From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

The national cooking skills competition and individual chef competition auditions started simultaneously in Hangzhou, Wucheng and Shicheng.

Feng Zhengming appeared at the opening ceremony on the first day with his wife and daughter.

The family of three instantly became the focus of the scene.

Almost all the media reporters who got the news early rushed forward to surround Feng Zhengming.

Facing the reporters taking pictures, Feng Zhengming asked his wife to bring their daughter into the scene first.

He did not allow the camera to capture his daughter.

After his wife brought their daughter into the venue, he faced the reporters alone outside.

“Thank you all for coming to report on this competition and supporting the development of culinary arts in our country.”

Before the reporters could speak, Feng Zhengming took the lead to express his gratitude to the media reporters present.

Faced with Feng Zhengming's proactive thanks, the reporters naturally had a much better impression of him.

But some reporters still asked sharp questions.

"Mr. Feng, you were the champion of the last national competition. Some people say that you were the most high-profile champion in the previous three national competitions. Do you have anything to say about this?"

When Feng Zhengming heard this question, he responded directly with a calm expression.

“I admit that I am more high-profile than the masters who participated in the previous two sessions.

But I don’t think there’s anything wrong with my high profile.”

These two sentences have already surprised the media reporters on the scene.

Feng Zhengming continued: "We are about to enter the millennium, and our country's economic development has made great progress, and everyone's living standards have been improved.

When people's living standards are improved, they will naturally have their own pursuit of delicious food.

I believe everyone knows that a large number of overseas restaurants are constantly entering the country.

The introduction of overseas catering has given many people a misunderstanding that overseas food is healthier and more delicious.

But are fried chicken, burgers, and all kinds of fast food really healthier and more delicious than our Chinese food? "

Feng Zhengming's reverse question stunned all the reporters present.

Without waiting for their reply, Feng Zhengming continued speaking.

"I think that whether it is Western food from overseas, or our own Chinese food, including the food from some of our neighboring Southeast Asian countries, and the Japanese food from our neighboring Fusang.

Everyone has their own merits, their own characteristics, and their own merits that are worthy of praise.

So we should not blindly praise one side, nor should we blindly belittle ourselves. "

When Feng Zhengming said this, the media reporters interviewing him did not say a word.

Among the crowd, some chefs who had come to participate in the national competition were cheering loudly for Feng Zhengming.

"Okay, the champion is right."

Get cheers from competing chefs.

Feng Zhengming waved to the chefs.

He also shouted in response: "Everyone, come on, show off our Chinese skills in the competition. Don't be nervous, and perform well."

Feng Zhengming's shout is also the greatest encouragement to the participating chefs who are queuing up to enter the venue.

Naturally, the media and reporters at the scene took pictures to record this scene.

After Feng Zhengming shouted encouragement, he continued to teach the reporters.

“So the journalist friend just asked me if I felt it was inappropriate for me to be so high-profile.

I don't think there is anything wrong with my high profile, because Chinese cuisine also needs someone to speak up for it, at a time when we are facing the impact of food from various countries overseas.

If no one stands up to speak up for our Chinese food, then won't we be left to be arbitrarily fabricated and humiliated by others?
And I think I have the ability. I consider my skills to be at the top level among domestic chefs.

The reason I am so high-profile is to let everyone know that we Chinese food is not without people.

I also hope that all Chinese chefs can be more high-profile.

Everyone should show their true abilities and skills and loudly announce it to everyone."

Feng Zhengming's words were quite inspiring.

The participating chefs who were queuing up to enter even stopped to listen.

Then when Feng Zhengming finished speaking, everyone applauded him warmly.

The thunderous applause stunned the media reporters who were interviewing the event.

Next, Feng Zhengming had completely taken the initiative in momentum.

Even if the reporters' questions were somewhat targeted, his aura made his answers seem so reasonable.

After the interview, the media reporters who had rushed to the scene wanted to take the opportunity to target Feng Zhengming.

On the contrary, I can't find anything wrong to blame Feng Zhengming.

