Siheyuan: Starting as a Chef Apprentice

Chapter 482

"Do you have any suggestions on our dishes and services?" asked a waiter.

The customer thought about it carefully and said, "I think your dishes taste great, but you can add some vegetarian options. Also, the service is very thoughtful, but you can improve the speed of serving the dishes."

The waiter carefully recorded the customer's comments and suggestions and said, "Thank you very much for your suggestions. We will work hard to improve."

Through this food event, Yuehailou not only launched new special dishes, but also strengthened interaction with customers and understood their needs and opinions. These valuable opinions and suggestions will provide important reference for Yuehailou's dish innovation and service improvement.

After the event, Zhang Yuehai convened the hotel’s management staff to summarize the food event.

"This food event was very successful. Not only did we launch new special dishes, but we also strengthened interaction with customers and understood their needs and opinions. This is a valuable experience for us and we must seriously summarize it and keep improving," said Zhang Yuehai.

Everyone expressed their agreement and were full of confidence in the future.

……

In the restaurants of international chain restaurant brands, they are also constantly introducing new management concepts and marketing methods.

"We need to strengthen our cooperation with local authorities, incorporate more local elements and make our restaurant more friendly," said a manager.

They began to cooperate with local suppliers, purchase more local ingredients, and launch some dishes with local characteristics.

In this process, customers are always the most concerned group, and their needs and opinions become the driving force for these restaurants to continuously improve and innovate.

"I think the restaurant industry is getting better and better. As customers, we have more choices and can enjoy better services. I hope they can continue to maintain this competitive momentum and bring us more surprises." said a customer in an interview.

……

After Yuehailou successfully held the food event, the atmosphere in the restaurant was still lively. The boss Zhang Yuehai stood in front of the office window, looking at the bustling crowd downstairs, his heart full of emotion. He knew that the success of this food event was just a new starting point. If he wanted to gain a foothold in the fiercely competitive catering industry, he must continue to improve and innovate.

Zhang Yuehai turned around and said to the chef standing beside him: "The customers have given a lot of valuable opinions and suggestions during this event, and we must implement them well. First of all, we should start with the dishes, and make sure to make delicious dishes that satisfy the customers."

The chef nodded solemnly and said, "Don't worry, boss. Our chef team is already taking action. Based on customer feedback, we have not only added more vegetarian options, but also worked hard to explore the local traditional food culture and strive to launch more distinctive and innovative dishes."

In the kitchen of Yuehailou, the chefs were working busily and orderly. A young chef looked at the recipe in his hand and said thoughtfully: "This 'traditional seafood stew with vegetables' is a very difficult dish to skillfully combine the freshness of seafood with seasonal vegetables."

An old chef nearby said as he skillfully cut vegetables: "Boy, this requires us to think more. These ancient recipes that are about to be lost are our treasures. We must interpret them well and let customers taste the real deliciousness."

The young chef nodded and began to prepare the ingredients carefully. He selected fresh seafood such as crabs, shrimps and shellfish, and carefully selected various seasonal vegetables, including tender green spinach, fresh cucumbers and bright red tomatoes.

The chefs gathered together and discussed how to prepare this dish.

"This seafood needs to be processed well first, and it can't have any fishy smell." said a chef.

"Yes, vegetables should also maintain their fresh and tender taste." another chef agreed.

After some discussion, they decided to first clean the seafood and marinate it with special seasoning to remove the fishy smell. Then, cut the seasonal vegetables into suitable shapes and prepare various seasonings.

In front of the stove, a chef skillfully turns on the fire, heats the pot, and pours in a proper amount of oil. When the oil is hot, he first puts the seafood into the pot and stir-fry to fully release the freshness of the seafood. Then, he adds various seasonings and stir-fry evenly.

"You have to control the proportion of the seasoning well. It can't be too salty or too bland," the chef next to him reminded.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." The chef in front of the stove said confidently.

The chef then puts seasonal vegetables into the pot and stir-fries them with the seafood. The freshness of the vegetables and the deliciousness of the seafood blend together, exuding an enticing aroma.

