After a break, everyone sat in the restaurant and chatted for a while. The lively atmosphere made everyone's face filled with smiles.
Su Jinrong, in particular, may not have felt such a lively atmosphere in Su Ji for a long time.
Watching my daughter and son-in-law having animated conversations with neighbors on the old street, parents of my granddaughter's kindergarten classmates, and the two young men who served the tables.
Su Jinrong really felt clearly that the return of his son-in-law brought about a series of changes in the entire Su family.
The son-in-law brought new vitality to Su Ji and made his daughter become cheerful, helping her to find her place in the restaurant again.
This feeling made Su Jinrong feel very good, relieved and happy.
During the chat, everyone also discussed how to arrange the twenty tables.
Generally speaking, several solutions have been proposed.
A more conventional and mediocre plan is to place the tables in this order. There is still enough space in the restaurant, so there can be plenty of space between the tables, and guests can also sit spaciously.
There are also more creative ideas. For example, Li Feier suggested that the tables can be placed in a circle, with some items placed in the inner circle and some in the outer circle.
This forms the shape of the character “回” (Back) as a whole.
Being more daring, Yang Zhiyi suggested arranging the tables in the shape of a military formation. For example, they could form a triangular formation, with one table at the door, and then add rows of tables in this way.
In the end, it was Su Ruoxi who spoke up and finalized the arrangement.
"I decided to use Xixi's mother's method, but I still need to make some changes."
Su Ruoxi's change was that she did not place tables on the upper and lower parts of the character "回".
Then, instead of surrounding the city with a fist in the middle, the tables are placed in a staggered manner to ensure that there is enough space between each table.
As for the tables in the outer circle, they are all placed close to the wall, so that some space can be left at the entrance and the kitchen.
Su Ruoxi smiled and said, "This way, whether it's guests coming in or the kitchen serving food, there will be a buffer space so it doesn't seem too crowded."
After Su Ruoxi's narration, everyone gradually had an idea of the layout in their minds, which was roughly the shape of a "回" character, without the two "horizontal" lines above and below the outer circle.
After Feng Yifan thought about it, he agreed with his wife's way of arrangement, and then everyone stood up and started to help set the table.
When the tables were arranged according to Su Ruoxi's design, when everyone looked at them as a whole again, they found that the way they were arranged in a staggered manner in the middle and close to the wall on both sides really looked very neat.
Especially the blank space at the entrance and the kitchen makes the entire restaurant space not appear crowded.
After this arrangement, the restaurant really has a brand new feel.
The staggered square wooden tables, matched with the original wooden chairs, complement each other very well. The overall look is truly simple and elegant.
Chen Yaofei's grandfather was the first to sigh: "Well, it looks really good when it is arranged like this."
Chen Yaofei's grandmother went on to say, "It feels like a combination of our domestic oriental aesthetics and western restaurants."
After hearing what Chen Yaofei's grandmother said, Feng Yifan observed carefully and found that they really did look alike.
He has seen quite a few restaurants abroad where small tables are placed in an orderly manner. The distance between each table is not too far, but not too close either.
It really does have a little bit of the flavor of a top private chef restaurant.
Of course, Su Ji’s tables and chairs with oriental aesthetics have a unique oriental charm.
At this time, a guest outside the door saw that the restaurant was decorated and couldn't help but stick his head in to ask a question.
"Boss, when will you open for business?"
Feng Yifan still sticks to his own rules. Since it is a day off today, he will not open the shop even if it is open for business. Because he still has to greet the friends who helped him today.
So Feng Yifan turned around and explained seriously to the guests who were peeking outside the door, and even some guests who had entered the restaurant.
“I’m really sorry, today is the day when Su Ji’s internal tables are replaced, so we are closed today. If you want to taste Su Ji’s dishes, you can come tomorrow.
Thank you for coming all the way to support Su Kee, I hope you can understand. "
Feng Yifan's words were understood by the guests.
"Sure, boss. It's okay if we can't open today. We can come back tomorrow."
"Boss, the arrangement you have now is really beautiful."
"Yes, the current layout is very elegant, and if the table is changed to a smaller one, it will be suitable for three or five friends to dine together."
