From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

Chapter 250 Master Yan’s teachings (three updates and sent)

Shortlisting is not difficult for many young chefs who have studied seriously.

However, there were also some young chefs who were not shortlisted due to overtime.

On Feng Zhengming's side, Xia Hui, Sun Hai, Zhang Lei and Yang Peng were all successfully shortlisted.

The happiest among them are Zhang Lei and Yang Peng.

Being able to be successfully shortlisted proves that they have indeed learned the craft well after following Li Huidong for so long.

Especially Zhang Lei, you must know that when Feng Zhengming first went to the cafeteria, something went wrong with the fried chicken he made.

This time in the selection, he got the fried chicken with soy sauce again.

But this time, Zhang Lei was obviously more at ease.

Especially after being unexpectedly instructed by Feng Zhengming, he also followed Feng Zhengming's teaching without adding any side dishes. He simply cut the chicken into standard pieces and only added walnut kernels in the end.

Especially when it comes to stir-frying at the end, Zhang Lei did his best and the gravy perfectly coated the diced chicken.

After taking it out of the pan and putting it on the plate, there was not even much oil and juice on the plate.

Zhang Lei's progress was recognized by his master Li Huidong.

What Yang Peng drew was also the silver bud tenderloin. Although he was a little too cautious when doing it, he almost exceeded the prescribed time limit.

But fortunately, Yang Peng finished it successfully in the end and almost finished the dish within the prescribed time.

Master Yan saw that the apprentices and apprentices brought out by his apprentices could perform so well.

He was also very happy, and at this moment he was also very proud of his disciples.

After the shortlist selection was completed, and the young chefs who were recommended by major restaurants and culinary associations from various places did not need to be shortlisted, in the end, only 55 people entered the formal cooking exchange competition.

After confirming the final list of participants, everyone will have to wait until the winter solstice for the exchange contest to officially begin.

Before Feng Zhengming left the scene, he met the Xia family again.

Master Xia looked at his granddaughter and gave her a high degree of approval.

"Grandpa saw that your cooking skills are great. Work hard in the official competition."

Xia Hui nodded: "I'll do my best."

Xia Zhennan looked at his daughter with a somewhat complicated expression. He now realized that what he said before was indeed a bit excessive.

Witnessed with my own eyes that my daughter could successfully break through.

Especially among the shortlisted chefs, except for Xia Hui, they are all young male chefs.

Being able to stand out from the crowd of male chefs is enough to show that Xia Hui is really a qualified chef.

As a father, Xia Zhennan was naturally proud of his daughter.

Xia Zhennan even seemed to see the little girl with braids being led into the kitchen by him, with a face full of curiosity and asking questions to him.

Now that my daughter has grown up, she has really put to good use all the things she asked herself when she was a child.

It took Xia Zhennan only a moment to accept the fact that his daughter was learning to cook.

But let him admit his mistake and apologize to his daughter, or say a few words of encouragement at this time.

Xia Zhennan was still a little embarrassed to say it in public.

So Xia Zhennan finally just said as calmly as possible: "Let's prepare the official dishes."

Although she did not receive encouragement from her father, nor did she see her father surrender to her, Xia Hui still felt her father's recognition of her from her father's simple words.

She smiled at her father: "You should go back and prepare dishes for Xia Mingye, and don't lose to me when the time comes."

Xia Hui said this, which made Xia Zhennan feel a little embarrassed.

He said with a straight face: "We'll see."

Xia Mingye saw his father's face become serious, and he really gave his sister a wry smile.

"Sister, aren't you trying to hurt me?"

Xia Hui said with a smile: "This is a spur to you to go back and prepare carefully. Even if you don't want to prepare well, grandpa and dad will not agree."

Xia Mingye could only look at his grandfather and father with a look of helplessness.

Of course the response was straightforward.

Xia Zhennan said: "What are you looking at? Go back and prepare for me."

Master Xia didn't say much to his grandson, but just said to Master Yan: "Lao Yan, let's go back first and wait until the official competition starts the day after tomorrow. We will see you then."

Master Yan asked with a smile: "What? Why don't you go to my apprentice's restaurant?"

Master Xia responded: "I'll wait until after the competition and I will definitely come and visit."

Xia Mingye quickly said: "Sir, let's go tonight. I haven't eaten a handful of meat yet."

Xia Zhennan immediately scolded his son: "Why are we going? Go back and prepare well."

