From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

Although there was another day's break between the second and third courses.

However, the TV stations still have programs to broadcast.

That was the behind-the-scenes footage of the top 100 chefs preparing the day before the second dish competition.

After the TV station broadcast the behind-the-scenes footage, it caused quite a stir and discussion.

Many people who may not know much about cooking or Shandong cuisine can learn from the behind-the-scenes footage broadcast on TV that making a dish involves such a complicated process.

It has to be said that this does play a huge role in promoting the cooking techniques of Shandong cuisine.

The social attention aroused by the competition has obviously exceeded that of the previous national cooking skills competition.

This has also led many people from all over the country to want to go to Qi and Lu, to the City of Springs, to taste authentic Shandong cuisine.

Of course, the first to benefit were Feng Zhengming's several stores in Shanghai.

Not only locals but also outsiders in Shanghai flocked to Feng Zhengming's four branches in Shanghai.

Want to try the Shandong cuisine at Feng Zhengming’s Zhuangyuan branch?

Although many people have eaten it many times.

But I still want to compare it to see if it is the same as the Shandong cuisine introduced on TV?
There are also some old customers who are familiar with the branch and asked if they can eat some of the dishes in the competition?

Although Sun Hai, Xia Hui and Guan Wei are still participating in the competition, Zhang Lei and Sun Decai have already returned to Shanghai.

Especially Zhang Lei, who failed to break through the sub-competition area. After returning to Shanghai, he became more serious and hardworking.

Therefore, the quality of dishes in the four branches in Shanghai has not declined much.

Even the railway station branch that Zhang Lei is in charge of has improved in taste due to some changes made by Zhang Lei.

As for the customer's half-joking question, whether he could order dishes from the competition.

Some of the classic Shandong dishes that appeared in the competition can still be made in Feng Zhengming’s several branches.

After watching the game broadcast on Qilu Provincial Television, I ate some classic Shandong cuisine at Feng Zhengming's restaurant.

This has naturally caused many people's impression of Shandong cuisine to change.

In the past, many people thought that Shandong cuisine might be heavy in oil and salt, and also sticky and black.

Although Feng Zhengming's several performances on television did change some people's impressions of him.

But many people still think that Feng Zhengming may have made the changes himself.

I feel that many of the dishes Feng Zhengming cooks may not be considered Shandong cuisine.

However, after watching the Shandong cuisine chef competition this time, many people realized that the dishes cooked by Feng Zhengming are Shandong cuisine, and that their stereotype of Shandong cuisine is wrong.

In addition, some locals and outsiders in Shanghai went to Feng Zhengming's restaurant to eat Shandong cuisine.

It also made many people suddenly start to like Shandong cuisine.

Because everyone has discovered that the taste of this cuisine is different from that of some other local cuisines.

Shandong cuisine seems to be a fairly balanced flavor.

The taste is suitable for many people.

With this kind of feeling, it is natural that many people are willing to try more Shandong cuisine.

Business at Feng Zhengming's four stores in Shanghai has also improved.

Of course, there is another reason behind the better business, which is that the prices in three of Feng Zhengming’s stores are relatively cheap.

Many people feel that in Feng Zhengming's store, they can eat dishes that taste just right and are freshly cooked by the chef in the kitchen, for only a slightly higher price than in some nearby stores.

Why don’t you choose Feng Zhengming’s restaurant as your first choice for dining?

Apart from the long queues, there is really nothing wrong with Feng Zhengming's store in Shanghai.

As for the western restaurant on the street, there were too many customers, so Jiang Chengzhe and Feng Zhengming discussed it and decided to only accept reservations on weekends.

Every day after closing time, Jiang Chengzhe couldn't help but sigh as he stood in front of the store.

"Our store is still too small. Should we acquire several surrounding stores and expand it?"

However, Jiang Chengzhe also understood that if he wanted to expand the store, he would face another problem.

That means more people will be needed.

Especially the people in the kitchen. If the store is expanded, more people will be needed in the kitchen.

Nowadays, the food delivery system designed by Feng Zhengming also needs to be changed.

Thinking of this, Jiang Chengzhe couldn't help but begin to admire Feng Zhengming again.

Feng Zhengming broke down many steps in the kitchen and assigned them to the kitchen staff.

While ensuring that everyone in the kitchen has something to do.

Without making it too hard for people.

