From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

Chapter 231 Determining the Competition Process

Feng Zhengming didn't even speak, but as soon as he spoke, everyone at the scene was confused.

Everyone doesn’t quite understand why Feng Zhengming emphasized that he must make a soup dish?

Feng Zhengming didn't need to ask any more questions, he just stood there and started talking.

“Soup is also a basic skill for our Shandong cuisine chefs, but now that there are more and more condiments, many cooking schools may no longer teach students how to make soup.

So now many people who don’t know our Shandong cuisine will not associate it with soup when they mention our Shandong cuisine.

I think this is wrong. If a Shandong cuisine chef cannot even cook soup well, he cannot be considered a qualified Shandong cuisine chef.

This time our province's young chef exchange competition is to show everyone the diversity of our Shandong cuisine.

All chefs entering the main competition must cook soup. This is a kind of inheritance of our Shandong cuisine tradition, and it is also a test for young chefs.

Let’s see if our future chefs of Shandong cuisine can hold up the brand of Shandong cuisine.

A soup may just be flavored water.

But for us Shandong cuisine chefs, no, we should say we Chinese chefs, our roots lie in that soup. "

Feng Zhengming's words stunned everyone present.

Especially the last sentence made the chefs present feel excited.

For example, Li Huidong, Cheng Guosheng, Kong Xingli and Sun Fenggui have reawakened the fire of inheritance in their hearts. As inheritors of traditional cooking skills, they have more experience than the apprentices who learn cooking in many schools today.

"Okay, well said." Kong Xingli took the lead in saying hello and applauded Feng Zhengming.

In an instant, the entire conference room burst into applause.

Everyone agreed with Feng Zhengming's words, and their hearts were ignited by this impassioned speech.

After the applause, the provincial leaders present smiled and said to Feng Zhengming: "Okay, as expected, young people still have ideas. Xiao Feng, you are right. This time we not only want to communicate within the industry, but also promote it to the outside world. To promote our Shandong cuisine, as you said, the chefs in the exchange competition must prepare a soup dish."

Feng Zhengming was also a little surprised that his idea was supported by the leadership.

He quickly said: "Thank you for your leadership's understanding and support. For the sake of fairness, I think the soup dish should be announced in advance so that everyone can be prepared."

This statement made everyone laugh.

Li Zhifeng smiled and said: "Zhengming, you are still worried that others will say that you are taking advantage. Okay, cooking associations from all over the country are here. Everyone must be notified of the requirements of the exchange competition when you go back."

Representatives from other city culinary associations present said they would definitely be notified.

Next came some discussions about exchanging the details of the competition.

Including where to arrange to hold this competition?

And how will the supply of various ingredients be arranged?

As well as accommodation arrangements for chef teams from different places who come to participate in the competition, etc.

Feng Zhengming did not express any further opinions on various issues, because these were matters for provincial and municipal leaders to coordinate with local culinary associations.

Finally, Feng Zhengming joined everyone in voting on some matters with a show of hands.

All discussions on this provincial young chef cooking exchange competition have been completed.

After the discussion, Feng Zhengming was called alone by Li Zhifeng.

Li Zhifeng introduced to Feng Zhengming the provincial and municipal leaders present.

Feng Zhengming observed the two of them closely and could feel their curiosity and expectation for him.

He shook hands and said hello very politely.

The provincial leader smiled and said: "Xiao Feng is a down-to-earth young man at first glance. He is different from many young people today. Without their impetuousness, he looks very calm."

The city leaders also nodded in agreement: "Yes, Xiao Feng has a maturity that is inconsistent with his age."

Li Zhifeng said: "The first time I met Zhengming, I had this feeling. Zhengming always gives people a very down-to-earth attitude. He will not rush into things and will do his own things well in a down-to-earth manner."

The provincial leader added: "Zhengming, you have to maintain this down-to-earth state. You must know that the inheritance and promotion of Shandong cuisine in the future will still need young people like you. I am looking forward to your performance in this provincial young chef cooking exchange competition." , don’t let us down, I hope to see you in the top three.”

Feng Zhengming responded with a smile: "I will definitely work hard. I'm not sure whether I can get into the top three. If I don't get into the top three, actually we should be happy, because it means that our young chefs in Shandong cuisine are very good."

With a group of powerful young chefs, the continuation and promotion of our Shandong cuisine will definitely be better in the future. "

The two provincial and municipal leaders and Li Zhifeng were a little surprised after hearing Feng Zhengming's words.

