From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

A few days later, Tao Jingwu went back to his parents' house for dinner. When he saw his sister Tao Mengran, he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

Seeing his appearance, Tao Mengran became alert almost instantly.

"Did you get into any trouble again? So you want to plot against me again?"

Tao Mengran's words also aroused the curiosity of Tao's father and Tao's mother.

The whole family looked at Tao Jingwu, which made him feel a little dumbfounded.

"Don't look at me like this. I just suddenly thought of Huiquan Tower and Feng Zhengming."

Tao Mengran immediately asked: "What's wrong with him? Isn't Huiquan Tower very famous now? Man Ling told me last time that she wanted to hold next year's wedding banquet in Huiquan Tower."

Tao Jingwu said: "Yes, Huiquan Tower is becoming more and more famous now, and Feng Zhengming's craftsmanship is getting better and better."

Then Tao Jingwu told about the last time he and his second brother made an appointment with the overseas Chinese that the province was hosting this time to go to Huiquan Tower.

"I really didn't expect that this time, the very old gentleman among the overseas Chinese who was highly respected among the overseas Chinese would actually know the old man of the Feng family.

Originally, I wanted to ask my second brother to help facilitate Huiquan Building becoming the designated reception restaurant for overseas Chinese.

As a result, the second brother did not interfere in the relationship between the old Mr. Situ and the old man of the Feng family, and the province directly came forward to list the Huiquan Building. "

At this point, Tao Jingwu asked his family mysteriously: "Mom, Dad, Ran Ran, do you know what brand the province is going to put up?"

Seeing Tao Jingwu's mysterious face, Tao's mother couldn't help but said, "Can you stop showing off?"

Tao Mengran said: "He did it on purpose. He wanted to make us curious."

Father Tao smiled and said, "The province is right to step in. Since it is a restaurant responsible for receiving overseas Chinese, it should be a brand that welcomes overseas Chinese, right?"

Tao Jingwu said seriously: "No, my second brother said that because of Mr. Situ's relationship, the province attaches great importance to it, and the sign is "Binlu Food Tasting and Exchange Base for Overseas Chinese."

Father Tao was also a little surprised to hear such a title.

"You actually gave it such a big name? Doesn't this mean that in the future, Shandong cuisine exchanges with foreign countries will be held in Huiquan Building?"

Tao Jingwu nodded and said, "It does mean something."

Tao Mengran suddenly smiled and said at this time: "It seems that your original plan of letting Feng Zhengming owe you a favor has failed."

It has to be said that Tao Mengran's words were a decisive blow to his brother.

Tao Jingwu's original intention in this matter was indeed to let Feng Zhengming take over his affection.

But when Mr. Situ and the old man of the Feng family recognized each other, the development of things was not what Tao Jingwu expected, and the subsequent development did not even give Tao Jingwu the opportunity to participate.

Hearing his sister's words, Tao Jingwu felt helpless and uncomfortable.

He thought for a while and stared at his sister, and couldn't help but sigh: "Ran Ran, why don't you have some emotional scenes with Feng Zhengming?"

Tao Mengran said rudely: "Fuck you, is this what you should say as a brother?"

Tao's father also said: "Lao Wu, what you said is wrong. How can you trade with your sister's feelings?"

Seeing that his father was obviously angry, Tao Jingwu quickly said: "I was joking, I was joking."

Then Tao Jingwu apologized to his sister: "Ran Ran, I'm sorry. It was my brother who said the wrong thing. Don't be angry with your brother."

Tao's mother said at this time: "That young man Feng Zhengming is really very powerful. In such a short period of time, he has become a very important figure among the chefs in Quancheng.

He is also very lucky. He can always meet noble people to help him and give him help at critical moments. "

Father Tao waved his hand and said, "He is lucky because he has the strength.

Didn't you see that Cheng Guosheng of Jubinyuan had roped in several big restaurants to target him?

The results of it? He used his craftsmanship to speak for himself, and after the wedding banquet was held, everyone was immediately silenced. "

Tao's mother said: "His craftsmanship is indeed very good. I read reports in newspapers and TV. His cooking is really good. I never thought that he could have such good craftsmanship at such a young age."

Tao Mengran heard her family constantly praising Feng Zhengming, and she couldn't help but recall her interactions with Feng Zhengming at the driving school.

Looking back, Feng Zhengming always made people feel so comfortable.

It seems that he is in a state where he will not compete with others.

He is always so kind and kind to people and things.

But in fact, his unrivaled kindness is based on his absolute strength.

