From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

After New Year's Day, Feng Zhengming's two stores returned to their former tranquility.

Without the visits of star-chasers, business of the two stores seemed a little dull.

But this is a good thing for Feng Zhengming.

He, Jiang Chengzhe and the chefs in the kitchen can now concentrate more on cooking.

After New Year's Day, more and more overseas friends came to patronize Feng Zhengming Western Restaurant on the street.

This was probably on New Year's Eve, after some overseas personnel stationed in Shanghai visited.

They recommended it to many overseas friends.

As a result, many overseas friends who can't find a place to eat in Shanghai will think of going to Feng Zhengming's restaurant to try it.

As a result, when they stepped into Feng Zhengming's store on Western Restaurant Street.

You can immediately feel an atmosphere as if you are back home.

The Western-style fast food serving style in Feng Zhengming’s restaurant.

It is also very popular among many overseas friends.

Feng Zhengming and Jiang Chengzhe also made adjustments to the tastes that are very much in line with the tastes of overseas friends.

In this way, the publicity is also spread through overseas friends.

Naturally, Feng Zhengming's Western Restaurant on this street has become a preferred restaurant for many overseas people in Shanghai.

It is even more popular among overseas people than many Western restaurants in Shanghai.

The large number of overseas visitors has also attracted some people in China who like to compare everything with overseas.

This left those who wanted to discredit Feng Zhengming's two stores speechless.

This is a shop that is loved both domestically and overseas.

Who are you to judge when you haven't even tasted it?

The changes in Feng Zhengming's restaurant also made some chefs in Shanghai feel that they could not compete with it.

Many chefs don’t understand.

Feng Zhengming’s cuisine is Shandong cuisine, so why is it so popular among people overseas?
In order to find out this, some Shanghai chefs started to come to our house to taste the food.

Among the chefs who came to taste the food, there were chefs of Shanghai cuisine as well as some chefs of other cuisines in Shanghai.

After visiting Feng Zhengming's restaurant to taste the dishes.

These chefs are generally aware of the key issues.

Feng Zhengming, the top scholar, really knows how to mix flavors.

The taste of every dish in his restaurant can be adjusted in many ways.

You can tell the waiter when you order.

Then the taste of the food served will be adjusted accordingly according to different needs.

This seasoning technique is a bit off-putting for other chefs.

Can a chef create so many targeted flavors?

You have to know that many chefs may have been in the industry for a long time and still may not be able to fully understand the mainstream tastes.

At this moment, many chefs finally realized how big the gap was between themselves and Feng Zhengming.

There used to be an old saying in the culinary industry.

Three years to make a knife, five years to make a fire, and ten years to make a pot.

Three years of sword skills naturally means that sword skills must be practiced for at least three years.

Five years of fire means mastering the temperature of fire for at least five years.

It takes ten years to master the cooking details and taste of the dishes in this pot.

When it comes to taste, many chefs spend their entire lives studying just one flavor.

But Feng Zhengming can control the different flavors so accurately that the chefs who come to his restaurant have to be convinced.

In fact, Jiang Chengzhe and others in the kitchen were also very impressed by Feng Zhengming's point.

Jiang Chengzhe even asked Feng Zhengming privately.

"How can you be sure that every flavor is adjusted to just the right level?"

Feng Zhengming gave a direct answer: "Go and try it yourself."

Jiang Chengzhe was left speechless by this answer.

Seeing Jiang Chengzhe's expression, Feng Zhengming gave an explanation with a smile.

“You have to use your tongue to taste different flavors, especially when we cook our own food, we have to taste it ourselves and cannot simply trust our experience.

Whether it is the hands, the eyes, or those so-called experiences, in fact, they are not as accurate as tasting with the tongue.

Of course, this also requires that you pay attention to protecting your sense of taste and have a certain understanding of your own sense of taste.”

Jiang Chengzhe was a little surprised: "Do you know something about your taste?"

Feng Zhengming nodded: "Yes, you need to know whether your taste buds are sensitive or not? First you need to know whether your taste is strong or weak, and then you can season the food better."

"How can I know this?"

Seeing Jiang Chengzhe's surprised look, Feng Zhengming suggested the method of comparison.

“You can compare your taste buds with those of other chefs in the kitchen, or with those of your customers. In short, you need to come up with a taste scale that works for you.

