Siheyuan: Starting as a Chef Apprentice

Chapter 530

In the morning, guests came from all corners of the city, and the store entrance became very lively. The first to arrive were some business partners I met in Germany. Most of them were dressed in well-cut suits and walked confidently and calmly. Some drove slowly in black luxury cars, which stopped smoothly in front of the store.
The driver hurriedly got out of the car and opened the door for them. After getting out of the car, these business people first adjusted their clothes, then smiled and glanced at the surrounding arrangements with admiration in their eyes. While greeting each other, they walked towards the hotel gate.

Representatives of overseas Chinese also came in groups, their expressions were full of intimacy and pride, they talked enthusiastically in familiar Chinese, and shared their expectations for the opening of this restaurant in Berlin. Some of them also brought their families with them, and the children looked at everything around them curiously, attracted by the beautiful flower baskets and fluttering national flags, and asked the adults questions from time to time.

Local Germans who are interested in Chinese food culture also come here. Some of them are professionals engaged in cultural exchange, who have a strong interest in and in-depth research on the cultures of different countries; others are simple food lovers who, upon hearing that a unique fusion of Chinese and French cuisine will be presented here, can't wait to come and check it out.

They either come on foot or by bicycle, and after arriving at the restaurant entrance, they stop to observe the decorations outside the store with expressions of curiosity and anticipation on their faces. They also discuss in a low voice with their friends who have also come here about some information they have learned about Chinese food culture or the restaurant.

Wang Jianye had already put on a well-fitting suit and stood at the door in high spirits, ready to welcome every guest. He stood straight and tall, with a look of confidence and joy on his face, which also revealed his firm determination to start the road of hotel management.

When he sees a guest approaching, he will immediately greet them enthusiastically, with a bright smile on his face, and take the initiative to extend his right hand, his eyes full of sincerity and enthusiasm, and say in fluent German: "Welcome, thank you very much for taking the time to attend the opening ceremony of our hotel!"

When shaking hands with guests, he used moderate strength, his palms were warm and strong, and he would shake them slightly up and down to show his cordiality. Afterwards, he would exchange a few pleasantries with the guests, asking about their recent situation or talking about some new things happening in Berlin, so that every guest who came could feel his enthusiasm and attention.

The guests also responded to Wang Jianye politely. Some praised the beautiful decoration outside the store, while others expressed their blessings for the future operation of the hotel. The atmosphere on the scene was very harmonious, and laughter continued to echo at the door of the store.

Soon, the opening ceremony officially began. Although the temporary stage was not big, it was decorated simply and grandly. The background of the stage was a huge display board with the logo of Wang's All-inclusive Hotel and the words "Good luck in opening" written in German and Chinese. There were also some colorful balloons dotted around it, which looked particularly bright under the sunlight.

Wang Jianye walked onto the stage steadily, each step he took was steady and confident, his leather shoes made a slight sound on the wooden board of the stage. After standing in the center of the stage, he first looked around at the guests in the audience with a smile on his face. When the scene quieted down a little, he cleared his throat, picked up the microphone, and delivered an opening speech in standard and fluent German:
“Dear guests, dear friends, hello! Today, our Wang’s All-Series Restaurant Berlin branch is officially opened! This is a unique gift that we have brought to the charming city of Berlin after a long period of preparation, with our love for food and enthusiasm for cross-cultural exchanges.

We know that Germany has a profound and rich food culture, and we hope to combine the unique food cultures of China and France to bring a different food experience to our friends in Berlin. Here, you can not only taste the exquisiteness of Chinese food, but also appreciate the profound heritage of Chinese food culture that has been passed down for thousands of years from the delicate knife skills, unique seasoning and exquisite cooking temperature.

You can also feel the elegance of French cooking, the strict requirements on the quality of ingredients, the exquisite plating and the romantic dining atmosphere; more importantly, we have also made unique innovations based on the taste preferences of our German friends and carefully created a series of dishes that are both fusion and unique in flavor.