Feng Zhengming's attitude can be said to be a shot in the arm for the chefs participating in the competition.

The game really hadn't even started yet, but Feng Zhengming's few words had already made the scene agitated.

Some people are happy, while naturally some people don't like to see such a situation.

The chefs who had previously used some connections to avoid participating in the auditions did not have a good impression of Feng Zhengming when they saw him.

And what’s interesting is that these are the chefs who had previously used some connections to try to skip the auditions.

When they entered the venue, they actually came together intentionally or unintentionally.

Then the group of people gathered together and whispered to each other.

It was soon noticed by other individual chefs who registered to participate in the competition.

After all, only a few chefs can find connections to participate in the competition.

So this small group of people was quickly isolated at the scene.

Even many chefs who registered for the competition individually got together to discuss that they would eliminate these people during the auditions.

"Eliminate them. These people relied on their connections to try to skip the auditions, but were stopped by the new rules set by the top pick. They are very upset."

"Yes, I just heard them whispering there, and some people even cursed the champion behind his back."

"Humph, these guys don't have any real skills, they just rely on flattery and worship some good masters."

"When it comes to apprenticeship, isn't our top-ranking master better than theirs?"

"Yeah, if you're really capable, why would you be afraid of the audition competition?"

"If it weren't for the No. 1 pick setting up new rules, it would have allowed these people to advance directly to the competition. It's really disgusting."

"Don't be disgusting. Playing well is the real thing. Didn't the top scorer also encourage everyone to play well?"

"Yes, at least you can't be eliminated during the auditions."

After Feng Zhengming finished the interview and entered the venue, he gathered with some judges who had entered the venue earlier.

One of the judges pointed out the problem directly to Feng Zhengming.

"Feng Zhuangyuan, the new rules you set up have divided the chefs participating in the competition into several factions."

"Yes, Feng Zhuangyuan's new rule has them forming their own groups, which is not conducive to uniting all domestic chefs."

Feng Zhengming could tell that the other party pointed this out on purpose.

He smiled and responded: "Isn't there anything wrong with this? Wouldn't this motivate everyone more? Everyone wants to prove themselves, so they have to show their true abilities, right?"

After hearing what Feng Zhengming said, several judges who had objections to his new rules had no choice but to shut up.

Next, at the opening ceremony, after the leaders spoke, Feng Zhengming was invited to speak on stage again.

This time Feng Zhengming was also very rude.

In his speech, he directly pointed out that some people in the national cooking competition used the banner of protecting time-honored brands but did not properly pass on the old skills, and only wanted to make money using the name of the time-honored brands.

Feng Zhengming said these words directly on the spot, which made many people who came to the scene look very unhappy.

In recent years, Feng Zhengming has been steadily making his way into Shanghai.

In fact, some changes are taking place in the catering industry everywhere.

With the development of the times, the population is moving rapidly.

This has led to some stronger cuisines suppressing some weaker local cuisines.

This naturally leads to a gap in the relatively weak local cuisines.

It is a law of the jungle, and the discontinuity of local cuisines may also be related to the fact that some chefs of certain cuisines are too stuck in tradition and unable to keep up with the trend of the times and make changes.

However, after the traditional craftsmanship was discontinued, some people started to sell fake products under the guise of selling mutton.

They raise the flags of those time-honored brands and try to cheat people out of money through commercial packaging.

This approach is tantamount to draining the pond to catch all the fish.

Once the last wave of value of traditional craftsmanship has been squeezed out, the old craftsmanship will be completely swept into the dustbin of history.

Feng Zhengming also became excited when he talked about these emotions.

"I think this shouldn't happen. Our country is vast and rich in resources. We have a long history, and each place has its own food culture, which is passed down from generation to generation by our ancestors.

Perhaps their cooking methods and tastes are not adapted to modern developments, but they should not end up being abandoned amid infamy.

Our national cooking skills competition is, on the one hand, intended to provide chefs from all over the world with an opportunity to exchange skills.

More importantly, I think, we should give those local characteristics that may not be valued a new stage to be displayed to the whole country, and even the world.”

