From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

Chapter 497: The first game ended and attracted much attention

The first day of the national competition came to an end, but the discussion after the live broadcast on TV has not stopped.

Through the live broadcast on TV, everyone saw the outstanding chefs from all over the country.

I have gained a new understanding of food.

In the past, many people felt that as long as the food tasted good, there was no need to overemphasize the beauty of the food.

Through this national competition, many people have come to understand that food is more than just delicious.

For a delicious dish to have all the right appearance, aroma, taste and shape, the chef needs to put a lot of effort into the creative design.

Moreover, the live broadcast of the national competition has allowed many people to learn about the cuisines of different regions.

Some of the stereotypes that people had in the past have changed a lot after seeing it with our own eyes during this live TV broadcast.

"It turns out that Shandong cuisine is not just about black and sticky dishes, and not all dishes in Shandong cuisine need to be thickened."

"Yes, look at the amazing Shandong cuisine chefs, their cooking skills are really very good."

"That fish Chef Feng cooked is really beautiful."

"I especially like his fish roll, which is dipped in milky white fish soup. It looks delicious."

"Sure enough, Shandong cuisine is really amazing. It deserves to be the number one cuisine."

"It's not the Shandong cuisine that's great, it's Chef Feng who's great, right?"

"Yes, I also think that Chef Feng is amazing."

"They have studied all the techniques of Shandong cuisine thoroughly."

"Didn't you see on TV that the professional judges and Mr. Cai, the gourmet from Hong Kong, all praised Chef Feng's cooking skills."

"Mr. Cai also said that Chef Feng's cooking techniques are very impressive and his skills are very good."

Of course, in addition to praise for Feng Zhengming, there are also a lot of praise for other chefs.

For example, after two dishes, Dai Long temporarily ranked first in the total score.

The cooking skills and stable performance of this famous chef from Hong Kong make people feel that he is truly a master.

"Chef Dai Long is so amazing. Chef Feng's cooking skills are so good, but his overall score is still lower than his."

"He is a famous chef from Hong Kong City. He is a chef invited by wealthy people in Hong Kong City."

"Yes, he has participated in the filming of many movies. It is said that many of the dishes in the movies were designed by him."

"Haven't you seen Jin Yu Man Tang? The chefs in Hong Kong are really amazing."

"The cooking skills of Hong Kong's famous chef are truly beyond reproach."

"Among the top ten, there are four chefs from Hong Kong."

“Hong Kong’s famous chefs are indeed amazing, but chefs from other places are also amazing.”

"Yes, there is also Chef Zhang who came in third. His cooking skills are also very good and the dishes he makes are also beautiful."

"He seemed to say that he was a Huaiyang cuisine chef, so he must be from Yangcheng."

"And the Sichuan chef who came in fourth is also a very good chef. The boiled fish fillet he made is really beautiful. Just looking at it makes people drool."

"Yes, boiled fish fillet looks really delicious, and it doesn't look difficult to make."

It can be said that the live broadcast of this national competition really started a discussion about food among the whole nation.

Naturally, chefs like Feng Zhengming became the focus of everyone's discussion.

After Feng Zhengming and his team finished the game, they were surrounded by many reporters for interviews.

Among them, there are quite a lot of interviews with Feng Zhengming.

On the one hand, the fact that he was able to complete such a dish within the specified time really amazed many people at the scene.

On the other hand, of course, it is also because Feng Zhengming is one of the two youngest chefs on the scene.

It was somewhat unexpected that he was able to surpass the others, get the highest score for the second dish, and also come in second place in the total score.

Time was also specially arranged for reporters to interview on site, and Feng Zhengming accepted the interview as requested.

The first questions from the reporters were about Feng Zhengming's teachers.

Feng Zhengming was also quite frank when facing reporters' questions.

"I am an orphan, and was taken in by Master Yan, the head chef of Yan Xi Lou, a famous restaurant in Quancheng. He asked me to do odd jobs in the kitchen of Yan Xi Lou. At first, my senior brothers would teach me some things in their spare time.

Later, my master saw how hard I worked and accepted me as his apprentice.

After becoming his apprentice, I have been working in the kitchen of Yan Xilou, learning cooking from my master.

