At three o'clock in the afternoon, Su Ji closed its business on time.
With the experience of the previous two days, there were actually not many customers at Su Ji at this time, and there were not many people queuing at the door.
Instead, many people noticed that Su Ji’s business hours were approaching, so they lined up at Lin’s shop for takeout.
This also directly led to Su Ji's suspension of business, while Lin's shop's take-out business continued for another half an hour.
Because some people had already paid, I could only work half an hour longer.
Feng Yifan did not take care of that side, but handed over the takeout window of the Lin family shop to his three apprentices, Chen Xu, Luo Yu and others. There were waiters at Su's side who were responsible for cleaning up, and Zhao Daxia led people to clean up in the back, so Feng Yifan didn't have to worry about it.
Later, when the restaurant closed, Hans and Tom would go to the take-out window of the Lin family shop to help.
With so many people helping out, we were able to complete the takeout orders in half an hour.
As for Feng Yifan, Shi Jiahui, Shi Jinbin, the three apprentices who were seconded here, as well as Catherine and Su Liancheng, the group of people sat in the cleaned Su Ji and accepted Li Feier's formal interview with Feng Yifan.
Li Feier's interview this time is different from the previous online video of Meng Shitong and others.
This time, Li Feier came for the interview from a TV station, so it was more formal.
After some opening remarks, Li Feier was also very serious. She first congratulated Feng Yifan for reopening Su Ji and achieving such good business today.
"Congratulations, Chef Feng. It seems that Su Ji's business is so hot now, and it should be all your credit. You really make us look at you in a new light. Even the people of Huaicheng now think that you are the pride of Huaicheng when they mention Su Ji."
Feng Yifan responded with a smile: "Thank you for your kindness. I can only say that my team and I did what a chef should do. It's not as exaggerated as everyone said."
Li Feier said: "Chef Feng, you are so modest."
Next, Li Feier began to ask questions in her own way.
"Chef Feng, it's like this. Many people say that you are a retro Chinese chef. The various dishes you make are very traditional in taste and always adhere to that tradition. Do you think this statement is accurate?"
Feng Yifan thought for a moment and answered seriously: "I don't think this statement is very accurate."
Next, he also explained his point of view in front of the camera.
"I always believe that the key to good food is that it tastes good, that it suits the tastes of the general public, and that diners can enjoy the food. Whether it is traditional or not is not that important."
When everyone present heard what Feng Yifan said, they all nodded in agreement.
Feng Yifan continued, "Traditional practices must have gone through thousands of trials and tribulations, so they can be passed down from generation to generation. This also has its reasons.
But now that we are facing the impact of new things, we cannot stand still. Instead, we need to make new attempts and adapt to some of the changes today, such as the impact of Western food entering the country and some changes in the tastes of young people.
As a chef, you cannot fail to stick to tradition, but you cannot be bound by tradition either."
These words still won everyone's frequent nods, and they all agreed with these views.
Li Feier asked again: "Chef Feng, what is the positioning of Su Ji?"
Feng Yifan smiled and replied: "Su Ji does not have a specific positioning. Su Ji has its own rules. It has a traditional side, but also a very fashionable side. Su Ji will have new changes. We will continue to bring forth new ideas and let diners taste more different flavors at Su Ji."
Li Feier continued to ask: "Then, Chef Feng, which dish do you think best represents Su Ji among all the dishes at Su Ji?"
Feng Yifan replied: "In fact, every dish of Su Ji can be regarded as Su Ji's signature dish. Of course, if I have to choose one dish, then I must launch the Su Zao Banquet that best represents Su Ji. Among them, various Su Zao dishes are the most representative dishes of Su Ji."
Li Feier was a little curious: "Oh? Su Zao Banquet? What kind of banquet is that?"
Feng Yifan explained it carefully.
“Su Zao Banquet is a banquet handed down by the ancestors of the Su family. It was once a banquet in the palace, but many of the dishes have been lost. I also studied with my father-in-law for a long time before I found clues from the recipes of the ancestors of the Su family and gradually restored it.
