From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

When they met the hotel manager, he was quite polite to both Gao Fengyi and Feng Zhengming.

You can tell at first glance that he is a very smooth person.

Gao Fengyi was polite to the manager and did not give the other party any face.

He explained the purpose of his visit in a very impolite manner and asked the manager to make improvements to the hotel as soon as possible.

“At any time and no matter where the customers are, you must ensure that the seafood you provide is the right one and not inferior.

If there is a next time, I will definitely not be so polite, and I am afraid it will not be me who comes then."

Faced with Gao Fengyi's harsh words, the manager said with some fear and trepidation that he would definitely conduct a thorough investigation.

"Master Gao, rest assured, our hotel will immediately start self-inspection to ensure that the incident of the day before yesterday will not happen again. In the future, we will ensure that the seafood eaten by our hotel guests will be absolutely fresh and of high quality."

After hearing the manager's assurance, Gao Fengyi couldn't say anything more.

We can only give a final warning and say that we will continue to supervise the hotel.

In addition, the hotel must formally apologize to the merchants from Hong Kong.

The hotel managers also agreed very readily.

After the questions were asked, the hotel manager immediately extended an invitation to Gao Fengyi and Feng Zhengming.

"Master Gao, Mr. Feng, it is a great honor for us to have you two come to our hotel today. I wonder if you two could honor us with your presence tonight and taste and give us some pointers on the dishes in our hotel kitchen?"

The other party's words were very clear.

I hope I can invite Gao Fengyi and Feng Zhengming to dinner in the evening in the name of the hotel.

Feng Zhengming apologized before Gao Fengyi could speak.

"I'm sorry, definitely not tonight. I just got here and I have to get together with my uncle and family tonight. Thank you for your kindness, manager, but I can't accept your invitation."

After hearing what Feng Zhengming said, Gao Fengyi also said that he could not stay for dinner.

"I definitely can't stay for dinner today. If I do, people might misunderstand that I am biased towards you. You should tidy up as soon as possible. When you have sorted out the kitchen, I will come over to eat again when I am free."

The manager felt regretful, but he could only respect the opinions of Feng Zhengming and Gao Fengyi.

After seeing off Feng Zhengming and Gao Fengyi.

The manager had no choice but to make a phone call to the boss behind the hotel.

When the hotel owner learned that Feng Zhengming had arrived in the island city and was staying in his hotel, he was very excited.

The boss ordered immediate rectification of the problems in the hotel’s kitchen.

"Change everything according to Master Gao's request. Don't have those crooked ideas in the future. The reputation of the hotel is still very important. Don't mess up my hotel. If you do, you will all lose your jobs."

The boss has spoken, and the manager immediately understands what the boss means.

In the past, hotels could replace the seafood ordered by customers and do some things like passing off inferior products as good ones.

But since Gao Fengyi has come to me.

And the top scholar Feng Zhengming also came out.

The hotel owner’s meaning was very clear: the hotel should not do those things anymore.

After all, with the endorsement of the top scholar staying there, the hotel can definitely hype it up and attract more customers.

With enough customer flow, there is naturally no need to engage in such despicable activities.

What's more, he can take advantage of the reputation of Feng Zhengming, the top scholar who once lived there.

The hotel must do better to ensure the quality of service, food, and all hotel facilities are up to standard.

The boss has already planned that the hotel's target audience will need to be further improved in the future.

Feng Zhengming and Gao Fengyi left with the hotel chef Fang Manfu.

Fang Manfu hesitated for a moment, but still tentatively invited the two to go into the kitchen to take a look.

Feng Zhengming did not agree, but looked at Gao Fengyi first.

After all, they are the landlords. If they don't ask to go, Feng Zhengming doesn't have to go to the hotel kitchen to take a look.

Gao Fengyi probably felt that something was wrong in the atmosphere between the three of them.

He smiled first and asked, "Chef Fang, are you sure you want us to go to the kitchen to take a look? Our top scholar has very high standards. Aren't you afraid that he will see other problems?"

Of course Fang Manfu knew that Gao Fengyi was joking.

He immediately smiled and said that he welcomed Feng Zhengming to point out other problems.

"Isn't that even better? The top scholar can give us some advice in the kitchen, which will definitely be of great benefit to us."

When Feng Zhengming saw that he was being praised, he could only smile and wave his hands.

"Don't say that. I came out to travel all over Qilu this time just to see and learn more. I believe that staying in a hotel as big as this one in the island city will definitely give me a lot to learn.

And Senior Brother Gao, Chef Fang, please don’t call me the top scholar. Just call me by my name, or Xiao Feng.”