"Yes, yes. I will ask my friends to come tomorrow. Four people are just right."
"I'm going to bring my girlfriend, the two of us are a good match."
…
After listening to what everyone said at the door, Feng Yifan smiled and said, "Thank you for your understanding, but please remember that Su Ji does not do morning tea. It opens at 11 a.m. and closes at 2 p.m. for lunch. It mainly serves fried rice and E-fu noodles, and you can order some small meals.
We will have a variety of dishes for dinner, and the menu will change every day according to the ingredients of the day. If you want to order a meal, please come in the evening.
Su Kee dinner starts at 5:30 pm and ends at 9 pm. "
Feng Yifan's announcement also made some newcomers outside the door a little confused.
Some people couldn't help but ask: "Why are there time limits for lunch and dinner?"
However, Feng Yifan did not need to explain further, as other guests had already helped to answer the questions.
“Isn’t it normal to have business hours?”
"Yes, many restaurants have business hours and are not open all day."
"You have definitely never eaten at Su Ji. Su Ji has its own rules, but their dishes are definitely worth abiding by those rules."
"That's right. Even if you come here at noon, the fried rice and Yi Fu noodles with various toppings are very delicious."
"Ah, I particularly like eating Yi Fu noodles. The toppings are really great."
"I like fried rice. Fried rice with various ingredients is also very delicious. It can be eaten as a meal or as a dish."
…
The crowd became more and more excited as they talked, and they seemed to be reluctant to leave.
Finally, someone more sober in the crowd spoke up.
"Okay, stop thinking about it. We're closed today. No matter how much you say, you won't be able to eat. It's almost six o'clock. Let's find a place to eat."
These words caused laughter in the crowd, and then the crowd dispersed one after another.
Of course, before leaving, most people will still take a photo and then leave with satisfaction.
As the crowd at the door dispersed, the sky outside began to gradually darken.
Feng Yifan turned around and said to everyone in the restaurant: "Okay, everyone please wait a moment, I will go to the kitchen to start making this meal for everyone. It can be regarded as a semi-family dinner to celebrate the opening of a new chapter for our Su Ji."
Upon hearing this, Yang Zhiyi said unceremoniously: "Chef Feng, you have to cook a batch of hard dishes for us today."
Feng Yifan smiled and nodded: "Don't worry, everyone here today is my family and friends, I will definitely serve you all the best dishes."
Lin Ruifeng originally stood up and prepared to follow his master to the kitchen to help, but was rejected by Feng Yifan.
"Ruifeng, you sit down today too. Today is the chef's cooking time, so you don't need to intervene. You just need to wait quietly with everyone else."
Upon hearing this, Lin Ruifeng immediately asked: "Master, can you do it alone? Or should I help you?"
Feng Yifan said confidently, "Please remove the 'ma'. When your master first came back, he was busy all by himself. Don't think that after learning for a few days, your master will rely on you."
Lin Ruifeng quickly waved his hand: "No, Master, I just think you are too busy alone."
Feng Yifan raised his hand to stop his apprentice: "No need to say more, just wait with everyone else, Master will be alone today."
Finally, Lin Ruifeng had no choice but to sit down and watch his master walk to the kitchen alone.
Seeing Feng Yifan really go to the kitchen alone, the two guys who came to serve the table asked with some concern: "Is it really okay to let Brother Feng go alone?"
Yang Zhiyi smiled and said, "Don't worry, Chef Feng has the ability to control the kitchen by himself. Just wait and see. I guarantee that after you eat today, you will think that the chefs in other restaurants are no match for him."
The two young men looked at each other, then at the other people present, all of whom had faces full of expectation and confidence in Feng Yifan.
The two young men were even more surprised and were also looking forward to Feng Yifan's dishes.
Before Feng Yifan entered the kitchen, he had already planned today's dishes in his mind. After entering the kitchen, he quickly selected the ingredients he would use and took out the various soup bases that he had prepared yesterday and heated them up first.
Next, various fresh ingredients are processed. Everything is very orderly and every step is very precise.
According to the number of people outside, the quantity of various dishes was adjusted appropriately.
Of course, the way Feng Yifan presents the dishes tonight is also different.
