With the suggestions given by Su Jinrong, everyone gradually changed their thinking and thought about how to make some innovative attempts based on traditional dishes.
And with a traditional chef like Su Jinrong by your side to give guidance, it is easier for everyone to master traditional cooking.
Gradually, in Su Ji's kitchen, people changed from thinking about how to create new dishes to reproducing traditional dishes.
Among them, Su Jinrong and Shi Jiahui played a relatively key role.
Both of them can be regarded as leaders in traditional cooking.
Even though Su Jinrong missed many opportunities in his life and was never able to leave Su Ji, he is still absolutely top-notch in craftsmanship.
Shi Jiahui had also heard her father comment on this point.
"If Su Jinrong could leave Su Ji, he would probably have been a top chef in the country who could be named after his father. It's a pity that he has too many family responsibilities and cannot leave Su Ji."
So today, under the guidance of Su Jinrong, a group of young people truly witnessed the strength of the country's top chefs.
As if he felt it was inconvenient to talk while sitting in the wheelchair, Su Jinrong simply stood up.
Standing in front of the counter with a cane, he said very seriously: "No matter what kind of food it is, whether it is Eastern or Western, in fact, when designing it, we must abide by three principles. The first step is to examine the materials, the second step is traditionally called 'matching girls with husbands', and the third step is called 'teaching students in accordance with their aptitude'."
Seeing the old man stand up, everyone followed suit and stood in awe, listening very attentively.
But after listening to it, everyone was confused. They didn't understand why there was such a thing as "matching daughters with husbands" and "teaching students in accordance with their aptitude"
Seeing everyone's puzzled faces, Su Jinrong explained, "Matching a daughter with a husband is an application of the ancient marriage, when parents choose a husband for their daughter based on her talent and appearance. In other words, when we cook, we also need to match the main ingredients with the appropriate auxiliary ingredients and condiments."
After hearing this explanation, everyone immediately understood and also found it very interesting.
Su Jinrong went on to say: "Teaching students in accordance with their aptitude is not a literal meaning. In cooking, teaching students in accordance with their aptitude means that we should cook with different heat and methods according to different ingredients."
After hearing these two explanations, everyone present nodded to show that they understood, and at the same time began to plan in their minds.
Su Jinrong continued, "So if you want to design a new dish, you must first select the main ingredients. Once you have determined the main ingredients, you must understand the advantages and disadvantages of the main ingredients. This is the time to examine the ingredients.
Then, based on its advantages and disadvantages, consider how to match the auxiliary ingredients to highlight the advantages of the main ingredients while covering up the disadvantages, thus presenting a dish with a perfect taste.
Finally, it is necessary to cook at the right temperature according to the characteristics of the main and auxiliary ingredients.”
Listening to Su Jinrong's lectures really made everyone present fascinated without realizing it.
Not only young people, but even Shi Jiahui, a middle-aged chef who has learned from his father, a top chef, and has worked in the culinary industry for many years, was fascinated by the lecture and felt that he had gained something.
After explaining these theories to everyone, Su Jinrong gave another example.
"Jiahui should know that there is a classic dish in Su Kee called 'Red Crispy Chicken'."
Shi Jiahui nodded: "Yes, I know. My father once said that this dish can be regarded as the culmination of strong-flavored dishes, a real monk-level dish. It looks simple, but it is not easy to make it well."
Su Jinrong also nodded: "Yes, red crispy chicken is a very difficult dish to make."
Then, Su Jinrong began to explain them to everyone separately.
“First of all, the red crispy chicken, as you can tell from the name, the main ingredient of this dish is chicken.
So what are the pros and cons of chicken?”
Upon hearing this question, everyone present looked at each other in confusion.
Then it was Ma Xiaolong who spoke up again: "Chicken is more delicious and doesn't contain a lot of fat like red meat, so it might be healthier to eat."
Su Jinrong nodded: "Yes, that's basically right. However, the low fat content is both an advantage and a disadvantage. Because of the low fat content, the chicken will taste drier and not thick enough. If it is used to make strong dishes, the taste will be a little lacking."
Everyone listened carefully, and they all knew that what Su Jinrong said were very important professional points.
