From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

Listening to Feng Zhengming talking about the situation of his branch in Taicheng, several old masters were more or less fascinated.

Feng Zhengming really knows his stores too well and is very clear about the specific positioning of all his stores.

This is something that even the old masters cannot understand so well about the restaurants where they work.

For example, Feng Zhengming mentioned how the Taicheng branch balances out-of-town guests and local customers.

"Sister Liang Fen and her husband Liu Zhongwei in the branch are more familiar with the tastes of local people. I can arrange other chefs in the store to make up for the taste problems of out-of-town customers.

Master, do you know Zhang Ruixuan? The guy who came from the Northeast to apply for the job? He was assigned to Taicheng."

Master Yan nodded: "Yes, I know, those guys from the Northeast are all pretty good."

After thinking for a while, Master Yan asked, "This Zhang Ruixuan seems to be the disciple that your fifth senior brother wants to take in?"

Feng Zhengming: "Yes, Fifth Brother said he wanted to take him as his apprentice, so he came to Taicheng to gain some experience first."

Master Yan: "Yes, you brothers should indeed accept some apprentices and pass on some of your expertise."

Feng Zhengming: "Zhang Ruixuan is from Northeast China. His cooking skills have some characteristics of Northeast China cuisine, which is just right for catering to customers from other provinces."

Master Cui looked a little strange: "He is from Northeast China, how can he deal with customers from other provinces?"

Feng Zhengming: "The taste of some Northeastern dishes is somewhat different from our Shandong cuisine."

Master Su: “There is a difference, but it shouldn’t be that big.”

Feng Zhengming: "It's like he makes Northeastern sweet and sour pork in his store, which is very popular with many tourists from the south who come to Taicheng."

After hearing what Feng Zhengming said, the old masters immediately understood.

"So that's how it is. We use some differences in taste to cater to customers from different regions."

"That's true. Sweet and sour pork is a specialty of Northeastern cuisine. It's not cooked that way in our Shandong cuisine."

"Shandong cuisine has sweet and sour carp, but it is rare to see sweet and sour meat slices or something like that."

Feng Zhengming: "I went there today and made some adjustments for him, helping him improve his pot-fried pork recipe."

I heard that Feng Zhengming helped Zhang Ruixuan improve the recipe of sweet and sour pork.

This also made the old masters couldn't help laughing.

"No, Zhengming, he's from the Northeast. Can you help him improve the recipe of sweet and sour pork? Isn't that their local specialty?"

"Yes, Zhengming, don't make changes randomly, or people will say that your changes are not authentic."

"We should still believe in Zhengming's ability. After he improves, he will definitely be better than before."

"Really? Zhengming, can you tell me how you changed it?"

The conversation between Feng Zhengming and the masters also aroused the curiosity of other judges, including Li Taifeng who was responsible for receiving them.

Seeing that everyone was looking at him curiously, Feng Zhengming simply repeated what he had taught Zhang Ruixuan.

After listening to Feng Zhengming's narration, the masters and judges present, as well as Li Taifeng and his reception staff, fell into deep thought.

In everyone’s impression, Northeastern sweet and sour pork should be a very difficult dish, right?

But after Feng Zhengming said this, everyone felt that he seemed to be underestimating this dish.

Li Taifeng deduced in his mind what Feng Zhengming said.

He couldn't help but sigh: "Junior Brother Feng is worthy of being the top scholar. He is really proficient in various different cuisines."

Feng Zhengming smiled: "Brother Li, you are too polite. I am not completely proficient in it. I just communicated a lot with chefs from other places, so I learned a little from them."

Master Cui immediately praised: "That's right. Cooking is all about learning from others and knowing how to borrow the best from others."

Li Taifeng looked at his master. He understood that his master was speaking to him.

At this time, the evening reception banquet also began.

The hotel restaurant kitchen started serving the food.

One by one, the more distinctive dishes were served.

Among them, there are many dishes that are representative of Taicheng.

Each table is really rich in food.

It makes the old masters feel a little bit luxurious.

Feng Zhengming also smiled and reminded Li Taifeng: "There is no need to be so extravagant when providing meals later. I think restaurants in hotels like this can provide some buffets."

Li Taifeng: "It's mainly because you guys are here. The hotel is worried that it won't provide a good reception."

Feng Zhengming: "Hahaha, there is no such thing as poor hospitality. As long as you cook the dishes carefully, even some home-cooked dishes are good."

Master Cui: "Yes, Zhengming is right, just treat us to home-cooked meals."

