From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

Chapter 257 Sixth Brother arrives and the competition begins

On the morning of the official competition day, Zhang Minghai, the sixth senior brother Feng Zhengming was waiting for, finally arrived.

On this trip, Zhang Minghai also brought a cart full of various seaside dry goods.

Feng Zhengming was naturally very happy when he saw the Sixth Senior Brother arriving.

"Brother Six, we have been waiting for you to come. I was still wondering if you could make it in time for the communication competition to start."

Zhang Minghai laughed and said: "Then how can we not catch up? This time, in addition to myself, there is also the owner of our Donglai Hotel."

Then he introduced the boss Hu Feng to everyone: "This is my boss Hu Feng.

Boss, this is my master, senior brother Li Huidong, third senior brother Yang Bin, and junior brother Feng Zhengming. "

After listening to Zhang Minghai's introduction, Hu Feng quickly stepped forward to shake hands with everyone.

"Master Yan, I really admire you. I have heard of your name a long time ago. It is really an honor for me to have your disciple be the chef of our Donglai Hotel."

Seeing how polite Hu Feng was, Master Yan smiled and shook hands with Hu Feng: "Boss Hu, you are polite. You look like the big boss."

When Hu Feng came here this time, he wore a very thick woolen windbreaker and a fur hat on his head.

Hu Feng's outfit would give people the impression of a big businessman who goes to the mountains to buy mountain goods in the winter in Northeast China.

Upon hearing this, Hu Feng quickly took off his leather hat.

"Hahaha, Mr. Yan, you are so funny."

Then Hu Feng met Zhang Minghai’s senior brothers.

Especially when he saw Feng Zhengming, Hu Feng was very surprised: "Before coming here, Minghai always told me that his junior brother is young and capable. When he saw you, he really fulfilled that saying, a hero comes from a young boy."

Feng Zhengming shook hands with Hu Feng and said, "Thank you, Boss Hu, for the compliment."

After everyone got to know each other, Zhang Minghai took out the things he had brought.

In addition to all kinds of dry goods at the beach, the most important thing is that he came here to ask the boss for help this time, got a car specially, and brought Feng Zhengming a few fresh things.

Among them is not only the famous "Bohai Knife".

There was also a large sea bass, and several conchs.

These things were all obtained by Feng Zhengming before when he called and contacted the Sixth Senior Brother and asked the Sixth Senior Brother to help him get them.

Although this provincial young chef cooking exchange competition has attracted the attention of the province, various materials have been specially transferred from all over the province to ensure that the chefs participating in the competition have enough materials.

But some things, because they are dispatched in a unified manner, will definitely not be of good quality.

Not only did Feng Zhengming and the others find connections to prepare some materials themselves, but other young chefs recommended by major restaurants and culinary associations from various places also made their own preparations.

Everything was ready, and Senior Brother Six, who was also preparing to participate in the competition, also arrived.

Senior Brother Li Huidong said: "Then for this competition, let Lao Liu and Zheng Ming lead the team. You follow Master. I will go back to the cafeteria later, and Lao San will stay at the dry rice shop and operate normally."

Feng Zhengming was a little surprised when he heard it. He didn't expect that his senior brother would arrange it like this.

"Elder brother, why don't we go together?"

The third senior brother Yang Bin immediately said: "Hahaha, we won't go. Although this competition is very important, the province's young chefs' cooking exchange competition must be a big scene, and there are many people who came to Quancheng after receiving the news, so Business will definitely be better at this time, we can’t close the restaurant.”

There are indeed many outsiders coming to Quancheng these days. Many of them have received news about the provincial young chef competition, so they come from all over the province to join in the fun.

But it is definitely impossible to let so many people in at the competition site.

So some people who couldn't get in simply took the opportunity to play in Quancheng.

Business in various stores in Natural Spring City, especially Quancheng's famous restaurants and restaurants, including city street food stalls, has become very popular.

Fengjiagang Restaurant is naturally a restaurant that many outsiders must visit.

Under this situation, the third senior brother Yang Bin did not want the Feng Family Restaurant to go out of business.

Such a good publicity opportunity was missed.

Yang Bin said: "You can rest assured that I am here in the shop. The whole competition lasts for five days. I am looking forward to watching you come back in five days holding the No. 1 pick trophy."

Hearing what Third Senior Brother said, Feng Zhengming was really moved.