When adjusting the taste, add flavor according to your own taste. "

When Feng Zhengming said this to Jiang Chengzhe, other young chefs and apprentices in the kitchen were also listening.

So he simply gave everyone a more intuitive example.

“To put it simply, in Shanghai, the locals are used to eating sweet food, so their taste buds are not very sensitive to sweetness. Sometimes, what we think is too sweet, they may still think it tastes just normal.

At this time, when we are adjusting our tone, we can actually compare ourselves with the local people in Shanghai.

When guests come, let the waiter know their taste preferences when they order food.”

Xia Hui suddenly spoke up: "I understand, Uncle Master, you added a taste preference option to the menu to deal with this."

Feng Zhengming nodded: "Yes, it is easier to adjust the taste if we understand the customer's preferences.

At the same time, if you want to adjust the taste to the most appropriate level, you need to understand your own taste first.

Know how sensitive your taste buds are to flavors.”

This explanation gave everyone present a deeper understanding.

Feng Zhengming also reminded: "Another important point is that you must taste the seasonings you buy every time, because seasonings from different manufacturers and regions will have different tastes."

This detail made Jiang Chengzhe instantly realize that it was crucial.

"Yes, different brands of seasonings will have different tastes. This is something you must know in advance."

Sun Hai asked: "Master, we basically use soy sauce from the soy sauce factory in our hometown, is that to ensure the same taste?"

"Yes, but after each batch arrives, you must taste it yourself before you open it."

Feng Zhengming did not hide anything from anyone in his kitchen.

He mentioned all kinds of details so that everyone can know how to work hard.

Under Feng Zhengming's teaching and guidance, everyone in the kitchen is gradually improving.

This kind of healthy development may not be available in other restaurants and hotels.

Time has unknowingly entered February. Feng Zhengming has already started preparing for a break so that everyone can go home and prepare for the Chinese New Year.

According to Feng Zhengming's arrangement, the two stores in Shanghai will open on the tenth day of the first lunar month after the Chinese New Year.

The opening time is even later than that of the store in Quancheng.

One reason is that Jiang Chengzhe needs more time to travel back and forth from Hong Kong City.

Secondly, Feng Zhengming also hopes that everyone who has been busy for a year can have a good rest during the New Year period.

Feng Zhengming scheduled the closing time of the two stores to be the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month.

In other words, Feng Zhengming’s two stores in Shanghai will be closing a few days into February.

What Feng Zhengming did not expect was that people actually came to his two fast food restaurants and asked if they could order New Year’s Eve dinner.

Faced with such inquiries, Feng Zhengming was a little amused.

"I'm sorry, we can't order New Year's Eve dinner at our store, and we're going to close in a few days. Everyone needs to go home for the New Year. We won't reopen until after the New Year, on the tenth day of the first lunar month."

"What? Open only on the tenth day of the first lunar month?"

The news announced by Feng Zhengming surprised many people who learned about it.

"Mr. Feng, you guys have been resting for too long, haven't you?"

"Yeah, business is actually pretty good during the Chinese New Year."

"Besides, there may be many people from other places coming to Shanghai to play during the New Year. If you don't take a break during the New Year, I guarantee that your business will be even more popular than usual."

"Yes, why do you want to rest during the New Year?"

Feng Zhengming smiled and gave the explanation he gave almost every year in Quancheng.

“Because whether we are chefs or waiters, we also need to celebrate the New Year.

My team of chefs and I are from Quancheng and Gangcheng. We have been busy in Shanghai for a year. When the Chinese New Year comes, we also need to go home to spend time with our families.

As a boss, of course I can let everyone not have any rest and give everyone more salary.

But there are some things that cannot be compensated by just increasing wages.

I hope everyone in my store can go home happily and have a good New Year.

After the Chinese New Year, I will have plenty of time to return to work at my leisure.”

Feng Zhengming's explanation made most people understand.

More people envy the employees in Feng Zhengming's store.

After the two stores were tidied up, Feng Zhengming started his holiday on the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month.

He was not in a hurry to go back, but bought return tickets with everyone in Quancheng for the 22nd day of the twelfth lunar month.

Then we gave everyone two days to stroll around Shanghai, have some fun, and buy some things to bring back for their families.

Feng Zhengming's generosity made Jiang Chengzhe feel a little unbelievable.

