From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

After being received by Feng Zhengming and Luo Qing, the Kofmans gained a new understanding of the dish of braised sea cucumber with scallions.

Kofman also truly felt the unique charm of Chinese cuisine.

Mrs. Kofman also took out red wine and paired it with the scallion-fried sea cucumber.

“Chinese dishes can also be so elegant when paired with red wine.”

When Feng Zhengming heard what Mrs. Kofman said, he responded with a smile.

“Chinese cuisine also has very elegant dishes, but our conditions were not good in the past, and many times our dishes were just for eating with rice, lacking more aesthetic exploration.

Now that our economic conditions are getting better and better, everyone naturally has more pursuit of beauty.

Many traditional dishes can be made more elegant to satisfy everyone’s pursuit of beauty.”

Coffman nodded: “Just like Western food, Western food was not elegant in the past.

When everyone needs to satisfy their hunger, it is difficult to make elegant dishes. Most of the time, it is enough to just eat enough.

But when conditions improve, people will naturally have more demands.”

Feng Zhengming smiled and said: "Maybe there are still some differences between us and you. Your catering is more developed from the catering of the aristocracy and the royal family, while Chinese cuisine is more developed among the common people.

So in the past we mostly cooked stir-fried dishes because it requires less oil.”

Feng Zhengming then gave another example: "There is also Shandong cuisine. There is not much meat in many cuisines, and most of the meat is mainly offal. It was also difficult for ordinary people to eat meat in the past."

Kofman immediately responded: "I'm thinking of your Shandong cuisine's nine-turn large intestine."

Mrs. Coffman: “That dish is also very beautiful and tastes very good.”

Feng Zhengming smiled and said, "My wife likes it. When the competition is over and we have time to go to Quancheng, I can make it for you to try."

Mrs. Coffman was naturally full of expectations.

"Well, I hope I can still taste it."

Kofman was more interested in stir-fried kidney and stir-fried liver.

He thought those two dishes were quite delicious preparations of the offal.

Feng Zhengming also agreed that he could take time to make it for Kofman so that he could taste his cooking skills.

While Feng Zhengming and Luo Qing were enjoying a normal family gathering with the Coffmans.

Cheng Guosheng and Lin Guofu finally found Master Wang.

The apprentices of some other masters also found their own masters.

Everyone still wants to know, how will the places for the top ten chefs be allocated?

When Master Wang learned the purpose of her two apprentices' visit, she did not blame them.

"Hahaha, Zhengming is right. He said that you would still come to me, even though you have already won the game with the dish of braised sea cucumber with scallions. You still care about whether you will lose to the young chef who is his apprentice."

After Master Wang revealed their purpose, brothers Cheng Guosheng and Lin Guofu were unable to say what they had agreed upon.

Master Wang then brought out Feng Zhengming’s idea.

"Zhengming said that this competition must be fair and just. Whether you can make it to the top ten depends on your cooking skills. You can't be so unconfident that you can't even beat the young chefs who are your apprentices?"

Master Wang's words were very direct, leaving Cheng Guosheng and Lin Guofu speechless.

I want to ask the master to help me allocate the quotas, but wouldn’t that be admitting that I’m not as good as the young chef?
But if I don’t say anything, wouldn’t it be a waste of my visit to the master?

Cheng Guosheng thought for a moment and then spoke.

"Master, we just think that this competition might be unfair. After all, judging whether a chef is good or not based on three dishes seems a bit hasty."

Master Wang smiled and said, "Guosheng, you still can't let go of that false reputation."

These words left Cheng Guosheng speechless again.

Master Wang continued, "In fact, there will be an Asian celebrity chef invitational competition overseas in the south next year, and that may be something you need to prepare for more.

This competition hosted by Zhengming can only be regarded as a warm-up for the invitational tournament.

Whether or not one can eventually become one of the top ten Shandong cuisine chefs will not affect whether or not one can eventually participate in the invitational tournament.

The key is to see whether you masters can still stick to your basic skills."

After hearing what Master Wang said, brothers Cheng Guosheng and Lin Guofu were a little surprised.

They didn't expect that there would be such an Asian Chef Invitational Competition next year.

