From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

With the strong support of the Shanghai municipal government, Luo Qing quickly completed the construction of the children's lunch kitchen.

They also successfully secured lunch orders from kindergartens and primary schools directly under the city's jurisdiction.

After the children's lunch kitchen was completed, Feng Zhengming personally designed and demonstrated the first batch of lunch dishes.

The event attracted city leaders and many parents of children from kindergartens and schools.

Seeing Feng Zhengming arrive in person, everyone immediately felt much more at ease.

In particular, Feng Zhengming and Luo Qing brought their daughter with them when they came to the children's lunch kitchen today.

Feng Nuanyou was wearing a pretty little dress. This was the first time she had gone out with her parents in such a long time since they had gone to a ribbon-cutting ceremony together, and the little girl was very happy.

When she arrived at the children's lunch kitchen, Feng Nuanyou was somewhat surprised to see how clean it was.

"Mom and Dad, why is it so clean inside?"

Feng Zhengming: "Because this place will be used to prepare lunch for you and the children in the future, we need to ensure that it is clean."

Feng Nuanyou: "Will this place be used to make lunch for me and the kids in the future?"

Luo Qing replied to her daughter, "Yes, from now on, the meals you and your kindergarten friends eat will be cooked here."

Feng Nuanyou turned to look at her father: "Dad, are you going to make it for us?"

Feng Zhengming: "Dad will come when he has time, but if Dad doesn't come, he will arrange for someone else to sit here."

Feng Nuanyou asked curiously, "Dad, who did you choose to do it?"

Feng Zhengming pointed to the chefs who came out from inside.

Feng Nuanyou spotted Xia Hui at a glance.

"Oh, it's Sister Huihui."

Besides Xia Hui, Hou Dong, Gao Yongfu, and Lu Haisheng were also assigned here today. Even the head chefs from other restaurants in Shanghai came here.

Feng Nuanyou was surprised: "Wow, Dad, you invited all the uncles to come. Then who will cook at your shop, Dad?"

Is this the question that everyone who came here today has been wondering about?
Feng Zhengming smiled and gave everyone an explanation.

"Everyone can rest assured that our children's lunch kitchen has our head chefs come over every now and then to cook. They are assigned to work in shifts to ensure that the lunches for the children are of the best quality."

"Everyone knows their culinary skills, and I'm sure everyone will appreciate it if they come to supervise the cooking in shifts."

Hearing Feng Zhengming's question, all the parents present naturally agreed.

"Yes, yes, Scholar Feng, you are truly sincere."

"Yes, yes, these are all the best chefs under your command, Feng Zhuangyuan. We definitely approve."

"Oh my, I'm starting to envy my son. He's eating a better lunch than I am."

Hearing this made the other parents present laugh as well.

Judging from the chefs that Feng Zhengming has assigned to the children's lunch kitchen, he is indeed ensuring that the children eat better than their parents.

Feng Zhengming, the head chef at various restaurants in Shanghai, is considered an absolutely outstanding chef by everyone.

With them taking turns cooking, parents really don't have to worry about their children not eating well.

Luo Qing had the prepared menus delivered to the city, various kindergartens and schools, and parents to take a look at them.

"This menu is based on suggestions from nutrition experts about the nutritional intake of our children's lunches. My husband and the chefs then discussed and finalized several menus. We will probably change them every two weeks."

Looking at the menu provided by Luo Qing, there were various nutritionally balanced meals.

Not only does it have various kinds of chicken, fish, meat, eggs, and dairy products, but it also comes with some vegetables and fruits.

Every meal prepared for children on this menu is absolutely perfect.

Some parents also asked questions, albeit somewhat awkwardly.

"My child doesn't usually like to eat vegetables."

"Yes, yes, my daughter doesn't eat vegetables much either."

"My daughter is the opposite; she doesn't eat much meat and mostly eats vegetables and fruits."

"Cooking for kids is really difficult. I wonder if you, Mr. Feng and Mr. Luo, have any solutions?"

Feng Zhengming smiled and said, "Don't worry about that. We consulted some experts."