Talented people never bother to express themselves too much in pursuit of fame and fortune.

But Feng Zhengming is not such a person. When he should be high-profile, he is not polite at all.

It was like he wanted to promote Huiquan Tower and started advertising in newspapers in advance.

He attracted all kinds of attention to the wedding banquet in Huiquan Building behind.

Advance reports in newspapers.

TV station interview after the wedding banquet.

It can be said that Feng Zhengming is really a stickler. He really tried his best to make the name of Huiquan Tower remembered by people from all walks of life in Quancheng.

After Tao Mengran got her driver's license, she spent this time learning something about advertising on her own.

Through relevant studies, Tao Mengran suddenly discovered that Feng Zhengming seemed to know a lot about advertising.

When it comes to Huiquan Building's business, he really doesn't have the kind of amicable attitude.

The various marketing methods he used were even more vivid than those seen in Tao Mengran's book.

So although Tao Mengran didn't see Feng Zhengming much during this period.

But she has been paying attention to Feng Zhengming's actions, especially how he promoted Huiquan Tower.

After paying attention, Tao Mengran compared some of the advertising books he had read.

She soon discovered that Feng Zhengming had actually put into practice many of the things he learned about advertising.

Tao Mengran even discovered that Feng Zhengming had been using publicity methods to market the meat ever since Fengjiagang Restaurant started, creating topics and discussions, so that more people would remember Fengjiagang Restaurant. Meat.

Of course, Feng Zhengming used very fair and aboveboard methods.

The reason why he was able to succeed, Tao Mengran seemed to be because he had enough strength.

One hundred percent strength plus maybe only ten percent marketing.

Feng Zhengming really achieved close to 200% gain.

At this time, Tao Jingwu couldn't help but said to his father: "Dad, I'm really curious. Could it be that Master Yan is really that good at his craftsmanship? Can he teach Feng Zhengming that well?" Tao's father said: "A famous teacher Having a great disciple, or conversely, it is precisely because of having a great disciple that the master becomes a ‘famous teacher’.”

Tao Jingwu then asked: "But, I heard that he has only been apprenticed to Master Yan for two years, right?"

Father Tao shook his head and said: "I asked Lao Yan specifically about this before, and he told me that Feng Zhengming actually became a disciple for two years, which is the time when he officially became a disciple.

Before he officially became a master, he had worked in the back kitchen of Yanxi Building for four or five years.

He is different from those who first went to vocational school and then were assigned to practice in the kitchen, and who studied under the masters. "

Tao Fu is still very aware of the difference.

Feng Zhengming has been working in the kitchen since he was a teenager, starting from the lowest level handyman in the kitchen.

It can be said that he worked in different positions in the kitchen before becoming a master.

He has experience in different positions in the kitchen from the beginning.

Then he became a disciple of Master Yan and studied more systematically with Master Yan.

Father Tao said with a serious face: "Many people only know that he has been apprenticed to Lao Yan for just over two years, but what many people don't know is that he has been working in the kitchen for so many years.

Those students who graduated from vocational schools always have a sense of superiority when they enter the kitchen. Many people simply can't let go and start working as handymen.

But without the experience of those handymen, how can we fully understand all the processes in the kitchen? "

When his father said this, Tao Jingwu understood.

"So that's it. I've always wondered why Feng Zhengming became so good at his craftsmanship in such a short period of time as an apprentice, and how could he command and arrange everything in the kitchen so calmly?"

Tao Jingwu went on to say: "Looking at it this way, it is really a good choice to let Huiquanlou serve as a restaurant base for overseas Chinese and foreign guests to taste Shandong cuisine."

Father Tao nodded: "It's an excellent choice. Feng Zhengming not only has solid traditional skills, but also has great ability to adapt to the times. He is a rare chef who can keep up with the times."

When the Tao family was talking about Feng Zhengming and Huiquan Tower, Chen Zhiheng also brought some news home to tell his father.

When Chen Sifu learned the news, he was also very happy for Feng Zhengming's success.

"Hahaha, I used to think that because Zhengming had been learning cooking from Master Yan and adhered to the low-key principle that Master Yan taught him, he might not know how to publicize and fight for more opportunities.

Now it seems that I underestimated Zhengming. When he let go, he really knew how to publicize and fight for opportunities. "

Chen Zhiheng said: "Dad, we didn't expect that Uncle Feng would actually know Mr. Situ."

Chen Sifu thought for a while and said, "I heard some rumors when I was young. The state-owned restaurant at that time was formerly known as Fengjiagan Restaurant. When we originally formed a joint venture, we hoped that someone from the family of the former owner of Fengjiagan Restaurant would be the manager.

