Siheyuan: Starting as a Chef Apprentice

After leaving the technology company, Xiao Li immediately rushed back to the hotel to meet with the chef team and the decoration team. In the hotel's conference room, Xiao Li conveyed the needs of the technology company in detail to everyone: "This time we are customizing a business banquet for a technology company, and they want to highlight innovation and international characteristics.

In terms of dishes, we will think more carefully about the "interstellar fusion steak"; in terms of decoration environment, the projection effect of the universe and the starry sky must be realistic to create a shocking feeling. "

Chef Zhang from the chef team adjusted his glasses and spoke first: "For the 'Interstellar Fusion Steak', the cooking temperature and time of the steak must be strictly controlled to ensure a fresh and tender taste. The galaxy pattern on the plate must be designed accurately and beautifully, and the formula of the special luminous sauce must be further optimized to ensure a stable luminous effect."

Chef Zhao next to him also added: "Yes, the flavor of the sauce must also match the steak. We can't just focus on the appearance and ignore the taste." The other chefs nodded in agreement.

Engineer Wang from the decoration team went on to say, “For the projection technology for the dining environment, we have to use the most advanced equipment to ensure that the images are clear and the colors are lifelike. We also need to adjust the projection angle according to the layout of the restaurant so that customers in each position can have a good visual experience. In addition, the coordination of lighting is also critical to create a profound atmosphere like the universe and the starry sky.” Everyone had a heated discussion around the details and continued to improve the plan.

On the day of the event, the technology company's business banquet was held at Wang's All Series Hotel. At the entrance of the banquet hall, waiters lined up neatly, wearing uniforms decorated with technological elements, and greeted every customer with a smile.

Customers from technology companies came in one after another. As soon as they entered the banquet hall, they were attracted by the realistic images of the universe and stars projected on the wall. One customer couldn't help but exclaimed: "Wow, this feels great, as if I'm really in the universe." Other customers also nodded in praise.

On the table, the "Interstellar Fusion Steak" was served one by one. The steak was exquisitely presented, like a miniature galaxy map, and the special luminous sauce flickered mysteriously under the light. A customer curiously came closer to observe and asked the waiter next to him: "Why does this sauce glow?"

The waiter explained with a smile: "This is our special sauce. It uses special ingredients that will glow under certain conditions, adding a sense of technology to the dish. It also symbolizes the innovation and exploration of technology." The customers picked up their knives and forks and tasted it carefully.

After the event, the head of the technology company approached Wang Jianye with a big smile on his face and said, "This event was very successful. Your service exceeded our expectations. Both the dishes and the dining environment were highly praised by customers. We will cooperate with you frequently in the future." Wang Jianye smiled and responded, "Thank you for your recognition. We will continue to work hard to continuously improve the quality of our service and create more wonderful events for your company."

In addition, Wang Jianye also noticed the growing demand for food education among New Yorkers. After discussing with his team, he decided to open a food culture class in the hotel, inviting food experts and chefs from China, France and the United States to teach citizens the food culture and cooking skills of different countries.

When preparing for the food culture class, Wang Jianye and his team members sat around the long table in the conference room. Wang Jianye crossed his hands on the table and said seriously: "We want this class to not only teach cooking skills, but also let participants have a deep understanding of the cultural connotations behind the Three Kingdoms cuisine, so that everyone can truly feel the charm of the diverse food culture." The team members nodded in agreement and then began a heated discussion.

A member took the lead in speaking: "We can set up interactive sessions to allow everyone to personally participate in the preparation of dishes, so that they can better understand the food culture. Through practical operations, they can more deeply appreciate the differences in cooking methods in different countries." Another member continued: "We can also display traditional tableware and dining etiquette from different countries in class to enrich everyone's knowledge.

For example, introducing the French tableware arrangement and dining etiquette, so that everyone can understand the elegance of French dining. "Another member suggested: "Playing some video materials introducing the food culture of the Three Kingdoms in class can make students feel the food characteristics of different cultural backgrounds more intuitively."

