The Northern Stories of Chef Lao Tan

Chapter 205 Matchmaking
There were bright spots in the second day's game.

The first highlight is that a chef in Henan made "steamed whole lamb", which is very skillful.Whole but not scattered, tender but not smelly, full of traditional Chinese medicine flavor, full of health and nourishment.There are eight kinds of dishes, each with its own characteristics.

As soon as this dish came out of the steamer, it caused a commotion in the entire kitchen. The other contestants stopped their hands and came to watch, and gave their thumbs up approvingly.

When it was brought to the booth, the judges were all wide-eyed, and couldn't help admiring the master's level and unique innovation - they have all eaten roasted whole lamb, but have never seen steamed whole lamb.

Of course, this dish deserves high marks.

The second highlight is the "grape mutton" made by the chef of Alxa Hotel.The image is vivid and lifelike, the taste is difficult to distinguish the authenticity, and the aftertaste is long.

Although the grape mutton is not as domineering as steamed whole lamb, it is small and exquisite, and it is very artistically beautiful when paired with special tableware, which fully demonstrates the "beauty realm" of Chinese cuisine.

Although the cooking time of this dish was a little too long, Lao Tan didn't deduct points, which was a bit of a pity for his talents.

In addition to these two highlights, the "scallion fried lamb" made by Xibei and the chefs of the wealthy banquet is also very good.

There is also a bright spot in the hotel. The "Hutong Taste Mutton" made by the chef from Beijing was well received and praised by many colleagues, and became the most valuable "marketing dish" in this competition.

A grand awards ceremony was held that night, and there were many awards. In addition to the championship, second place, and season of the total score, there were also one, two, and three single dishes, as well as the "Best Creative Award", "Best Modeling Award" and "Best Artistic Conception Award", "Best Team Award" and so on.Those who received sponsorship fees were given awards to show peace.

Of course, although there is a strong commercial atmosphere, truly high-level works cannot be buried, or else the profession of chefs will be desecrated. What is the reason?
In two days, Lao Tan met many friends in the catering industry, plus he was an on-site judge, and his image was conspicuous, attracting attention. At the banquet, many people came to toast and say some polite words.In particular, the chef at Alxa Hotel warmly invited him to play and promised to accompany him throughout the journey.

More often than not, for a grand event like a cooking competition, the competition is often secondary, and the biggest gain is to make friends to integrate resources, and the world is full of loved ones.

Otherwise, how can a chef be able to eat all over the country with a single train ticket?

The morning of the third day was a visit. The organizer took everyone by bus and visited more than [-] large hotels with an area of ​​[-] square meters from Dongsheng to Kangbashi.These hotels are luxuriously decorated and have their own characteristics. The common point is that they are all closed.

The economy is bad.

Many hotel owners offered preferential terms of not charging rent for two years and only paying utility bills to take over, but most of the visitors shook their heads, expressing their powerlessness in regret.

It's all the result of blind development, confused by the bubble economy, not forward-looking, the funds are invested, the cost can't be recovered, and the debts have to be carried.

Among the visiting crowd, Mr. Wang and Lao Tan walked together, as well as Kang Min, and Li Xue had already gone back with the film crew.

Zhou Yujun and Tong Xin were also there, but they deliberately avoided Lao Tan and the others, so as to avoid some embarrassment.

After visiting these hotels and watching the Mongolian wedding performance, the morning activities ended.

In the afternoon, there was a roasted whole cow feast, which was held at the night banquet of a wealthy family. Lao Tan didn't want to attend, but Zhang Qiang, the head chef there, called to invite him over, and at the same time introduced a few chef friends.This is not easy to refuse, so I will accept it.

Tong Xin strolled in the commercial street after watching the Mongolian wedding performance. Zhou Yujun didn't accompany her because he wanted to talk to the government people, and it was boring to be alone, so he went back to the hotel after walking for a while.

When she was about to take the elevator upstairs, she changed her mind about going back to her room, but stopped on the floor where Lao Tan lived.

She stepped out of the elevator and came to Lao Tan's door, and knocked.

The door opened, and Lao Tan let her in a little surprised.

She sat down on the sofa, pushed back her forehead hair, then smiled, and asked, "Mr. Tan, when are you going back?"

"Tomorrow, I will go to Genghis Khan's Mausoleum first, and then go back directly." Old Tan said.

"Oh——Miss Wang is going with you?" she asked again.

"No, she may stay here for two days, it seems that something happened." Old Tan said.

"Oh--"

The two were silent for a while.

Old Tan wanted to ask about her husband and children, but swallowed the words, so he habitually took out a cigarette and lit it.

Tong Xin broke the silence first and said: "My cousin is going to send my son to the army. He knows the army and can take care of him."

"That's fine. Boys can serve in the army. They should train hard in the army and get admitted to a military academy." Old Tan said.

"Don't point him to the military academy, as long as he can be transferred to the volunteer army." Tong Xin said.

"It's good to be a volunteer. It's a lifetime job to have a formal job in a local area."

"I thought so too—"

Speaking of the two of them being silent again, Lao Tan was fine, and Tong Xin looked a little uncomfortable.

When Lao Tan finished smoking a cigarette, Tong Xin smiled self-deprecatingly, and first sighed, as if letting out the contents of his stomach, and said, "Hey, this is what happens in this life, I didn't expect it to happen. In this way --- thank you, Mr. Tan, for teaching me a lot, I am really grateful."

"What are you grateful for? It's you who are amazing. I will learn more from your cousin in the future. He has a good business sense. I admire that." Old Tan said.