That being said, the hotel has already provided several tables of sumptuous banquets.

Feng Zhengming and his friends also sat down to give face to the hotel and enjoyed the sumptuous feast together.

The banquet at the hotel did seem a bit luxurious, as the dishes on the table included sea cucumbers, abalone and shark fins.

This also made Feng Zhengming, the two grandfathers, and the masters all shake their heads helplessly.

Master Cui couldn't help but warn his apprentice.

"Don't prepare dishes like this anymore. These are really too extravagant. If you prepare dishes like this again next time, we will deduct points from all the restaurants and hotels in Taicheng."

After being warned by Master Cui, Li Taifeng could only nod in agreement reluctantly.

"Master, don't worry. We will never do this again."

The reception staff in Taicheng also said that they would pay attention next time.

This meal was quite satisfying.

The manager of the hotel restaurant came out after the meal and actually wanted to use this meal as a review of their hotel restaurant.

Feng Zhengming smiled and waved his hands: "Don't think about taking shortcuts. You have already violated too many rules for this meal. I will settle the bill with you later. If your hotel doesn't accept the money, then we can only stay in another hotel."

The restaurant manager was immediately confused. He thought that the high-standard reception would bring good results.

He never expected that his high-level reception would anger Feng Zhengming.

The restaurant manager had no choice but to quickly contact the hotel manager and owner.

The boss came immediately.

It was obvious that the boss had been waiting in the hotel to hear the news.

Upon hearing the news that Feng Zhengming was somewhat angry, the boss naturally stepped forward quickly.

In front of Li Taifeng and Taicheng’s receptionist.

Feng Zhengming repeated very clearly what he had just said.

And he finally emphasized.

“I make a recommendation guide and take the chefs to travel all over the province to review restaurants and hotels. This is not to cheat you out of your meal. We want to truly select the best restaurants and hotels in various places.

Then recommend those good restaurants and hotels to people from all over the country.

The goal is to better promote the characteristics of various parts of Qi and Lu and our Shandong cuisine.

If you are planning a meal like this, let us give you some recommendations.

If they are tourists from other places, will you also receive them in this way? "

Feng Zhengming's emphasis and final questioning left the hotel owner and manager speechless.

I saw that neither my boss nor my manager knew how to answer me.

Feng Zhengming said seriously: "So don't do these little tricks, show your truest side. Even if you get on the recommendation guide by doing these little tricks, if you are complained by customers afterwards, we will delete you from the recommendation guide."

The boss could only plead: "It's our fault, Feng Zhuangyuan. We shouldn't have done these little tricks. We sincerely admit our mistakes."

Feng Zhengming: "How much is the total cost for tonight's reception?"

The boss hesitated and looked at Li Taifeng and the people in Taicheng.

Li Taifeng gritted his teeth and helped to speak. "Zhengming, how about paying for this reception meal and forget about it?"

Before Feng Zhengming could speak, Master Cui spoke first.

"It can't be settled. We have to pay the right amount. We are not here to eat for free. We are responsible for all the customers who come to Taicheng and eat at your hotel restaurant."

Master Cui had spoken, so Li Taifeng could only tell the hotel owner clearly: "Just charge the right amount."

In the end, even though the boss still wanted a discount, Feng Zhengming refused.

Feng Zhengming not only settled the bill for the reception banquet, but also paid for everyone's room bills himself.

Faced with Feng Zhengming's resolute and serious attitude.

Li Taifeng and everyone in Taicheng realized that this top scholar was really serious about everything.

After paying the money, Feng Zhengming and everyone else returned to their hotel rooms.

Her daughter had already fallen asleep, and Luo Qing was sitting in the room waiting for her husband to come back.

I saw my husband come back and caught the unhappy look on his face.

Luo Qing still pulled her husband to sit down and gently comforted him.

"Are you dissatisfied with some of the arrangements in Taicheng? In fact, if you ask me, you really made it too high-profile this time. There was no need to contact them. Why didn't you arrange a car and bring the judges with you?"

Feng Zhengming answered his wife softly.

"I can do that, but with a surprise review like that, I'm afraid most restaurants and hotels around the country will fail."

Luo Qing was a little surprised to hear what Feng Zhengming said.

“Will it be that bad?”

Feng Zhengming: "What do you think? Over the years, I have received many letters from various places, many of which directly reported to me the problems of some local restaurants and hotels."

Luo Qing: "Did anyone write to you to report those things?"

