From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

Feng Zhengming and the top ten outstanding young chefs were invited to record a talk show on the provincial TV station.

This was also an interview conducted by the provincial TV station specifically with Feng Zhengming and others after the Youth Chef Competition.

Because at the beginning of the year, a talk show was broadcast nationwide and received a very good response.

So this time the Qilu provincial television station also decided to imitate the talk show.

In addition to Feng Zhengming, the national champion and one of the top ten outstanding chefs in the provincial youth chef competition.

We also invited several Shandong cuisine masters and chefs from famous restaurants across Shandong.

It can be said that the lineup is quite luxurious.

When Feng Zhengming arrived at the TV station, he was specially greeted by the TV station staff.

He was invited to a special lounge, and then the director and host of the program team came out to chat with Feng Zhengming.

To Feng Zhengming's surprise, the director of the program team did not want to talk to him about this interview program.

"Mr. Feng, it's great that you can come. We have already arranged the interview program this time. We want to talk to you about another program.

We hope that Mr. Feng can help us record a cooking program.”

Feng Zhengming was stunned by the director's words.

But then Feng Zhengming smiled and nodded in agreement.

"Sure. If the province needs me, I will definitely do my best to help. In fact, I also want to organize such a program to teach everyone how to cook some home dishes, so that ordinary people can make some delicious restaurant dishes at home."

Hearing Feng Zhengming's words, the director and other people at the TV station were immediately delighted.

"Okay, thank you Mr. Feng for your willingness to cooperate with us. After the Chinese New Year, we will immediately start preparing for the recording of the program."

Feng Zhengming asked: "Is the program going to be recorded in advance and then broadcast once a day?"

The director was a little surprised when he heard this: "Feng Zhuangyuan, you also know this?"

Feng Zhengming smiled and responded: "It's not that I understand, but mainly if I come to shoot every day, I can't have time every day."

The director smiled and nodded: "Yes, that's right, we have taken this into consideration, so after the Chinese New Year, when you arrange your time, we will record multiple dishes at once."

Feng Zhengming agreed: "Okay, then I'll make arrangements in advance and free up some time after the Chinese New Year."

Then Feng Zhengming gave the director some more ideas.

"Director, I can teach cooking by myself in the early stage. Later on, I think we can ask the top ten young chefs in the province to be on the show with me, just like inviting guests. I think it will increase the ratings and attention."

The director immediately applauded when he heard it.

"Okay, Mr. Feng, your idea is great. This way, we can cooperate with you for a long time. We can even continue this program, one episode a day, one dish a day. I believe everyone will like it."

Feng Zhengming smiled and waved his hands: "Don't think highly of me yet, what if the show I record doesn't turn out well?
So let’s not be so confident yet, let’s record a few trial episodes first to see how the audience responds, and if everyone likes it, we can continue to have long-term cooperation.”

Hearing what Feng Zhengming said, the director, the host and several TV station staff present were all stunned.

They soon realized the intention behind Feng Zhengming's words.

Obviously, Feng Zhengming had no intention of cooperating with the TV station unconditionally.

He first agreed to record a few trial episodes free of charge.

This means we need to see the results of the trial broadcast and then make an offer to the TV station.

Everyone present was smart, so naturally no one would say it out loud.

The director and TV station staff also felt that there was nothing wrong with doing this.

After all, although Feng Zhengming is the top student in the country, who can guarantee that the cooking show he records will be popular?

If the recorded program receives a bad response from the audience after it is broadcast.

When the agreement is signed in advance, will the subsequent programs be recorded or not?

So Feng Zhengming first recorded a few episodes for free and let the TV station conduct a trial broadcast.

This gives both parties an opportunity to try it out first.

If both sides really try it, the effect will be good.

It should be easier for us to cooperate with each other in the future.

Of course, the director and the TV station also understand this.

If the trial broadcast is effective, it may cost a corresponding price to allow Feng Zhengming to record subsequent programs.

The director and the TV station staff exchanged glances on this point.

The director's meaning was very clear, asking the TV station to think it over in advance.

Feng Zhengming noticed their eye contact and expressions.

It is clear that whether cooperation will continue is a matter for the TV station to discuss.