The most important thing about Su Zao Banquet is the Su Zao soup, which is a braised soup with different proportions in different seasons. You can add soy sauce or make it a plain braised soup. The resulting dishes all have unique flavors and are really delicious.
Of course, Su Zaoyan is much more than that, there are also various shapes and corresponding tableware to match, but we have not yet fully restored it."
Feng Yifan also told some history of Su Zaoyan and some things about the Su family's ancestors.
This was also the first time Li Feier heard of it, and even everyone present was very surprised.
Li Feier knew that Su Ji's old plaque was passed down from ancestors and it was indeed very old. Now after hearing what Feng Yifan said, she finally understood the inheritance of the old plaque.
"Chef Feng, you really surprised me. I didn't expect that Su Ji's ancestor was actually a royal chef in the palace, and even had palace banquet cuisine like Su Zaoyan."
Feng Yifan smiled and said, "In fact, those are all history. Su Ji's ancestor, that is, my wife's grandfather, never thought of borrowing the name of his ancestors, so for us younger generations, we naturally don't want to borrow the name of our ancestors.
The reason why I worked hard to restore Su Zao Banquet is that I hope more people can taste those dishes.
I will also make some improvements to it so that the taste can be more suitable for everyone's current taste.
In a word, Su Ji’s goal is always to make delicious food, to serve it to every diner, and to let every diner taste the delicious food.”
Li Feier praised: "Chef Feng really never forgets his original intention."
Then Li Feier began to ask questions about the operation of Su Ji and Ruo restaurants.
Feng Yifan also tried his best to give a suitable answer.
When asked about Ruo Restaurant, Li Feier asked directly: "Chef Feng, there are actually some people on the Internet who think that Ruo Restaurant is not a real Western restaurant because it does not belong to any school of Western cuisine. Some people even think that your Ruo Restaurant is a bit out of place. What do you think?"
Feng Yifan laughed, and his laugh was very happy, even with a hint of sarcasm in it.
“In fact, Ruo Restaurant is not an authentic Western restaurant, because I have made some improvements to each dish in Ruo Restaurant to make the taste of those dishes more in line with the taste of Chinese people. Of course, if there are some foreign guests, I will also make some adjustments.
And I never said that the restaurant was an authentic western restaurant.
It can be said that if a restaurant is a Western-style restaurant, whether it is authentic or not is a matter of opinion.
If you really want to be picky, I think you don't have to eat at Ruo Restaurant.
Because there are too many well-known Western restaurants at home and abroad, and there are also many three-star restaurants to try, there is no need to eat at Ruo Restaurant. ”
After listening to what Feng Yifan said, Li Feier was a little amused.
"Well, Chef Feng really doesn't give in at all. He really has a stubborn temper."
Then, Li Feier asked again: "Then Chef Feng, aren't you worried about being boycotted? Or will many people really choose not to come to Ruo Restaurant, or even Su Ji to eat?"
Feng Yifan said with a smile: "It is everyone's freedom to choose a restaurant. I have no right to interfere with the diners' choice of whether to come to eat or not. I have always said that as long as you come to my two restaurants, I will definitely dedicate delicious food to every diner.
But whether to come or not is still the customer's own choice, so I won't interfere, let alone beg the customer to come."
Li Feier was still very satisfied with Feng Yifan's toughness, and she naturally sided with Feng Yifan in her heart.
But she still said: "Chef Feng really doesn't give in at all."
Then Li Feier looked at Su Ruoxi and asked, "Boss, I want to ask you, would you support your husband's willful toughness?"
Su Ruoxi didn't expect that Li Feier would suddenly want to ask a question herself.
After a brief moment of shock, Su Ruoxi smiled and said, "I don't think there is any problem. My husband is right. The diners' choice is up to them. We can't force them, let alone beg them.