Luo Qing: "Yes, we found a professional nutritionist to make some adjustments, and my husband also carefully adjusted the flavors of various dishes so that the children would be willing to eat them."

Of course, we will also have people specifically follow up and investigate the taste preferences of children in all kindergartens and schools.

Based on the survey results, we will promptly adjust some dishes to ensure they suit children's taste preferences.

Feng Zhengming: "I will also keep an eye on things and try my best to make some dishes that the children like."

With such a guarantee from Feng Zhengming and Luo Qing, a married couple.

This made all the parents feel that their children's eating problems would be solved in the future.

Of course, parents are also aware of their own children's specific circumstances.

So they didn't expect that a lunch like this could solve the problem so easily.

However, the attitude of Feng Zhengming and Luo Qing made all the parents feel comfortable, and they would not have any dissatisfaction with them, much less blame them for their children not eating well.

Feng Zhengming led the city's residents and parents to a restaurant, where everyone watched as the children's lunches were prepared and served.

Having witnessed the entire process firsthand, everyone felt reassured.

Feng Zhengming picked up five children's lunches, and then he, his wife, mother-in-law, second aunt, and their daughter Feng Nuanyou ate together.

This action completely won over all the parents present.

Some parents also stepped forward, picked up two boxes, and took their children to the side to eat.

The children in the family smelled the aroma and immediately started clamoring to eat it.

The parents tasted the food in the lunchbox first.

Stir-fried eggs with tomatoes: the eggs are very tender, and the tomatoes have a wonderful sweet and sour flavor.

A piece of beef, stewed until completely tender, can be easily crushed with a spoon.

Some of the vegetables have also been processed, making them very flavorful.

While eating, the parent became so engrossed in their meal that they completely forgot about the child next to them.

"Mom, why are you eating all by yourself? Isn't this a children's lunch? Why aren't you giving me any?"

The child's words immediately woke the mother up, and also made the surrounding parents laugh.

The mother, startled awake, blushed instantly upon hearing the laughter of those around her.

Open the lunchbox for the child and place the chopsticks and spoon in front of the son.

"Come on, have some too, try the dishes Uncle Feng and the others made."

Without hesitation, the child immediately scooped up the food and rice with a spoon and ate it in big mouthfuls.

Seeing this, other parents also went and got two portions to share with their children.

Soon all the parents and children were enjoying their meal immensely.

In the end, even a few people from the city came along and tried it.

Everyone had to admit that although all the dishes seemed to be prepared in a rather light way, they were really delicious.

This is something no one expected.

It was a simple dish, yet it tasted surprisingly delicious. Of course, Feng Zhengming wouldn't tell them that cooking involves three steps: seasoning before cooking, seasoning during cooking, and seasoning after cooking.

Many people's understanding of light dishes is that they use less seasoning when cooking.

But if you cook it that way, the dish will definitely taste bland and tasteless.

Even people who prefer light flavors probably won't eat much of a dish if it's too bland.

Therefore, seasoning before cooking is very important when making light dishes.

Today, the kitchen staff, including Xia Hui, are among the top chefs in Shanghai under Feng Zhengming's command.

Having trained alongside Feng Zhengming for many years, cooking for children is something they can do effortlessly.

Moreover, Feng Zhengming specially invited nutrition experts to give them courses on cooking for children.

They've long been considered nutrition experts for half the children.

The city leaders who came specifically for the meal were impressed.

"You truly deserve to be our national culinary champion. Your dishes are indeed delicious. I never imagined that such simple dishes could be made so flavorful in your hands."

Feng Zhengming: "Thank you for the compliment. As chefs, making good food is our job."

Moreover, since we are cooking for children this time, we must take it even more seriously. No matter what, to be a good chef, you must first know how to be a good person.

How could a good person let children go hungry?

Hearing Feng Zhengming say this, everyone felt that it made a lot of sense.

Many parents were even moved by what they heard.

You should know that many chefs don't care about their customers at all, let alone their children.

But Feng Zhengming is different; he truly cares about every single customer.

Moreover, all the talented chefs under him are like that, and they all keep the diners in mind.