We sincerely thank everyone for their continued support and look forward to everyone enjoying a wonderful dining time in our restaurant. We also hope that we can become a unique landscape in Berlin's catering culture and contribute to the cultural exchanges between China, France and Germany. Thank you again for coming!"

Wang Jianye's voice was loud and clear, spreading in the air. Every word was full of sincerity and enthusiasm. The guests in the audience listened attentively, nodding their heads from time to time to show their approval. When he finished his speech, the audience burst into warm applause. The applause was like thunder, echoing in the street outside the hotel, as if it was a movement of everyone's beautiful expectations for the future development of the hotel.

Then, the much-anticipated ribbon-cutting session began. Several important guests were invited to the stage, including well-known business figures, leaders of local Chinese communities, and representatives of the German catering industry. Each of them walked slowly onto the stage with a smile, blessings and expectations for the hotel, and stood in front of the flower column tied with a red ribbon. The red ribbon looked particularly bright and dazzling under the sunlight, like a bond carrying hope and good luck, lying in front of everyone.

The staff handed the scissors to the guests. The guests held the scissors, bent slightly, aimed the scissors at the red ribbon, made eye contact, nodded to each other, and then cut the red ribbon at the same time.

With a "click", the red ribbon broke, and colorful confetti fell from the sky like a gorgeous colorful rain, landing on the shoulders and feet of the guests. The scene was suddenly filled with cheers and applause, announcing the official opening of the restaurant and bringing the festive atmosphere to its climax.

After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the guests, under the guidance of the staff, walked into the store in an orderly manner to visit and dine. At this time, many passers-by outside the store had stopped to watch. They were attracted by the lively scene here, stopped and stood on the roadside, stretched their necks to look into the store, with curious expressions on their faces, and some even asked people around them what kind of restaurant this was and why it was so lively.

As soon as they entered the restaurant, German customers were immediately attracted by the unique decoration style, as if they had stepped into a wonderful space that blended the charm of multiple cultures. In the restaurant, soft and warm lights sprinkled in every corner, creating a warm and elegant atmosphere.

On the walls, decorations incorporating Berlin's iconic architectural elements cleverly complement the Chinese-style carved doors and windows. For example, the partition designed with inspiration from the lines of the Brandenburg Gate, with simple and powerful lines that appear more three-dimensional under the light, attracts many customers to come closer to admire. They gently touch the texture on the partition with their hands, feeling the unique artistic texture, and turn around from time to time to communicate and admire with their companions, their eyes full of novelty and appreciation.

On the ceiling, the frosted glass chandelier emits a soft halo, making the entire space bright and comfortable. The light shines on the neatly arranged dining table, making the exquisite tableware particularly eye-catching. The choice of tables and chairs is also quite ingenious. The European-style tables and chairs are simple and generous, matched with cushions and backrests with Chinese embroidery patterns. They are ergonomic, allowing customers to dine comfortably, and show the charm of Chinese and French fusion in details.

The German customers walked slowly inside, looking around and whispering to their companions about their love for the decoration style. Some even took out their cameras and took pictures of the unique decorative elements, wanting to record this unique scene.

After the customers were seated, the waiters enthusiastically handed over the menus and politely introduced the restaurant's specialties and today's recommended dishes in German.

The customers took the menu and began to look through it carefully. The menu was beautifully designed. It not only had the names and pictures of the dishes, but also a simple text introduction, including the main ingredients used in the dishes, the characteristics of the fusion and the taste, etc., to help customers better understand each dish.

Before long, carefully prepared dishes were served one after another. The dishes were exquisitely presented, and each one looked like a carefully crafted work of art, which made people's eyes light up and their appetites increased greatly.

A German man and several of his friends sat in the corner of the restaurant. They ordered several special dishes, including the highly anticipated "German-style red wine braised beef with Chinese crispy biscuits."

