He saw Perna at the next table already bright-eyed and picking up her fork. He quickly stopped her, clearing his throat and saying, “Ahem, you’re in for a treat today. I know a much healthier, more delicious way to cook oysters. Would you like to try it?”
“Ah?”
Joseph thought for a moment, asked the oyster vendor for a grill, some garlic, and a few spices, and then gave detailed instructions…
Half an hour later, on the iron grill, the oyster shells filled with garlic paste and various spices held oyster meat turned golden, sizzling and bubbling with oil. The rich meaty aroma blended with the scent of garlic, wafting over half a mile away.
Joseph lifted a piece of oyster meat the size of a walnut, slathered in garlic paste, to his mouth with a fork and instantly squinted his eyes in delight: Indeed, it was from the best oyster producing area in France! The meat was plump, tender, juicy with a hint of sweetness!
Paired with spices and garlic paste, grilled over a fire, it was as if the ocean’s freshness and the flame’s spiciness melted together in the mouth, as sweet as kissing a beautiful, lovely girl!
Ah—this is the flavor!
Perna, on the other hand, had forgotten everything, abandoning all semblance of ladylike composure, desperately stuffing grilled oysters with garlic paste into her mouth. Even though they were hot enough to bring tears, she was unwilling to stop.
In this manner, Joseph spent the first day of his vacation accompanied by sunshine, the beach, and grilled oysters.
What he didn’t expect was that shortly thereafter, a dish named “Crown Prince Oysters” would become a sensation throughout Bordeaux…
Leisurely holidays always fly by, and after having a blast all over Bordeaux for eight days, Joseph returned to Yalsen Cellar.
Because the wine had already been brewed.
In the warm brewing room, dozens of vineyard owners watched the ten or so oak barrels, anxiously awaiting the outcome.
Joseph smiled and gestured to the old nobleman beside him: “Baron Polutak, please, would you do us the honor of checking the brewing for everyone?”
“At your command, Your Highness,” Polutak said somewhat nervously as he used a bung extractor to remove the cork from the barrel. He then inserted a hollow glass tube into the barrel and plugged the other end with a finger.
When he drew the tube out, a good amount of wine had filled the lower end.
He released his finger, letting the wine from the tube flow into a nearby glass. He sniffed the wine and then took a tentative sip.
Someone nearby asked anxiously, “Baron Polutak, how is it?”
Polutak’s eyes sparkled, and he nodded vigorously: “Very good! Although it’s from cellar-stored grapes and of average quality, it really has no sour taste at all!”
Another vineyard owner quickly stepped forward to take the glass, uncaring that someone else had drunk from it, and tasted a sip, immediately exclaiming excitedly, “Really, completely devoid of sourness!”
Polutak sampled from the next oak barrel, tasted, and once again exclaimed in amazement, “The same, absolutely no sourness!”
People couldn’t hold back any longer, each taking a glass to taste for themselves, followed by waves of excited praises.
Once Polutak had checked the last oak barrel and looked back at Joseph, his eyes were filled with nothing but reverence.
“Your Highness, the Crown Prince, I can confirm that your brewing technique is effective…” he started, then suddenly shook his head, “No, it’s simply perfect!”
Out of twelve barrels, not one had failed to brew! Polutak was very aware of his own brewer’s abilities, which surely would have been impossible before.
If, in the past, they brewed twelve barrels and no more than two turned into “vinegar”, he would certainly reward the brewer.
But this time, with the assistance of the Crown Prince’s miraculous brewing technique, not a single barrel had spoiled!
You should know that this effectively reduced his cost of wine production by nearly 30%!
While the success rate of brewing was nearly a hundred percent, the quality of the wine also saw a significant increase.
This wine, devoid of even the slightest bit of sourness, was definitely a high-end product. Its price would be at least one or two times higher than before!
He felt his heart pounding with excitement—he had just made a rough calculation, finding that his annual income would increase by nearly ten thousand livres!
Clearly, the other vineyard owners had also calculated how much the new technique would benefit them, discussing amongst themselves with unparalleled excitement.
Suddenly, someone bowed to Joseph and inquired, “Your Highness, may I ask what the cost of this brewing technique is?”
Everyone was taken aback and looked at Joseph in unison. True, the income had doubled, but if the cost had also doubled, then the profit wouldn’t be much greater…
“I’ve never calculated that,” Joseph said, somewhat uncertain, for he had no idea how much it would cost to heat a barrel of water, “But the added cost per barrel of wine should not exceed 1 sou.”
Their eyes immediately lit up.
One barrel of wine for just 1 sou? Even the casual sips stolen by the cellar workers cost more than that!
Some couldn’t help but smile proudly, saying, “Let’s see how the Venetians will compete with us now!”
Another person laughed heartily: “Not just Venice! With the Crown Prince’s brewing techniques, Spanish wine will be no match for Bordeaux.”
“Bordeaux wines will dominate the entire European market!”
“Exactly, all of Europe will be drinking our wine!”
“Long live the Crown Prince!”
Venio raised his glass and exclaimed loudly, “To the Crown Prince!”
The others promptly raised their glasses in unison, echoing, “To the Crown Prince!”
Once the vineyard owners’ excitement had calmed slightly and they exchanged glances, the Count of Torendal, speaking for them all, stepped forward and bowed to Joseph: “Your Highness, how might we utilize your brewing technique?”