However, Yan Xilou closed down due to poor management, so I first followed my senior brother to work in the brewery canteen, and then I made my own steamed pork buns and sold lunch boxes at the train station.

Now I run a dry rice shop in Quancheng, and I also took over Huiquanlou, which was also on the verge of closing down. "

After hearing Feng Zhengming's introduction, the reporters at the scene were all shocked.

Originally, everyone thought that since Feng Zhengming learned from a famous chef like Master Yan, he should have a more impressive resume.

But no one expected that he would not be able to succeed Master Yan as the chef in Yan Xilou.

Instead, he was reduced to cooking big pot meals in the factory canteen and selling boxed lunches at a stall in front of the railway station.

But in such adversity, he burst out with such tenacity.

He started out as a street vendor selling boxed lunches and gradually built up his own lunch shop.

And relying on his own craftsmanship, after taking over Huiquanlou which was also on the verge of bankruptcy, he was able to turn around Huiquanlou, an old brand. Following in the footsteps of Yanxilou, Huiquanlou has now become a well-known restaurant in Quancheng.

After listening to Feng Zhengming's resume, everyone felt that his experience was truly legendary.

I also have a more intuitive feeling of his abilities.

Reporters all realized that Feng Zhengming is not only a chef with solid basic skills but also a creative chef when cooking.

He is also a person who knows business very well, is good at adapting to the development of the times, and can run good restaurants and hotels.

"Chef Feng, I'd like to ask how you view the differences between cuisines from different regions?"

This question is quite direct and sharp.

Apparently, these reporters have heard about some of the controversies regarding cuisine at this national competition.

Feng Zhengming thought for a moment and answered very straightforwardly: "In my mind, there is actually no distinction between cuisines. People from different regions may have different taste preferences, but that was in the past when transportation was not so convenient and a person might never leave his hometown in his entire life.

Times have changed now. Our transportation has become more convenient and we can travel to all corners of the world.

I believe that with further development of transportation, different ingredients from different places will be easily circulated.

Therefore, we should no longer hold on to the stereotypes of different cuisines, but should adopt a broader perspective to accept, absorb, and learn the characteristics of food culture in different regions, integrate different tastes from different regions, and create flavors that are more suitable for the public.”

The reporters who interviewed Feng Zhengming were once again shocked by his answer.

Because many reporters have heard some culinary preferences from other chefs during previous interviews.

Some chefs think their cuisine is not well promoted. Some chefs are a bit disparaging of other cuisines.

Some chefs are stubborn and think that local cuisines should retain their own characteristics.

But Feng Zhengming’s idea is completely different. He hopes to break the definition of cuisines and abandon the debates about cuisines. He believes that everyone should communicate and learn from each other.

Seeing that the reporters were a little stunned, Feng Zhengming continued to add his own views.

“Of course, when I say accepting, absorbing, and learning from each other, and breaking down barriers between cuisines, I don’t mean just learning casually, but rather that we must first master the basics.

Whether it is knife skills, fire skills, spoon skills, carving, plating, and some basic pastry skills.

These are things that every chef should practice well.

You can't just discard these basics just because you want to make fusion dishes or learn some Western cooking methods.

I think a good chef should at least master these skills to the point where they are presentable.

Just like the chefs from all over the country in this national competition, everyone can perform the basic skills with ease.

This is the confidence that enables us to participate in the national competition.”

Such words emphasizing the basic skills of a chef made the reporters on the scene feel awe-inspiring.

Reporters also hurried to record these words.

Finally, a reporter asked Feng Zhengming if he was satisfied with his current second place result.
Feng Zhengming smiled and replied: "I will try my best to cook well. The result is not very important to me."

After the interview, Feng Zhengming met Mr. Cai who was invited by Gangcheng to be a judge.

The other party was obviously waiting for him.

Feng Zhengming also greeted Mr. Cai with a smile.

"Hello, Mr. Cai."

Mr. Cai looked at Feng Zhengming and said, "Chef Feng is really young and promising."

Feng Zhengming responded: "Thank you Mr. Cai for the compliment. I also want to thank Mr. Cai for his support for the fact that my fish dish received such high praise."

Mr. Cai smiled and said, "Don't thank me, that's the praise you deserve for your ability."

Mr. Cai then asked curiously: "I still want to ask, how did you think of making the vinegar and pepper fish soup into soup jelly in advance?"

