Free Web NovelChapter 607: Chapter 600: Relying on Others Isn’t as Good as Relying on Yourself
Sun Qingning put down his phone and reached out to take the order slip.
The customers who come to dine at this time are usually delayed by various things, and they just order a couple of specialty dishes for the sake of eating.
Sun Qingning thought it was just an ordinary order slip, took it, and casually asked, "Is it a big banquet or a small one?"
The order clerk hurriedly said, "The customer ordered the seafood casserole, but this dish has long been taken off the menu. We explained for a long time to no avail; he just insists on eating it."
Sun Qingning’s face changed immediately upon hearing this.
The seafood casserole is an old dish from Qianlima; it sold well for a few years and was quite popular. Later, when it passed its peak, the dish gradually disappeared from the menu.
It’s not that the taste was bad, and the kitchen didn’t skimp on ingredients—who knows why, but fewer and fewer people ordered it.
Maybe it’s because various new dining options have come out one after another and people’s taste requirements are getting higher.
Dishes like the seafood casserole, which have a monotonous cooking method and no distinctive taste, are slowly being abandoned by diners.
After a long time, considering various aspects, the dish was removed from the menu.
Sun Qingning has only been working in Qianlima’s kitchen for just a year, so he really doesn’t know much about dishes that were taken off the menu years ago.
"It’s been taken off the menu, so how come it’s still ordered?"
In such cases, the customers should have been clearly informed when ordering.
If dishes that are off the menu are not rejected, why bother taking them off the menu?
The order clerk felt wronged and explained, "He contacted the boss directly, and the boss informed Sister Gao, who then told the kitchen to go ahead and serve it."
Upon hearing it was the boss who gave the order, Sun Qingning’s complaints immediately changed tone: "...Ah? Oh, well, there’s nothing else we can do."
Since the boss has spoken, there’s nothing more to be said. They just have to cook it.
Sun Qingning turned around and went to call Fu Yu.
"Chef Fu, Chef Fu! Wake up!!"
Fu Yu didn’t expect himself to sleep so soundly.
Maybe because of the reclining position, he was having a kind of nightmare; he vaguely heard someone calling him but just couldn’t wake up.
Now, being shouted at so close by Sun Qingning, he suddenly snapped out of it and felt a sense of relief.
The nap was worse than not sleeping at all; waking up actually made him feel extremely uncomfortable.
"What’s up?" Fu Yu moved his somewhat stiff neck, still a bit dazed.
Sun Qingning directly handed the order slip to Fu Yu: "A customer has placed an order for seafood casserole."
Fu Yu, not aware of the customer’s situation, was somewhat surprised to hear that the seafood casserole was ordered.
This dish hasn’t been on the menu for a long time, has it?
He used to occasionally hear Zhao Meng mention it, but he didn’t pay much attention back then.
After all, it was taken off the menu, so there was no need to learn it.
Fu Yu’s understanding of this dish is limited to the fact that it was popular some years ago, tasted very fresh but wasn’t very distinctive.
It’s comforting to eat in cold weather and a niche dish that lacks interest when it’s hot.
Customers who can walk in and order this dish must have had it before.
He really doesn’t know how the dish is specifically prepared at the restaurant.
Fu Yu asked the order clerk: "This dish is off the menu, so how come the customer could order it?"
Before the order clerk could answer, Sun Qingning interrupted, "The boss gave the order; he probably knows the customer."
There’s no choice then.
Given the situation, they just have to find a way to prepare and serve the dish.
Fu Yu hurriedly instructed Sun Qingning to call over a prep cook, while he went looking for Gu Yunwu.
Not in the kitchen.
Nor in the restaurant.
Fu Yu asked around, but no one knew where Gu Yunwu went!
No choice.
Fu Yu had to call Zhao Meng to inquire about how to cook the seafood casserole.
Zhao Meng quickly answered the phone and, after hearing Fu Yu’s situation, said with difficulties: "This isn’t easy!"
"Cooking the dish itself isn’t difficult; it’s mostly about fresh ingredients and the right amount of seasoning, but the most crucial part is the soup, which uses a secret sauce the restaurant prepared."
"The sauce was previously prepared by Chef Yao and used directly by the kitchen staff, but since the dish is off the menu, there’s likely no sauce available. We’ll have to contact Chef Yao."
Zhao Meng decided quickly, "You start prepping the ingredients; I’ll contact Chef Yao to see if he can come back."
Recently, Yao Shi is really overwhelmed, mainly because it’s close to the New Year with various social engagements and an increased number of reservations at the music restaurant.
Many couldn’t get a reservation and had to pull strings to try and get in.
Too many people are coming up, all kinds of connections need attending to, and none can be offended.
If it wasn’t an urgent situation, Zhao Meng wouldn’t have tried to find Yao Shi.
Now, since the customer placing the order was sent by Dong Jun Tian’s word, if Yao Shi couldn’t make it to the restaurant and the dish wasn’t served, Dong Jun Tian might even use it as a reason to stir up trouble.
Thinking of this, Zhao Meng hurriedly and carefully explained the cooking method of the seafood casserole to Fu Yu.
Once Fu Yu noted it down, Zhao Meng hung up and started contacting Yao Shi.
Fu Yu returned to the kitchen and called the prep cook to start prepping ingredients.
Zhang Jinyu rushed to the kitchen counter, very skillfully organizing utensils and seasonings as Fu Yu’s assistant.
After assigning the tasks, Fu Yu turned around and instructed Zhang Jinyu, "Get a large stew pot with a wide rim and also borrow a serving cart from the front hall."
Zhang Jinyu received the instructions and quickly went to prepare without any fuss.
Everyone here started to get busy, yet Gu Yunwu still hadn’t returned.
This guy is really something.
The others looked as if they were used to it.
Fu Yu at this point couldn’t bother to look for Gu Yunwu; he first needed to check the preparation status of the ingredients and be ready to act anytime.
Zhao Meng called back quickly.
"Chef Yao is unable to return, but he said he’ll send you the sauce recipe soon. Make sure no one sees you when you’re preparing it, and whatever you do, don’t let the recipe leak out."
Fu Yu hastily assured, "Alright, I understand."
Zhao Meng further instructed, "As long as you mix the sauce in the right proportions, there shouldn’t be any issues. When you’re cooking, if you’re unsure, find Lao Gu to help take this order."
Speaking of Gu Yunwu, Fu Yu didn’t even know what to say anymore.
Today, rather than counting on Gu Yunwu, it’d be more reliable for him to try cooking it himself.
Moreover, if asked about the sauce later, Gu Yunwu would definitely probe into it.
Everyone knows Qianlima has many heirloom secret recipes that are worth a fortune.
Fu Yu couldn’t be bothered to gossip about Gu Yunwu’s petty matters behind his back.
Zhao Meng was already busy enough with Dai Li’s family and Bao’Er’s issues, and Fu Yu didn’t want him to worry about this, too.
So he agreed and then hung up the phone.