However, Feng Zhengming is not in a hurry. Since the provincial TV station does not want to cooperate, he will look for other TV stations to cooperate with.

For example, going directly to CCTV?
Soon someone came to inform the director and host that the interview site had been set up and the guests were in place, and asked if they wanted to invite Feng Zhengming over?
Feng Zhengming listened but did not move. He was waiting for the director and others to invite him.

The director stood up and invited with a smile: "Feng Zhuangyuan, let's go over."

Feng Zhengming immediately nodded and agreed: "Okay, let's go."

Feng Zhengming followed the director and host to the scene.

Seeing the old chefs sitting in the audience, the top ten outstanding young chefs were also present.

Afterwards, under the coordination of the director, Feng Zhengming and everyone conducted an opening shot.

First, Feng Zhengming came on stage, followed by ten outstanding young chefs.

Afterwards, there will be filming introducing the master chefs who attended the event and the head chefs of the big restaurants.

After shooting all at once.

Next, Feng Zhengming and the young chefs were asked to take their seats.

The host also sat down, and the interview officially began recording.

During the filming process of various introductions, Feng Zhengming also looked at the script and took the initiative to delete some of his own parts to allow the young chefs to speak more.

After the host's opening remarks, he introduced Zhu Xu and then asked questions to Zhu Xu.

"You are the first place winner of this young chef competition. I heard that you are the apprentice of Master Wang of Jubinyuan. You were originally the most promising young chef in Jubinyuan, but later you went to the kitchen of Feng Zhuangyuan's shop.

Is there any reason for this? Did this experience help you win the championship? "

Zhu Xu didn't expect to be asked such a direct question right at the start.

He looked at Master Wang in the audience, and then at Feng Zhengming.

Then Zhu Xu really didn’t know how to answer for a moment?

The atmosphere at the scene became a little awkward because of Zhu Xu's silence.

Feng Zhengming spoke at the right time to break the awkwardness.

"Host, your question may make Zhu Xu feel a little embarrassed. After all, his master is sitting here today, and I am his boss sitting on the stage. Your question makes him feel a little awkward." Feng Zhengming's words broke the awkwardness.

He smiled and then asked Master Wang in the audience.

"Uncle Wang, would you like to come up on stage as well? Let's give Zhu Xu some encouragement together?"

These words immediately made the old masters in the audience laugh.

The director was very satisfied with Feng Zhengming's improvisation, and gave the camera and microphone to Master Wang in the audience.

Master Wang saw the microphone in front of him and couldn't help but say, "You are the worst. If it weren't for you, would Jubin Garden be closed? If Jubin Garden hadn't been closed, Zhu Xu wouldn't have to go to you."

At this point, Master Wang started laughing.

"Hahaha, but we didn't suffer any loss. Zhu Xu learned a lot from you, so he was able to win the young chef championship in one fell swoop. So we made a profit."

Master Wang’s previous words made the atmosphere a little tense.

Many people at the scene wondered if Master Wang was going to take this opportunity to settle accounts with Feng Zhengming?

Unexpectedly, Master Wang then started laughing.

And what Master Wang said next made everyone at the scene laugh.

The originally tense atmosphere was turned into a completely joyful one.

Feng Zhengming then began his impromptu performance with a smile.

"Uncle Wang, this shows that the basic skills you taught are still very solid, but you didn't teach the advanced part well. Look, Zhu Xu also participated in the competition last time, but he lost to me and Xia Mingye.

You see, after being with me and receiving my guidance, your cooking skills have improved immediately, right?
In one fell swoop, he can win the championship of this year's young chef competition."

Master Wang responded with a smile: "You are also his uncle. Isn't it natural for a nephew to seek refuge with his uncle?"

At this point, the on-site host seemed to have nothing to do, and Feng Zhengming became the host.

He looked at Zhu Xu decisively again: "Then our young chef champion, please answer the host's question now.

I have already answered the question of why you went to the kitchen of my shop. You just need to answer the question of how what you learned from me helped you win the championship this time. "

The camera naturally fell on Zhu Xu, and Feng Zhengming even gave his microphone to Zhu Xu.