Feng Zhengming explained again: "Because during the first dish, I found that the judges had too many dishes to taste, so some dishes were already cold in front of the judges.

The second dish, fish, is one that is very taboo to be left cold, as it is said that one hot dish is better than three fresh dishes.

Especially fish, once it gets cold, it may taste very bad.

But many people like to eat fish jelly, so I thought of making the vinegar and pepper fish soup into soup jelly. "

After listening to Feng Zhengming's concept design, Mr. Cai nodded and exclaimed: "Chef Feng is indeed a man who dares to think and act."

Feng Zhengming smiled and said, "I just hope that everyone who tastes each of my dishes can appreciate its deliciousness."

This idea naturally won Mr. Cai's great praise.

"Well, this is how a top chef should think."

Mr. Cai then asked: "And the seasoning of your vinegar and pepper fish soup is really special. That dish is a very traditional Shandong dish, but I didn't taste the flavor you made in the past few years."

Feng Zhengming explained: "I made some improvements based on the tradition, and the taste is indeed different."

Mr. Cai praised: "The change is very good, the taste is very special and delicious."

Feng Zhengming responded with a smile: "Thank you Mr. Cai for the compliment."

Mr. Cai then asked, "I just watched the interview with the reporter. You said that you have taken over Quancheng Huiquanlou and are also running a dry rice restaurant. Will you cook in person?"

Feng Zhengming nodded and replied, "Of course, but because Huiquanlou has just been saved from the brink of bankruptcy, I spend most of my time in the kitchen of Huiquanlou. Sometimes in the evening when Huiquanlou is closed, I will also go to the dry rice shop to cook."

"It is true. Judging from your performance in the competition, I can tell that you must cook often."

Mr. Cai finally said: "When I have the chance, I will definitely visit you in Quancheng and try your cooking skills in Quancheng Ganfanpu and Huiquanlou."

Feng Zhengming immediately said, "Welcome. I think many people in Quancheng will welcome Mr. Cai to come."

Mr. Cai smiled and said, "Okay, I'll definitely go if I have the chance."

After communicating with Mr. Cai, Feng Zhengming was called over by the two masters, Su and Sun.

Here are some professional judges from Beijing, including Master Hou, waiting for Feng Zhengming.

Master Hou smiled when he saw Feng Zhengming: "Zhengming, we meet again."

Feng Zhengming also responded with a smile; "It is my honor to meet Master Hou again and learn a lot from you, Master Hou."

Chef Hou waved his hands and said, "Hahaha, you are too modest. You are very skilled now. You can combine various techniques and use them in one dish. It's really amazing."

Some other judges from Beijing also praised Feng Zhengming highly.

"Xiao Feng is really amazing."

“It’s really not easy to get second place with so many famous chefs in Hong Kong.”

"Xiao Feng, some of your ideas are very good. It is right to dare to think and act. You can continue to persevere."

"In fact, if it wasn't the first dish, Xiao Feng, you would have won first place."

Facing praise from the Beijing judges, Feng Zhengming remained humble and low-key.

“It’s an honor for me to be able to interact with so many outstanding chefs from all over the country, and I’m lucky to win the second place.

It was not until I arrived at the national competition that I discovered that the chefs from all over the country who could come to the national competition were truly amazing, and everyone had their own unique cooking skills.

I should still learn more from everyone, and as for grades, I can only try my best and not force myself to be first."

Including the two masters Su and Sun, everyone admired Feng Zhengming's humble and low-key attitude.

People who are truly capable often don't need to act arrogantly.

Just show your strength when necessary.

Then you will naturally gain recognition and respect from others.

At this moment, in the eyes of the masters and judges, Feng Zhengming already had the demeanor of a master.

He has enough ability, so he doesn't need to brag like others.

Master Hou said, "Zhengming, perform well. Now is the time for you Shandong cuisine to prove yourself. You must serve a table of delicious dishes at the banquet."

Feng Zhengming nodded and agreed: "Master Hou, please rest assured, we will make good preparations."

Then Feng Zhengming followed the two masters Su and Sun and left first.

After meeting up with other Shandong cuisine chefs, everyone went back to the two masters' room.

Next, we will start making final preparations for the chef team’s banquet.

(End of this chapter)