From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

When you get to Texas, the first thing that comes to mind is probably roast chicken.

Perhaps many years later, when people hear this name, they will still think of hamburgers, fried chicken and barbecue.

In fact, Texas has three treasures.

In addition to roast chicken, there are also watermelon and golden dates.

Feng Zhengming and his four companions headed north and entered the territory of Dezhou.

He smiled and said to the other three people, "We have come to Dezhou, and our hiking tour of the entire Qilu Province is over. Have you discovered what the biggest feature of our trip is?"

This question stunned Ding Yuan, Gao Yongfu and Hou Dong.

The three people looked at each other and then talked about their own feelings along the way.

Ding Yuanxian said: "My biggest feeling is that our Qilu is really huge and has so many products. It seems that there is everything from west to east and from south to north."

Gao Yongfu followed up by saying, "Yes, there are so many things. If I hadn't come here on this trip, I wouldn't have known that there are so many things in various places in Qi and Lu."

Hou Dong hesitated for a moment before expressing his feelings.

"I think each place has its own specialties. Although it may seem like everyone is in the same province, people actually eat different food and taste different. For the same dish, the cooking methods may be different in different places."

After listening to this, Gao Yongfu also added some of his own feelings.

"I think there are still more good people. Nowadays, economic development is accelerating, and everyone is working hard and making their own efforts."

Listen to the three people talk about their insights along the way.

Feng Zhengming nodded and said, "Well said, our trip was not in vain. I am very happy that I have witnessed many things from different places, especially the unique delicacies from different places.

It’s not that I can’t do those things, but they are different in different places, with their own local characteristics, which gave me a lot of inspiration. "

After talking about his feelings along the way, Feng Zhengming then talked about an interesting place he discovered.

"There is another interesting point. I wonder if you have discovered it? That is, in Qilu, whether from south to north or from east to west, the most distinctive dish in all places must include chicken."

After hearing what Feng Zhengming said, the other three thought about it carefully and felt that it seemed to be true.

It's like fried chicken cooked in different ways in different places.

Then I saw a very distinctive roast chicken in Heze.

Now we are in Texas, which also has its nationally famous roast chicken.

It seems that no matter where you are in Qi and Lu, there will be dishes made with chicken that are very unique to that place.

Hou Dong hesitated for a moment and couldn't help asking, "Brother Feng, Dezhou Braised Chicken is very famous all over the country, can you make it?"

Feng Zhengming laughed and asked, "Why? You want the recipe to compete with Dezhou Braised Chicken?"

This question made the three people quickly say they didn't dare.

Feng Zhengming then told the three people: "I do have a recipe, but it may not be authentic. It is said that there were 30 to 40 shops in Dezhou that made roast chicken, and each had its own unique recipe.

So the formula I have is just a set of formulas that I researched based on some guesses."

Hearing Feng Zhengming say this, the three people accompanying him were somewhat surprised.

Ding Yuan couldn't help but sigh: "Brother Feng, you really can do everything?"

Gao Yongfu was even more impressed: "I admire you, Brother Feng. You are worthy of being the top scholar."

Of course Hou Dong had a look of admiration on his face and didn't know what to say.
When Feng Zhengming saw the looks of the three people, he just smiled and shook his head.

“As a chef, I must be familiar with all kinds of dishes, not to mention that Dezhou Braised Chicken is a famous Shandong dish.

As a Shandong cuisine chef, I dare not say that what I make is authentic Dezhou Braised Chicken, but at least I have to do some research and know how others make it.

As for the recipe? I tried and researched it myself based on some brine recipes. "

The four of them chatted about Dezhou Braised Chicken and slowly got closer to Dezhou.

All the way to the city in Texas.

As expected, there are too many Dezhou Braised Chicken restaurants in the streets and alleys.

There are many famous stores, such as "De Shun Zhai", "Bao Lan Zhai", "Sheng Lan Zhai", "Fu Shun Zhai" and "Zhong Xin Zhai".

Even Feng Zhengming felt a little dazzled by what he saw.

"There are so many places? Which one is the authentic Dezhou Braised Chicken?"

Ding Yuan couldn't help but ask questions while standing on the street.

Gao Yongfu thought for a moment and asked in a low voice: "Is it possible that there is no authentic one?"

Hou Dong quickly interrupted and said, "No, Brother Gao, don't talk nonsense."

Feng Zhengming smiled and said to the three people that he thought each one of them could be considered authentic.

"Dezhou Braised Chicken got its name because of the place called Dezhou. As long as all the restaurants here make delicious food, they can be said to be authentic Dezhou Braised Chicken."

