From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

After this impromptu cooking competition was over, Feng Zhengming naturally wanted to accompany the master chefs.

Several old masters were really curious about Feng Zhengming's development in Shanghai.

When sitting down in the private room.

Master Cui asked directly.

"Zhengming, tell your master and us what your specific situation is in Shanghai?"

Feng Zhengming knew that several senior masters, including his master, were very curious about this part.

After all, the taste of Shanghai cuisine is quite different from that of Shandong cuisine.

What's more, Shanghai is a relatively inclusive city, a place that embraces all kinds of cuisines, with different cuisines from all over the world, and even different cooking styles from all over the world.

This also shows that competition in Shanghai is quite fierce, as chefs have to compete with chefs from different cuisines and even from abroad.

But several old masters have heard that Feng Zhengming is doing very well in Shanghai.

It not only surpasses restaurants of other cuisines in Shanghai.

It also attracts many overseas people in Shanghai, who are willing to make a special trip to his restaurant.

So the masters were all very curious, what method did Feng Zhengming use?
How can so many people be willing to eat in his restaurant?

Does Feng Zhengming also know what Master and the others want to know?
He did not hide anything and directly expressed his ideas on running the two stores in Shanghai.

"My idea of ​​running the two stores is relatively simple. The most important thing is to adjust the tastes of different customers."

Hearing this, several old masters and Feng Zhengming's senior brothers present were called.

The masters' favorite disciples were all stunned when they were able to sit in the private rooms.

Yang Bin asked: "Are you going to ask people about their taste preferences?"

Feng Zhengming shook his head: "I marked it on the menu. For example, the flavors of a dish can be standard, sweet, salty, or spicy."

Hearing Feng Zhengming's design, all the chefs present were surprised.

They really had never thought that the menu could be marked like this.

However, several old masters quickly understood this.

"This is a bit like the labeling on some menus abroad."

"Yes, in some restaurants abroad, customers are asked to choose their taste preferences."

"It seems that Zhengming really knows how to apply what he has learned."

Feng Zhengming smiled slightly: "Of course, the choice of flavors can only be regarded as a small feature of my restaurant. I have concluded that the most important point in running a restaurant in Shanghai is to find the right group of people to serve."

These words immediately filled the apprentices brought by the masters, who were also the head chefs of several restaurants in Quancheng, with curiosity.

“How do we find the right people to receive?”

"Yeah, do you mean to advertise to the kind of people you want to receive?"

"That shouldn't be the case, right? I noticed that there is no advertisement of yours on TV or in newspapers in Shanghai."

Feng Zhengming looked at the chefs from several famous restaurants in Quancheng with a smile.

They were so eager to ask me questions, it was obvious that they all had some thoughts.

This shows that these chefs all want to go to Shanghai.

Feng Zhengming still did not hide his actions from them.

"I first choose a place to open a store. When choosing a place, I don't just choose the location of the store, but also the rent of the store.

I mainly observe the situation around the store to see what kind of people are around the store.
For example, one of my stores is located on a street full of Western restaurants. ”

Hearing this, the old chefs present and several other restaurant chefs were a little surprised.

"You opened a Shandong cuisine restaurant on the same street as other Western restaurants?"

"No, is this really okay for you?"

"Those people who are served in Western restaurants, will people also be willing to come to your restaurant?"

"No wonder your store attracts people from overseas. It turns out it's because you opened it next to a Western restaurant."

Facing everyone's exclamations, Feng Zhengming remained calm.

“We chose to open the store on the street with the western restaurant because it has a good location, close to the subway that has been built and put into use in Shanghai, very close to where you can take the subway, and there are many high-rise buildings around it.

Almost all the people who work nearby are called white-collar workers.

The way my restaurant cooks and serves food to customers is aimed at that kind of people.

Although many dishes are still Shandong cuisine, I chose Western fast food for serving.”

Hearing this, Jufengde’s head chef couldn’t help but speak.

"You said you served the food in a Western fast food style? What kind of serving method is that?"

Master Jufeng Desu couldn't wait to hear his apprentice asking this question.

