of fried rice.
"Hey. Say it immediately if you have any ideas." Silika looked at Ma Zhida eagerly.
"Actually, it's very simple." Ma Zhida smiled with a look of certainty and then said to Zhou Jia while looking at her.
"This beautiful woman and I want a Vegetarian Pilaf each."