Siheyuan: Starting as a Chef Apprentice

In the kitchen, the chefs started to get busy, the flames on the stoves were roaring, and the dishes in the pots were emitting bursts of fragrance as the chefs skillfully stir-fried them. One after another, the dishes with good color, fragrance and taste were served on the table. The customers looked at the food in front of them, showing satisfied expressions and couldn't wait to taste it.

Among the many customers who came to taste the food, there was a well-known local food blogger who also came here. As soon as he entered the restaurant, he keenly observed everything around him, recording everything from the decoration details to the reactions of the customers. After sitting down, he ordered a few signature dishes, then took out his camera and began to take pictures of the appearance of the dishes, capturing the color and shape of the dishes from different angles, ready to share them with more people on social media.

When the dishes were served, the food blogger first looked at them carefully, looking at the exquisite presentation and unique combination on the plate, he could not help but nod slightly, with a hint of anticipation in his eyes. Then, he picked up the cutlery and began to taste.

He first tasted the Chinese-French baked lobster. The tender lobster meat blended the mellow flavor of Chinese sauce and the rich milky aroma of French baking. The unique taste spread in his mouth, making his eyes light up instantly. He closed his eyes slightly while chewing, as if savoring this wonderful taste. After a while, he opened his eyes and continued to taste other dishes.

After tasting all the dishes, the food blogger had a satisfied smile on his face. He said to the waiter beside him: "This meal is worth it. The dishes are really great. Each one has a unique fusion of Chinese and French flavors, and the taste and flavor are just right. It can be seen that the chef has a solid foundation."

Afterwards, the food blogger couldn't wait to take out his phone and shared on his social media account: "Wang's All-Series Restaurant has finally opened in Lyon. I tried it today and it really lives up to its reputation! The dishes are still that unique authentic Chinese-French fusion flavor, and the service is also very thoughtful. From the waiter's warm reception when entering the door to the meticulous service during the meal, it makes people feel very comfortable. Now Lyon's food lovers have a new place to go. I strongly recommend everyone to come and try it!"

Once this sharing information was released, it immediately attracted the attention and forwarding of many netizens. After seeing it, many Lyon citizens became very interested in the Lyon branch of Wang's Full Series Hotels and expressed their desire to find time to experience it in person.

……

With the successful operation and brand expansion in France, Wang's full range of restaurants has become a shining star in the local catering industry. Its unique Chinese-French fusion cuisine is deeply loved by customers and its reputation is gradually spreading.

However, Wang Jianye's vision was not limited to this. With great ambition, he set his sights on Germany, a land with profound food culture and prosperous economy.

In the mid-1990s, Germany was in the stage of economic integration and development after the reunification of East and West Germany. The entire country was like a huge organism that was being reshaped and rejuvenated, and new opportunities were surging in every city.

Different cultures blend and collide here, people's lifestyles and consumption concepts are also quietly changing, and the catering market is also facing new adjustments, with both adherence to traditional tastes and openness to and acceptance of new flavors.

Wang Jianye knows very well that if he wants to gain a foothold in such a market full of variables and unlimited potential, the early market research work must be done in a solid and meticulous manner.

To this end, he carefully selected the core team members of the hotel, who covered various key positions including market analysis experts, senior chefs, operation management elites and experienced service staff. Everyone followed Wang Jianye to Berlin, the capital of Germany, with expectations and a sense of mission for new challenges.

Berlin, a city with a rich history, is like a living history book. Its ancient buildings bear witness to the past, while its modern skyscrapers demonstrate its vigorous vitality. The two are intertwined and integrated here, forming a unique and charming urban landscape.

The Kurfürstendamm shopping street is undoubtedly one of the symbols of Berlin's prosperity. There are many shops on both sides of the street, including luxury brand stores, exquisite cafes and various restaurants.