"This smells good." said a waiter passing by.

"It still needs some adjustments to make the taste perfect," said the chef.

After many attempts and adjustments, the "Ancient Seafood Stewed Vegetable Dish" was finally completed. This dish is brightly colored, and the delicious seafood and fresh seasonal vegetables are perfectly combined, which makes people's appetite increase at first sight.

The waiters brought the dish to the customer's table. A customer looked at the dish and asked curiously, "What is this? It looks very special."

The waiter introduced with a smile: "This is the 'Traditional Seafood Stewed Vegetarian Dish' newly launched by our Yuehailou. Our chef team has deeply explored the local traditional food culture and reinterpreted this delicacy. It is both healthy and delicious. You should try it."

The customer picked up the chopsticks, took a bite of the dish and put it in his mouth. His eyes lit up immediately and he said, "This dish is really delicious! The freshness of the seafood and the freshness of the vegetables are perfectly matched."

The customers nearby also tasted the dish and praised it highly.

"The chefs at Yue Hai Lou are really creative. This dish is so unique," said a customer.

"Yes, I will come here to eat and try their new dishes in the future." said another customer.

With the successful launch of "Traditional Seafood Stewed Vegetarian Dishes", Yuehailou's business has become even more prosperous. The chef team was also greatly encouraged and continued to explore the local traditional food culture and launched a series of delicacies with strong local characteristics.

Many innovative dishes have been added to Yuehailou's menu. For example, "Traditional Tofu and Seafood" combines the local traditional tofu stew with seafood, which is mellow and nutritious. There is also "Seafood and Wild Vegetable Cake", which is made with fresh seafood and wild vegetables, with a unique taste and is deeply loved by customers.

Zhang Yuehai looked at the lively scene in the restaurant and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

At the same time, Yuehailou has strengthened its control over the sources of food ingredients.

Zhang Yuehai, wearing a simple business suit and sunglasses, followed by several Yuehailou managers, went to the local seafood dock. The sun shone on the sea, sparkling, and the dock was busy with people coming and going.

Zhang Yuehai walked and observed the surrounding environment. He saw fishermen busy carrying baskets of fresh seafood from the boat, with focused expressions on their faces.

A manager said to Zhang Yuehai, "Boss, this is one of our main seafood suppliers. The seafood from these fishermen is very fresh and of good quality." Zhang Yuehai nodded slightly and walked towards an old fisherman who was sorting out his fishing nets. The old fisherman looked up and saw Zhang Yuehai and others, and smiled sincerely.

Zhang Yuehai took off his sunglasses and said with a smile, "Hello, uncle. The seafood here is very fresh."

The old fisherman touched the back of his head with his rough hands and said, "Yes, boss. We just caught them from the sea. They are guaranteed to be fresh."

Zhang Yuehai looked at the seafood basket on the ground, which was filled with lively fish, shrimps and crabs. He squatted down and took a closer look, then stood up and said to the old fisherman: "We at Yuehailou have always paid great attention to the quality of our ingredients. We will have to rely on you to supply more fresh seafood in the future."

The old fisherman nodded quickly and said, "Don't worry, boss. We will definitely give you the best seafood."

Then, Zhang Yuehai came to another fishing boat and started talking with the owner.

"How much seafood can you catch in one trip out to sea?" Zhang Yuehai asked.

The boat owner, a middle-aged man with dark skin, replied: "It's hard to say. Sometimes it's more, sometimes it's less. But we will pick the best and send it to your hotel."

Zhang Yuehai patted the boat owner on the shoulder and said, "That's good. We at Yuehailou have very high standards for the quality of seafood, and I hope you can keep it up."

The boat owner said firmly: "Don't worry, boss. We know your hotel's requirements and we won't let you down."

After inspecting the seafood wharf, Zhang Yuehai led the team to the local countryside, which is the main source of vegetables for Yuehailou.

Farmers were working hard in the fields. Zhang Yuehai and others were walking on the ridges, looking at the green vegetables, feeling particularly happy.