"Well, he's good at this -- he misses the time at the dumpling restaurant, he won't look down on me, Mr. Tan?"

"How can it be. You are very good, and I have always been optimistic about you."

"My family depends entirely on me. I came to Inner Mongolia just to live a good life. Now is an opportunity. I want to try."

"Okay, no one will know what it's like if you don't try it, but the cost should not be too high, and the road should not go astray. Just don't lose people at any time."

This was a relatively profound conversation between Lao Tan and Tong Xin. Although the two met occasionally, they did not talk to each other until two years later.

On the road of part-time work, I always meet some people unexpectedly and break up with each other. This is life.

The roasted whole cow banquet in the afternoon was very grand and lively. It was carried out completely in accordance with Mongolian etiquette and procedures, and it was very ceremonial.

The Roasted Whole Cow, also known as the "False Horse Banquet", is the highest standard banquet of the Mongolian people.

The deceitful horse feast began in the Yuan Dynasty, and it is a unique celebration feast of the Mongolian people.Zhama, in Mongolian, refers to the whole animal that has lost its hair. It means that after the cattle and sheep are slaughtered, the hair is removed with hot water, the internal organs are removed, and the table is roasted or boiled.

The recipe of the whole scam horse feast is divided into five parts: dim sum, hand fresh (fruit), cold dishes, stir-fry, and staple food, which is very particular.

Desserts include Mongolian Sanzi, Butter Crisp, Urimo, Daigo, Milk Tiao, Fried Rice, etc.The fruit is fresh and not demanding.There are four courses and six courses of cold dishes.

The main course is whole roasted beef, followed by five animal soup, steamed lamb, red-grilled camel hooves, broiled chicken legs, grassland stewed vegetables, etc.

Since it is a banquet of the highest standard, there are many etiquettes.

The first is to welcome the guests and enter the venue, then to sit down, followed by soft music, offering Deji, and then opening the banquet to celebrate and roast the cow in mythology.

After these links are over, the dishes are served ceremonially and the court toasts.

When dividing the roasted cow, the singer Humai sang along, and the hada hung around the neck. It has the roughness and heroism of the grassland and the vicissitudes of ancient times, which is touching.

Nearly a hundred people attended the banquet, and there were ten seats.At Lao Tan's table were Zhang Qiang, the head chef of the wealthy night banquet, three local restaurant owners, the head chef of Xibei's branch in Ordos, President Lang, President Wang, and Kang Min.

Among the three local restaurant owners, Lao Tan knew one. He was the owner of a closed restaurant when he visited in the morning. The decoration of his restaurant is antique and very distinctive.

The nine people introduced each other and had a drink first at Zhang Qiang's suggestion.

After drinking a glass of wine, Zhang Qiang said to Old Tan: "Master Tan, you are a real person and don't show your face. If Mr. Lang didn't say it, he wouldn't know that you are the general manager of Aqiao Dumpling."

Old Tan said: "Small dumpling restaurant, not worth mentioning."

"Where is it, Aqiao is famous now, and many people know it. My fellow villagers in the provincial capital said that your dumplings are very good. There are already several stores, and there are two stores in Hohhot." Zhang Qiang said with a strong Cantonese accent. Say.

Old Tan smiled noncommittally.

"How is it? Is there any restaurant you like during the morning visit, and do you plan to open it here?" Zhang Qiang asked.

"I don't have any plans. This restaurant is too big, so it's not suitable for my family." Old Tan said.

"The restaurant is great, you can use it. Don't look at the bad economy here, but there are a lot of people eating, so it will definitely work if it's done well," Zhang Qiang said.

"You're right, a big store in a small city, a small store in a big city, the small city becomes bigger and stronger, this one alone has no branch, and it still makes money. But it doesn't mean to develop here, let's start with the Hohhot area first." Old Tan said.

The restaurant owner sitting opposite Old Tan who visited in the morning took the initiative to hold up his wine glass and said to Old Tan: "Mr. Tan, we meet for the first time, let's have a drink."

Old Tan smiled and said, "This is the second time we have met. Your restaurant is well decorated. It can be seen that you spent a lot of money. It's a pity to be idle."

"Yes, there is no way, there are not many customers, and the business can't earn staff salaries—" the restaurant owner said a little dejectedly.

"That's right." Lao Tan immediately changed his tone and said, "Come, have a drink. Nice to meet you."

The two had a drink.

"Master Tan, how do you see Boss Ma's restaurant serving as your dumpling restaurant?" Zhang Qiang asked after seeing the two finished drinking.

"I can't say that. I'm not familiar with it. I don't know what's going on. It's hard to say." Old Tan said.

"You can try it. Boss Ma provides a place, and you provide money and people. Even if it doesn't work, you won't be able to pay anything." Zhang Qiang said, with the intention of matching.

Lao Tan said: "This can't be tried, it's done, isn't it also done if you try it? Now my main focus is on Hohhot. As for the surrounding area - cooperation is okay, no direct investment."

"How to cooperate?" Boss Ma asked.

Lao Tan briefly talked about the cooperation method, and finally said: "Ordos is a good place, and there will definitely be development in the future. If Mr. Ma is short of funds, he can find a partner to do it together. Otherwise, you will not collect rent for two years. Why not Be generous, have a larger layout, and use the house as capital, isn’t it the same? Sometimes putting all one’s eggs in one basket may not be a bad thing, maybe it’s good.”

Boss Ma couldn't help thinking.

(End of this chapter)