On the streets, pedestrians flowed endlessly, and there were fashionable young people walking hand in hand, chatting and laughing while shopping, and occasionally stopping in front of the windows to admire the exquisite goods;
There were also business people in suits, walking in a hurry, carrying briefcases in their hands, discussing work matters with their colleagues, or talking on the phone while walking.

Vehicles shuttled back and forth on the road in an orderly manner, and occasionally a few clear car horns were heard, adding a bit of noise to the bustling street.

Wang Jianye led his team members to stroll along the Kurfürstendamm commercial street. Their eyes were not attracted by the dazzling array of goods, but they were concentrating on observing the business conditions of the surrounding restaurants.

Every time I pass by a restaurant, I pay attention to its signature dishes, the customer flow in the store, the dining atmosphere of the customers, and the promotional posters posted outside the restaurant.

Market analysis expert Xiao Li holds a notebook and writes down some key data and observed details from time to time. He also whispers his views to his companions.

"Look at this Italian restaurant. It's doing very well. It specializes in pasta and pizza. There's a long queue outside. I guess it's because the food tastes very authentic and the prices are reasonable, so it's very popular with locals."

Xiao Li pointed at a restaurant and said to his colleague next to him. After listening, his colleague nodded slightly and looked in the direction Xiao Li pointed. He also looked at the restaurant carefully, thinking about the reflection of Berliners' preference for exotic food.

After leaving the Kurfürstendamm shopping street, they came to the Kreuzberg district full of artistic atmosphere.

Compared with the former, the streets here are more casual and uninhibited. The walls are covered with colorful graffiti of various styles. Street performers are playing musical instruments in the corners, and the melodious music floats in the air, attracting passers-by to stop and appreciate and reward.

The restaurants and cafes on the street also have their own characteristics. Some are decorated in a retro style, with old-fashioned record players, retro posters and other decorations; others are simple and modern, using clean lines and bright colors to create a fashionable dining environment.

Wang Jianye and his team members walked into each restaurant. Some of them would choose to sit inside for a while, order a drink, feel the service quality and the overall atmosphere, and observe the dishes ordered by other customers and their reactions while dining.

Chef Zhang pays special attention to the details of the presentation of dishes, the selection of ingredients, and cooking techniques. Sometimes he would get close to the waiter who was serving the dishes, take a closer look at the dishes on the plate, and quietly ask the waiter some questions about the dishes, such as what special seasonings were used in this dish. After the waiter answered, Zhang would nod thoughtfully and keep this information in mind. In this way, the team shuttled through various blocks in Berlin, like a fine sieve, not missing any opportunity to understand the local catering ecology. They analyzed the flow of people in various areas, counted the changes in the number of pedestrians on the street at different time periods, and observed the age level, clothing style and other characteristics of pedestrians, in order to infer the consumption level of different groups and the degree of acceptance of different cuisines.

After a long period of investigation and analysis, the team members' notebooks were filled with dense data and various observations. After repeated discussions and comparisons, everyone finally set their sights on a street-side shop in Mitte.

It was a sunny morning when Wang Jianye and his party came to the shop.

The shop is located on a street which is not particularly wide but has very convenient transportation. There are neatly planted trees on both sides of the street. The tender green leaves sway gently in the breeze, casting patches of mottled light and shadows.

The surrounding architectural styles are diverse, including old brick and stone buildings full of history, as well as simple and modern glass curtain wall buildings. Buildings of different styles coexist harmoniously, showing Berlin's unique urban charm.

This shop was originally a traditional German tavern, and some traces of its past can still be seen from the exterior. Above the door is a wooden sign frame in traditional German style. Although the sign has been removed, the traces of years of baptism are still clearly visible.

The facade of the shop is made of thick bricks and stones, the color of which is slightly simple and exudes a calm atmosphere. The door is made of heavy solid wood with exquisite carvings, showing the exquisite German craftsmanship.

Through the large windows, you can see that the space inside is spacious and neatly laid out. Although it seems a bit empty at the moment, it is not difficult to imagine what a lively dining scene it will be like after careful decoration.