Just then, a pot of steamed buns came out of the pot.

Feng Zhengming immediately had the steamed buns brought out and personally tasted them for everyone.

"Please try it. This is the craft of the inheritors of flower-shaped steamed buns from Shandong. We have all specially learned it, and we have also made some unique changes to this steamed bun."

Feng Zhengming didn't go into details, but simply asked everyone to try it.

However, seeing these beautiful, colorful steamed buns was indeed very attractive to the children present.

Almost all the steamed buns are shaped like various small animals.

Moreover, the steamed buns have a faint, sweet aroma just from smelling them.

This is a smell that many people have never encountered in steamed buns elsewhere.

This time, the parents didn't even eat first; instead, they let the children take the food and eat it themselves.

The children chose their favorite animal shapes and then started eating on their own.

When you break the steamed bun open, you see it's just plain white flour inside, without any filling.

But after breaking it open like this, the steamed bun will release a sweet aroma.

The aroma alone makes you think these steamed buns must be delicious.

The children then started eating separately.

Taking a bite, the seemingly ordinary white steamed bun actually has a subtle sweetness and a very strong wheat flavor.

After chewing it in your mouth, a subtle sweetness will slowly emerge.

Perhaps no one would have imagined that a steamed bun could make children eat so deliciously.

"Can these plain steamed buns really taste this good?"

"My child doesn't usually eat steamed buns, but I never expected him to eat a whole white steamed bun by himself today!"

"Oh my god, son, don't you really want to eat some vegetables?"

"Daughter, is this steamed bun really delicious?"

The children nodded in agreement, "It's delicious."

Seeing the children say this, the parents each picked up a steamed bun.

Now, take a sniff near your nose; the sweet fragrance makes parents' mouths water.

When the parents actually broke off a piece and put it in their mouths.

As you chew slowly, your saliva really does bring out the sweetness of the steamed bun.

The rich aroma of wheat, combined with the unique sweetness, makes it taste exceptionally delicious.

A father ate a steamed bun in just a few bites and couldn't help but sigh.

"This is the most delicious steamed bun I've ever eaten."

Other parents also praised it.

"Wow, I never knew that white flour steamed buns could taste so good!"

"It's really delicious. This steamed bun is just plain white flour, but it's incredibly tasty."

"I never imagined that a plain white steamed bun could taste so good."

"Scholar Feng truly lives up to his reputation; he can even make a steamed bun taste so delicious."

Feng Zhengming smiled and said, "I'm glad everyone likes to eat them. I believe that with these little steamed buns and the various dishes we have here, everyone should feel at ease about their children's diet, right?"

The parents immediately nodded in agreement.

"Okay, I'm really relieved."

"I really didn't know until I came to see it. I didn't realize that you, Scholar Feng, were so serious about your work."

"This kitchen is really great, both the hygiene and the food are excellent."

"I really love it here. Feng Zhuangyuan, can we bring the kids here during our holidays?"

"Yes, yes, I quite like it here. If the kids are on holiday, I'd be willing to spend a little more money to bring them here for a meal."

"That's right, is this acceptable, Scholar Feng?"

Feng Zhengming smiled and said, "Sure, this is called the Children's Lunch Kitchen. If the children are on holiday, they can come here to eat. There is a special dining room in front where the children can sit and eat."

Then Feng Zhengming invited everyone to come out from the back kitchen.

We went up to the front and looked at the restaurant prepared for the children.

The restaurant is decorated with various cartoon characters, and the tables and chairs are also designed in a fun way that children like.

There's even a small play area specifically for children in this restaurant.

Seeing such a restaurant immediately made the parents feel that it would be great to bring their children here to eat during the holidays.

Everyone in the city who saw this had to admit that Feng Zhengming was not just a chef, but also a true business genius.

It seems like they've created a children's lunch kitchen to provide lunch for kids.

In reality, Feng Zhengming had designed the restaurant in front of him, and it was even a children's restaurant.

This indicates that he provides lunches not only for children in kindergartens and schools on a regular basis.

During holidays, the restaurants here can also accommodate children who are on vacation. (End of Chapter)