Facing the camera again, Zhu Xu looked at Feng Zhengming and Master Wang in the audience.

This time he finally spoke into the microphone.

"I am very grateful to my master and my teacher, and I am even more grateful to Jubinyuan for giving me the opportunity to learn cooking from my master and teacher."

After saying this, Zhu Xu then looked at Feng Zhengming and said, "But for winning the championship this time, the person I should thank the most is Uncle Feng."

Feng Zhengming and Master Wang took over the conversation and the two of them made the atmosphere relaxed.

This naturally made it easier for Zhu Xu to speak.

Once you start talking, it will be natural for you to start chatting.

Zhu Xu stood up and bowed to Feng Zhengming.

Then he began to speak seriously what he had been holding back for a long time.

“After Jubinyuan closed down, I was very confused. Even a restaurant like Jubinyuan that had been passed down for generations ended up closing down.

At that time, I really had lost hope in becoming a chef, and felt that no matter how good my cooking skills were, it would be useless.

Later, I met Master Feng, who rekindled my fighting spirit and made me understand what real cooking skills are.

Cooking is not about making fancy dishes or being flashy.

Cooking skills should be authentic, and every dish should bring a smile to the customer’s face.”

After Zhu Xu finished speaking, Master Wang took the lead in the audience and everyone applauded him.

After the applause, Zhu Xu finally said: "Because Uncle Feng taught me that as a chef I must stick to my cooking skills and strive to make customers taste delicious food, so that I can go further."

After answering the question, Zhu Xu handed the microphone to Feng Zhengming.

Feng Zhengming smiled when he saw the microphone and responded, "No need to give it to me, the host probably has more questions."

The host was stunned for a moment, and could only say awkwardly: "No problem."

Feng Zhengming couldn't help but laugh: "No problem? Our young chef champion, is this the only question you're going to ask?"

The host responded quickly: "Oh, I mean, there are other questions next."

Feng Zhengming said to Zhu Xu, "Then pass it to the next person next to you, and let our host ask questions in turn."

The atmosphere at the scene suddenly became joyful again.

Because everyone found that Feng Zhengming seemed more like a host.

The host was helpless and could only continue asking questions in the order arranged by Feng Zhengming.

When asked about Xia Hui, the host suddenly became excited.

"Xia Hui, as the only female chef who made it into the top ten young chefs, you should have endured more hardships, right?"

Xia Hui replied directly: "No, I think since we are all chefs, there is no gender difference. Chefs all have to work hard, and other chefs do the same work."

This made the host stunned again, and the female host felt a little helpless.

However, the host continued to ask: "I heard that you are also the heir of the Xia family of Confucius cuisine, so is your cooking skill also inherited from your family?"

Xia Hui was very direct: "No, my family thought that girls were not suitable for learning cooking, so they didn't teach me cooking. I learned cooking skills in a vocational school, and later I continued to learn from Uncle Feng. I am also very grateful to Uncle Feng for teaching me a lot of things."

Having said this, Xia Hui stood up and bowed to Feng Zhengming.

Seeing this, Feng Zhengming smiled helplessly and said, "Don't bow to me. I didn't teach you anything. You just happened to be in my shop. Your skills are the result of your own hard work."

The host finally asked Feng Zhengming.

"Okay, Mr. Feng, we are all very curious about how you were able to train six of the top ten young chefs in one go?"

Feng Zhengming was so confused by the question that he didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "I've already said that I didn't train them. It just happened that they are all under my command. I should be considered their boss."

The host continued to press on: "As their boss, you must have given them a lot of guidance."

Feng Zhengming could only say: "The teaching is that you have to cook well in the kitchen every day. If the customers are not satisfied, your salary will be deducted."

As soon as these words came out, everyone at the scene couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Especially the six young chefs under Feng Zhengming, they could hardly stop laughing.

This interview program was recorded in a joyful atmosphere.

After the TV station broadcast the program, it received an unexpectedly good response.

We received letters from viewers across the province and even across the country, and almost all of them praised the excellent atmosphere of the talk show.

Through this interview program, everyone can get to know Feng Zhengming again.

It also made young chefs gain greater fame. (End of this chapter)