In the end, the Xia family said goodbye to Feng Zhengming and others, and went back to the hotel where they stayed in Quancheng this time.

For this province-wide young chef cooking exchange competition, the Provincial Culinary Association, which hosts the competition, only provides the venue for the competition. As for the young chefs participating in the competition, they need to pay for their own food and accommodation.

Of course, young chefs who are recommended by big restaurants and culinary associations from all over the world are arranged by their own big restaurants or local culinary associations.

As for the chefs participating in the shortlisting selection, they can only think of their own solutions.

Feng Zhengming and the others returned to the dry rice shop from the competition site together.

Although Feng Zhengming and the others were not here, the dry rice shop was still open for business as usual.

It's just that because Feng Zhengming and the others are not here, there are no fried dishes to order in the dry rice shop. They can only buy meat and pig's trotters.

Even Sixi Wanzi was made because Feng Zhengming and the others did not have time to prepare for the competition.

When Feng Zhengming and others returned to the dry rice shop.

As soon as they entered the door, Wei Xiuling, who was cleaning, looked up and saw them, and quickly asked: "How is it?"

Feng Jiandong, who came here specifically to help today, also stood in the meat stove and asked: "Yeah, how is it? Are everyone shortlisted?"

Feng Zhengming said with a smile: "We have all been successfully shortlisted. We are waiting for the official competition the day after tomorrow."

Feng Jiandong clapped his hands and applauded: "That's great. This time our restaurant has three young chefs participating in the competition. Plus Zhengming, your senior brother's two apprentices, you have taken up five places. "

Master Yan said with a smile: "It's useless just to get more quotas. In the official competition the day after tomorrow, it depends on their individual performance."

Feng Zonggu stood at the cashier and asked: "How will we compete? How many days will we compete in total?"

Master Yan explained the time and rules of the official competition. "There are three days in total. The young chefs who enter the official competition have to cook a dish every day. It cannot be the same as the dish made the day before. And among the three dishes given in the three days, one must be a soup."

After hearing this, Feng Jiandong asked curiously: "So the competition lasts for three days? The final result is the overall score after three days of competition?"

Master Yan nodded: "Yes, this is the result of our judges' discussion. It is to be more fair and allow each young chef to fully demonstrate himself. Of course, each chef is very hard-working. After all, the three dishes are almost all To prepare and cook by yourself is a test of one’s overall abilities.”

After hearing this, everyone can feel that this young chef exchange competition is difficult, but it will also be exciting.

Master Yan then said with a relaxed expression: "Of course, since it is an exchange competition, there is also exchange in addition to the competition, so every day after the judges taste and score the chefs' dishes, there will be a time for display and exchange, and then everyone can interact with each other. Look at each other’s dishes and have free exchanges.”

Feng Zonggu said: "This is good, everyone can learn from each other."

Master Yan then looked at the shortlisted Xia Hui, Sun Hai, Zhang Lei and Yang Peng.

"You need to think about it, what three dishes are you going to make? There needs to be a soup dish."

Xia Hui, Sun Hai, Zhang Lei and Yang Peng looked at each other in shock.

The four of them might not have thought too much originally.

Even Zhang Lei and Yang Peng had already discussed with their master what to cook if they were shortlisted?

But now that they are really shortlisted, Zhang Lei and Yang Peng naturally have some new ideas in their minds.

Xia Hui and Sun Hai also have a little idea of ​​getting a good ranking.

Of course, Xia Hui quickly accepted the reality calmly: "I am very happy to be shortlisted. I can cook three dishes in three days, and I have exchanges and discussions with my uncle. I am very satisfied. I decided to cook three classic dishes for the three dishes." Shandong cuisine."

After Xia Hui expressed his stance, Sun Hai also expressed his stance: "I will also cook three classic Shandong dishes. It is a test for myself to see if I can do it well."

Yang Peng then accepted the reality and understood that it was not easy for him to be shortlisted. He prepared to cook the three dishes he had discussed with his master.

However, Zhang Lei still has some ideas in his heart, hoping to get a higher ranking.

So Zhang Lei directly asked Master Yan: "Master, can you give me some advice? Let's see what three dishes I can make?"

Master Yan listened to Zhang Lei ask himself and looked at Zhang Lei carefully.

Li Huidong said quickly: "Lei Zi, didn't I prepare three dishes for you? You should cook those three dishes well. It will be an experience for yourself. Don't be too ambitious."

