Not only Xu An, but everyone else in the shop was startled by Zhang Dezhen's sudden tenor voice.
Everyone in the shop, whether they were chatting, distributing money, receiving money, counting money, or playing games, turned their heads and stared intently at Xu An and his companion.
"Ahem, let's talk in the kitchen, let's talk in the kitchen."
Xu An led the extremely excited Zhang Dezhen into the kitchen, closed the door to block everyone's view, and then asked, "You just said you were planning to apply for a chef position? Do you have any relevant work experience?"
“Yes! I worked in the kitchen of the Happiness Garden Hotel for four years... as a helper…” Zhang Dezhen’s voice grew softer and softer, his initial high spirits turning into unease, and by the end he was counting on his fingers.
Hmm, a helper, although working in the kitchen, usually doesn't get to do cooking, which is a bit difficult.
What were your main tasks when you were a helper?
"I can do all sorts of chores, like washing vegetables, preparing ingredients, and cleaning." Zhang Dezhen realized something was off after he finished speaking. He wanted to be a chef, but he was talking about helper jobs. He quickly added, "I can make cold dishes and braised dishes, and they taste pretty good too."
Upon hearing about braised food, Xu An became interested and asked, "What kinds of braised food are you good at making?"
"I can braise anything that's edible!" Zhang Dezhen's earlier unease vanished, and he regained his confident demeanor: "In my hometown, every household knows how to make braised food. My family makes the best braised food in the whole village."
Braised dishes?
Potatoes, lotus root, dried bean curd, kelp, eggs, pork and other ingredients are all available in the store. What a coincidence!
Xu An immediately asked Zhang Dezhen if it would be convenient for him to cook a pot of it so he could taste his cooking skills. Zhang Dezhen readily agreed and followed Xu An upstairs to select the seasonings they needed.
After everyone settled their wages for the day, they were about to leave, but when they heard that Zhang Dezhen was going to make braised food, they stopped and sat down in the shop.
"Boss, this is my family's secret recipe..." Zhang Dezhen prepared the ingredients and was about to start cooking when he saw Xu An next to him looking very interested, and immediately said somewhat embarrassedly.
"Understood," Xu An said, and immediately left the kitchen, thoughtfully closing the kitchen door behind him.
Less than half an hour later, a rich and mellow aroma wafted out through the cracks in the kitchen doors and windows, making everyone's mouths water.
Xu An was also very tempted by the smell!
In my past life, after get off work, I would occasionally go to a braised food shop to buy braised duck necks, duck clavicles, potatoes, lotus roots, seaweed, and other braised dishes to take home and share with everyone. It was very satisfying.
Especially when watching the game at night, I would have a can of beer in my left hand and a piece of duck neck in my right, and I was having a great time.
The aroma grew stronger and stronger, no longer confined to the store; it wafted outside and spread continuously to the surrounding area.
From time to time, nearby residents would walk to the shop entrance and peek inside. Some of the more outgoing ones would even ask what was being cooked.
Xu An warmly invited them to come in and sit down, and to taste the braised food before leaving.
More and more people sat in the store, and soon the first floor was full, creating a lively atmosphere.
But most people are probably just attracted by the aroma and come in thinking that it's free, so they're just here to join the fun.
The main consumers of braised food are young people. Most middle-aged and elderly people think that this kind of food is too strong and bad for their health, and they will not eat it more than two or three times a year.
young people?
Um!
Xu's Fast Food Restaurant's target audience is primarily young people! Especially those who order through the website, 99.99% of them are young people!
And then there's the Shanghai Maritime College. It's already August; classes will start in September, I guess.
As Xu An was pondering, the kitchen door, which had been tightly closed, was opened, and Zhang Dezhen came out carrying two large plates of chopped braised food, taking a big scare by the huge crowd in the shop.
What's going on? How come there are so many people in the shop while I'm cooking some braised food?
Although he couldn't understand it, that didn't stop him from placing the plate of braised food in front of Xu An's table: "Boss, please try it."
Xu An picked up a pair of disposable chopsticks, tore open the packaging, separated the chopsticks, and directly picked up a piece of braised potato and put it in his mouth.
The potatoes completely absorbed the flavor of the braising sauce, making them tender, delicious, and incredibly flavorful. They didn't feel soft enough when you picked them up, but they melted in your mouth – so delicious!
Zhang Dezhen cut the braised eggs into four pieces and poured braising sauce over them; the yolks all looked like a dark brown color.
Xu An picked up a quarter of the egg and put it in his mouth. The egg wasn't fully marinated yet, still retaining a hint of its natural sweetness. If it were to soak for an afternoon, the potent marinade would completely overwhelm the egg, resulting in a more complex texture and an even richer flavor.
Kelp, dried bean curd sticks, lotus root, pork...
With each bite, Xu An couldn't help but nod in approval.
As Xu An nodded repeatedly, Zhang Dezhen's aura relaxed, and a smile slowly appeared on his face.
After Xu An put down his chopsticks, he noticed that everyone around him was staring at him with eager eyes, their mouths practically watering. He quickly invited everyone to try some too.
Instantly, a dozen or twenty pairs of chopsticks danced in front of Xu An, and in a short while, two large plates full of braised food were completely devoured, with only the remaining braising liquid on the plates proving that they had once existed.
As the braised food entered the mouth, chorus of praises echoed throughout every corner of the store.
"Boss, how is it?" Zhang Dezhen looked at Xu An expectantly, his eyes filled with a mixture of worry and anticipation.
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com