Most importantly, Feng Zhengming’s method can better ensure the efficiency of food delivery.

Being able to do this shows that Feng Zhengming is very familiar with the various steps of making each dish.

He can break down the steps of each dish.

This ensures the efficiency and quality of food served in the kitchen.

Therefore, in Jiang Chengzhe's opinion, if the business is to be expanded, the existing pace may have to be adjusted.

Thinking of this, Jiang Chengzhe couldn't help but feel a headache, and felt that the gap between him and Feng Zhengming was widening again.

However, Jiang Chengzhe felt that Feng Zhengming's fame had already increased.

He should be able to open his own high-end restaurant in Shanghai soon.

Jiang Chengzhe thinks that he should wait until Feng Zhengming opens a high-end restaurant.

By then, Jiang Chengzhe's many abilities will be better displayed.

Thinking about it this way, I really miss Feng Zhengming more and more.

Jiang Chengzhe felt that when Feng Zhengming was around, he felt very different from when he was not around.

When Feng Zhengming was in the store, the two of them could communicate a lot every day.

You can try various dishes more boldly.

Now that Feng Zhengming is not in the store, he does feel a little lonely.

Jiang Chengzhe now truly understood why he gave up his store in Gangcheng and came to work with Feng Zhengming.

The truth is that Feng Zhengming can give him a lot of improvement in his cooking skills.

This improvement is not an improvement in technique, but an improvement in concepts.

Jiang Chengzhe always gains something from every conversation with Feng Zhengming.

It can also give Jiang Chengzhe many new and bold ideas.

However, Feng Zhengming did not come back, so Jiang Chengzhe was unable to implement some of his new ideas.

"Zhengming, come back early."

With a sigh, Jiang Chengzhe closed the shop and went back to his residence alone.

The competition for the third dish finally began.

The venue was still packed, and many people were looking forward to the final result.

I also want to see what kind of surprises the chefs in the competition can bring to everyone for the third dish?

Feng Zhengming served as the host today, and he and the previous judges were also sitting in the audience.

The top 100 chefs entered the venue and stood in front of and behind their own stoves.

Feng Zhengming formally introduced the judges present today to everyone.

When Feng Zhengming really revealed the identities of the judges.

The people at the scene were really surprised. Among the sponsors this time, the two biggest tycoons from Hong Kong City and Macau City were present.

There are also two state banquet masters from the capital.

The last judge was Coffman.

With these five judges, it can be said that they gave the third dish its full potential.

There are five judges, two state banquet masters represent professionalism, and one overseas famous chef represents an exchange between Chinese and Western catering.

The two tycoons from Hong Kong and Macau represent the idea of ​​evaluating food based solely on palatability rather than professionalism.

If Grandpa Situ was not too old to taste a hundred dishes at once, Feng Zhengming might have asked his grandfather and Grandpa Situ to participate in the tasting together.

Another reason is that Feng Zhengming was worried that others would say that he was partial.

Why not just invite five judges who have almost no connection with any of the chefs?

This also ensures absolute fairness in the scoring of the third dish.

Naturally, all the chefs participating in the competition had no opinions to express.

Everyone was trying their best to perform better in the third dish.

Feng Zhengming didn't say much and let the game start.

The competition started and hundreds of chefs on site began to get busy.

The two state banquet chefs invited from Beijing, after watching the movements of the chefs competing on the spot, had already started communicating with other judges.

In order to make Kofman understand their conversation, Feng Zhengming sat next to them and acted as an interpreter.

It can be said that the two state banquet masters are also able to draw inferences from one instance to another at state banquets.

Both masters are also very familiar with some techniques of Shandong cuisine.

You can point out some minor flaws of the chefs while watching the cooking process.

"Lu cuisine emphasizes neatness and strict adherence to traditional techniques, so in the past, Lu cuisine has always been the most standardized cuisine."

"Yes, the reason why all the eight restaurants in Beijing used Shandong cuisine in the past was because you couldn't go wrong with Shandong cuisine when entertaining guests."

"Some dishes from other places are becoming more popular in Beijing, but Shandong cuisine is not so popular."

"It's more because the economic center is now moving southwards. The economic environment in the south is better, so their restaurants are becoming more and more famous."

At this point, the two state banquet masters looked at the two tycoons from Hong Kong City and Macau City.