Feng Zhengming's words were quite direct and very powerful.

It really touched a lot of people at the scene.

It reminds many people of the flavors they ate when they were children, but they can no longer find those flavors when they grow up.

Just as Feng Zhengming said, those snacks and dishes may not keep up with the times.

But those are also the flavors remembered by generations.

You can be eliminated because you can't keep up with the times.

It shouldn't be completely abandoned in the end with many people disgusted and scolding it, saying "What the hell, it's not delicious at all".

Feng Zhengming's words resonated with many people, and naturally everyone applauded him from the bottom of their hearts.

After the applause, Feng Zhengming said a few final words.

“I hope that all the chefs participating in the individual competition of this national competition can truly show their level and showcase our Chinese cuisine techniques.

I wish you all good results, thank you.”

When Feng Zhengming finished his speech, there was warm applause at the scene.

Luo Qing, who was sitting in the audience holding her daughter, also took her daughter's hand and applauded her father together with her daughter.

The atmosphere at the scene was completely ignited to a high point by Feng Zhengming's words.

In this atmosphere filled with fighting spirit.

The individual competition auditions in Hangzhou have officially begun.

The auditions are naturally conducted in the most unpretentious way.

That is, all participating chefs on site prepare the same test dish.

The chefs on site have no helpers and have to do the entire process by themselves.

This can indeed immediately reflect the difference in skills between different chefs.

A basic, solid cook that can be done with little effort on the spot.

Many people who want to sneak into the competition and use their helpers to win a small prize have already started scratching their heads at the scene.

Feng Zhengming was in a high position and could see many situations clearly.

He smiled and asked the judges who had been sarcastic to him before.

"Look at those people over there. They seem to have run into some trouble. Is it so difficult for them to make such a basic test dish?"

The two judges who had been sarcastic towards Feng Zhengming before became unhappy.

In fact, Feng Zhengming had just guessed that these two judges might have let some people take part in the competition.

As a result, because I suddenly introduced the new rules, they received the benefits but failed to get the job done.

So they said a few sarcastic words to themselves on the spot.

Feng Zhengming could totally accept it.

However, Feng Zhengming did not expect that there were actually chefs participating in the individual competition who could not even cook the most basic exam dishes.

The chefs who were scratching their heads finally gritted their teeth and started to work.

Feng Zhengming stared at the chefs.

He had to admit in his heart: the knives and chef's uniform in his hands were really high-end.

At this moment, the high-end and dazzling chef knives in the hands of those chefs seemed so eye-catching.

Just like a poor student with poor grades, he bought a set of particularly exquisite stationery.

As time goes by, more and more chefs have finished the dishes they are doing.

After all, although it is impossible for chefs to make this kind of exam dish every day, as long as their basic skills are solid enough, they can definitely make it meet the requirements.

But those chefs who were skilled in using their knives were already sweating profusely.

It seems that such basic things are indeed very difficult for them.

Feng Zhengming smiled and reminded them: "Time is almost up, everyone please hurry up, there is a time limit for the first round of auditions, please pay attention to the time."

Originally, there should be someone on site to remind people of the time.

As a result, Feng Zhengming spoke up and reminded him directly.

This will undoubtedly put more pressure on the chefs who have not yet finished their work.

Suddenly one of the chefs put down his knife.

He chose to give up the competition, put away the kitchen knife, picked up his things and turned around to leave.

Feng Zhengming stopped the other party directly.

"As a chef, don't you know that you must always keep your counter clean? Whether you continue the competition or not, you should clean your counter before leaving."

Almost everyone's eyes were on Feng Zhengming and the chef who gave up the competition.

At the same time, some shots also fell on the two of them.

The chef who gave up the competition stared at Feng Zhengming with undisguised resentment in his eyes.

But in the end, facing so many eyes and those cameras, he could only swallow his anger and return to his desk.

He cleaned his desk carefully before walking out of the stadium again.

Naturally, some media reporters, like sharks smelling blood, rushed out to interview. (End of this chapter)