Feng Zhengming: "Yes, that's why I gave them advance information."

Luo Qing thought about it carefully: "So your intention this time is actually to put a tight rein on restaurants and hotels everywhere? Let them make some improvements themselves first?"

Feng Zhengming: "Yes, we need to make them aware of the problem. Even if it is just to deal with our review, as long as they can make improvements, it is a good thing."

Luo Qing understood what her husband was thinking.

In Feng Zhengming's mind, he knew very well that it would not be possible overnight to implement the set of standards he recommended in the guidelines.

So now he has brought together the senior masters to conduct the evaluations in various places.

The purpose is to use the reputation and authority of the master chefs to force restaurants in various places to improve according to the standards.

As long as there are improvements, the standards of Feng Zhengming's recommended guidelines can be gradually implemented.

Gradually, imperceptibly, everyone will develop a habitual acceptance of the standards.

In this way, the standards can be further rooted in people's hearts.

In the future, we can ensure that restaurants and hotels everywhere will do better and better.

So now Feng Zhengming has to be the bad guy.

We must force restaurants and hotels everywhere to follow our own standards.

By relying on the authority of the master chefs, restaurants and hotels everywhere dare not raise any objections.

To enable restaurants and eateries everywhere to improve themselves.

Feng Zhengming did not conduct a surprise review, nor did he ask the veteran artists to hide their identities to conduct the review.

Luo Qing: "I hope they can understand your intentions."

Feng Zhengming didn't care at all.

"It doesn't matter whether they understand it or not, as long as it can motivate them to do better."

Luo Qing curled her lips: "They don't understand, aren't they just scolding you behind your back?"

Feng Zhengming smiled and said, "Let them curse me behind my back. It won't make me lose a piece of meat. If I cared about them cursing me, I'm afraid I'd still be selling lunch boxes on the street."

After hearing what Feng Zhengming said, Luo Qing couldn't help but laugh.

The facts are indeed the same as what Feng Zhengming said.

From selling boxed lunches at a street stall, to selling steamed pork belly and running a dry rice shop.

It can be said that Feng Zhengming has always been challenging traditional authority.

He broke countless traditional rules.

At the same time he also created many new rules.

Therefore, people who curse him behind his back are always indispensable.

Maybe in the eyes of many chefs, Feng Zhengming is a bit picky.

In the eyes of some restaurant and hotel owners, Feng Zhengming is a devil who forces them to invest higher costs.

But in the eyes of most ordinary customers, Feng Zhengming is a good chef who allows them to enjoy delicious and affordable food.

He is also an idol in the eyes of many young chefs.

In the eyes of people from all over Shandong and Qi, he is the champion of Shandong cuisine who has raised the status of Shandong cuisine.

Therefore, even though many people were cursing him behind his back.

But no one dared to say anything to his face.

Many times, everyone still has to follow his rules.

Like Qilu's recommended guide, restaurants and hotels from all over the country still hope to be included.

This kind of twisted feeling of cursing him behind his back but having to obey him.

Luo Qing thought about it carefully and couldn't help but find it very funny.

"Let those people know that it's not easy to be a good chef, and it's even harder to run a good restaurant or hotel."

Feng Zhengming: “Yes, we cannot let them ruin the reputation of Shandong cuisine.

Li Taifeng returned to Taicheng Restaurant in the evening and conducted a careful inspection inside and outside the restaurant.

Originally he still had a little fantasy.

I feel that my master is one of the judges after all.

What's more, Master Cui has a relatively high status among the masters.

Li Taifeng thought that with the help of his master, he could relax a little.

As a result, after communicating with his master today, Li Taifeng realized that he must not relax, but must do better.

He could only go back to the restaurant overnight to check and make sure there would be no mistakes when the judges came tomorrow.

The owner of Taicheng Restaurant also made a special trip to the restaurant.

Seeing Li Taifeng, the boss was a little worried.

"Are you sure, Lao Li?"

Li Taifeng: "If we make sure the food and service are good, there shouldn't be any problems."

Boss: "Is your master really not going to say something good for you?"

Li Taifeng: "Because of my master, we can only do better. Otherwise, my master will be disappointed in me, and it may be more difficult for us to be included in the recommended guide."

After hearing this, the boss could only sigh: "It seems that we can only do our best."

Li Taifeng said seriously: "I will definitely ask the restaurant to post a recommendation guide."

Feng Zhengming's words at night really aroused Li Taifeng's fighting spirit, making him determined not to bring shame to his master. (End of this chapter)