Chapter 1354
The Rivera Family’s breakfast was sumptuous, yet not overly extravagant. The same soy milk, bobby, rice cakes, and pies were served, but the preparation was much more meticulous than what you might find outside. The presentation was beautiful, arranged on exquisite porcelain dishes, filling the table and looking especially appetizing.
Jane McCain rarely had the chance to partake in such a large family gathering, so it felt quite novel. As she ate breakfast, she silently observed.
The atmosphere was very pleasant, neither deathly silent nor overly noisy.
The topics of conversation mostly revolved around food. For instance, in imperial cuisine, there is a dish called "Phoenix Tongue". A plate of stir-fried Phoenix Tongue requires at least a hundred or more purslane buds. The ingredient is rare, affordable only for the emperor.
In modern times, the purslane is nearing extinction. Those wishing to recreate the dish use pigeon tongues as substitutes, but it has to be squab because the tongue develops callouses as the pigeon grows.
As for how to make the squab tongues more closely resemble the taste and texture of purslane, the family shared their opinions at the breakfast table.
Jane McCain thought, in such a family atmosphere, it was incredible that Allen Rivera hadn’t become a cook.
No wonder his grandpa said he was rebellious.
Before breakfast was even finished, people started arriving to pay their New Year’s respects. There were renowned chefs from out of town, local leaders, and even foreigners.
Only then did Jane McCain learn that Allen Rivera’s grandfather was a cultural heritage inheritor, and Allen Rivera’s sister and brother were representatives for the Culinary Culture Heritage Research Association... Well, in short, the whole family was quite accomplished.