"Big plates, little food, and a piece of grass in the empty space—isn't this the standard for plating in Michelin restaurants? How come nightclubs are using this too?"
Looking at the plates of exquisitely shaped and beautifully presented dishes, Chen Yan couldn't help but complain.
There's nothing we can do. The dishes served are simply too few in quantity...
It's not a Western meal. The plate is clearly filled with home-cooked dishes like Dongpo pork, spicy chicken, and sweet and sour pork tenderloin. But on such a large plate, there are only three pieces of Dongpo pork...
There were a lot of other embellishments, and the blank spaces were filled with sauce, which really made Chen Yan feel uncomfortable.
Even if he eats a hundred plates of this kind of food, he still won’t be full…
"Because we can charge a higher price this way. If customers choose to dine here, we can make a lot of money just from the drinks and dishes. If it's like Northeastern cuisine, where the portions are based on the size of the plates, and eight people can be full with four dishes, then wouldn't this restaurant be losing money?"
Chu Yinyin looked unsurprised and continued, "You have to look at the location here. Although the shop is their own and doesn't require rent, the normal rent standard in the surrounding area must be factored into the cost. Add to that the renovation, materials, staff training, and so on. If you don't do this, it's like throwing money away.
Even though everyone has money, they don't want to be foolish and throw it away. Money, when spent clearly, is acceptable to everyone, regardless of the amount. Knowing how much you can expect to lose and making preparations ahead of time is fine; you can continue to lose money. The key is clarity, not confusion.
Being clear about losing money, controlling the extent of losses, and leaving everyone a place to have fun is the smart approach. But if you squander money recklessly, losing money without any reason or value, it's pure folly. In our circle, losing money doesn't matter, but being perceived as foolish is absolutely unacceptable."
Chen Yan sighed, picked up the chopsticks, picked up a piece of Dongpo pork and put it in his mouth.
After tasting it, his eyes lit up and he nodded slowly, "You know what, even though the portion is ridiculously small, it tastes really good. It's much better than the Dongpo pork I've had before."
Chu Yinyin smiled and said, "It's not pre-prepared food. The chef we hired is a real master, a disciple of a famous family who used to specialize in state banquets. I heard that this chef specializes in Huaiyang and Shandong cuisine, but also has experience in several other cuisines. Although the level of other cuisines is not top-notch, the chef's own level is there, so even if it is a dish he is not good at, the level of his preparation is definitely better than that of the so-called executive chef of a five-star hotel.
Plus, the ingredients are all genuine, without any added technology or labor. If they're too lazy to eat at home, they'll actually go to these restaurants to enjoy a bite. So, whether it's the ingredients or the seasonings, they're all specially sourced. From start to finish, they're carefully prepared by a dedicated staff, without any drugs. The cost of these ingredients is far more expensive than those bought at the market or supermarket.
As Chen Yan listened, he quickly cleared out the dishes on the plates in front of him.
Although he had never eaten anything good before, it was still very simple for him to judge whether a dish was delicious or not.
Just as Chu Yinyin said, the taste of the dishes themselves is indeed quite amazing, and the chef's skills are truly top-notch.
Aiming at the plates nearby, Chen Yan asked as he ate, "Are these all special supplies? The kind provided to the government?"
Chu Yinyin nodded and said, "Yes, government cafeterias above a certain level, as well as the leadership residences, all have special supply areas for vegetables, meat, eggs, and milk. The raw materials here are shipped directly from these special supply areas. Plus, everything is of high standard, so it's only natural that they sell for a high price."
"So do you have to pay to order here? Or is it free over there?"
Chen Yan continued to ask curiously.
Chu Yinyin sneered and said, "The man who called me to come here is called Gu Zhijie. He just joined the industry after his grandfather changed leadership. I heard that he has been very arrogant in the circle in the past two years. However, his grandfather is very old, so he will only serve for one term at most.
It is not so much that his grandfather's ability and status have reached the level, but rather that his age has reached the level. The organization has taken into account his grandfather's diligent contributions over the years and allowed him to be promoted to a bureau committee member before the age reaches the limit. This can be regarded as a reward for the old man.
But everyone knew that after one term, his grandfather would definitely retire. Whether he would continue to contribute to the CPPCC or retire completely depended on the organization's opinion. If he retired completely, it would be the end of his family. If he continued to contribute to the CPPCC, there would still be a chance.
Because his father's current position is very awkward, he has reached the age limit, but his qualifications and years in office are insufficient. He wants to force his way from the city to the provincial level, and he faces huge resistance. If his grandfather had been given a few more years to campaign, his father's entry into the provincial level would have been a sure thing.
But if his grandfather retired completely, making it difficult for him to have a say, his father would likely remain at the municipal level for the rest of his life. For his family, if his father's generation could continue to work at the provincial level for a dozen more years, their position would be solidified.
However, if the subsequent situation remained at the municipal level, their family would surely fall into decline. That was why he had gone to great lengths to invite Brother Le to the scene tonight. After all... Brother Le could have a say and perhaps provide some assistance with his grandfather's matter.
Tonight, we're all just guests, and Brother Le is the host. Gu Zhijie is organizing a party for the younger generation to attend to family matters. It might not have much impact, but as long as it has some effect, it's a way of expressing his attitude. So, of course, Gu Zhijie is treating tonight."
Chen Yan understood and nodded with a smile, "It seems that you look down on that Gu Zhijie, so if I eat more, you will be happier."
Chu Yinyin said frankly, "Of course, everyone doesn't care about this little money, but if he suddenly spent tens of millions on someone he didn't know, he would be very unhappy. And as long as he's unhappy, I'm happy."
"I see. Then I'll eat as much as I can tonight. Don't think I'm eating too much. I'll also let Jixiang earn more. Maybe Jixiang will remember my kindness."
Chen Yan said with a smile.
Chu Yinyin threw the IPAD directly in front of Chen Yan and said, "Order whatever you want, but remember not to waste it. If you waste it on purpose, it will make me look bad."
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