Su Jinrong continued, "After we understand the advantages and disadvantages of the chicken and have finished selecting the ingredients, we will then pair the chicken with some ingredients based on the dish we are going to make, to make up for its shortcomings while also highlighting its advantages.
Crispy Red Chicken is a strong-flavored dish, so we need to pair it with some side dishes to enhance the taste.
So I chose pork and shrimp, which add fat and taste, making the whole dish more delicious.
After choosing the matching ingredients, we need to combine these three together, so we borrow a cooking method from Shandong cuisine, stuffing.
Chop the pork and shrimp into a paste, blend it until it is strong, and then stuff it into the boneless and flattened chicken thigh meat."
As he spoke, Su Jinrong couldn't help but start gesturing with his hands, just like he was really cooking.
Everyone in the kitchen was fascinated by what was happening, and when they saw Su Jinrong's actions, they imagined the cooking scene in their minds.
"The raw dough is ready. The next step is to teach students according to their aptitude. How can we shape the raw dough? First, we need to fry it in oil so that the chicken, pork and shrimp paste can be integrated into a whole.
In this way, the raw dough is completely formed. If you want to make it into a dish, you also need to consider that the flavors of the three ingredients need to blend together. Next, we will use the red stewing method. Use a casserole to pour the seasoned raw dough and soup into the casserole and simmer it slowly over low heat. "
Describing the entire cooking process of the dish also makes everyone feel that this dish is indeed exquisite.
Whether it is the brewing process at the beginning, the control of the heat of frying in the middle, or even the final seasoning and braising in a casserole, each step needs to be carefully controlled. If you are not careful, the dish will probably be deviated.
After Su Jinrong finished talking about the dishes, he said, “You see, the cooking process of a dish must follow this principle, so you can’t just keep trying to make it out of thin air, but you have to think about how to make it first.
Yifan should have told you before that you should first determine the main ingredients and then try it.
I am telling you all this today because I want to tell you that determining the main ingredient is not about choosing a certain ingredient, but about understanding the ingredient, understanding its strengths and weaknesses, and then trying to make the strengths of the ingredient more prominent and make up for its weaknesses. ”
After listening to Su Jinrong's words, especially the three principles of cooking he explained earlier, everyone felt something and seemed to have realized something.
Next, no one tried blindly, but everyone calmed down and thought.
Which ingredient would you choose as the main ingredient
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the main ingredients
What auxiliary ingredients are needed
How to match them to highlight the advantages and make up for the disadvantages
Thinking about these questions gradually gave everyone some new directions, and people like Chen Xu, Luo Yu, Hans and Tom began to overturn their previous assumptions.
Because after Su Jinrong's explanation, they found that there were many shortcomings in their previous designs.
So several people started to re-select ingredients and directions.
Chen Xu and Luo Yu even took out the recipes they had prepared before and began to look for some new inspiration for the recipes.
Shi Jiahui helped his uncle sit down and whispered, "Uncle, it seems that you were right to come today. It has given us some new ideas and thoughts, so we are not as blind as before. In fact, Yifan has mentioned it several times before, but no one took it seriously."
Su Jinrong smiled and whispered, "Yifan, he did it on purpose. He wanted me to teach you this lesson so that the young people would understand that I am his master. This is to make these young people respect me."
Shi Jiahui was a little surprised when he heard this, but after thinking about it carefully, he felt that what his uncle said was right.
Otherwise, with Feng Yifan's current level, how could he not remind everyone of the importance of examining and braiding the materials
He let everyone try it for a few days. Today, he accompanied his wife to the hospital and asked his father-in-law to stay and watch everyone try to make new dishes. It can be said that he clearly wanted his father-in-law to teach them these things.
Su Jinrong shook his head and continued, "Yifan felt that these young people were famous before they came and they all had their own pride. He said directly that maybe they would respect me, but it might be superficial, so he hoped that I would teach them and let them see my strength."
Shi Jiahui raised his head and took a look. It turned out that this group of young people really had real abilities.
Not to mention Ma Xiaolong, Catherine, Hans and Tom, they had previously stayed in the Perovence restaurant with Feng Yifan, and even participated in Perovence's efforts to regain three stars.
Even Chen Xu and Luo Yu have already reached a certain level in dim sum.