With the completion of various preparatory work, the first food culture class officially started. The class was set up in a spacious and bright room in the hotel, with neatly arranged tables and chairs and professional cooking equipment. The students came to the class early, sat in their seats, talked excitedly, and were full of anticipation for the upcoming class.

A French food expert walked up to the podium, wearing a clean and tidy chef uniform, a chef badge on his chest, and holding a recipe for French desserts in his hand. The food expert cleared his throat and said, "French desserts focus on details and refinement. Every step of the operation must be accurate and correct, so that delicious and beautiful desserts can be made." The students listened carefully, their eyes fixed on the food expert, and their pens quickly recorded the key points in the notebook.

A student raised his hand and asked, "Why are French desserts so beautifully designed?" The food expert smiled and replied, "This is closely related to French art and culture. The French have incorporated their pursuit of art into dessert making. From the selection of ingredients to the production process to the final decoration, every link reflects the pursuit of beauty."

The next step was the practical part. The students came to the operating table and started making French macarons. The food expert patiently instructed them: "Pay attention to the intensity of stirring. Do not stir too much, otherwise the batter will lose its fluffiness. Also, when squeezing the batter, maintain a certain height and speed, so that the baked macarons will have a regular shape." The students operated carefully. Some students were so nervous that beads of sweat appeared on their foreheads, but they still completed each step attentively.

After some hard work, the students finished making French macarons. Although some of the macarons were not in regular shapes, the students' faces were filled with a sense of accomplishment.

One student said excitedly: "It turns out that making French desserts is not easy, but it is really interesting. Now I can better appreciate the cultural connotations behind French desserts." Other students also said that they learned a lot and gained a deeper understanding of French food culture.

Through the efforts of launching customized corporate services and opening food culture classes, Wang's full range of restaurants in New York continues to grow and develop. In the restaurant, there is an endless stream of customers coming to dine, including corporate teams to hold business banquets and enjoy unique customized services, and citizens to attend food culture classes and experience the charm of diverse food culture.

……

As soon as Wang Jianye and his team set foot on the land of Mexico City, they were surrounded by the unique energy of this city. The ancient charm and modern atmosphere were mixed together, and the streets and alleys were full of strong Latin style. Wang Jianye knew clearly that if he wanted to open a restaurant here successfully, he had to understand the local culture, market and consumer needs.

The team plunged into the streets and alleys of Mexico City to start their research. They entered local restaurants one by one, constantly observing the characteristics of the dishes and the dining environment, and their ears were also busy, paying attention to the consumption habits of customers.

Walking into a traditional Mexican restaurant, it was noisy and crowded. Wang Jianye looked at the various Mexican delicacies on the menu, turned around and said to the team members around him: "The flavor of Mexican food is different from what we have experienced before. We have to preserve the characteristics of Wang's entire hotel chain, and also find a way to integrate local elements and find a balance between the two." The members nodded after hearing this.

Xiao Zhang stared at the menu and continued, "Mr. Wang, I think Mexican food is really bold in its use of seasonings. We can think of ways to incorporate it into our cuisine."

Xiao Li also echoed: "Yes, and the color combination of this dish is particularly bright. We can also refer to it in our dishes." Wang Jianye listened, nodded and said: "You two are right, but how to integrate them needs to be carefully considered."

Xiao Wang was flipping through the menu and chimed in: "Boss Wang, I think a lot of Mexican dishes use corn as an ingredient. Can we get some inspiration from that?" Wang Jianye's eyes lit up when he heard this: "Xiao Wang, that's a good idea. Corn is very important in Mexican cuisine. We can think about how to combine corn with our dishes."

After some investigation, the team found a suitable store in the bustling commercial district of Mexico City. The store is located on the ground floor of a modern building, surrounded by many office buildings, with a large flow of people coming and going. However, this store is different from the store in New York, and it needs a large-scale renovation to match the hotel's brand image.

The renovation was then put on the agenda. Wang Jianye invited a local designer to work with the hotel's own renovation team. The designer took the design drawings and introduced them to Wang Jianye: "Boss Wang, the Mexican architectural style is very distinctive. We will retain the original characteristics of the building and integrate the style of your hotel. For example, we can build a Mexican-style arch at the entrance, inlaid with colorful tiles, and matched with Chinese red lanterns to create a unique atmosphere."