The location of the shop is very advantageous, close to the government office area. From time to time, you can see staff in formal attire entering and exiting nearby buildings. They either go to nearby restaurants for meals in groups of two or three, or chat about work on the street.

There are also many cultural venues scattered around, which are often visited by tourists. After enjoying cultural exhibitions or performances, they will also look for suitable places to eat and rest.

On weekdays, the flow of people here is stable, and because it gathers tourists and business people from all over the world, people have a high acceptance and curiosity about fresh and exotic flavors, which is undoubtedly a great advantage for the Wang's full range of hotels that are about to open here.

Wang Jianye stood in front of the shop, with his hands behind his back, his head slightly raised, and carefully looked at the surrounding environment.

His gaze moved from the surrounding buildings to the pedestrians on the street, and then to the details of the shops, his eyes revealing an expression of scrutiny and evaluation.

Sometimes he frowned slightly, as if thinking about some potential problem; sometimes he nodded slightly, as if to express his approval of certain favorable factors he observed.

Looking at the pedestrians of different skin colors and clothing coming and going on the street, Wang Jianye silently assessed the potential of this place.

He turned around and faced the team members behind him. His expression became serious and solemn. He said in a steady tone: "This is a good location with convenient transportation and diverse personnel. If we can take over this place and run it well, we should be able to open up the Berlin market."

After hearing Wang Jianye's words, the team members stopped recording or observing, focused their eyes on him, and nodded in agreement.

Everyone knows that after all the hard research over this period of time, it is not easy to find such a shop with suitable conditions in all aspects. This may be the ideal starting point for Wang's entire hotel series to take root in Berlin.

After determining the target shop, the next step is to negotiate with the landlord. The German landlord is a strict and contract-oriented old man named Hans. He has gray hair and wears a pair of exquisite gold-rimmed glasses. His eyes reveal a shrewd and calm look.

On weekdays, he takes the rental of properties under his name very seriously. He carefully considers the selection of each tenant to ensure that the other party has good credibility and management ability and can properly maintain and make good use of his property.

At the first meeting, the two parties agreed to meet in a quiet coffee shop. Wang Jianye led several core team members to the agreed location in advance. They were dressed in decent business attire, looking professional and polite. The coffee shop was filled with rich coffee aroma, and the soft background music created a comfortable atmosphere for conversation.

Wang Jianye and others sat by the window, waiting for the landlord to arrive while sorting out the relevant information about the hotel that they were going to introduce to the landlord, ensuring that they could clearly and accurately convey the hotel's advantages and business philosophy.

Not long after, Mr. Hans showed up on time. He walked steadily, wearing a neat traditional German suit and a plain tie, giving people a sense of meticulousness. Wang Jianye and others saw him and hurriedly stood up to greet him. After the two sides shook hands and greeted each other politely, they took their seats one by one.

Mr. Hans sat on a chair, leaning forward slightly, with his hands on the table. He looked at Wang Jianye through his glasses and spoke first: "Mr. Wang, I understand that you are interested in renting my shop in Mitte to run a restaurant. However, before considering whether to rent it out, I need to have a deeper understanding of your hotel's situation. After all, this is related to the subsequent use and value maintenance of the property. First of all, I would like to hear about the business philosophy of your hotel."

Wang Jianye smiled, his eyes revealing confidence and sincerity, and politely responded through the translator: "Mr. Hans, our Wang's All-line Hotel adheres to the concept of integrating the essence of Chinese and French food culture, and is committed to creating a unique food experience.

We combine the exquisite skills of Chinese cooking with the elegant style of French cuisine, select high-quality ingredients, and use innovative menu design to allow customers to taste the rich flavor of Chinese cuisine and appreciate the exquisite romance of French cuisine. We hope to build a bridge of cultural exchange through food, so that people from different countries can enhance their understanding of each other's culture while enjoying delicious food." (End of this chapter)