He didn't use the traditional oriental big plate, but it wasn't quite the western way of serving each person either. It looked like he didn't want people to be full at all.
Feng Yifan adopted a comprehensive approach, making the dishes a little more fancy and slightly reducing the portion size, but preparing multiple plates for presentation.
In this way, it can ensure that everyone can eat it and the quantity will not be much different.
The most important point is that this will leave enough space on the platter to fill.
When choosing dishes, we naturally have to meet everyone's different needs.
For example, for the two young men who delivered the table, Feng Yifan would prepare some beef, mutton and other meat dishes for them.
For Yang Zhiyi, Yang Zhigang and their neighbors in the old street, more refined meat dishes will be prepared, and the pork will be finely processed.
For the elderly, Feng Yifan prepares more lighter dishes, especially some river fish, paired with some chicken, duck, goose, and some eggs.
As for his wife and Li Fei'er and other women, Feng Yifan also specially prepared some dishes suitable for women.
Finally, it was the three little darlings. Feng Yifan specially prepared some sweet and sour dishes that were very nutritious for them.
The kitchen was busy and the people in the restaurant were full of anticipation.
After the three little girls woke up, they washed upstairs before being brought down by their two grandmothers and two mothers.
Seeing strangers, the three little girls were a little shy at first, but as time went by, they became bolder and approached the two strange uncles to ask questions.
The two guys serving the table seemed a little reserved when looking at the three cute little girls, especially when they were approached, and they seemed a little at a loss.
Fortunately, the wait was not long. About forty minutes after Feng Yifan entered the kitchen, he came out of the kitchen for the first time.
Naturally, the three little girls immediately gave up the two strange uncles and ran towards their father Feng together.
Feng Yifan hugged the three little girls, smiled and bowed to everyone and asked, "Everyone, are you ready for your dinner?"
It was Yang Zhiyi who rushed to say, "I can't wait any longer. Serve the food quickly."
Li Feier patted her husband lightly and said with a smile: "You only know how to eat, why are you in such a hurry?"
Feng Yifan didn't mind and asked the three little girls to go back to their seats first: "You three should also go to your seats and sit down. Dad will serve you the food next."
When the little girls heard this, they immediately ran back and sat down at a table.
Seeing that his daughter and other children were seated, Feng Yifan said, "Okay, everyone please wait a moment, the dishes will be here soon."
Feng Yifan turned around and went back to the kitchen, and soon came out pulling a cart filled with various covered plates.
When everyone saw the little car and the plate covered on it, they immediately became more excited.
Feng Yifan was not in a hurry either. He first walked to the table for the elderly, which was two tables put together.
Feng Yifan served four dishes.
When the lids on the plates were opened, everyone looked up in surprise and were immediately stunned by the presentation of the eight dishes on the two tables.
The crystal braised pork was presented on the plate like a book, the two dishes of stir-fried vegetables were bright but not greasy and were delicately presented, and finally there was another dish of hibiscus fish fillets that looked like hibiscus flowers. The four dishes were truly like four works of art.
Next, Feng Yifan served four dishes to the men's table.
There are another four dishes, still two meat and two vegetable, but the flavors are obviously stronger here, all braised or stewed in soy sauce.
For example, a plate of braised beef brisket was served, and another dish served was fried eel paste.
But in terms of plating, whether it is braised beef brisket or fried eel paste, Feng Yifan uses a relatively unique plating method.
Especially the fried eel paste, which was divided into several small portions by Feng Yifan and then placed on a large plate, so that everyone can directly pick up a small portion and eat it when eating.
The continuous "sizzling" sound when the fried eel paste is poured with oil is really unique.
Finally, there were four dishes for two mothers and three girls, which were a lot more fancy. They prepared bell-shaped shrimp balls for the children, each of which was hung up and really looked like a small bell.
I prepared a stir-fried vegetable dish for the two mothers, paired with a small bowl of soup. The color was very beautiful and the ingredients were very nutritious.
After watching the first round of dishes, almost everyone couldn’t help but exclaim in their hearts: It’s so beautiful.
The three little girls didn't hide it in their hearts, they shouted out directly: "So beautiful, Daddy Feng is the best."