Lin Xu chuckled and exchanged pleasantries with him before moving on to serious matters.
Zeng Xiaoqi said, "If the chefs from Fishing Platform are willing to participate in filming the show, the show will display the Fishing Platform banner multiple tis and give special thanks to Fishing Platform for its strong support at the end of the episode."
As long as you can join, everything else will be easy to discuss. After all, Fishing Platform has a big reputation; just a slight brush with it could bump the viewership up a notch.
Liao Jinming wasn’t particularly concerned about this. His only goal was to fulfill the task assigned by the leadership: to attract as many potential custors as possible and increase the revenue of the various buildings.
On this basis, having the head chefs record a cooking show was a piece of cake. This also provided a platform for that group of chefs, brimming with unspent energy, to showcase themselves.
Last ti, word was that head chefs from other hotels catering to foreigners were keen on ganging up on Fishing Platform. However, they were subdued by Lin Xu’s Qingshui Furong, and no one dared to take the lead afterward. This had frustrated the chefs at Fishing Platform for quite so ti.
Such a great opportunity. And it was wasted by a few scaredy-cats. If the younger generation couldn’t overpower Fishing Platform, wouldn’t the middle-aged generation need to redouble their efforts for revenge?
However, the head chefs from those hotels didn’t make a peep, causing Fishing Platform to miss out on a grand chance to show off.
But now a new opportunity had knocked on their door.
Liao Jinming could finally have so peace.
After the discussion, Liao Jinming, on behalf of the Dining Departnt at Fishing Platform, and Zeng Xiaoqi, the person in charge of the program "Flavors of the Human World," signed a cooperation agreent.
Once signed, the matter was considered settled.
Not only did Zeng Xiaoqi want to freeload a al here, but Lin Xu also felt that since he had co, it would be sowhat rude not to have a al before leaving.
To make it until the lunch hour, the two of them once again put on the act of being concerned about the show and attended a seminar organized by the Dining Departnt.
The subject of the eting was simple: it was about the head chefs taking the ti to go to the TV station for filming. Before going, they needed to communicate well with the TV station about the content to be recorded. They also had to inform them about the cooking ti for each dish so the TV station could better manage filming schedules.
Then they began to decide who would go on the show.
Guo Weidong, the head chef of Building No. 10, was certainly not going. Building No. 10 had the best business and needed its head chef on site.
Besides chefs from buildings with high business volu, those with reception duties or involved in exchange programs also couldn’t participate.
Consequently, nearly half of the head chefs lost the smiles on their faces. They wouldn’t get to show off their cooking skills in front of the TV audience.
Liao Jinming said, "Going to the TV station isn’t for fun; you must demonstrate the professionalism and high-end quality of the Fishing Platform’s catering departnt. Zhenhua, you know how to make dough fruits, don’t you? Show it off when the ti cos so the audience can see what high-end Chinese-style dough fruits look like. It’ll stop people from always going on about ’Dragon’s Roar’ this and ’Dragon’s Roar’ that. In my opinion, aren’t those just made with gelatin, food coloring, and molds? What’s so special about them?"
Dough fruits? The kind made to look like fruit using dough? Looks like they’re preparing a big move!
Sitting in the conference room, Lin Xu and Zeng Xiaoqi felt like they were attending a mobilization eting before a battle for an independent regint. Director Liao, usually mild-mannered and seemingly a nice guy, suddenly seed possessed by the spirit of Li Longyun. He fiercely assigned... oh, not tasks for storming a position, but rather the filming tasks.
Qiu Zhenhua adjusted the gold-rimd glasses perched on his nose. "All right, Director Liao, since you’ve spoken, when I go to film, I won’t hold back."
Liao Jinming nodded, then turned to look at Song Dahai. "We have quite a few high-end seafood dishes, too; don’t forget to showcase them. Prepare a few of Fishing Platform’s high-end dishes to be as elaborate as possible."
After going through the list, when it was Xie Baomin’s turn, Liao Jinming took a sip of the Luo Han Guo tea from his cup, his voice becoming more earnest. "Baomin, take it easy, will you? Don’t keep making dishes that your master has a non-disclosure agreent for. So dishes really aren’t suitable for showing off; don’t make it hard for and your master."
Xie Baomin cracked a smile, "Director Liao, you are being biased."
Liao Jinming glanced at him, "This afternoon was originally set for you to record the first episode. Do you want to switch with Weidong instead?"
"No need, no need, Dongdong is too busy over there. It’s better for . I’ll take it easy and won’t ss around."
After the eting, Lin Xu drove Zeng Xiaoqi and Xie Baomin back to Building No. 2.
In the car, Xie Baomin was still brooding over Liao Jinming’s arrangent. "Why did our master bother creating so many original dishes if we can’t show them off? Isn’t that like parading in brocade at night?"
Lin Xu controlled the car’s speed as he spoke, "Just do whatever Director Liao says. We’ll get familiar with the audience first... What’s for lunch at Building No. 2 today?"
First, ask about the food. If it’s good, head to Building No. 2; if not, find another building to turn into. After all, with eighteen buildings, surely not all of them have bad food.
Xie Baomin wasn’t concerned about that; he looked out the window listlessly and said, "This morning, Old Cheng got a few ’three-stripe scales,’ which are Northeastern Carp. He’s planning on making Demoli Stewed Fish and Earth Three Fresh. It’s autumn, so it’s the season for Earth Three Fresh."
Not bad.
Lin Xu hadn’t tried Demoli Stewed Fish before, but he knew about Earth Three Fresh. Despite being a vegetarian dish, its ability to complent rice far surpassed that of many at dishes.
So, they decided to go to Building No. 2, to experience the difference between the Earth Three Fresh made at Fishing Platform and that from a school cafeteria.
When they arrived at Building No. 2, Lin Xu parked the car. By then it was already eleven o’clock.
As they walked into the building together, Zeng Xiaoqi asked, "Executive Chef Xie, you’re starting to record the show this afternoon. Which dish are you planning to make? I want to ntally prepare myself."
This was Zeng Xiaoqi’s first collaboration with a State Banquet head chef, which made the beautiful Ms. Zeng sowhat nervous.
The dejection previously shown on Xie Baomin’s face had disappeared. He spoke with a gleam in his eyes, "Since Director Liao wants a high-end dish, I’ll make the new Chinese-style dough fruits I recently learned. They’ll definitely be indistinguishable from the real thing, and the flavor is also fantastic."
Wait a minute... Weren’t those dough fruits what Director Liao told Chef Qiu to make?
Lin Xu curiously asked, "Senior Brother, if you make the dish that Chef Qiu was supposed to prepare, what will Chef Qiu make?"
Xie Baomin laughed heartily, "The TV station is so far away; it’s not easy for Qiuqiu to make the trip. I might as well do it for him to save him the hassle of going back and forth... There are other head chefs, too. I’ve also helped prepare their signature dishes. Old Xie here is just that selfless and altruistic!"
Lin Xu: "..."
With your "take others’ paths and leave them no path" philosophy, it’s no wonder you could end up in a sack soday. I really hope that day cos sooner rather than later...
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