Later, it seems that because of some things, no one from the Feng family came forward to be the manager, but the meat was still made by the Feng family. "

Chen Zhiheng asked curiously: "So, when the Feng family didn't have a manager, was it Uncle Feng?"

Chen Sifu thought for a while and said: "Maybe it's him. In terms of age, he is right.

This time you met Mr. Situ, the overseas Chinese you received, and you met him again. So if he had overseas connections, he might not be able to be a manager. "

At this point, Chen Sifu brought the topic back.

"Zhengming's Huiquan Building was able to get this opportunity mainly because of his own good craftsmanship. It cannot simply be said to be because of the relationship between Mr. Situ and Lao Feng."

Chen Zhiheng also nodded and said: "I know that Zhengming's craftsmanship is indeed getting better and better."

Speaking of Feng Zhengming's craftsmanship, Chen Zhiheng couldn't help but recall the skills Feng Zhengming showed when he received the overseas Chinese that night.

"Some of Zhengming's current dishes really feel like they are easy to pick up. Whether he is making traditional dishes or making some new dishes, he always gives people a particularly amazing feeling."

Chen Sifu said: "That is his ability. In Zhengming, we can see the perfect interpretation of 'the best in practice'."

Chen Zhiheng also agrees with this point.

"Yeah, from him, I see what a real chef should look like."

Chen Sifu was a little curious after hearing this. What did his son see?
"What do you see? What should a chef look like?"

Chen Zhiheng thought for a while and said: "For a chef, good cooking skills are the foundation. At the same time, he should also have a very friendly personality. In particular, he should have certain artistic attainments, and his conversation should also be meaningful."

Hearing this, Chen Sifu was a little curious: "There is content in the conversation? What does this mean?"

Chen Zhiheng thought for a moment and said, "That's right, Zhengming is not the kind of person who talks too much. Some of the things he tells you are things he can do himself and are very solid."

Chen Sifu nodded in agreement: "So, it is indeed a good choice to put the reception of overseas Chinese and the exchange of Shandong cuisine in Huiquan Building."

Chen Zhiheng smiled and said, "I just don't know if Jufengde and the others will have any objections."

"Hahaha, what's your opinion on this? It's said that only those who have ability can get opportunities."

Chen Zhiheng said: "That's what I said, but I heard that several big restaurants had targeted Zhengming together before."

Chen Sifu laughed: "But they didn't succeed, and Huiquan Tower became famous again through wedding banquets."

These words made Chen Zhiheng sigh with emotion: "Zhengming is really very capable. He was able to use such a wedding banquet to suddenly reverse the unfavorable situation for Huiquan Tower."

"It's not like a sudden change. It's clear that he had already laid the groundwork in advance. It's just that some big restaurants are somewhat arrogant and contemptuous."

Chen Sifu directly pointed out the reasons why several large restaurants were at a disadvantage in the competition with Feng Zhengming.

“They always feel that they have the most authentic inheritance of Shandong cuisine, with a master chef in charge, and with the reputation they have accumulated over the years, they should look down on Zhengming and Huiquanlou.

As a result, none of them expected that Zhengming and Huiquanlou were already one step ahead of them, standing on another peak. "

Hearing his father give Feng Zhengming such a high evaluation, Chen Zhiheng did not feel that it was excessive at all.

Because the last time he accompanied the overseas Chinese to Huiquanlou for dinner, Chen Zhiheng had already seen the progress in Feng Zhengming's cooking skills during this period.

There are some obvious differences from the dishes cooked by Feng Zhengming before.

Just like what Mr. Situ said when we were at Huiquan Tower.

Feng Zhengming is obviously more skillful in controlling the heat, and he can also achieve a balance in seasoning.

Chen Zhiheng dare not say that Feng Zhengming's craftsmanship has caught up with the old masters of Shandong cuisine.

But he felt that at least with Feng Zhengming's current skills, no one among the master chefs in several big restaurants in Quancheng could compete with him.

Thinking of this, Chen Zhiheng looked at his father and said, "Dad, when the plaque for Huiquan Building is issued, are you going to take a look?"

Chen Sifu immediately smiled and said: "Hahaha, okay, I'll go see him then and congratulate him."

The idea of ​​establishing Huiquan Building as an "exchange base for overseas Chinese Shandong cuisine" was first spread internally, and the province soon notified the culinary association.

Naturally, this incident caused quite a stir, especially within the Culinary Association. (End of chapter)