A farmer saw Zhang Yuehai and his friends, stopped what he was doing and walked over.

"Boss, you are from Yuehailou, right?" the farmer asked.

Zhang Yuehai smiled and nodded, saying, "Yes, uncle. The vegetables here are growing really well."

The farmer said proudly: "Of course, we use natural fertilizers and no pesticides to ensure it is green and healthy."

Zhang Yuehai squatted down and carefully checked the growth of the vegetables, then stood up and said to the farmers: "We at Yuehailou need vegetables like this. We want to establish a long-term cooperative relationship in the future, so you must ensure the quality of the vegetables."

The farmer smiled and said, "Don't worry, boss. We will definitely provide you with the best vegetables."

Zhang Yuehai also communicated with other farmers to understand their planting conditions and difficulties. He said that Yuehailou would do its best to support their production, and also hoped that they could ensure the freshness and quality of the vegetables.

Afterwards, Zhang Yuehai called all the suppliers together and had an in-depth discussion in a simple warehouse.

Zhang Yuehai stood in front of everyone and said seriously: "We must ensure the quality of our ingredients. This is the foundation of our Yuehailou. Only by providing the best ingredients can we win the trust and support of our customers."

The suppliers nodded in agreement.

A seafood supplier said: "Boss Zhang, rest assured, we will provide you with the best seafood. We will strictly select and ensure that every fish and every shrimp is fresh."

Another vegetable supplier also said: "We will also guarantee the quality of vegetables and deliver them to you on time, so as not to delay your business."

After listening to the suppliers, Zhang Yuehai nodded with satisfaction and said, "Okay, I hope we can work together to bring the quality of Yuehailou's ingredients to a new level."

In the following days, Yuehailou worked more closely with suppliers. Suppliers strictly followed Yuehailou's requirements to provide fresh, high-quality seafood and vegetables. Yuehailou also strengthened the inspection and management of ingredients to ensure that every dish was made with the best ingredients.

One day, in the kitchen of Yuehailou, the chefs were busy preparing dishes. A chef picked up a fish, looked at it carefully, and then said to his colleague next to him: "This fish is really fresh, it must have just been caught from the sea."

My colleague nodded and said, "Yes, now the quality of our ingredients is getting better and better, and the dishes we make are more delicious."

In the restaurant, customers are enjoying the food. One customer picked up a piece of fish, put it in his mouth, and after savoring it carefully, he said, "This fish is really delicious and fresh. The dishes at Yuehailou are getting better and better."

The customer next to him also said: "Yes, I think their vegetables are also very fresh and taste good."

In terms of service, Yuehailou has further improved the speed of serving dishes.

After Yue Hai Lou decided to further increase the speed of serving food, a series of changes began within the restaurant.

In the kitchen, the chef stood in the middle, surrounded by a group of chefs. He had a serious expression and held a timer in his hand.

"From now on, we need to optimize the work process and increase the speed of serving dishes. Everyone, cheer up!" the chef shouted.

A young chef wiped the sweat from his forehead and asked, "Chef, how do we do this?"

The chef pointed to various areas in the kitchen and said, "First, we need to clarify everyone's responsibilities. Those who prepare the side dishes, cook the dishes, and serve the dishes must all perform their duties. There must not be any confusion. Secondly, we need to arrange the use of stoves properly. We cannot leave a stove idle, nor can we crowd multiple dishes on one stove."

The chefs nodded to show that they understood.

Next, the chefs began to follow the new workflow. The side dish chef quickly prepared the ingredients and placed them neatly on the workbench. The stir-fry chef skillfully controlled the heat and quickly stir-fried the dishes in the pot. The plate chef carefully placed the dishes to ensure that they looked beautiful.

"Hurry up, the dish is ready, serve it up!" shouted the chef.

“Here it comes!” The chef who was preparing the dish hurried over, took the cooked dish and quickly put it on the plate.

In the restaurant, the service manager is training the waiters. The service manager stands in front, and the waiters stand in several rows, listening carefully.

(End of this chapter)