Master Yan smiled and waved to his eldest apprentice, and then he said to Zhang Lei: "Tell me first, what are the three dishes your master asked you to cook?"

Zhang Lei glanced at the master, and then answered honestly: "Steamed squid rolls with coriander, cooked shrimp segments, and cabbage in milk soup."

Master Yan nodded after hearing this: "Can you cook these three dishes?"

Zhang Lei thought for a while and replied: "You can do everything."

Master Yan then asked: "Then what do you think is wrong with these three dishes?"

Zhang Lei was immediately speechless. It must be said that these three dishes are considered to be relatively classic dishes in Shandong cuisine.

And all three dishes can reflect the skills of Shandong cuisine chefs.

For example, when you make fried squid rolls with coriander, you need to put a flower knife on the squid slices, and then roll the squid slices.

When cooking shrimp segments, you also need to control the heat, and you also need to pay attention when seasoning.

Needless to say, the cooking of cabbage in milk soup also requires a lot of effort.

So these three dishes are indeed enough for Zhang Lei to show off his cooking skills.

Li Huidong wanted to speak, but was stopped by his master.

Master Yan looked serious and said a few words to them, including Feng Zhengming, who were about to participate in the formal exchange competition.

"Do you think this provincial young chef cooking exchange competition is for you to compete with each other? Why are young chefs conducting exchanges and competitions in cooking?

That’s because young chefs are the backbone of the future development and promotion of our Shandong cuisine.

Therefore, this competition is not the most important thing. It is more important for you to communicate. It is also a test of whether you young chefs can pass on the tradition of Shandong cuisine and whether you can make classic traditional Shandong cuisine one after another. Do your best to behave accordingly. "

Master Yan looked at Zhang Lei when he said this: "You think that cooking classic Shandong cuisine may not get a higher ranking, but if you can't even cook classic Shandong cuisine, what qualifications do you have to be a Shandong cuisine chef?"

Zhang Lei's face turned red when he was told, and he realized that he was obviously a little overwhelmed because he was successfully shortlisted.

"Master, I know I was wrong. I shouldn't feel that I am great just because I was shortlisted."

Master Yan saw Zhang Lei admitting his mistake to him with a red face.

He nodded and said: "You are still young. You are actually a part of luck in being shortlisted this time, because you used the prescribed dishes for selection, and the alternative dishes were announced in advance, so you have time to practice hard.

What if the number of shortlisted dishes increases to 10? 20 kinds? And there are some dishes that will test your cooking skills. When the time comes, you will be asked to randomly select a dish. Can you guarantee that you can still be shortlisted smoothly? "

Master Yan's words were like enlightenment, and the four apprentices who were successfully shortlisted suddenly understood.

That they were shortlisted means that they are already considered official chefs.

But that doesn’t mean they can already be the best among young chefs.

It doesn't even mean that they can compare with master chefs.

Therefore, they should still keep their feet on the ground, prepare carefully for the next competition, and choose three classic Shandong dishes to prepare.

Only in this way can they be promoted through this exchange competition.

Master Yan finally said: "Don't think too much, cook the three classic Shandong dishes. Don't care if you are the same as others, and don't think about making a novel dish. When the time comes, you can rely on novelty to win." Cooking is the same as being a person, you have to be down-to-earth.”

The four shortlisted apprentices, after Master Yan's teachings, naturally returned to their apprenticeship positions.

The four of them understood that they were still apprentices and still had much to learn.

After hearing this, Lu Chongshan suddenly clapped his hands and applauded Master Yan.

"Grandpa Yan is right, we should position ourselves right and be down-to-earth."

Then everyone laughed too.

Master Yan said with a smile: "Okay, don't be stunned, get ready to open the business in the evening. Business must still be done as usual. The chef's first job is to prepare the dishes for the customers."

Everyone immediately and respectfully agreed in unison: "Be a good person and cook seriously."

After shouting the slogan, everyone went into the kitchen to get busy.

Feng Zonggu came out and said with a smile: "Lao Yan, your disciples and disciples are all good, and they will all become good chefs in the future."

Master Yan nodded: "If you can persist in practicing your skills and keep the roots of our Shandong cuisine, you are a good chef."

The food stall was open as usual in the evening, but Feng Zhengming did not go to the train station to work at the food stall again.

Li Huidong led his two apprentices and rushed back to the brewery canteen first.

After being lectured by Master Yan, everyone calmed down from the joy of being shortlisted today. They are still a group of ordinary cooks.

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(End of this chapter)