Wang Jianye took the blueprint, looked at it carefully, pondered for a while and said, "This idea is good, but the color and style must be coordinated well, and it shouldn't be too glaring." The designer quickly responded, "Don't worry, Boss Wang. Mexico's colored tiles are rich in colors, and we should choose the classic red for the red lanterns. Let them set off each other, and the effect will definitely be good."

Wang Jianye asked again: "What about the overall style of the store? How does it match this entrance?"

The designer pointed to the blueprint and said, "The store uses traditional Mexican geometric patterns to decorate the walls, and then puts in some Chinese wooden elements, such as screens or tables and chairs, and combines them with the simple American lighting design to create a fusion style." Wang Jianye nodded and said, "Okay, let's follow this idea and pay more attention to the details."

At the beginning of the renovation, Wang Jianye went to the site every day to supervise. On this day, he walked into the store and saw workers busy moving materials, some carrying tiles and some carrying wood.

Wang Jianye looked at a wall and said to the worker next to him: "Make this wall brighter to show the enthusiasm of Mexico."

The worker responded, "Okay, boss, I'll re-adjust the paint color right away. What bright color do you think would be appropriate?"

Wang Jianye pondered for a moment and said, "It's the same bright color as the green, white and red of the Mexican flag. It looks vibrant." The worker immediately started mixing it in a bucket next to him.

At this time, the head of the decoration team came over and said to Wang Jianye: "Mr. Wang, the frame of the arch has been set up. Go and take a look."

Wang Jianye followed him to the entrance and looked up and down at the arch frame. "Is this frame the right size? Will it look stingy when I put tiles on it?"

Wang Jianye asked. The person in charge quickly replied: "The size is based on the design. After the tiles are installed, some decorative lines will be added. It won't be stingy."

Wang Jianye walked around the frame and said, "Okay, when you install the tiles, pay attention to the pattern stitching. It has to be neat and beautiful."

Soon, the designer arrived. Watching the workers mixing the paint, the designer said to Wang Jianye, "Boss Wang, this wall color is bright and it will match the colorful tiles of the entrance arch."

Wang Jianye said: "Well, I'm afraid the color will be too striking and won't match the overall look."

The designer smiled and said, "No, the Mexican style is all about rich colors. We just need to be more careful when matching them. By the way, have you chosen the red lantern style?"

Wang Jianye said, "Not yet, what do you think?"

The designer said: "Choose a traditional round shape with thinner paper, which has better light transmittance and will definitely look better when lit up."

Wang Jianye nodded: "Okay, I'll look for it as you said."

The carpenter who was cutting wood nearby heard them talking and interrupted: "Boss, I will make these Chinese wooden elements according to traditional techniques, and I guarantee they will be finely crafted."

Wang Jianye walked over and said, "That's good. This is where our hotel's characteristics are reflected. Don't mess around. The mortise and tenon joints of the tables and chairs must be solid."

The carpenter patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, boss. I have been doing carpentry for decades and my skills are fine."

After a few more days, the wall paint was finished. It was bright red and looked very vibrant.

Wang Jianye came to the store and started to check again. He said to the head of the decoration team: "The color is almost the same, but some places are not painted evenly. Fix it again."

The person in charge quickly arranged for workers to redo it. "And the floor tiles are not laid flat enough, it hurts your feet when you walk on them."

Wang Jianye pointed to the ground and said. The worker immediately went over to check: "Boss, there are a few tiles that are not laid properly. We will rework them immediately."

The designer came over with some tile pattern samples: "Boss Wang, please choose the pattern of tiles for the arch."

Wang Jianye took the sample and looked at it carefully.

"This pattern is too complicated, difficult to construct, and looks messy. This simple one is good, let's use it."

Wang Jianye pointed to one of the samples and said.

The designer nodded: "Okay, I will arrange for the workers to inlay according to this pattern." (End of this chapter)