Seeing Feng Zhengming's moved face, Yang Bin said with a smile: "Okay, stop being moved by me here and go to the competition quickly. Remember, you must at least be in the top three, otherwise I won't be able to spare you if you come back." "

Feng Zhengming agreed seriously this time; "Okay, I will definitely get the trophy back."

At the same time, the car that third uncle Feng Jiandong helped find arrived. Feng Zhengming and sixth brother Zhang Minghai accompanied their master on the car.

He took four young apprentices, Xia Hui, Sun Hai, Zhang Lei, and Yang Peng, and rushed to the arena together.

Looking at the cars passing away, Yang Bin said to the senior brother next to him: "I think Zhengming will be the top pick."

Li Huidong patted the third junior brother on the shoulder: "If Zhengming wins the first prize, the business of this restaurant will be even better and expanded in the future, and your share will be indispensable. Then you can take over your wife and children."

Yang Bin was full of longing: "Take the two of us over, and we, brothers and sisters, will work together in Quancheng from now on."

When Feng Zhengming and his team arrived at the arena, the competition had not yet started.

Some arrangements were still being made in the arena. Feng Zhengming and his sixth senior brother Zhang Minghai led four apprentices to carry things into the arena and pass a series of on-site inspections first.

Afterwards, Feng Zhengming and the others officially entered the arena.

Zhang Minghai looked at the scene and couldn't help but sigh: "The province has really invested a lot of money. The venue is really big and there is enough space for everyone."

The scene can be said to be open-air, and then there are rows of small cubicles, separating the cooking areas of each chef.

In order to facilitate the cooking of the chefs, they are all equipped with liquefied gas stoves, and many liquefied gas tanks are prepared on site.

And the stoves equipped for chefs are all two-burner stoves, which can save some cooking time.

It is said that these stoves are sponsored by manufacturers. After the competition, if necessary, the manufacturers can sell them at a discount.

Of course, there are many sponsors on site, ranging from various seasonings to cooking oils and even some materials.

Then the scene was filled with various sponsors' trademarks, various banners, slogans and stickers, and even sponsors distributed aprons on site, as well as shovels, spoons, knives, chopsticks, and bowls.

Seeing this, Xia Hui couldn't help but smile and said, "These people really know how to do business and use our competition to advertise."

Feng Zhengming said: "This is actually very good. These things are used in daily cooking and at home. They sponsor our competition and at the same time increase their visibility."

Speaking of this, Feng Zhengming suddenly came up with an idea: "I think this is also an opportunity to show off our meat. Let Anbang bring a pot of meat to sell on site tomorrow."

When Sixth Senior Brother Zhang Minghai heard this, he also thought it was a good idea.

"Yes, Zhengming, you really reminded me. This time I came here with Boss Hu, and we also brought some dried seafood, our specialty there. It just so happens that this is a good opportunity. We will come over tomorrow and set up a stall to sell them. .”

After hearing what Brother Six said, Feng Zhengming said: "Brother Six, let's put things away first, and then go find the organizer and apply for two stalls."

Zhang Minghai immediately agreed with a smile.

Feng Zhengming and Zhang Minghai led the four apprentices to find their respective cooking compartments according to the numbers and put their things away.

The two brothers ran together to find someone from the on-site organizer, and successfully obtained two stalls through President Li. Zhang Minghai immediately found Hu Feng who was wandering around the venue and told him about setting up a stall here.

Hu Feng was wandering around and was thinking, with so many sponsors selling things here, should he also take out some of the seafood he brought this time and set up a stall here to sell them?

I was found by Zhang Minghai, and after hearing what Zhang Minghai said, I really hit it off with Hu Feng.

Then Hu Feng asked Zhang Minghai to prepare for the game.

"Master Zhang, you don't have to worry about me. I'll find someone to set up a stall here, and you hurry up and prepare for the competition."

Zhang Minghai said with a smile: "Don't worry, the game hasn't started yet, it says it won't start until two o'clock."

Hu Feng said: "Get ready in advance. You are the representative of our young chefs in Donglai. Show off our unique craftsmanship in Donglai."

Zhang Minghai agreed: "Okay, Mr. Hu can rest assured."

When Hu Feng heard Zhang Minghai calling him "Mr. Hu", he immediately drove him away: "Go quickly."

Zhang Minghai did not help Hu Feng set up the stall. He let Hu Feng lead his two apprentices to set up the stall, and he returned to his position in the competition.

Soon, the chefs were informed on site that they could start preparations first.

All participating chefs began to prepare.