When the dish was brought to the table by the waiter, the man's eyes were immediately attracted to it. He leaned forward slightly, carefully looking at the dish on the plate, his eyes full of anticipation.

The red wine braised beef on the plate was bright red in color, with thick soup wrapping the very soft beef chunks. The texture of the beef was clearly visible, exuding a rich and mellow aroma. The aroma had the unique charm of red wine after a long period of stewing, and was blended with the freshness of the beef itself and a hint of Chinese spices.

The Chinese crispy biscuits on the side are an attractive golden color with a slightly oily surface. The sesame seeds on the biscuits are plump and exude bursts of wheat aroma. They look crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, making people salivate.

The man picked up the cutlery, cut off a piece of beef and put it into his mouth, chewing it gently. As his teeth bit, the soft and mellow taste of the beef immediately appeared, melting easily in his mouth, and the rich meat aroma instantly filled the entire mouth. Then, the fragrance of red wine and the faint Chinese spice flavor were released just right, blending perfectly with the beef aroma, forming a rich and memorable taste.

An expression of satisfaction gradually emerged on the man's face. He closed his eyes slightly, as if savoring the unique taste. After a while, he opened his eyes and continued to taste it.

Then, he picked up a piece of Chinese crispy biscuit and took a bite. With a "crack", the crust of the biscuit was crispy and delicious, but the inside was very soft, with a rich and harmonious taste. The man dipped the biscuit in some beef stew soup and put it in his mouth again. The richness of the soup and the crispness and softness of the biscuit intertwined, producing a wonderful chemical reaction that made him brighten up and nod repeatedly.

He put down his cutlery, turned his head slightly and looked at his friends at the same table, with a surprised smile on his face, and said in a slightly excited tone: "This dish is very interesting. The beef has a rich and mellow flavor, and the crispy biscuits are so cleverly matched. The taste is rich and harmonious. It is different from the German food we usually eat, but it is really delicious. You should try it too!"

After hearing what he said, his friends picked up their cutlery and started to taste the food. Soon, there was a burst of admiration at the table. Everyone praised the unique flavor of the dish and were full of praise for this innovative fusion of Chinese and French dishes.

Such scenes were constantly played out in every corner of the restaurant. After tasting the dishes they ordered, other customers were also impressed by the unique flavors. Some customers tasted the "Chinese-French Pan-Fried Salmon with Lemongrass Cream Sauce" and praised the crispy outside and tender inside texture of the salmon as well as the fresh and unique flavor of the lemongrass cream sauce; some customers had a special liking for the "Chinese Roast Duck with German Sauerkraut and Mashed Potatoes", and thought that the combination of the crispy roast duck and the German sauerkraut and mashed potatoes was novel and delicious, and the three different tastes collided in the mouth to create a different spark.

As time goes by, more and more German customers become regular customers of the restaurant. They not only come here to taste the food themselves, but also recommend the restaurant to their relatives and friends. In various social occasions in Berlin, people often talk about Wang's All Series Restaurant, praising its unique decoration style, delicious fusion dishes and thoughtful service.

On weekdays, the restaurant is often packed, especially during dinner time, when the restaurant is even more lively. There are many customers waiting in line at the door for seats. Some of them stand on the roadside, watching their phones to kill time, looking into the store from time to time, hoping that it will be their turn as soon as possible; some chat and laugh with their friends. Although the waiting time may be a bit long, no one looks impatient, but rather excited because they are full of anticipation for the food they are about to taste.

Inside the restaurant, waiters were busy shuttling between the tables, their steps brisk, their faces always with warm smiles, providing attentive service to customers. In the kitchen, the chefs were busy in an intense and orderly manner, the flames on the stoves were whirring, the dishes in the pots were emitting bursts of fragrance under their skilled stir-frying and stewing, the snacks in the oven were slowly turning golden and crispy, and the whole kitchen was filled with the tempting aroma of delicious food.

(End of this chapter)