The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World

Fu Yu tinkered for half a day and finally finished cooking. He felt quite delighted, but his expression was more relaxed than overjoyed.

Everyone looked at Fu Yu and just felt that he was calm and collected, unruffled by the situation.

When they looked at the nearly perfect dish on the plate, everyone’s gaze toward Fu Yu changed significantly without even realizing it.

In fact, they originally had a lot of respect for Fu Yu’s skills. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have let Fu Yu handle this dish.

However, knowing is one thing, and witnessing it is another.

At this moment, even though the onlookers had a stomach full of admiration and emotions they wanted to express, for a moment, there were no suitable words to express their feelings.

In the end, all the sentiments merged into a round of enthusiastic applause.

Liu Yunong led the applause, and Yao Shi and Zhao Meng also joined in.

This cooking performance brought them a lot of inspiration.

Sometimes, certain innovative techniques in cooking indeed surprised everyone and left them amazed.

However, more often, Fu Yu’s traditional cooking methods and techniques taught and inspired many things.

For the final presentation, Fu Yu cleverly used the size of the fish slices to appropriately create an arrangement of peony flowers, which was a very creative and effective idea.

He did not simply arrange them by size; he had already figured out in his mind how to allocate all the fish slices for the final presentation when he started slicing them.

In everyday cooking, it’s likely that no one thinks of such details.

And even if they think of it, they might not actually put it into action.

But Fu Yu’s operation at this moment opened a window for everyone.

A bright new window that was refreshing and eye-opening!

Moreover, Fu Yu’s every step and process made everyone see things in a new light.

This included how to better ensure while frying, forming petal shapes and properly tenderizing the fish slices. These fundamental operations are very important for the presentation of later plating designs!

Liu Yunong applauded because Fu Yu’s cooking was indeed exciting; it was both unexpected and gave her a full sense of satisfaction.

”People have different levels of understanding, each has their specialty.”

Fu Yu has laid a very solid foundation in culinary skills. To achieve anything to the extreme is to reach a specialized level.

Watching Fu Yu smoothly finish cooking the peony fish slices, now standing in front of the kitchen counter, without arrogance or impatience, with composure and openness.

Zhao Meng and Yao Shi only grew more fond of him.

Alas...

What a great talent.

It’s a pity he follows Liu Yunong.

Yao Shi suddenly sighed: ”What a shame... my girl’s only in the first year of middle school.”

Zhao Meng looked speechless, almost too lethargic to engage with the topic.

He didn’t think the idea was too far-fetched, because if his Bao’Er wasn’t just four years old, he might also have this thought.

It’s just that this topic, thinking about it privately is one thing, but Yao Shi even said it jokingly.

He really doesn’t hold back from speaking his mind as if everyone’s a close insider.

Zhao Meng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

He couldn’t help but look at Yao Shi.

Recently, this guy seemed troubled, but now he seems to look rather rejuvenated.

Zhao Meng wanted to ask but before he opened his mouth, he heard Yao Shi whisper: ”Old Zhao, let me tell you something!”

Zhao Meng was startled: ”What is it?”

Yao Shi glanced at Liu Yunong, who was smiling and having a serious discussion with Fu Yu, and whispered: ”The National Chef Cooking Competition is coming up soon!”

At these words, Zhao Meng was stunned.

”You mean...” Zhao Meng obviously didn’t quite get it right away, paused, and then said: ”Ah right! This is a good thing! You say my brain! I’ve been thinking about it all year and at the critical moment, I forgot about it!”

Yao Shi laughed: ”I also didn’t consider this at first, but now...”

Zhao Meng instinctively glanced at Fu Yu, couldn’t help but shake his head, and said with a heavy expression, ”Indeed, Fu Yu’s culinary skills should be fine, but the participation standards for this event... we don’t meet the conditions, do we?”

This National Cooking Competition is held every year, but not everyone is qualified to participate.

The registration conditions require not only being a member of the relevant association but also having a recommendation from a specific work unit.

And this work unit must meet the standards for participation.

But right now, Qianlima Restaurant certainly doesn’t meet the standards for participation, and the music restaurant here, Yao Shi is just a franchisee of a branch, and the main store will definitely have its own people go to the competition, wanting a spot is impossible.

Upon hearing this, Yao Shi smiled slightly, showing an inexplicable hint of cunning. He didn’t respond but instead gestured in Liu Yunong’s direction.

Zhao Meng followed his gaze and suddenly understood.

Isn’t it so!

With Liu Yunong here.

Isn’t it just a competition qualification!

This matter is basically settled.

The peony fish slices were already cooked, so Yao Shi and Zhao Meng wouldn’t stay longer.

After all, this is still the kitchen of Shangshi Private Kitchen.

These two chefs from Qianlima staying here is somewhat inappropriate.

The two proposed to leave, and Liu Yunong hurried to personally see them off.

Once they were out of the restaurant, Yao Shi did not rush to leave but brought up the national chef competition with Liu Yunong.

Yao Shi seriously said: ”Actually, I was a bit hesitant at first, but after seeing Fu Yu’s performance today, I think his level is quite good, and his culinary foundation is very solid. The only shortcoming is that he is somewhat limited by age. He has less experience and insufficient experience. If he can broaden his horizons a bit, it will definitely be beneficial to his future achievements in cooking.”

His words were very fair and made a lot of sense.

In the culinary profession, the foundation is most important, followed by vision and knowledge which are also crucial.

Seeing more, understanding thoroughly, can bring deeper level understanding and reflection on cooking.

And only if you firmly and thoroughly grasp cooking, can there be potential for innovation and improvement, and improve the level of culinary skills.

The two things complement each other and are indispensable.

Liu Yunong nodded in agreement as she listened to Yao Shi.

Yao Shi suddenly changed the topic: ”I’m thinking that after the new year, it will be time for the annual National Chef Competition again. There shouldn’t be any problem with Fu Yu’s cooking skills, and this competition is a very good opportunity. It’s a chance for him to give it a try.”

Upon hearing this, Liu Yunong nodded: ”Chef Yao, you are very considerate. If you didn’t bring it up, I really wouldn’t have thought of it right away.”

Although Liu Yunong is known as a master chef, it’s only a small-scale fame in the circle.

Usually participating in various culinary competitions organized at the provincial and municipal levels, she can still be invited as a guest to serve as a judge or mentor.

For truly national competitions like this, she is not qualified to be a judge, and she never personally attends to observe.

On the one hand, sitting in the audience to watch a chef competition, to her, it’s better to directly watch the related videos online after the competition, which is clearer and more straightforward.

On the other hand, she is too busy, the time of the national chef competition happens to be after the small peak season after the year.

Generally, after the New Year, the catering industry such as restaurants will enter a low season of business decline.

And when spring arrives, business will gradually recover.

The various matters of the company, she can’t finish dealing with them, not to mention several branches under her.

After the New Year, this period is usually when the turnover of employees in the store is the highest, and also when people under her are prone to a slack attitude.

Liu Yunong usually seizes this time to start her store inspections.

She checks the management and operation of several branches, holds meetings with employees to boost morale, and discusses various shortcomings in business with managers.

All kinds of things indeed keep her tied up.

Because she never personally attended, so she really hasn’t been very attentive to this competition.