"Alan, what's going on?" Jake exclaimed in surprise.
The familiar person who suddenly appeared in front of Jake's stall was Alan, the chef from Kailomen. Jake didn't expect him to show up at his stall. After all, it was mealtime, the busiest time for Kailomen. How did Alan have time to stroll around?
"Don't call me Chef Alan anymore. I've quit Kailomen," Alan said.
Jake asked, "Why did you quit Kailomen? It's one of the best restaurants in J City. It'll be difficult to find a better job in J City after leaving there."
"I told you before, I want to apprentice under you," Alan said. "I can't learn culinary skills like yours if I stay at Kailomen."
"Are you serious?" Jake was surprised. He thought Alan was joking when he mentioned wanting to apprentice under him. He didn't expect Alan to be serious and even quit Kailomen.
"Of course, I'm serious," Alan said.
"You might be disappointed. I'm just a barbecue cook," Jake said.
"I'm not disappointed," Alan shook his head. "Culinary skills involve many aspects, and barbecue is one of them. Your level is higher than mine, so you can definitely teach me."
Jake didn't expect Alan to be so persistent, quitting Kailomen just to learn culinary skills. Moreover, Alan's attitude was respectful.
"You really want to learn culinary skills from me?" Jake asked.
"Yes!" Alan confirmed.
"Alright then, start by helping me," Jake said.
This was also a test for Jake. If Alan refused, he could leave. But if he agreed, Jake could take him as an apprentice.
After apprenticing under Nina, Jake had gained a wealth of culinary knowledge. After all, Nina was a Grandmaster-level chef, and she had passed on her knowledge to Jake. That meant the culinary theory Jake possessed was at the Grandmaster level. He was now an advanced chef; he only lacked practical experience. By cooking regularly, even barbecue, he could improve his culinary skills and continue to level up. Culinary skill levels could be constantly enhanced.
Others needed talent, enlightenment, and the right timing to improve their culinary skills, but Jake didn't. He only needed to gain experience through practice to keep leveling up. That was the advantage of being a "player."
Jake's advanced culinary skills already surpassed Alan's. Therefore, teaching Alan some theoretical knowledge at the Grandmaster level posed no problem. Furthermore, as a "player," Jake believed that he could improve his culinary skills faster than Alan. So, even in practical cooking skills, Jake was confident that he would always stay ahead of Alan. Therefore, he had the ability and level to become Alan's master. Of course, Jake taking Alan as his apprentice also served his plans for his future restaurant.
In the game world, Jake had cultivated a large number of vegetables, fruits, and raised many livestock. It would be a waste not to open a restaurant with those resources. Moreover, Jake himself had decent culinary skills. However, he couldn't run a restaurant alone. Unless he wanted to start small, it was a good idea to train chefs now, and Alan was the right candidate.
Alan himself is the head chef at Kailomen, and he has the skills. With his own expertise and knowledge, he can easily become the head chef of his own restaurant without any issues. He can also free himself up to do other things.
"Sure, no problem!" Alan readily agreed to Jake's request without hesitation. There was no trace of displeasure on his face; instead, he looked excited.
Jake was satisfied with his response. Going from being a renowned restaurant chef to working at a barbecue stall is a significant shift in identity, and not everyone can easily accept such a change. However, Alan didn't complain at all, which was quite rare.
Alan was evidently familiar with culinary matters, including barbecue. With his help, Jake felt a lot more relaxed, and he wasn't as tired as before.
Sometimes, Jake would ask Alan to help with the barbecue, and he would also explain some aspects of barbecue to him. Alan listened attentively because culinary skills are transferrable, and there are similarities between barbecue and cooking in many aspects. Now that Jake was teaching him, Alan naturally learned earnestly.
"Boss, is he capable? We only eat the barbecue you make."
"That's right, we came here for you, boss. If you're too busy, we can wait."
"Yeah, I think so too."
When Jake let Alan handle some of the barbecue, the customers expressed their concerns. They came to Jake specifically for his cooking skills, and they were willing to wait in line for it. However, they were afraid that the taste wouldn't be as delicious when someone else cooked it. After all, barbecue relies on similar ingredients and seasonings, and the difference in taste lies in the skill of the barbecue chef. Others might not be as good at it as Jake.
"Don't worry, he's definitely capable." Jake smiled and said, "Do you know where he worked before?"
"Where?"
"Kailomen! And he was the head chef there. Can anything he makes be subpar?"
"Kailomen? Is that possible?"
"That's right. What kind of place is Kailomen? How could a head chef from there be working at a barbecue stall here?"
"I don't believe it either."
The onlookers may not have all been to Kailomen, but they had heard about the place before. After all, it was one of the most famous restaurants in J City. In their opinion, the head chef there must have had a high status and skill level. How could they be working at a roadside barbecue stall?
"Hmph! Talking big, aren't you afraid of being caught in a lie?"
"Yeah, can you really say such things? Are you trying to deceive children?"
"Young people these days, they can do anything for business. They're just using these gimmicks."
Not only the customers surrounding them but also the other barbecue stall owners nearby didn't believe Jake's words. They thought it was just a tactic he was using to attract more customers.