"You two should understand this very well. Many of the chefs we have communicated with in Beijing in the past few years are also famous chefs from Hong Kong. They brought more Hong Kong Cantonese cuisine techniques."

These words made the two tycoons from Hong Kong City and Macau City smile politely.

"You two masters are too modest. We have been to Beijing before and have had several banquets there. We can tell that you two have excellent cooking skills."

"Yes, the cooking skills of the masters who can participate in the state banquet are indeed extraordinary."

The two state banquet masters also laughed.

Coffman also received respect from other judges.

One of the state banquet masters had previously gone overseas for exchanges and had met and communicated with Kofman.

The two tycoons of Hong Kong City and Australia City are naturally more familiar with Kofman.

They can also be considered regular customers of Coffman's overseas restaurants.

Coffman also talked about his feelings after watching the games these days.

"Chinese food is really full of surprises. Many things are similar to Western food. And your chefs are really good at cooking. They always give me a lot of surprises."

Coffman's compliment made everyone laugh.

"Have you ever thought about opening a restaurant in the country, Mr. Coffman?"

"Yes, if Mr. Coffman could open a restaurant in China, I believe it would be very popular."

"You can open a restaurant in Beijing."

"Yes, if we open a restaurant in Beijing, Mr. Kofman's cooking skills will definitely be recognized."

Kaufman laughed and said, "If I were to open a restaurant, I would definitely be willing to cooperate with Feng. Many of his ideas have inspired me a lot, so I should open a restaurant in your city of Shanghai.

You can open a restaurant with Feng, or open one not far from Feng’s restaurant.”

Hearing what Kofman said, the other four judges couldn't help but look at Feng Zhengming.

They could still tell from Kofman's words that he had a special relationship with Feng Zhengming.

For the two tycoons of Hong Kong City and Macau City, they know that they can easily control many chefs.

But when facing the two state banquet masters and Kofman, they still couldn't easily control them.

There is another person who cannot be easily controlled by them, and that is Feng Zhengming.

On the one hand, their craftsmanship is indeed recognized as top-notch.

On the other hand, it is also because they do not need to rely on other people's investment.

Needless to say, the two state banquet masters enjoy state subsidies and it is unlikely that they would cook outside.

No matter how rich you are, you can't easily ask them to cook for you.

Coffman is almost in the same position.

He has a very high reputation overseas, and even some of the standards in the overseas restaurant recommendation guide are formulated based on his standards.

Therefore, he is a person who cannot be controlled by money alone.

Feng Zhengming is even more special.

As the national top scholar, he himself may not even know that he has the support of the national will behind him.

The two tycoons had heard about Feng Zhengming when they went to Beijing for a meeting.

Some people even secretly informed them to respect the personal wishes of Feng Zhengming, the national top scholar.

How could the two tycoons understand that what the top leaders said showed that Feng Zhengming had the support of the country.

This is not unexpected.

After all, Feng Zhengming presided over the design and cooking of the world-renowned painting of the mountains and rivers of the motherland at the state banquet for the return of Hong Kong, which really could not be done by any other chef.

So a chef like Feng Zhengming is truly a national treasure.

It is really expected that the state will support him.

However, it is obvious that the national level did not make clear how much help Feng Zhengming was given.

Feng Zhengming relies more on himself and runs his store in his own way. He promotes Shandong cuisine to more people through his store and gradually improves the status of chefs so that chefs can gain more respect.

There may be no other chef in China who can achieve what Feng Zhengming has done.

Now Coffman has made it clear that he and Feng Zhengming have a special relationship.

It also raised Feng Zhengming's status again.

The two tycoons also realized that the person who would ultimately make this "International Shandong Cuisine Master Chef Challenge" a success would still be Feng Zhengming.

Of course, the ten famous chefs who can make it into the top ten will also gain enough reputation.

At least the restaurant where they originally worked will have booming business in the future.

And their restaurant boss is also going to give them a salary increase.

The on-site competition was in full swing with the top 100 chefs busy.

Each chef completed each step of preparing his dish independently, which earned high praise from the two state banquet masters.

"This competition is really not easy. Each chef has to prepare the dishes on his own. It's really not easy."

"Yes, these 100 chefs, not to mention among Shandong cuisine chefs, can definitely be regarded as truly all-round chefs in the whole country, and are worthy of being among the top 100 chefs." (End of this chapter)