He couldn't help but turn his head and glare at his apprentice.

In Master Su's opinion, this is the key point for Feng Zhengming to open a store in Shanghai.

It's totally inappropriate for you to ask this question without any clear ideas.

Feng Zhengming still smiled and told his approach.

“It’s actually very simple. Some fast food restaurants overseas have many forms of fast food that are similar to our domestic rice bowls, except that the staple food they serve may not be rice or noodles.

It may be served with pasta or bread, or it may be served with mashed potatoes.

The way the food is served in the restaurant down the street from my restaurant is inspired by those overseas fast food restaurants.”

Everyone present was a chef, so naturally they understood it immediately.

It is very clear what Feng Zhengming is talking about.

The chefs from several restaurants had to admit that Feng Zhengming was smart.

He was able to think of serving Shandong cuisine in the style of overseas fast food.

This may not only be a Shandong cuisine, but also a method that other cuisines from all over the world have never thought of.

Most Chinese meals still emphasize that dishes are dishes and rice is rice.

No matter how casual you are, you will probably still separate your food and dishes when you eat.

Feng Zhengming’s approach is to serve the food together while ensuring that the food looks good on the plate.

The most important thing is that the staple food provided by Feng Zhengming is not just rice.

In order to entertain people from overseas, he also provides some bread, pasta, and mashed potatoes to go with the dishes.

The reason why Feng Zhengming told all his experience to the chefs of several restaurants present.

Because he knew very well that they would not be able to do it the way he did.

Even if they can put aside their pride and really do what they say.

They also went to Shanghai to open a restaurant like him.

But they didn't have a Hong Kong chef like Jiang Chengzhe to help them.

There are many things that these master chefs may not be able to make.

Feng Zhengming is quite experienced in this regard.

After all, he has come into contact with too many famous chefs from all over the world. It's not that those chefs' skills are not good.

However, when everyone has been familiar with the craft for many years, it is not so easy to change some habits suddenly.

After listening to Feng Zhengming's introduction to his situation in Shanghai.

Master Cui spoke again.

"Zhengming has successfully made our Shandong cuisine famous. At this point, we really can't stick to the rigid standards of the past.

Times are different now. We must learn to adapt and make some changes to keep up with the times.

In this regard, Zhengming is already ahead of everyone else.”

Master Sun nodded and said, "If we hadn't heard Zhengming's words, we might not have thought of this."

Master Su laughed heartily: "Hahaha, Zhengming is our role model. We should all learn more from Zhengming, know how to adapt, and be able to keep the old skills."

Master Yan finally said: "Zhengming, you did a great job. Master is proud of you."

Master's last words made Feng Zhengming feel very happy.

This may be more important to him than any other person's praise.

Feng Zhengming has worked so hard for so long and really hopes to be recognized by his master.

Now he finally gained the recognition of his master.

Master Yan went on to say: "Zhengming, you should pay attention to summarizing yourself and summarizing all your experiences. When you have disciples in the future, you can teach them all.

You are no longer part of any faction. You are now an independent faction. I hope you can pass on your ideas better. "

After hearing what Master Yan said, several other masters nodded in agreement.

"Yes, yes, Old Yan is right. Zhengming, you should really record your experiences and pass them on to your apprentice in the future."

"It is clear that you have already established your own school. You must pass on these things that you have learned from many schools of thought."

"Yes, if these of yours cannot be passed on, it will be a loss for our Chinese cuisine."

Hearing the old chefs praising Feng Zhengming made several restaurant chefs present feel a little uncomfortable.

My own master praised others in front of me.

The person who gave the compliments was a chef who was much younger than them.

The chefs felt really bad.

But with the old masters present, the master chefs didn't dare to say anything more.

Moreover, in terms of craftsmanship and management ability, other restaurant chefs are indeed not as good as Feng Zhengming.

Thinking of this, the master chefs completely gave up, feeling embarrassed to be dissatisfied.

After finishing the communication with the masters, Feng Zhengming personally went with his fellow brothers to send the master back home.

On the way, the master kept communicating with Feng Zhengming on various issues.

