Chapter 0008: Manchu-Han Imperial Feast

The coffee shop also sells meals, and the open kitchen is fully equipped. After Shen Long took over, he made some simple renovations, creating two private rooms. The private rooms have windows facing the kitchen, allowing guests to see how the dishes are prepared while they dine.

Manchu-Han Imperial Feast? Upon hearing this, these gourmets immediately became spirited. Nowadays, there are indeed a few establishments that claim to offer the Manchu-Han Imperial Feast, but either they are deceiving people, or the chefs lack skill, or the prices are excessively high. Among these individuals, there are truly very few who have actually tasted it

After sleeping for a while longer, he only got up when his hunger became unbearable. The ample sleep made Shen Long feel particularly refreshed. The thought of no longer having to endure the nine-to-nine work schedule, six days a week, made him incredibly happy.

After finishing several dishes, they became increasingly excited. If the appetizers were this delicious, what could the main courses possibly be like

Generally, one must make a reservation to dine, and ordering from the menu is not permitted; depending on the type of package, the per capita consumption ranges from 500 to 1500 yuan. Well, after so many years, the prices have increased, and this amount does not include beverages

He does not just greet anyone randomly; these are influential users on food websites. If they are satisfied after dining, they will certainly help promote him

The chef's ancestors served as the chief of the Imperial Household Department during the Qing Dynasty, enjoying the trust of Empress Dowager Cixi. He approved the daily menu of the imperial kitchen, and he had tasted every dish served to Cixi and the Emperor. Each time he reviewed the menu, he memorized it, and upon returning home, he meticulously recorded each dish, eventually compiling a collection of recipes in his later years

Upon careful consideration, Liao Jie is not only exceptionally talented in culinary arts but has also received meticulous guidance from renowned masters. The completeness of his culinary heritage cannot be compared to that of the Li family, who merely study recipes on their own.

On a weekend, I called out online to gather those who were invited last time to my shop, and this time about twenty people came, just enough to fill two tables

Ladies and gentlemen, today I will present to you the Manchu-Han Imperial Feast! Of course, the Manchu-Han Imperial Feast consists of a total of 320 dishes, and it is impossible for us to consume them all in one sitting, so I have only selected a few distinctive dishes, hoping that everyone will enjoy them. It is not only a matter of not being able to finish the food; the menu of the Manchu-Han Imperial Feast includes many protected animals, which we cannot eat.

It makes no sense; whether it is the knife skills or the plating, everything is at an exceptional level, and it smells extraordinarily fragrant. How could it possibly taste bad? Just as I was lost in thought, I saw the person who claimed it was not tasty picking up their chopsticks again.

Shen Long does not seek out those large restaurants, but specifically looks for unique small eateries. After searching for half an afternoon, he indeed found a suitable target for imitation, which is the renowned Li Family Cuisine in the capital.

In the film "The Gourmet", Liao Jie, Long Kunbao, and the main antagonist Huang Rong prepare dishes in a remarkably impressive manner, transforming a culinary film into one that exudes the grandeur of a martial arts movie directed by Tsui Hark

How is it?" someone on the opposite side hurriedly asked.

Shen Long made up his mind and called out to these online friends, "In a while, I will cook a feast for you all. You can come over then to taste it and see how my skills compare to those of this restaurant."

Later generations honed their exceptional culinary skills based on this cookbook, particularly excelling in the preparation of imperial cuisine. Since the restaurant opened its doors, customers have been incessantly flocking in, including notable figures such as former U.S. Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin and former British Prime Minister John Major. Prominent domestic celebrities like Jin Yong, Mei Baojiu, and Jackie Chan have also been esteemed guests at Li's Family Cuisine.

In simple terms, Shen Long not only cooks delicious food, but the process of cooking is also quite enjoyable to watch. He certainly will not give up this selling point. He is also considering that if business is not good in the initial period, he could live stream the process of cooking on a live streaming platform, which might be even more profitable than running a restaurant

Since they can do it, so can I. It's just that the business might be a bit slow in the beginning. I can hold on for a few months; at worst, I can just cook for myself every day

I changed to a highly-rated restaurant, spent over 400 yuan for a lunch, and then went to a nearby five-star hotel to enjoy afternoon tea while using my phone to search for information on how to open a store

The upcoming dishes, including the Dragon and Phoenix presenting auspiciousness, the spicy shredded tripe with the character 'ten thousand', and the mushroom and black moss with the character 'year', also received their enthusiastic praise, with nearly every dish being devoured as soon as it was served

The first dish, shredded chicken with cucumber. Shen Long first took a piece of chicken breast and placed it in the pot to boil, then picked up the cucumber, and with a few swift motions of the knife in his right hand, the cucumber was sliced into shreds, leaving the gourmets in awe.

Shall we go and give it a try? Shen Long invited several food enthusiasts from the internet, made a reservation over the phone, and finally awaited the opportunity to taste the food a week later

Li's Family Cuisine is located in a small alley by Houhai. Initially, it only served one table of dishes each day, accommodating around ten diners, with a charge of 200 yuan per person. A separate room was added with two small tables, but even then, it could only serve a maximum of twenty diners in one evening

The renovations were quite simple tasks, completed in just a few days. The agency also obtained the business license, and he hired a lady to serve dishes and clean. He then went to purchase some exquisite tableware and a dining table, and selected quality ingredients at the market. Preparations for the business were all set.

This knife skill is truly exceptional! Immediately, someone who recognized its value gave a thumbs up.

Those who have tasted it frowned, chewed a few times, and shook their heads, saying, "It is not tasty"

As the guests were nearly all present, Shen Long made a dazzling entrance in his snow-white chef's uniform and chef's hat. The guests ceased their conversations and turned their curious gazes towards Shen Long, eager to discover what dishes he would prepare

He must not get his way. Someone immediately turned the table, bringing the shredded chicken and cucumber dish in front of themselves. They picked up a piece and tasted it; the chicken was tender and the cucumber crisp. Before finishing the first bite, they couldn't help but want a second one.

These individuals naturally do not believe that Shen Long's culinary skills can surpass those of the Li family cuisine, yet the opportunity to enjoy free food and drink is one they are unwilling to miss, and they all readily agreed.

Thus, Shen Long began to handle the business license and search for a suitable location for the store; the procedures could be entrusted to an agency, and finding a location was not difficult, as there were many small shops in the alleys of Beijing, and there were certainly some that were struggling and looking to transfer their business.

Now everyone finally understands, "Oh, so you just wanted to have another bite!"

After the dishes were served, the other netizens praised them endlessly. However, Shen Long felt that they were not as good as he had imagined. The taste was certainly good, but it could not compare to Liao Jie's culinary skills

After searching for several days, Shen Long indeed found a suitable shop. The location of this shop is certainly not as good as Li's Family Cuisine, but it is also situated in an old alley. Originally, it was a coffee shop, but since no one came to drink, it had to be transferred.

Before long, this dish was ready, divided into two plates and sent into the private room, where someone eagerly picked up a chopstick full and brought it to their mouth