From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

In Feng Zhengming's new store, there is a wall designed by him.

On this wall, there will be a photo of the chef who is cooking that day.

These photos were taken before the opening of the business when Feng Zhengming and Jiang Chengzhe took everyone to a famous photo studio on Shanghai Pedestrian Street.

I also asked the photo studio to make photo frames that can be hung on the wall.

The new store opened today and the grand scene attracted quite a lot of people.

As you enter the door, you can see photos of the chef hanging on the wall.

"Wow, look, here are pictures of all the chefs in the kitchen."

"The one in the middle is our top pick."

"Yes, he is the top scholar. From this perspective, he is very handsome."

"Didn't you notice? This chef's uniform is so beautiful."

"The chef's uniform was specially designed by the top scholar, so of course it is very beautiful."

"There is some introduction about the chef below the photo, but why does it seem like there is so little introduction about the top scorer?"

The customers who came into the store were very curious and came close to read the descriptions under the photos carefully.

"Hahaha, why does our number one scholar need an introduction? Everyone is too familiar with him."

"That's right. The champion is the champion of the National Cooking Skills Exchange Competition and hosted the Homecoming State Banquet. These are the champion's outstanding resumes and are known to everyone. No introduction is needed."

"From this point of view, it seems that the top scholar has no experience as a chef in a big restaurant?"

"Yes, yes. Look at the chef from Hong Kong next to the champion. He has a lot of experience. He has worked in many well-known restaurants in Hong Kong, and he also has experience in overseas restaurants."

"That's so exaggerated. He even won awards in some overseas chef competitions."

The photos of Feng Zhengming and Jiang Chengzhe are placed together, so in comparison, Jiang Chengzhe's resume is indeed very impressive.

It contains an introduction to the various awards he has won, as well as his experience in various well-known restaurants.

In comparison, Feng Zhengming's resume does not seem so brilliant.

But even so, no one can ignore the value of Feng Zhengming as the top scholar.

"Chef Jiang's resume is indeed better than the top scholar, but didn't he still lose to the top scholar?"

"That's right. It shows that our top scholar is still more capable."

"Zhuangyuan is the head chef of this restaurant, and Chef Jiang is just his subordinate."

"So the top scholar is more powerful."

After looking at the wall of chef photos, the customers found their own seats and sat down.

Then, customers in the lobby of Feng Zhengming's store can clearly see the busy chefs at work through the semi-open kitchen.

"Wow, this is a great place. I can see the busy scene in the kitchen."

"Yeah, it feels reassuring to see it this way."

"That's right. Unlike many restaurants, the kitchen is not allowed to be seen. No one knows what the kitchen looks like."

"Look, it's our top chef. He looks really handsome in the kitchen."

The scene of the opening of Feng Zhengming's new store really makes many customers feel very comfortable after entering.

Today, some white-collar workers from Shanghai who pass by here on their way to and from get off work come here specifically to eat.

On a street full of Western restaurants, Feng Zhengming's restaurant, which is decorated in completely Chinese style both inside and out, really seems out of place in the entire street.

But once you enter the store and sit down, you'll feel very comfortable.

Even some urban white-collar workers who usually worship foreign things came here to find fault.

After entering the store, the service staff politely guided us to our seat.

I felt the atmosphere in the store which was playful but not noisy.

There is also a unique spacing design for each table, and each Chinese chair is designed to perfectly fit the curves of the human body.

Every detail makes people feel comfortable.

It really gives people a sense of enjoyment to sit here and eat.

It makes it so that those who want to find fault will find absolutely no place to do so.

Feng Zhengming handed the kitchen to Jiang Chengzhe, and he walked out of the kitchen first.

"Thank you all for coming here today to support me. I believe you all know me, a chef with a little bit of success. I am able to open this restaurant in Shanghai. I really want to thank you for recognizing my skills.

Let me introduce to you that our store is a Chinese fast food restaurant. We have learned and integrated some aspects of Western fast food.

The main dish is our Qilu Quancheng Baozi Pork, and I made some adjustments to the taste.

If you are a Shanghai native and prefer sweet taste, we also have sweet pork belly. "

Hearing this, someone from Sichuan and Chongqing asked, "Is there any spicy food?"

At the same time, another person with a Hunan accent asked, "Yes, yes, do you have anything spicy?"