Chen Xu learned from a dim sum master.
The fact that Luo Yu can make delicious desserts with her talent and replace all the pastry chefs in the restaurant is enough to show that she is excellent.
So when such a group of people get together, each of them must have their own pride.
Their pride had been shattered by Feng Yifan, so they obeyed his orders and were full of admiration for him.
But except for Feng Yifan, they might not respect Shi Jiahui very much at the beginning.
It was not until Shi Jiahui created a new dish and it was successfully selected into the menu that they recognized Shi Jiahui and acknowledged her status as the sous chef from the bottom of their hearts.
However, there is another Su Jinrong behind Su Ji.
Given the old man’s current physical condition, it is impossible for him to cook again.
So how can we make this group of proud young people recognize Su Jinrong from the bottom of their hearts
And you have to be able to respect Su Jinrong
Feng Yifan came up with this idea, letting Su Jinrong teach the things that he didn't say, so that this group of proud young people would understand that although Su Jinrong's body did not allow it, he was still a top chef.
Shi Jiahui said softly: "Uncle Master, Yifan has good intentions."
Su Jinrong smiled bitterly and responded: "But it's actually not necessary."
Shi Jiahui asked curiously, "How can it be unnecessary? It is only right to let these young people respect you. I think Yifan did nothing wrong."
Su Jinrong said, "Su Ji is now owned by Yifan, so it doesn't matter whether they respect me or not. As long as they respect Yifan and help him run Su Ji well under Yifan's command, I think that's enough."
Shi Jiahui whispered, "Uncle Master, this is also Yifan's respect and filial piety to you."
Su Jinrong couldn't help laughing after hearing this: "He is now also playing these tricks."
Shi Jiahui smiled and said, "How can this be considered a philandering mind? I think Yifan is being filial to you. And you see Yifan has arranged everything in an orderly manner since he came back. I see Ruoxi and Ruoruo both like him very much. Isn't this great?"
Su Jinrong responded: "Yes, after he came back, everything seemed to have changed."
At this point, Su Jinrong looked at Shi Jiahui and said, "If Yifan hadn't come back, I might not have been able to meet your father again in my lifetime, and you wouldn't have come to Su Ji."
Shi Jiahui thought for a moment and said, "It shouldn't be the case. My father often said that he wanted to come back to see you, but he was too busy before and couldn't leave."
Su Jinrong said he could understand: "Well, Senior Brother is probably my father's best disciple."
Shi Jiahui added: "No, my father said that you are the best and you are the most hardworking among your fellow apprentices. It's a pity that you are tied down by your family and cannot display your talent."
Su Jinrong smiled bitterly and waved his hands.
Shi Jiahui continued, "Uncle Master, please don't wave your hand. Think about it. If you don't have enough talent, how can you teach Yifan?"
Su Jinrong was stunned by these words.
Shi Jiahui continued, "Master, my father and Mr. Zhuang both said that after meeting Yifan, they finally realized what a true master chef who has mastered both Chinese and Western cuisine is. My father and Mr. Zhuang both have high hopes for Yifan and think he can revive the reputation of Chinese cuisine."
Su Jinrong waved his hands and said, "Don't praise Yifan too much. It's too much pressure on him. He still has to take care of his family."
Hearing this, Shi Jiahui was stunned at first, but soon realized that Su Jinrong's seemingly derogatory words were actually to help his son-in-law get out of trouble, because he was worried that his son-in-law was too overworked.
Shi Jiahui laughed: "Okay, Uncle Master, don't worry, I will definitely not let Yifan abandon his family."
Seeing that Shi Jiahui understood what he meant, Su Jinrong smiled and nodded.
Su Jinrong and Shi Jiahui chatted for a while, and the others in the kitchen also discussed it for a long time, but they haven't come up with a conclusion yet. However, several people have their own new ideas.
Shi Jiahui looked at the time and said, "Okay, it's almost noon, the business next door should be getting busy. Xiao Ma, take some people over to help Xiao Lin. Don't always be here researching new dishes and leave all the business next door to Xiao Lin alone."
Ma Xiaolong came to his senses immediately after hearing this, and directly called Chen Xu, Luo Yu and Hans to go to the next room to help.