Fang Manfu quickly said that he didn't dare to call him "Xiao Feng".

Gao Fengyi smiled and changed his words: "Okay, then call him Zhengming. Chef Fang, you should also call him Zhengming, or Chef Feng. Don't call him Zhuangyuan, it's really not good."

Fang Manfu nodded quickly and changed his words: "Okay, then I'll call you Chef Feng."

Then, Feng Zhengming and Gao Fengyi followed Fang Manfu into the hotel's kitchen.

Although the hotel will receive some Hong Kong and foreign guests, it will also provide some Western food and Hong Kong Cantonese cuisine as requested.

But the hotel's back kitchen is not separated, and the space is quite large.

Whether it is a Shandong cuisine chef, a Cantonese cuisine chef or a Western cuisine chef, they are all in the same big kitchen.

Seeing the head chef leading Gao Fengyi in, everyone in the kitchen suddenly became serious.

When someone saw Feng Zhengming following behind, he quickly recognized him.

"Look, that guy seems to be the top scorer, right?"

"Which champion?"

"Don't you know he's the top scorer? He's the top scorer in the national cooking competition."

"Yes, yes, I thought he looked familiar. It turns out he is our top scholar."

When Fang Manfu heard the discussions in the kitchen, he gave everyone a formal introduction.

"Everyone knows Mr. Gao. He is the champion of the National Cooking Competition for Shandong cuisine. Let us all welcome these two masters of the cooking industry to our kitchen today to give us guidance."

Naturally, there was a burst of warm applause in the kitchen.

Everyone was excited that Feng Zhengming could come to the hotel kitchen.

Gao Fengyi also whispered a reminder to Feng Zhengming.

"Look at how popular you are now. Everyone welcomes you wherever you go."

Feng Zhengming smiled and whispered in response: "This is mainly because I am not in charge of the catering and chefs in the island city, so they don't feel any pressure when I come. It's not like when you come, Senior Brother Gao, they think you are here to check on them."

After hearing what Feng Zhengming said, Gao Fengyi was stunned for a moment, and then felt a little amused.

It seems that Feng Zhengming was right.

No matter which restaurant, inn or hotel Gao Fengyi went to, they were indeed somewhat afraid of him. After all, with Gao Fengyi's current status, his appearance did look like a door-to-door inspection.

Amid everyone's welcome, Feng Zhengming and Gao Fengyi followed Fang Manfu to take a rough look around the kitchen.

Although there are not all Shandong cuisine, Cantonese cuisine and Western cuisine chefs in the same kitchen.

But there is still a clear distinction between where people work and cook.

Feng Zhengming also saw that in such a kitchen, there would be an oven specially prepared for Western chefs.

There are also some more modern equipment that different chefs will have different uses for.

Feng Zhengming looked around and praised with a smile: "Very good, I can see that Chef Fang, your hotel owner is very ambitious. Do you want to make your hotel the best hotel in the island city?"

When Fang Manfu heard this, he first smiled, then looked at Gao Fengyi.

"In fact, when this hotel was first designed, we invited Mr. Gao to participate in the design. All the facilities in the kitchen were planned by Mr. Gao at the time, and the overall style of the hotel was designed by Mr. Gao and some designers from Gangcheng."

Feng Zhengming looked at Gao Fengyi with admiration on his face after hearing this: "Senior Brother Gao is really amazing. He even knows about this kind of hotel design."

Gao Fengyi waved his hand modestly: "I just participated and gave some suggestions. The overall design of the hotel was designed by some professionals from Hong Kong City."

Feng Zhengming was a little surprised: "Brother Gao, the hotel didn't hire you as a consultant?"

Fang Manfu immediately helped to explain.

"At first, Mr. Gao was the consultant of our hotel. Later, Mr. Gao got a position in the city, so he had to resign from the hotel's consultant job. After all, Mr. Gao's work in the city must be fair."

Feng Zhengming understood as soon as he heard it.

Gao Fengyi is now in charge of catering and chef assessment in the island city, and is indeed not suitable to continue to serve as a consultant for this hotel.

At this time, Gao Fengyi looked at Feng Zhengming and sighed: "Sometimes I envy you, Zhengming. You are just in the association, without a provincial or municipal position, and you can still continue to run your own store."

Feng Zhengming smiled and explained: "Senior Brother Gao, you don't have to envy me. Huiquanlou is not my private property."

After hearing what Feng Zhengming said, Gao Fengyi immediately realized it.

Now everyone thinks that Huiquanlou is Feng Zhengming’s property, but in fact Huiquanlou is the province’s property, and Feng Zhengming is still just the contractor of Huiquanlou.