The main preparation work of the chefs is actually making soup.

Chefs from different places have different ways and techniques of making soup.

But basically making soup is what takes the most time for chefs.

The event organizers also took this into consideration and allowed the chefs to start preparations in advance.

Feng Zhengming still followed his master's instructions and seriously put the stick bones, ham, chicken and duck into the pot to stew them separately.

While the soup was simmering, Feng Zhengming prepared the meat dumplings in advance.

Because we are participating in a competition, it is not like cooking in a dry rice shop, so the meat dumplings must also be carefully prepared.

Baigu and Feng Zhengming all use chicken breasts that are removed and smashed into meat paste, and the tendons in the meat paste are carefully removed.

This time, Feng Zhengming did not use chicken drumsticks, but chose to use beef smashed into puree.

While Feng Zhengming was preparing, the masters on site, including the master, had already begun to check.

The senior chefs walked past each chef's stove one by one and carefully observed the preparation process of each chef.

When the master chefs walked to Feng Zhengming's stove, they saw him preparing meat dumplings very carefully.

"Lao Yan, your little apprentice is really very particular."

"Yes, I saw so many young chefs preparing soup. It's just Lao Yan, your little apprentice who prepares it very carefully."

"Bai and Hong are ready."

"Now I am even more looking forward to Lao Yan's little apprentice's dishes."

Master Yan looked on and couldn't help but say a few words to Feng Zhengming.

"The meat dumplings must be delicate enough, and when sweeping the soup, be sure not to boil the soup."

When Feng Zhengming heard this, he smiled and looked at Master and agreed: "I know Master."

Hearing the conversation between master and apprentice made several other masters laugh.

"Look, Lao Yan still doesn't trust his little apprentice to teach on the spot."

"Lao Yan, are you opening the back door?"

"That's right, Lao Yan, you were helping me cheat during the exam."

"Ha ha ha ha……"

A group of senior chefs all laughed, and Master Yan had no choice but to ask Feng Zhengming to prepare well, and then went with the senior chefs to watch other chefs.

The senior chefs have looked at most of the young chefs and have a general understanding of the young chefs participating in this competition.

Then the masters returned to the judging lounge and gathered together to discuss.

"It seems that after returning from this exchange competition, we will have to teach our apprentices more about their basic skills."

"Yes, looking around this time, many young chefs still have some problems with their basic skills."

"The key is that many of them don't follow traditional practices."

"Alas, just thinking about innovation has ended up making a bit of a mess."

"It's because we were too lenient before and didn't have strict requirements for the juniors."

Watching the master chefs cooking on site, it really made them feel a little bit angry.

There are some young chefs who clearly do not follow traditional cooking techniques.

The cooking is already somewhat specious.

Even looking at this circle, there were several young chefs on the scene, who were stopped by the old chef and immediately eliminated them before they finished cooking.

Because of this, the old masters looked around and felt really annoyed.

Unexpectedly, so many problems would be exposed at this provincial young chef cooking exchange competition.

The most critical point exposed is that the basic skills of some young chefs on site are not solid.

In this situation of competing alone, many young chefs stand in front of their own stoves for a long time without knowing what to do.

Then to the knife skills of some young chefs and their ability to handle ingredients on site.

It really makes the old masters feel that they cannot watch it at all.

Therefore, after looking around like this, the old masters will lament that their usual requirements for some young apprentices are too low.

The senior chefs unanimously feel that young chefs must be more stringent in the future.

"If they can't even make basic things like that, how can we pass on traditional dishes? If the younger generation is like this, how many generations can our craftsmanship be passed down?"

An old master raised such a question, which really made all the masters think deeply.

Compared with other masters, Master Yan is relatively pleased. Both his apprentices, Feng Zhengming and Zhang Minghai, are doing well.

But Master Yan was in a heavy mood like other masters.

If only a few young chefs like Feng Zhengming can keep the tradition, how can Shandong cuisine be passed down well?

If you can't even pass it on well, how can you carry it forward?

While the young chefs are busy preparing the dishes, the senior chefs have reached an agreement to take advantage of this provincial young chef cooking exchange competition to formulate a set of rules for the kitchen so that young chefs can have a model to follow.

　Thanks to "Xiankanyuan" for the 1000 reward. Thank you all for your subscription and monthly support. On the first day of February, it snowed heavily here. Everyone must also pay attention to keeping warm. Please pay attention to safety when going out in rainy and snowy days.

　　

　

(End of this chapter)