After hearing what Feng Zhengming said, the three of them thought about it carefully and felt that it seemed to be true.

As long as it’s made in Texas and it’s delicious, it can be considered authentic.

Feng Zhengming did not go to those stores on the street that looked well decorated.

He led the three of them to find a hotel to stay in, and then asked the hotel owner about the situation.

"Boss, there are so many Texas Braised Chicken restaurants in your streets and alleys, which one is the best?"

The boss immediately said, "They should all be about the same. If you want to eat it, it's best to find a store that makes it daily. Don't go to a store that sells packaged food. The food in those stores tastes average."

Feng Zhengming smiled and thanked the hotel owner.

Then, the group walked out of the hotel and strolled along the street.

When he reached the entrance of a slightly remote alley, Feng Zhengming saw a small noodle restaurant in the alley.

He led the three people who were with him and walked towards the small noodle shop in the alley.

Arriving at the door of the small noodle shop, Feng Zhengming asked with a smile: "Is this Daliu noodles?"

Someone inside responded quickly: "Yes, do you want to eat? How many people?"

Feng Zhengming smiled and replied, "Four people."

Four people walked in and found a square table in the small noodle restaurant and sat down.

Not long after, a short man came out. He looked to be at least sixty years old, but his arms were very strong.

The other person also had a rolling pin in his hand.

The old man took out a piece of fermented dough and began to roll it out in front of Feng Zhengming and the others.

Watching the old man rolling noodles, Feng Zhengming couldn't help but think of Lu Chongshan.

In terms of the strength in rolling the noodles, the old man is definitely not as good as the young and strong Lu Chongshan.

But from the old man's leisurely technique, one can still see his experience.

The old man rolled the dough into a very thin sheet.

Then pick up the knife, press the dough lightly, and the knife quickly cuts the dough into noodles.

The cut noodles were spread out like a big net.

When placed on a rolling pin, it will naturally hang down like a silk thread.

When you wrap the noodles around your arms, they can even become strands that are sparse but not broken.

Feng Zhengming could tell that these noodles were definitely not ordinary.

I'm afraid even Lu Chongshan may not be able to match the old man's skill in rolling noodles.

When the water in the pot next to the chopping board boiled, the old man grabbed a strand of noodles and threw it into the pot, just like casting a net into the water.

The noodles spread out in a fan shape after entering the pot.

Then the old man added some cold water to the pot and waited for the water in the pot to boil again.

After turning the noodles over and over, scoop them out and put them into a bowl.

Feng Zhengming could clearly see that the noodles in the bowl were as thin as silver threads, as tender as willow branches, and each strand was crystal clear, like a bow string. A strong wheat aroma wafted over, stimulating the hunger of Feng Zhengming and the other three.

The old man poured his own sauce on four bowls of noodles and then served them to Feng Zhengming and the others.

Seeing this, Ding Yuan also took the initiative to stand up and help the old man bring the noodles.

The old man said calmly: "Mix the marinade before eating."

Feng Zhengming nodded and responded: "Okay, thank you."

Then the four of them were already a little impatient and quickly mixed the noodles and stew in the bowl together.

When mixing, you can clearly feel the chewiness of the noodles.

You can also smell the aroma of wheat and the fragrance of the stew.

The stewed food the old man gave was also quite rich.

It’s a bit similar to the stewed noodle soup in Beijing.

The color of the stew is dark brown, and it contains quite a lot of ingredients.

Feng Zhengming had almost finished mixing it, so he quickly started to slurp it up.

But before him, the other three had already started eating with big mouthfuls.

The old man was even thoughtful enough to send some garlic to Feng Zhengming and his friends.

Feng Zhengming and his friends expressed their gratitude again while chewing the chewy noodles and peeling garlic.

Just as the four people were eating, a few more people came into the noodle shop.

Feng Zhengming took a look and found that all the people coming in were elderly people.

It was obvious that the elderly men were familiar with the old man in the noodle shop.

After greeting each other, the elderly people sat down and the old man from the noodle shop rolled noodles for them.

Through chatting among several elderly people, I learned that this small noodle restaurant is a place where they often eat.

"Lao Zhang, that's great. There are new people in the restaurant today."

"Yes, four of them came at once."

"It means that Lao Zhang's skills have not been buried."

"Old Zhang, good wine needs no bush."

As a result, the noodle shop owner, who was called "Lao Zhang" by the old men, responded to them very unhappily.

"Stop talking nonsense here. If you don't want to eat, get out."