The master was obviously very curious about some of Feng Zhengming’s innovative dishes.

Feng Zhengming would never keep anything to himself from his master and would explain all his original new dishes to his master.

Master Yan finally sighed: "You are really brave and careful. Many of your actions may seem risky, but you dare to do them, which is really admirable."

"Master, please don't say that. You admire me, how can I bear it?"

Master Yan immediately laughed: "My boy, sometimes I say you are not humble enough, and sometimes you are too humble."

Feng Zhengming then said, "I still have to remain humble in front of Master. Master, your skills are definitely better than mine, and you are more knowledgeable than me."

Master Yan just said: "Cook well and be a good person."

After sending his master home and parting with his fellow brothers, Feng Zhengming returned to his grandfather's house.

Grandpa, Grandpa Situ, his wife and daughter have all returned.

When they saw Feng Zhengming come in, everyone's face was filled with smiles.

Feng Zhengming first tiptoed to his wife and looked at his daughter who was still in the baby's arms.

"This little girl is really not afraid of people."

His wife Luo Qing laughed: "She doesn't understand anything now, so of course she's not afraid of people. When she grows up, she might start to be afraid of people."

Feng Zhengming: "Then you should take her out to meet people more often. Don't let her become too timid."

Luo Qing asked: "Are you still planning to let your daughter become a chef like you in the future?"

Feng Zhengming shook his head: "It depends on her own preferences. If she really wants to cook and likes cooking, she can become Xia Hui's apprentice and let Xia Hui teach her strictly.

If she can endure the hardship and pass Xia Hui's assessment, I can consider passing on some things to her.

What if she doesn’t like cooking? I won’t force her to be a chef like us.”

Just at this moment, the second aunt came in and said, "Hey, why is a girl a chef? Will you be able to support your own daughter in the future?"

When Feng Zhengming saw his second aunt come in, he hurriedly went forward to greet her with a smile.

"Hello, Second Aunt. Although I am not unable to support her in the future, she must also have things she likes and must know how to work hard for the things she likes."

Grandpa said: "Yes, no matter what you do in the future, you must always have your own hobbies and goals."

Grandpa Situ also said: "Girls, you can cultivate some artistic hobbies in the future. Painting or making music are both good."

This statement was also agreed by Second Aunt and Luo Qing.

"Yes, it would be nice for girls to learn a musical instrument, draw, or dance in the future."

"Girls, of course, need to be more elegant and beautiful."

Feng Zhengming still sticks to his point of view.

"We will wait until she is older to see what she likes. We support her in learning what she likes, but if she chooses that path, she will complete it no matter how hard it is."

Hearing this, the second aunt asked, "As a father, is there any father like you who forces his own daughter like this?"

Feng Zhengming shook his head: "Aunt, I'm not forcing her. I just think that children should not be immature and should know how to finish what they start. Otherwise, she might give up halfway through everything she does."

This made the second aunt nod her head.

"That's right. No matter what children do, they must see it through to the end."

Feng Zhengming immediately took his second aunt’s cousin as an example.

"Just like Hongwei, he likes model airplanes and has persisted in doing so. Didn't he get into the University of Aeronautics and Astronautics? This is a good example for our little girl."

These words made the second aunt laugh, and she naturally felt quite proud.

Even though she wanted to stop her son from playing with model airplanes many times.

But the fact that her son was admitted to the University of Aeronautics and Astronautics really made her second aunt proud.

In their military family compound, everyone who saw her would praise her for her good education.

In fact, the second aunt knew very well that if it were not for Feng Zhengming's support, her son might not have been able to persevere.

"I also want to thank you as my cousin. If you hadn't supported him all along, I would definitely not have given him money to play with those things. Fortunately, that kid lived up to your support as a cousin."

Feng Zhengming said to his second aunt with a big smile on his face: "Why don't you help us take care of this girl when she grows up?"

The second aunt was slightly stunned by this, and then immediately agreed.

"Okay, anyway, your cousin is in school. I don't know when he will get married and have children. I will retire in a few years, and then I will take care of your girl." (End of this chapter)