Feng Zhengming responded with a smile: "Yes, Shanghai is an inclusive city with friends from all over the country and even overseas, so we provide braised pork with different flavors.

There are other dishes, including Shandong cuisine, Cantonese cuisine, and local cuisine, and everyone can choose freely. "

A man with a distinct Quancheng accent asked, "We have pork belly, but no pork elbows, pig's trotters, or four-happiness meatballs from your Quancheng store, Zhuangyuan?"

Feng Zhengming smiled again and replied, "Yes, but the cooking methods of the pork elbow, pig's trotter and four-happiness meatballs here are a little different."

Then Feng Zhengming introduced to everyone the improved methods of making several things here.

“For pork elbows, we have two types: sauce and white sauce. The flavors range from salty and fresh to sweet and salty, and even sweet and spicy.

The pig's trotter we offer here is a dish that I have integrated with the Western style of stuffing pig's trotters. We debone the pig's trotters in advance, then stuff them with stuffing, and then stew them. This stuffed pig's trotter is the main dish in our restaurant.

We also have four-happiness meatballs in many ways, including tomato sauce, traditional braised meatballs, and sweet and spicy meatballs.”

After listening to Feng Zhengming's introduction, many people couldn't help swallowing.

Some people couldn't even control themselves, with saliva dripping from the corners of their mouths, and they could only quickly wipe it with napkins.

Feng Zhengming took in everyone's reactions and knew that he had aroused their appetite.

He quickly cut to the chase: "In short, our store will provide you with a variety of delicious enjoyment, and you are also welcome to go to my other store near the train station, which will also have the same set meals.

Finally, please leave more comments and suggestions. We will humbly accept your suggestions and make our store and the food in it better.

Now please order your food. Because there are many people today, there may be some waiting, please understand. "

After saying all his words, Feng Zhengming bowed to everyone again.

Then he turned around and went back to the kitchen to work.

Next, the customers who entered the restaurant first began to order their food impatiently.

Luo Qing sat at the cashier counter, looking at the lively scene outside. She was really happy for her husband.

The opening of this Western Restaurant on Restaurant Street was very popular. The new store near the train station was also very popular, attracting many people from nearby to come and support it.

Even though everyone knew Feng Zhengming was not here, they still went to the store to try his food because of his reputation as a top scholar.

The head chef at this branch is Zhu Xu, and working with him are Guan Wei and Zhang Lei.

Together with Jiang Chengzhe's two apprentices, it is enough to support the kitchen.

Feng Zhengming told everyone that he would rotate every three months.

At that time, he would bring people to the branch near the train station and transfer Zhu Xu and his team back to the branch on the street of the Western Restaurant.

Of course Jiang Chengzhe has always stayed in the store on Western Restaurant Street.

Because it would give him more advantages if he competes with those Western restaurants.

Zhu Xu, Guan Wei and Zhang Lei all strictly followed what Feng Zhengming taught them, doing it step by step very accurately.

Especially the recipe for flavoring, Feng Zhengming gave them special instructions.

So the dishes they make at the branch near the train station may not be completely comparable to Feng Zhengming's in terms of taste.

But it is definitely much better than other restaurants in the surrounding area.

Even some of the big restaurants here are comparable.

The most crucial point is that Zhu Xu, Guan Wei and Zhang Lei have all been trained in Feng Zhengming's Quancheng store.

They are able to achieve almost no fluctuation in the quality of the dishes they prepare.

This is something that many chefs cannot easily accomplish.

It doesn't mean the chef's level is not good.

There may be many chefs in Shanghai whose skills are better than Zhu Xu and his team.

But in fact, many chefs cannot really achieve stability.

That is, a dish may taste good today, but it may not be so good tomorrow and the taste will deviate.

Zhu Xu, Guan Wei and Zhang Lei after being taught by Feng Zhengming and their senior brothers.

They have already integrated the basic skills into their daily cooking habits.

This will help maintain a consistent cooking standard.

It was different from the grand opening of the Western restaurant on the street.

The opening of the new store near the train station should be more calm.

They just put a poster of Feng Zhengming at the door for promotion.

Zhu Xu, Guan Wei and Zhang Lei led two apprentices, Jiang Chengzhe, and the store's service staff to welcome the first batch of customers at the door.