Feng Zhengming and the other three looked at each other in surprise when they heard this. They didn't expect that the owner of the noodle shop was such a hot-tempered old man.

But the elderly people who came in didn't seem angry at all.

Instead, one of the elderly people recommended it to Feng Zhengming and others with a smile.

"You four young people shouldn't just eat noodles. Didn't you ask Lao Zhang to make you some braised chicken? Let me tell you, Lao Zhang's braised chicken tastes different."

When Lao Zhang heard his old friend's recommendation, he immediately glared at him and said, "Do you want me to be so nosy?"

Feng Zhengming quickly asked: "Can you give us a roast chicken?"

Lao Zhang obviously didn't want to cause any trouble, so he asked, "You guys eat so much noodles, and you still have enough to eat the braised chicken?"

Ding Yuan quickly replied: "Grandpa, we are soldiers, we usually have big appetites and can eat a lot."

Gao Yongfu and Hou Dong also agreed, saying they would definitely eat it.

Lao Zhang nodded, cooked the noodles for a few of his friends first, and then he took out a roast chicken from a big pot inside.

When Feng Zhengming saw Lao Zhang take the braised chicken out of the pot, he immediately realized that the old man's braised chicken was absolutely delicious.

The way Feng Zhengming knows to cook braised chicken is to fry it first and then stew it, and finally soak it in the braising soup for at least five or six hours.

Judging from the color of the roast chicken that Lao Zhang fished out.

I know that this roast chicken must have been soaked in the braising soup for a long time.

Old Zhang almost didn't use a knife, but just used his hands to quickly tear the roast chicken apart for Feng Zhengming and the others.

Then they put the food on a plate and served it to Feng Zhengming and his friends.

The moment it was served, all four of them smelled a very fragrant aroma.

Ding Yuan, Gao Yongfu and Hou Dong even couldn't help swallowing.

Then the four of them picked up their chopsticks, picked up a piece of chicken and put it in their mouths.

The first bite is quite rich in the flavor of the stew.

I have to say that this stew tastes quite good.

It tastes delicious when eaten by a few people.

Then start chewing the chicken carefully, and the chicken still remains tender in your mouth.

Although it was obviously stewed for a long time, the chicken was not very tough.

With the aroma of the braised soup, the chicken tastes really delicious.

Feng Zhengming tasted it carefully and had already figured out what spices the other party had used.

And it also corresponds to the recipe that you have.

While Feng Zhengming was thinking, the old man at the next table asked with a smile: "How is it? Does Lao Zhang's braised chicken taste different from the ones sold on the street?"

Then Ding Yuan responded embarrassedly: "We didn't eat other roast chickens on the street."

Gao Yongfu nodded and added: "We just arrived in Texas today."

Hou Dong then said, "Yes, we just got here today, walked around the street for a while, and then found this small noodle shop, so we came in to take a look."

After hearing this, the old men looked at each other, as if they were surprised by the behavior of the four young people.

“You just arrived in Texas today?”

"Then why don't you try those roast chickens outside?"

"Yeah, how come you can find Lao Zhang's noodle shop in the alley just when you get here?"

"It's really strange, you didn't know about Lao Zhang's Noodle House before?"

Feng Zhengming responded with a smile: "We really didn't know before. This is our first time in Texas."

Feng Zhengming then gave Zhang Lao a thumbs up and said, "Uncle, your noodles are really delicious, and the braised chicken is also very delicious."

Lao Zhang had no reaction to these compliments and just replied calmly.

“After decades, this is all the skills left.”

Feng Zhengming thought for a moment and suddenly asked, "Uncle Zhang, are you the only one running this noodle shop? Don't you have a helper?"

Lao Zhang asked back: "Who to look for? Who is willing to work so hard to learn a craft nowadays?"

Hearing this, Feng Zhengming almost felt the old man's helplessness.

It seems that the old man has been injured.

He once wanted to pass on his skills, but unfortunately he was unable to find a suitable successor in the end, so the old man no longer had any hope of passing on his skills.

"Grandpa Zhang, don't say that. Maybe someone would be willing to learn your craft?"

Ding Yuan, Gao Yongfu and Hou Dong also nodded in agreement.

Lao Zhang remained calm: "It doesn't matter. Some things may really have failed to keep up with the times and eventually be lost. That must be because people no longer like them."

Feng Zhengming didn't expect that the old man would be so open-minded.

He thought for a while and asked, "Grandpa Zhang, if I want to learn, would you be willing to teach me?" (End of this chapter)