Cheng Guosheng felt a little surprised. The investors behind him didn't even remind him?
Master Wang sighed: "From this competition, you may indeed still be inferior to Zhengming. He has actually long since given up the pursuit of false fame.

Why would he host such a competition, but not participate in it himself?
Because if he participates in this game, it will be more unfair to you. "

Cheng Guosheng was a little unconvinced when he heard this: "Master, do you think we are not as good as Feng Zhengming?"

Master Wang smiled: "Isn't this obvious?"

Without waiting for Cheng Guosheng to speak, Master Wang asked directly: "If you think your skills are comparable to Zhengming's, then why did you return to Quancheng from Shanghai?"

These words left Cheng Guosheng completely speechless.

As expected, the one who knows him best is his master.

Master Wang knew very well that Cheng Guosheng was still dissatisfied with Feng Zhengming in his heart.

At the same time, Master Wang also understood, and Cheng Guosheng himself knew, that he was no match for Feng Zhengming.

Whether it is in terms of craftsmanship or in the cultural and artistic cultivation behind personal cooking skills.

Especially when it comes to self-promotion, Cheng Guosheng has always refused to admit defeat, but he is very clear that he is not as good as Feng Zhengming.

Feng Zhengming made full use of the title of the top scorer in the national competition.

He always manages to raise the value of his title as the "National Cooking Skills Champion" time and time again on the most important occasions and in front of everyone.

He could lead famous chefs from all over the country to design and prepare a dish depicting the mountains and rivers of the motherland at the state banquet held in Hong Kong.

He can also be in Hong Kong, facing those tycoons and invited overseas celebrity chefs.

Use a red sea bream to make a miniature version of the mountains and rivers of the motherland that will conquer everyone.

He was also able to open four branches in Shanghai at once, and make his store a favorite even among his overseas friends.

It can even launch a restaurant recommendation guide in Shanghai.

It can also convince many people of his recommended guidelines.

If you think carefully about everything Feng Zhengming did, you will clearly find that everything he did was actually invisibly enhancing the value of his title of "number one scholar".

Everyone who knows what he did would naturally think that he is the best in the country in cooking skills and that he did nothing wrong.

Master Wang looked at his two apprentices who made him very satisfied.

"You guys should think about this: does he need to prove himself through competitions? He doesn't need to, because he already has enough fame and strength, and has also been recognized by many people."

Having said that, Master Wang looked at Cheng Guosheng.

“I know that this competition was originally initiated by the investors behind you.

You guys blow up your reputation a lot, but you don't have the real ability to make the competition so big.

You originally just wanted to use this competition to take advantage of Zhengming's fame to raise your own reputation and promote the brand of your newly reopened Jubinyuan."

After Master Wang exposed his original thoughts, Cheng Guosheng dared not say a word.

Lin Guofu was obviously a little surprised, and turned to look at his senior brother in disbelief.

He really didn't know that the game was originally like this?
So if Feng Zhengming hadn't increased the popularity of this competition, this competition would only have helped his senior brother enhance his fame?
Thinking of this, Lin Guofu suddenly felt that he should thank Feng Zhengming for this game.

Master Wang continued, "You and the investors behind you have such a narrow vision. If Zhengming hadn't made a move, it would have been difficult to invite many people to participate in the competition you organized.

Zhengming saw through your plan, so he directly took over the hosting rights, sponsored it himself, and also got others to sponsor it.

This makes the whole game look like a real international competition.”

Having said that, Master Wang looked at his former proud apprentice with some disappointment.

"It's a pity that you two still can't let go of that false reputation."

After saying this, Master Wang said directly: "In this case, then you should cook the third dish well and show your true skills. Let's see if you can conquer everyone with one dish and become one of the top ten Shandong cuisine chefs."

Cheng Guosheng and Lin Guofu said nothing more.

Both of them knew very well that their master would not come out to help in the next competition and they would have to rely on themselves.

Master Wang added: "Don't worry, no one will get any preferential treatment for the third dish. Whether you can become one of the top ten chefs depends entirely on your own efforts."

Cheng Guosheng and Lin Guofu raised their heads and looked at Master Wang.

The two still couldn't help but ask, is it true that no other master will come forward?
Master Wang clearly saw what the two were thinking.

“We are not the judges for the third dish, and we don’t know who the judges for the third dish will be.

