Chapter 39 prawns

They are called prawns in Taiwan, prawns in southern China, and prawns in northern China. Except for those who are not fishy, ​​there is probably no one who does not like to eat this kind of shrimp.Tan Zhuanqing, a gourmet expert in the old capital, said: "Apart from shark's fin and abalone, prawns are my favorite seafood. From Northeast China to Fujian and Guangdong, fish and shrimp seafood are produced on the entire coast. The lower the temperature, the cooler the water. The finer the tissue, the richer the freshness. Therefore, although the prawns produced in Tianjin and Yantai are also fresh and delicious, compared with the prawns in Yingkou outside the customs, the taste is different in the mouth. "When Zhuan Qing said this, I hadn't tasted the prawns in Yingkou. The smoked fish sold in the red cabinet comes with the smoked prawns, all of which are delicious with meals and wine.

One year when I returned to Beiping from Shanghai, I took the Xinming ocean liner of China Merchants Beiyang Class. The ship arrived in Tanggu to wait for the quarantine inspection and import, just in time for the peak season of prawns.The porters are on the edge of the pier, a small red clay stove, boiled prawns in salt water with peppercorns, and peeled them while eating.The waiter on the ship said that the prawns cooked by the dock workers have nothing but pepper and salt, but they taste special.I didn't believe it at first, but then he took two of them for me to taste. They were slightly flavorful, fresh and sweet, and what he said was true. Slowly peeling off the shells and drinking, there was a simple and original taste in the plain.Later, no matter where you eat the prawns, you will always think of the taste of boiled prawns in Tanggu white water.

Yantai Weihaiwei also produces prawns, and I think their dried large prawns are also a must.Most of the ships passing through Yantai did not dock, but anchored in the sea. Vendors selling bananas, apples, big-headed fish, and dried prawns all grabbed their fishing rods from their sampans and filed up.In the fifteenth or sixteenth year of the Republic of China, one hundred prawns were only sold for one silver dollar. In Shanghai, dried prawns were stewed with pork belly. People who have eaten it think it is a delicacy that is suitable for both wine and rice.Although Tan Zhuanqing told me that the large prawns in North China are not as plump as the prawns in Yingkou in Northeast China, I still don’t believe it.

One year, his relative Fan Qiguang was transferred from the Consul General of Vladivostok to the director of the Middle East Railway Bureau, and he worked in Harbin. The entrusted house found a chef for him. Because the wages in the Northeast are high and they earn more than those in the Guan, Master Jiang from Fuxingju is willing to go outside the Guan. .He is an expert in red and white cases, and he can handle the whole banquet, so he was introduced.After more than a year, he asked an outsider to bring me a sealed biscuit jar. He said: "It contains Yingri shrimp oil. Yingkou is a place where Guan goes out to buy seafood. The fresh abalone is fat and tender. The big prawns are strong and rich in oil, not only can’t be eaten in the customs, but also the price is very cheap, and it won’t go bad for a long time.” At first I thought it was the shrimp oil of the Kanto braised shrimp, but when I opened the jar, there was a layer of crystal clear jade on the floating surface The fat inside is bright red and soft, plump and purple, and it is all red oil boiled from shrimp brains. It looks like chili oil on the surface, and it is delicious when used to cook noodles. It is not as good as the shrimp brain noodles in Shanghai Dafa Restaurant. I know how many times it needs to be mellow.After eating the shrimp brain oil boiled from Yingkou prawns, I believe that Tan Zhuanqing's theory that the seafood is fresh and plump, and that the north is better than the south is not exaggerated and deceptive.

There are many harbors along the coast of Taiwan, and the production of prawns, especially Donggang prawns, is well-known far and wide. In recent years, all festive banquets and banquets in Taiwan seem to have tomato prawns or braised prawns as the main course. The price is getting higher and higher, the price of a large plate of prawns is even more expensive than the price of four or five people eating grilled soup for two.Strictly speaking, Taiwan's prawns are good in terms of size and appearance, but the head and brain are small, the tail is long and hollow, the prawns are old and thick, and the freshness is even more bland and insufficient.Personally, in my opinion, it’s not worth selling this kind of goods for hundreds of dollars a catty, and even in some unruly restaurants, the waiters will be very angry when they see the customers. , Regardless of whether the prawns in the refrigerator are fresh or not, just ruthless this guy (taken advantage of) and say that the prawns are good.If you want to be with a new friend or a new female partner, you can’t get along with one another, nod your head, have a small drink for three or two, and settle the bill after eating, it can really beat the price of half your banquet, this kind of waiter is too much Heartless friends.If you encounter this kind of occasion, the beating is a small matter, and the stomach is a big problem, so we have to fight back. The refrigerator is full of food, and the taste is about to change. Not only will it change color, but if it is bad, it will not be cut into pieces. Fried cooking, do not eat tomato braised in soy sauce, order fried rice with shrimp slices or eggs with him, if the prawns are not fresh, he will catch you blind and say no curses.People who often run outside will inevitably encounter such embarrassing situations. Although I don't want to punish people, I also don't want to be punished. Using this method to deal with unruly waiters is sure to be tried and tested!