They looked at each other, and the city leader said, "Okay, I didn't expect you to be so magnanimous, Zhengming. It really fits your name, you are upright and bright."

The provincial leader said: "Zhengming said it very well. You should be the courage that today's young chefs should have."

Li Zhifeng even gave encouragement: "You don't have to belittle yourself. We believe that with your skills, you are capable of entering the top three, so work hard."

Both provincial and municipal leaders also encouraged Feng Zhengming and told him to go all out.

Feng Zhengming naturally agreed seriously and said that he would work hard to prepare.

After saying goodbye to everyone, Feng Zhengming walked out of the conference room and met his senior brother Li Huidong.

Li Huidong smiled and looked at Feng Zhengming.

"Okay, you grew up very fast, and you always spoke in the same way. I didn't hear what you said at first, but as soon as you opened your mouth, you hit the point. What you said about soup was really true. great."

Li Huidong sighed: "If Master hears it, Master will definitely be very happy."

Feng Zhengming smiled and said, "Brother, don't praise me. I didn't expect that much. I just said what I thought of."

Li Huidong nodded: "That's good. You are young and your skills are good. The Feng Family Restaurant has also become famous. Everyone will be more optimistic about your future development, so you can say whatever you think. This kind of true temperament will actually make them like you. ."

After hearing what the senior brother said, Feng Zhengming was a little curious: "Them?"

Li Huidong smiled and whispered: "They are the ones who left you to speak. They heard too many high-sounding words. What they need to hear is your words that can be based on reality. They know in their hearts that you You are the backbone of the future development of Shandong cuisine. I am afraid that after this exchange competition for young chefs, you will be shaped into a model."

Feng Zhengming was a little panicked after hearing this. He had no intention of becoming a typical person.

"Brother, I still want to do my business honestly."

Li Huidong looked at his junior brother and knew that he was a little panicked.

He smiled and patted his junior brother on the shoulder to comfort him: "Don't worry, you have become a model for young chefs in the province, which does not conflict with your good business, and maybe it will be helpful to your business."

Before Feng Zhengming could speak again, his elder brother led him and said, "We will pick up Master next month." Feng Zhengming immediately agreed, "Okay, when will we go next month?"

Li Huidong thought for a while and said: "I will go back and contact the master to ask what he means. This is the province's young chef cooking exchange competition. The master will definitely come over to be a judge, and the master's son will also come to participate."

Feng Zhengming asked: "Will the eldest brother or the second brother come?"

Li Huidong replied: "It's the boss. Last time I heard, the boss wanted to return to Quancheng to open a restaurant, but when he discussed it with his master, he didn't agree."

Feng Zhengming was a little strange: "Eldest brother wants to return to Quancheng, why won't master agree?"

Li Huidong shook his head at first: "I don't know the details."

But then he speculated in a low voice: "I think maybe the boss wants to use the master's name, but the master doesn't agree."

Feng Zhengming thought for a while and said: "Brother, you want me to go and pick up the master. Do you want me to go with you to persuade the master? Do you want the master to support my elder brother in opening a store?"

When Li Huidong saw that his junior brother had guessed it, he simply told some things.

"Master, you know that he always keeps a low profile and cherishes his reputation. Over the years, Master has recommended good things to his apprentices, even some of the apprentices who are interns at Yanxi Tower, but he has not given any preferential treatment to his own son. If you really want to talk about craftsmanship, , Master’s two junior brothers are not bad at their craftsmanship, so this time I will support the senior brother to return to Quan City to open a store.”

When Feng Zhengming heard what his senior brother said, he faintly heard some words.

"Brother, do you want to help your elder brother open a store?"

Li Huidong smiled and said frankly: "My senior brother doesn't need my help to open the store. He contacted the investors himself. He really wants me to invest in the store, but I have no plans to go."

Then without waiting for Feng Zhengming to ask in detail, the senior brother went on to say: "Master has taken care of us a lot over the years. This time we are going to help the senior disciple persuade the master to open a store in Quancheng. We can help , giving some help is a way of repaying Master’s kindness.”

Feng Zhengming looked at his senior brother. At this moment, he suddenly felt that among the master's disciples, only his senior brother was the most impeccable disciple.

When Li Huidong saw his junior brother looking at him without speaking, he smiled and asked, "Are you worried that if your senior brother opens a store in the name of master in Quancheng, it will have an impact on your future development in Quancheng?"