"You are really a really good boss. If you were in Hong Kong, I'm afraid they would not miss the opportunity to make money if someone took the initiative to order a New Year's Eve dinner.

Not to mention giving everyone a holiday in advance and giving them money in advance so they can go shopping before they go back home.”

Feng Zhengming couldn't help but laugh: "Hahaha, this is the difference between me and those so-called famous chefs in Hong Kong."

Jiang Chengzhe nodded: "It is indeed very different. You will make everyone feel more at home, and they will be willing to follow you."

Feng Zhengming sighed: "I just don't think it's necessary to force everyone like that. I have made a lot of money, and I need to share some with everyone so that everyone can have a good New Year."

Jiang Chengzhe made it clear: "You didn't make much money yourself, did you? In fact, most of the profits were distributed to all of us."

"Isn't it good?" Feng Zhengming said with a smile on his face.

"I have so many stores, and I only have 20% profit left in each store. Adding all the stores together, my profit at the end of the year is not low."

After hearing what Feng Zhengming said, Jiang Chengzhe nodded.

"Yes, the difference between you and the famous chefs in Hong Kong is that you are the boss yourself."

Feng Zhengming corrected: "The biggest difference between me and them is that I care more about the dining experience and each of my employees. I don't need to consider the needs of the boss."

Jiang Chengzhe said helplessly: "Okay, okay, whatever you say is fine. As an employee, I still want to thank the boss for letting me rest more."

Feng Zhengming asked with a smile: "Do you want to go to our Qilu for the New Year?"

Jiang Chengzhe shook his head: "I can't go. I promised my family that I would go home for the New Year, and I haven't been home for more than half a year."

"That's right, go home and have a good rest, spend more time with your family, and if you have the chance, you are welcome to bring your family to Quancheng for fun."

Jiang Chengzhe agreed: "Okay, if I have time, I will definitely take my family to visit Quancheng."

The young chefs from Quancheng were given two days.

Naturally, everyone had a great time in Shanghai for two days.

I also bought a lot of gifts for my family to take back.

Feng Zhengming also went to buy some gifts for his family.

He also bought a mobile phone specifically for his wife.

When everyone had finished shopping, Feng Zhengming and the other people from Quancheng, carrying all the gifts they had bought, boarded the return train together.

After another bumpy journey, Feng Zhengming and his team finally returned to Quancheng.

Feng Zhengming arranged accommodation for the group of people who returned from Shanghai, so that they could rest in the Spring City first and then return to their hometowns to celebrate the New Year.

Upon learning that Feng Zhengming and his friends had returned, several senior brothers became even more excited and couldn't wait to meet the people returning from Shanghai.

I really want to test whether they have made greater progress in Shanghai’s cooking skills?

For this purpose, the three senior brothers specifically found Feng Zhengming.

"Zhengming, they followed you in Shanghai and appeared on TV and in newspapers. Have they made any progress? Can you let us see it?"

"That's right, and also teach those young people in our kitchen so that they can understand the strength of the top scholar."

"Zhengming, just don't make any move. Let them make some moves and communicate."

Feng Zhengming was a little helpless in the face of the requests of his three senior brothers.

He had no choice but to tell everyone in his kitchen team in Shanghai.

"How is it? Do you have confidence? Compare with the newcomers in the restaurants in Quancheng? Let me tell you first, don't underestimate the newcomers in the restaurants in Quancheng. They ranked high in the provincial young chef cooking competition at the end of last year."

Feng Zhengming said this deliberately in the hope of inspiring the fighting spirit of those who returned from Shanghai.

As expected, stimulated by Feng Zhengming's words, everyone who returned from Shanghai was full of fighting spirit.

They all want to compete with the young chefs newly hired in several restaurants in Quancheng.

Feng Zhengming and his three senior brothers immediately began to make arrangements.

What Feng Zhengming didn't expect was that he and his senior brothers were just arranging this internal competition.

He was found by several master craftsmen in Quancheng, who actually wanted to participate in the exchange.

Feng Zhengming thought about it and simply agreed to the request of the masters from Quancheng.

Including several apprentices in his master's private restaurant.

A total of more than 30 young chefs were organized to compete.

The venue was naturally held in their own Huiquan Building.

Feng Zhengming and his three senior brothers did not serve as judges, but asked the old masters to serve as judges together with Grandpa Feng and Grandpa Situ. (End of this chapter)