For the sake of absolute fairness, Zheng Ming hid it from all of us. Even his fellow senior brothers didn't know, and your Uncle Yan didn't know either.

So the third dish depends entirely on your own abilities."

Almost at the same time, other master chefs who were looking for their own masters also received the news.

It turned out that the judges for the third dish were no longer the same judges for the first two dishes.

And everyone, except Feng Zhengming, didn't know who would be the judge for the third dish?

Feng Zhengming and Luo Qing, a married couple, sat opposite the Kofmans and drank tea after dinner.

It was only at this point that Feng Zhengming told Kofman the judges for the third dish.

"There are five judges for the third dish. You are one of them, Mr. Kofman. The other four are specially invited by me. They have no contact with any chefs and can ensure that the third dish will be judged absolutely fairly."

Coffman asked curiously, "Who else did you invite?"

Feng Zhengming smiled and replied: "Two masters invited from Beijing, they are masters who have participated in state banquets for many years, and they are also the two largest sponsors of this competition."

"Sponsors? Can they be fair and just?" Coffman asked.

Feng Zhengming understood what Coffman meant, which was that the sponsor might favor Feng Zhengming's people.

"Don't worry, the judges won't be facing the chefs when scoring, so they don't actually know who made the dishes they tasted and scored."

Coffman thought for a moment and asked, "In that case, which chefs do you think will be among the top ten?"

Feng Zhengming sighed helplessly: "I don't know now, but I know that young chefs will not be able to compete for the top ten spots."

Mrs. Coffman wondered, “Why can’t young chefs compete for the Top Ten?”

Before Feng Zhengming could answer, Kofman explained for him.

“Because of the second course, they were too far behind in points.”

Mrs. Coffman was surprised: “Is there such a big gap?”

Kofman smiled and asked his wife, "Do you think Feng's scallion-fried sea cucumber is delicious tonight?"

"Of course." Mrs. Coffman said without hesitation, "It's delicious."

Kaufman: "The taste gap is obvious. Young chefs always have a huge gap in experience."

Mrs. Coffman looked at Feng Zhengming: "But Feng is also very young."

Coffman said helplessly: "Some people may be born to cook."

This made Mrs. Coffman laugh.

"No wonder you and Feng have a good relationship. You are both born to cook."

Mrs. Kofman then turned around and told Luo Qing about some of Kofman's experiences.

Luo Qing only found out after hearing Mrs. Kofman's introduction that Mr. Kofman became the head chef even younger than Feng Zhengming.

Moreover, the emergence of Kofman directly changed some culinary standards.

Or rather, the standards were raised because of the presence of Coffman.

Like Feng Zhengming, Kofman also came from a small place.

Many of his dishes incorporate the flavors of his hometown.

It’s like Feng Zhengming brought Shandong cuisine from Qi and Lu to Shanghai.

Feng Zhengming also insists on using Shandong cuisine's cooking techniques in Shanghai, and the taste of his dishes also tends towards Shandong cuisine.

Luo Qing looked at Feng Zhengming and Kofman.

“Your experiences are indeed very similar.”

Feng Zhengming and Kofman looked at each other, and then both of them burst into laughter.

Another day of rest.

This is to make all the chefs prepare seriously for the third dish.

In fact, most of the young chefs knew that they would not be able to compete for the top ten chefs because of the second dish, the braised sea cucumber with scallions.

Not that any young chefs think this is unfair.

After all, when it comes to craftsmanship, what matters is personal ability.

The second dish everyone made was braised sea cucumber with scallions.

If you are not as skilled as others in cooking, how can you be qualified to surpass the master chefs and become one of the top ten chefs?

Of course, the young chefs still made good preparations and wanted to make the third dish seriously.

Even if there is a gap between me and the master chefs, I will try my best on the third dish.

On his day off, Feng Zhengming personally went to pick up several judges who had come.

Two state banquet masters came from the capital.

There was also a Hong Kong tycoon who came all the way here specially.

After picking up the people, Feng Zhengming drove them to Qufu and arranged for them to stay in a hotel.

At this point, they still cannot let anyone know their identities as judges.

It also casts a sense of mystery on the game.

This has sparked a lot of discussion and speculation. (End of this chapter)