I’m a menu advisor chapter 1

I Met a Wealthy Boss

I’m a “menu advisor.” The four – star hotel where I work mainly serves Cantonese cuisine. Shrimp is our specialty, attracting numerous diners.

One day, I was taking a break in an empty small lounge in the hotel when a middle – aged man in his forties came to me. He smiled and said, “I heard you’re the most famous menu advisor here… I often entertain guests because of my business, and I’ve wasted a lot of money before.” Saying this, he took out a business card and handed it to me with both hands. I took the card and learned that he was the owner of a well – known electrical appliance store in the local area named John Smith.

Then John took out a piece of paper, which was a menu. Probably noticing a slight look of surprise on my face, he smiled and said, “Next month, our store is having a customer – appreciation event. We’re going to invite several well – known actors and singers. I want to book eight tables in your hotel, with each table costing $15,000. Here’s the menu. Please take a look.”

This was obviously a test for me! In our line of work, as long as the guests tell us the dining budget, we have to make reasonable menu arrangements according to different tastes. I took the menu John handed me, feeling a bit unhappy, and said indifferently, “Mr. Smith, are you asking about the price?” He took a puff of his cigarette and just smiled without answering.

I glanced at the menu. The dish arrangements were in a mess. Some of the dishes that left a deep impression on me were Stewed Chicken Feet with Oyster Sauce, Crab with Ginger Slices, Steamed Mandarin Fish, Shrimp Paste Rolls, and Ginseng and Lily Soup with Frog Legs. I put the menu aside and said with a smile, “$10,000 per table is enough.” He looked at me in surprise, and even the few moles on his cheeks seemed to shine.

“Can I save $5,000 per table?” John stood up, tapping his forehead with his finger. “Oh, how much money have I wasted before!” I also stood up and said, “I have something else to do. If you’ve made up your mind, feel free to come to our hotel.” He nodded at me repeatedly and watched me until I disappeared around the stair corner.

John indeed held the banquet in our hotel. The manager was very happy and praised me for bringing in such a good customer. The presence of those actors and singers attracted reporters. There were interviews, photos, and it even made it on TV. People in our industry all know a truth: Whoever conquers people’s stomachs conquers the world. In this regard, I was successful.

Three days after the banquet, John came to the hotel to find me again. He called me to the lounge. There was no one in the lounge. He took out a red envelope from his bag and stuffed it into my arms, saying that it was a commission for the money I’d saved him. I couldn’t refuse. When I got home and opened the envelope at night, there was exactly $5,000, which was 10% of the money I’d saved. I was very happy. I had done nothing wrong, and this money was well – deserved.

One evening, three months later, John came to the hotel to see me again. We went into a private room. He closed the door and took out a menu from his bag. As usual, he wanted me to evaluate it. I casually glanced at it and put the menu on the table, then said with a smile, “There are a total of thirty – six dishes. Ten are in Cantonese style, ten in Yangzhou style, ten in Sichuan style, and six have a mixed flavor.” His eyes lit up and he said, “You remembered them all?” I nodded, and he gave me a thumbs – up and waved it in front of me vigorously, then put the menu back.

A week later, John held a big banquet for his guests in our hotel. During the banquet, he invited me out as usual and kept praising me under the influence of alcohol. The profession of menu advisor has only emerged recently in the United States. It was beyond my wildest dreams to receive such praise. Gradually, I became a star. John gave me a red envelope after each banquet, usually a few thousand dollars, and I gladly accepted them.