If people feel that Su Ji and Ruo Restaurant are not suitable for their taste, then they don’t have to come. Anyway, we are too busy now. If we can reduce the number of customers, I think my husband won’t have to work so hard and can spend more time with his beloved daughter. "
Su Ruoxi's direct words left everyone in Su's company speechless.
But after a brief silence, everyone couldn't help laughing.
While laughing, Shi Jiahui and others gave Su Ruoxi a thumbs up.
Even Li Feier secretly gave Su Ruoxi a thumbs up off camera.
With everyone's support, Su Ruoxi feels more confident.
“During this period, Su Ji and Ruo restaurants may have become famous in the eyes of many people, which has led to a booming business for Su Ji and Ruo restaurants. We should be very happy because the booming business means we can make more money.
But in fact, we are very distressed, because as my husband said, they hope to bring delicious food to everyone, and delicious food requires constant research and innovation, but they don’t have time to do these now.
Our business was so good that my husband and his colleagues had to work very hard.
As a wife, I actually don’t want to see a husband like this.
I hope my husband can spend more time with us, make our daughter happy, and enjoy our family life with me and our daughter."
Su Ruoxi spoke sincerely and expressed all her love for her husband in front of the camera.
The look in her eyes when she looked at her husband was full of love, but also a hint of guilt.
In fact, in Su Ruoxi's heart, she really feels a little guilty towards her husband now.
She even regretted it now, regretting agreeing to let her husband help her father revive Su Ji.
Because she felt that her husband was working too hard.
This was not what Su Ruoxi had originally hoped for.
At this moment, Su Ruoxi's emotional outburst instantly moved everyone present. Everyone looked at Su Ruoxi's somewhat excited expression and her red eyes filled with tears.
Everyone knows that a wife really loves her husband.
Feng Yifan stood up, walked over and hugged his wife.
"Okay, why are you so excited? Isn't this a normal interview? Those who say bad things about us are a minority after all. Just look at how good our business is and you'll know that most people support us."
Su Ruoxi finally couldn't hold back her tears in her husband's arms.
"But, but what they said is really infuriating. How can they say that? You have put so much thought into Ruo Restaurant, and every dish is created by you. Why do you have to accept their slander like that?"
When Li Feier saw this situation, she asked the cameraman to stop filming temporarily.
She said a little embarrassedly: "I'm sorry, I didn't expect that the questions I asked would make you, Ruoruo's mother, so excited."
Feng Yifan hugged his wife, turned to Li Feier and said, "It's okay."
Su Ruoxi also said: "I don't blame you, I'm just angry about the accusations from those people online."
Others present also followed suit to persuade.
Shi Jiahui said, "Oh, Ruoxi, you don't have to be angry. Some people on the Internet are just like that. They are just idle people, and they always like to speak with hostility. Why do you care what they say? Anyway, we just run our business in our own way."
Catherine said: "Boss, if every dish in our restaurant is delicious, we don't need to worry about whether it is authentic Western food."
He Yaqian said, "Sister Ruoxi, if you feel angry, Ah Fei, Ah Bin, Jasmine, and I will go online to help you criticize those people, and then we will gather some of your and Chef Feng's fans to fight back and make those people shut up."
Meng Shitong quickly said, "Don't give me any random advice. If you do that, Su Ji might get criticized instead."
Ah Fei also said: "Yes, we still need to calm down."
Then, everyone started to offer suggestions.
Su Ruoxi huddled in her husband's arms, listening to everyone's discussion, and said to her husband: "I don't want you to work so hard. If you feel tired, we can do less work. It doesn't matter whether we make money or not, as long as our family is happy."
Feng Yifan lowered his head and kissed his wife's forehead, and said softly: "Don't worry, your husband can do it, and a little criticism can't defeat me.
Besides, with you and Ruoruo, the support of our parents, and the help of so many good friends, we will definitely get better and better. "
Su Ruoxi raised her head and looked at her husband. For the first time, she stood on tiptoe and took the initiative to kiss her husband in the presence of others.