As for Feng Zhengming’s two current restaurants in Quancheng, since they are fast food restaurants, they will not affect the fairness of the assessment of chefs.

What's more, Feng Zhengming is the champion of the national cooking competition after all.

He uses his skills to run a dry restaurant, which is in line with his status.

The province and Izumi City must also recognize his personal abilities.

He was assessing the chefs in Quancheng and he was indeed qualified enough.

Even some young chefs would like Feng Zhengming to assess them.

That way they will have the opportunity to learn something from the top scorers in the country.

With guidance from the nation's top student, even if you fail the test, you can still brag about it to your family and friends when you go back.

Gao Fengyi figured this out and couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

Feng Zhengming’s status as the top scholar is indeed impressive.

"By the way, Zhengming, have you ever thought about going to the capital? With your current status as the top scholar, the capital should want to transfer you there, and they will arrange a good position for you."

Feng Zhengming smiled and shook his head: "Brother Gao, you know, I still like cooking in the kitchen, so I don't want to go to Beijing. I still want to go to Shanghai and compete head-on with some famous chefs from all over the country, especially from Hong Kong and overseas."

Gao Fengyi and Fang Manfu were both shocked when they heard this.

Both of them were surprised at Feng Zhengming's fighting spirit.

If it were someone else, after obtaining the title of top scholar, they would probably choose to go to the capital, or transfer to some administrative positions in some directly affiliated units of the province.

Or you can go to some schools and specialize in research on cooking techniques.

Master Cui and Master Yan, for example, are now focusing on teaching and organizing various techniques. They will probably compile teaching materials and publish some professional cooking books in the future.

But Feng Zhengming didn't consider those aspects at all.

He actually wanted to go to Shanghai to confront famous chefs from all over the country and overseas.

Fang Manfu may not understand what this means?
Gao Fengyi is very clear that as the domestic market gradually opens up, many famous chefs from various countries will enter the country.

Their first choice for entering the country must be Shanghai.

On the one hand, Shanghai is a bridgehead for domestic finance.

On the other hand, Shanghai is also more diverse and inclusive in its catering industry.

More importantly, Shanghai can facilitate the transportation of various raw materials.

Feng Zhengming is going south to Shanghai to compete with famous chefs from all over the country and overseas.

This is because he is confident in his cooking skills and has the fighting spirit.

Gao Fengyi understood this and admired Feng Zhengming even more.

"You really have a lot of ideas. I admire you for daring to do this. I hope to hear that you will become famous again in the country in the future. You can open a restaurant in Shanghai that diners from all over the world will come to taste."

Feng Zhengming laughed: "Hahaha, I can't say that all diners from all over the world will come to taste it, but I can only say that it can gain a foothold in Shanghai and at least be recognized by domestic gourmets."

Gao Fengyi still admired him and said, "Okay, our top scholar will definitely be able to do it."

Next, Feng Zhengming and Gao Fengyi carefully visited the kitchen and observed some details in it.

Most of the time it was Gao Fengyi who asked questions and gave his opinions.

Feng Zhengming didn't say much to interrupt.

After all, Gao Fengyi was a consultant in the past, and now he is also considered the superior of the hotel.

Feng Zhengming should not express his opinions casually and should not take away other people's position.

While following the tour, I listened to Gao Fengyi's questions and the various suggestions he gave.

Feng Zhengming also learned something from it.

He couldn't help but sigh in his heart that Gao Fengyi was truly a master.

Gao Fengyi is not only knowledgeable in cooking, but also quite experienced in hotel management.

Many of his suggestions are quite detailed and always hit the mark.

There were even some places that Feng Zhengming hadn't noticed. After Gao Fengyi brought it up, he realized that Huiquanlou might also have the same problem, so he went back and asked Huiquanlou to pay attention to it as well.

The visit lasted for quite a long time, and almost all the problems were pointed out.

Gao Fengyi glanced at the time and quickly apologized to Feng Zhengming who had been following him.

"Oh, it's almost time for dinner. I'm so sorry for delaying you, Zhengming, for so long. You just arrived today and I didn't let you have a good rest."

Feng Zhengming smiled and said you're welcome: "It's okay, I've learned a lot from Senior Brother Gao, it's worth it."

After finishing the tour of the hotel kitchen, Gao Fengyi invited Feng Zhengming and others to have dinner together in the evening.

Feng Zhengming wanted to refuse, but Gao Fengyi beat him to the punch: "Don't be so hasty to refuse. The food I'm going to take you to eat is definitely authentic from the island city, and the price is not high. I can't afford it if it's too expensive."

After hearing Gao Fengyi's words, Feng Zhengming nodded in agreement. (End of this chapter)