Afterwards, Zhu Xu and his friends went into the kitchen, leaving the front of the store to the service staff.

Even though it is so simple, Feng Zhengming's fame still attracted many people.

After the first batch of customers were seated, queues began to form at the door.

Zhu Xu immediately asked the service staff to place chairs at the door and serve some snacks to the people in line.

"I thought there would be a long queue at another Zhuangyuan store today, so I chose to come to the store near the train station, but I didn't expect there would be a queue here too."

"That's right. Feng Zhuangyuan is so famous that it's hard not to have a queue at his store."

"From your accent, it seems like you are from Quancheng in Qilu?"

"Yes, he is from the same hometown as our top scholar."

"Does the number one scholar also line up at your store?"

"Of course, you don't know that there are queues in almost every one of the three Zhuangyuan stores in Quancheng."

“There are also long queues at our Yancheng branch every day.”

"What about the Huiquan Restaurant run by the top scholar?"

"You have to make a reservation to dine at Huiquanlou at night, especially for the private rooms, if you don't make a reservation, there won't be any."

"Wow, business is so good?"

The person from Qiluquan City explained to the people queuing at the door with a smile.

“Let me tell you this: the prices of dishes at Feng Zhuangyuan’s restaurants, whether it’s the Baozirou shop or Huiquanlou, are not expensive, and the most important thing is that they taste really good.

You will know when you eat there. Even though the champion is not in this store, the chefs in each of his stores are all selected by the champion and taught by him personally. Their skills are really beyond reproach.”

After hearing this explanation, everyone who came to the door became even more excited.

Someone said, "It seems that the things in this store are much more expensive, right?"

This remark sparked discussion among the people queuing outside the store.

"It's really more expensive. I looked at some of the prices and they seem more expensive than other restaurants around here."

"Yeah, since it's not a dish made by the champion himself, I think the price is a bit high."

“I feel like eating this for something new. I may not eat here every day.”

"Is the number one scholar a little too proud? Why did he set the price so high when he came to Shanghai?"

It is obvious that many people at the train station think that the prices in Feng Zhengming's store are too high.

This time, even some fellow villagers from Qi and Lu did not stand up to help speak.

However, it was several local people in Shanghai who spoke up for him.

"This is Shanghai. How expensive are the rents here? It can't be the same as in Qilu."

"That's right. Besides, he's the champion of the national cooking competition. His shop's prices are the same as others. Doesn't that mean his cooking skills are worthless?"

"I think his pricing is appropriate, giving other chefs some room."

"That's right. If he sets the price the same as the surrounding small restaurants, how can other stores in the area do business?"

The locals spoke, and some people with accents from all over the south also spoke to Feng Zhengming.

In fact, Feng Zhengming's pricing makes his fellow villagers from Qilu feel that the pricing of the Shanghai branch is too high when they compare the prices of branches across Qilu.

Even the prices in Feng Zhengming's store are indeed much higher than those in other nearby stores.

But for locals and outsiders living in Shanghai, they think Feng Zhengming’s pricing is high.

In this regard, it coincides with Jiang Chengzhe's original idea of ​​persuading Feng Zhengming to raise the price.

Perhaps to the people of Qilu, although Feng Zhengming is the top scholar in the country, they often eat at his restaurants in Qilu and do not think he is particularly special.

But for people in other parts of the country, they would think that as the national number one scholar, Feng Zhengming should raise the prices of vegetables in his restaurant.

Otherwise, if the prices of dishes in Feng Zhengming's No. 1 restaurant are so low, then those other small restaurants must be making losses?

Customers at Feng Zhengming's restaurant on Western Restaurant Street finally saw the dishes being served.

The moment we saw it, the thought in everyone's mind was.

The price of the top scholar is really not expensive.

Whether it is a Western-style rice bowl or Chinese-style dishes served one by one.

The presentation on the plate will make people feel very beautiful.

Especially the different flavors of braised pork are indeed quite popular.

Another dish that impressed many white-collar workers was the Chinese-style stuffed pig's trotter, which was Feng Zhengming's modification of Kofman's stuffed pig's trotter.

In order to make it easier to eat with chopsticks, Feng Zhengming cuts the pig's trotters into pieces before serving.

Serve on a plate with rice soaked in soup.

Many white-collar workers who claim to have eaten and seen Western food were really confused by the delicious food. (End of this chapter)