CHAPTER 807: CHAPTER 406: ARRIVING AT ZHIWEI RESTAURANT (PART 2)

Guli is now living with Tan Wei’an, right across from Zhiwei Restaurant.

"Master Qin, I’ll first take you to settle down at the place where you’ll be staying, then I’m going to drop off my luggage at home. Today, Tan Wei’an, Guli and I will definitely return to work at Zhiwei Restaurant. It’s not even noon yet, so we’ll be back just in time for the afternoon shift."

"You are here for an exchange, so whether you want to take a look at Zhiwei Restaurant or stroll by West Lake, it’s all fine. I recommend you first come with me to take a look at Zhiwei Restaurant. I’ll give you a brief introduction to the environment. Our Zhiwei Restaurant’s kitchen is relatively larger than Huang Ji, and we’re purely a pastry restaurant, so the kitchen layout is somewhat different. Some areas have air conditioning, while others do not."

Qin Huai was shocked: "Some areas have air conditioning?"

Su Qian laughed: "Of course, some snacks require very specific temperatures during production, requiring low temperature, requiring constant temperature. Although the kitchen at Zhiwei Restaurant isn’t like traditional restaurants where multiple stoves make it very hot, both the oven and the steamer increase the temperature when in use. To ensure the best quality of snacks, some regions must have air conditioners installed."

"Including some large machines like dough mixers and mixers, Zhiwei Restaurant has plenty of them. Although we’re a traditional pastry restaurant, we’re not as old-fashioned as you might think. Whether it’s my uncle or Master Zhou, they both believe that modern technology can revolutionize snack making. Even master chefs who have worked years in traditional settings should reconsider their mindset and try to accept new things."

"Actually, the idea first originated from my uncle. Master Zhou was very against it, including Master Zhou feeling that Master Zheng was neglecting his proper duties by running a factory making those low-end snacks, lacking ambition, and wasting talent."

"Despite still being displeased with Master Zheng, sometimes I feel that Master Zhou actually keeps a close eye on him, because whenever Master Zheng’s factory launches a new product, Master Zhou will buy them. Moreover, as Master Zheng has innovated the snack recipes over the years, no longer mainly producing those low-cost, simple, highly suitable for mass production low-end snacks, and started attempting to make mid-to-low end, or even middle-end snacks that can’t be made by superficial snack shops, Master Zhou has significantly changed his perspective."

"Introducing those machines and researching how to use them to replace traditional craftsmanship while not decreasing quality, and increasing productivity, was actively proposed by Master Zhou and Boss Su."

This is Su Qian’s first detailed account of Master Zhou’s situation to Qin Huai, leaving Qin Huai somewhat surprised.

To be honest, Qin Huai had always thought of Master Zhou as a highly skilled, but relatively orthodox, traditional, and conservative old-school snack master.

Whether it was Master Zhou’s requirements for disciples or his sarcastic, sharp-tongued manner, and his targeting of Zheng Da, they all highlighted his personality traits.

Renowned but strict, old-fashioned, with an exterior cool but warm interior master chef.

Very much fitting the public imagination of the top-ranked pastry chef in the Chef Record, leading a relatively weak and declining industry seems to be like this.

However, Su Qian told Qin Huai it’s not the case, Master Zhou is not only not conservative, but an innovator, and perhaps even a bit radical.

Qin Huai felt compared to Master Zhou, he himself is considered conservative, possibly a habit formed early when he was a breakfast shop chef. The scale of Qin Family Breakfast Shop didn’t require any large machines, purely reliant on manual labor, therefore Qin Huai himself is very unfamiliar with machine usage.

Qin Huai was a little flustered: "Su Qian... Could you send me your Zhiwei Restaurant’s... equipment list, so I can also prepare and get familiar?"

Incidentally, go online and check out what these things are, how they are used, and what they are for.

Qin Huai knew many machines require specialized learning for their usage, just taking Xiao Ou Handmade Lemon Tea Store’s ice maker and coffee machine as examples, some of which Qin Huai simply wouldn’t know how to use.

As for why Qin Huai was so sure he couldn’t use them, it was because when Ouyang first opened his shop, he himself couldn’t use some of the machines.

Although Ouyang is the boss and top salesperson of Xiao Ou Handmade Lemon Tea Store, his actual job has always been mixing milk tea; he didn’t even need to shake milk tea.

Thinking about Ouyang and Xiao Ou Handmade Lemon Tea Store, Qin Huai couldn’t help but smack his lips.

It’s been a long time since he last saw his good friend, and a long time since he drank milk tea and handmade lemon tea made by his friend.

Qin Huai casually asked: "Is there a shop selling handmade lemon tea nearby Zhiwei Restaurant?"

"Yes, Master Qin, there’s a milk tea shop right at the entrance of the neighborhood where you are staying." After saying this, Su Qian seemed prepared as he sent Qin Huai a list of kitchen equipment from Zhiwei Restaurant, along with usage instructions and diagrams marked on the list.

Seeing Qin Huai’s puzzled look, Su Qian thoughtfully explained: "Many chefs who come to Zhiwei Restaurant for exchanges haven’t learned or used many machines before, so this list was prepared in advance by Boss Su."

Qin Huai realized and buried himself in it, but due to the driver’s somewhat reckless driving and sudden braking and turning, Qin Huai, who hadn’t felt car-sick in years, almost felt nauseous just looking at the list.