Feng Zhengming laughed: "Hahaha, I'm not worried. I hope that my eldest brother will open a store. Everyone will compete and be compared with each other, so that we can better motivate us to cook better."

Then Feng Zhengming put away his smile and said: "Don't worry, senior brother, I will pick up the master this time, and I will help you persuade the master."

Li Huidong nodded: "Okay, you have to prepare yourself well for the province's young chef exchange competition. Don't embarrass our senior brothers."

Feng Zhengming smiled again and said: "Senior brother, you have said this many times, how about you ask the senior brothers to participate too?"

Li Huidong immediately reached out and punched Feng Zhengming lightly.

"You did this on purpose, right? You know the age limit, but apart from you, there are only two juniors in Master's family who are not over the age limit to participate."

Feng Zhengming thought for a while and quickly understood: "So, the eldest brother is participating in the competition this time. He also wants to use the competition to become famous first, and then take advantage of the opportunity to open a store in Quancheng."

Li Huidong comforted his junior brother: "Don't worry, everyone relies on their abilities on the field. You prepare the dishes you prepared, and you don't have to deliberately give in to anyone."

Feng Zhengming shook his head and said, "I'm not worried. We all rely on our craftsmanship."

I walked downstairs with my senior brother, got on our bicycles and chatted for a while on the road.

After parting ways at the intersection, Feng Zhengming returned to Feng's restaurant alone.

The dry rice shop had already opened at noon, so he immediately changed into chef clothes, cleaned up and went into the back kitchen to get busy.

I was busy until the end of business at noon. During the lunch break, Feng Zhengming briefly talked about the morning meeting with everyone.

Yang Bin felt helpless after hearing this: "There is an age limit. I can't participate this time."

Feng Zhengming looked at Xia Hui and Sun Hai: "Do you two want to sign up?"

Xia Hui and Sun Hai looked at each other.

Seeing that the two of them were hesitant, Yang Bin said: "You guys sign up together. Don't expect to get any rankings, just treat it as an experience. Anyway, it is an exchange of young chefs from across the province. You are the youth force of our Shandong cuisine."

After hearing this, Xia Hui immediately said: "Then I will sign up."

Feng Zhengming reminded: "Our Fengjiagan Restaurant has no recommendation quota for the time being. You and Sun Hai should sign up and start from the first round."

Xia Hui is very confident: "Starting in the first round, maybe I can make it to the top ten."

After hearing this, Yang Bin smiled and gave Xia Hui a thumbs up: "Okay, you are impressive."

Then Yang Bin looked at Sun Hai and said, "You're not even as courageous as a girl like Xia Hui, are you?"

Sun Hai finally said: "I'll sign up too."

Yang Bin said: "It's good. If you and your Uncle Feng enter the top ten, then the reputation of our Feng Family Restaurant will definitely be greater than that of the three big restaurants."

Feng Zhengming laughed and said, "Hahaha, third brother dares to think about it."

Then Feng Zhengming also told the story that his master's eldest son wanted to return to Quancheng, and that his senior brother wanted to help him persuade his master.

After hearing this, Yang Bin couldn't help but sigh: "Senior Brother is Senior Brother. If it were me, I might not be able to agree to help persuade Master."

Then Yang Bin said: "It seems that we have to rely on ourselves from now on, and we can no longer use the name of Master."

Feng Zonggu suddenly smiled and said: "Xiao Yang will open a Yang family private kitchen in the future."

These words made everyone stunned at first, and then everyone started laughing as Yang Bin couldn't hold back his laughter.

Yang Bin laughed and said: "Hahaha, what Uncle Feng said makes sense. Let me earn more money by working in your Feng family restaurant first. When I have money, I will open a Yang family private restaurant."

Feng Zhengming and his third senior brother Yang Bin both understood what their grandfather meant, which was for them to work hard on their own and to be better than their masters.

This should be what Master wants to see.

In such an atmosphere, Xia Hui and Sun Hai naturally had a new direction in their hearts.

Regarding the Shandong Province Young Chefs Cooking Exchange Competition, the entire exchange competition process was finalized. Soon young chefs across the province received the news, and many young chefs took the initiative to sign up.

With the enthusiastic registration of young chefs, this exchange competition has also attracted attention from all parties and even spread beyond Shandong Province.

　The matter has been settled, and the story has advanced to the provincial cooking competition. There should be three updates tonight. Thank you all for your subscription and monthly support.

　　

　

(End of this chapter)