Chapter 191: Durian Puff Pastry and Salted Egg Yolk Lava Buns

It was a little too big to eat in one bite, so Li Xiao bit the durian pastry in half.

The flaky, golden-yellow crust immediately shattered, scattering like flower petals in the wind.

Before Li Xiao even had a chance to bite down, the pastry was already making CRUNCHING and RUSTLING sounds in his mouth.

The durian pastry’s golden shell was incredibly flaky, yet not the least bit greasy. Their control over the oil was masterful.

The durian pulp inside was molten, surrounded by a slightly firm layer made from a mix of cornstarch and durian fruit.

But as soon as you bit through that layer, the molten durian pulp inside would ooze out, mingled with rich, fragrant butter.

The molten durian filling combined with the flaky crust was a nearly perfect match.

The only small flaw, however, was that Li Xiao could clearly taste a considerable amount of durian paste had been added to the filling to enhance its aroma and flavor profile.

But Li Xiao understood why they’d done it. After all, it wasn’t peak season for durian.

Without the added paste to boost the flavor, the molten filling would have been much less impactful.

This time, however, they’d added a little too much. The flavor of artificial durian essence made the overall taste just a tiny bit discordant.

As he swallowed the durian pastry, a system notification sounded in his ear.

[Congratulations, you have unlocked the 65th entry in your Food Guide.]

[Food Guide entry unlocked: Durian Pastry]

[Food Rating: 81/100 [Good]]

[Rating is ’Good.’ Reward multiplier: x3.]

[Congratulations! You have received a cash reward: 400,000.]

[Congratulations! You have received a recipe reward: Chinese Flaky Pastry Recipe.]

[Congratulations! You have received a recipe reward: Molten Durian Filling Recipe.]

...

Li Xiao swallowed the other half of the durian pastry before turning to his audience and explaining,

"Overall, this durian pastry is pretty good."

"The outer layer is a traditional Chinese-style flaky pastry made with lard, not a more Western-style puff pastry made with butter."

"The main advantages of traditional Chinese lard pastry are that it uses less fat, the layers are more distinct, and the flavor is richer."

"The pastry feels drier and crisp when you eat it, lacking the greasy mouthfeel of Western-style puff pastry."

"However, traditional lard pastry has one major drawback: if the chef’s technique isn’t up to par, the layers won’t be well-defined."

"But obviously, that’s not a problem you’d find at a ’godfather-level’ Cantonese restaurant."

"That doesn’t mean their durian pastry is without its flaws, though."

"I can easily taste fresh durian pulp in there, but to boost the flavor, they added a little too much of that durian paste with the artificial essence."

"This durian pastry barely scrapes by with an 81. If I were to try this during peak durian season, the score might be higher."

「In the livestream chat.」

"Oh, finally something that isn’t perfect."

"But that durian pastry looks so delicious!"

"I can feel how flaky that crust is, even through the screen!"

"You can tell it’s super flaky, looks like it would shatter the moment your lips touch it."

"Screen-licking worthy! Durian is my absolute favorite!"

"Terrifying. I can’t even handle regular durian, and this one has a molten center?"

"Durian is delicious! Charcoal-grilled durian is the GOAT!"

...

While chatting with his viewers and working his way through the Chicken Feet in Abalone Sauce and the Supreme Shrimp Dumplings, the fourth dish arrived.

The fourth dish was another dim sum item: salted egg yolk lava buns.

The three buns weren’t large, each about the size of a baby’s fist.

A striking dot of orange marked the top of each pure white bun, and wisps of steam curled up from them.

Without worrying about the heat, Li Xiao picked up one of the salted egg yolk lava buns.

The moment his fingers touched the lava bun, his eyebrows shot up.

’Soft, white, and just the right size. This is a good bun.’

He held the palm-sized lava bun up to the camera.

"Wow, I can smell the creamy, eggy aroma of the lava filling right through the thick dough!"

"And I just touched it—it’s incredibly soft."

"By the way, let me show you all a trick to tell if a bun’s dough has been proofed properly."

As he spoke, he cupped the bun between his palms.

The poor little lava bun was instantly squashed between his hands. Li Xiao held the pressure for a second before immediately releasing it.

After he let go, the bun that had been squashed flat immediately puffed back up to its original shape.

"That’s the hallmark of a high-quality bun. The dough is soft and resilient, with great elasticity."

Aside from a few new wrinkles on its surface, its shape was almost unchanged.

"See that? It springs back into shape, and the lava filling doesn’t squirt out. That’s the sign of a well-made bun!"

"I haven’t even taken a bite yet, but I already know the dough is going to be fluffy and full of air."

"Alright, enough talk. Time for the taste test."

As soon as he finished speaking, he bit into the slightly wrinkled lava bun.

Golden lava, carrying flecks of orange salted egg yolk, gushed from the opening in the white dough.

Feeling the warm filling about to escape, Li Xiao quickly slurped it up, drawing the escaping lava back into his mouth.

The rich, creamy flavor, the delicate aroma of egg, and the fine, granular texture of the lava filling instantly conquered his taste buds.

The dough was light and delicate, a perfect contrast to the filling. It wasn’t sticky or cloying in the slightest.

It was a clean bite, with no stickiness, leaving a pleasant, fluffy sensation.

The texture of the lava filling was complex and delightful. The rich creaminess, the delicate egg notes, and that signature granular mouthfeel had Li Xiao lost in a unique feast of flavors with every bite.

The sweet custard was loaded with salted egg yolk. The signature granular texture of the yolk bloomed on Li Xiao’s tongue, blending perfectly with the sweet filling to create a unique, layered flavor.

A bun like this wasn’t just food; it was more like an exquisite piece of craftsmanship, with every detail meticulously refined and balanced.

It wasn’t quite as stunning as the Chicken Feet in Abalone Sauce or the Supreme Shrimp Dumplings, but it was definitely a lot better than the durian pastry.

At the same time, another system notification sounded in his ear.

[Congratulations, you have unlocked the 66th entry in your Food Guide.]

[Food Guide entry unlocked: Salted Egg Yolk Lava Bun.]

[Food Rating: 90/100 [Excellent]]

[Rating is ’Excellent.’ Reward multiplier: x4.]

[Congratulations! You have received a cash reward: 800,000.]

[Congratulations! You have received a cash reward: 800,000.]

[Congratulations! You have received a cash reward: 800,000.]

[Congratulations! You have received a recipe reward: Salted Egg Yolk Lava Bun Recipe.]

...

"A very nice salted egg yolk lava bun. The dough is soft, the filling is excellent—90 points!"

"Both the flavor and the texture are fantastic, especially that signature granular feel of the lava filling. It’s just wonderful."