2024-05-05 20:34:56
On May 1, 2024, Lai Shanlin used to work in the kitchen with a tie, and sometimes went to the front hall to chat with guests. (Xu Manyuan/Epoch Times)
[The Epoch Times, 6 mai 2024]From Brussels, the capital of Belgium, it takes regarding an hour and a half to drive south to Ciney. Along the way, you can see green mountains and groups of wild animals. But what greeted me was a friendly Changhua accent, which made me feel like I was back in rural Taiwan.
On May 1, 2024, Mr. and Mrs. Lai Shanlin (second and third from right) and Lin Tianzhang (first from right), president of the Belgian Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan, received Su Huanhao, curator of “Beauty of Taiwan” . Los Angeles art exhibition. (Xu Manyuan/Epoch Times)
Lai Shanlin, who has lived in Belgium for nearly fifty years, came to Belgium with his uncle to work when he was young. At that time, he didn’t expect to live there for almost half a century, longer than he had lived there. Taiwan. Although he speaks French fluently, Lai Shanlin still prefers to speak in Taiwanese. When he rarely meets friends from his hometown, he talks incessantly and even prepares delicious food in the kitchen himself, which makes people suspicious. , tie and apron for working in the kitchen.
Lai Shanlin’s uncle was from Qingtian, Zhejiang. After the civil war between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, he retreated to Taiwan with Chiang Kai-shek’s troops. After marrying a Taiwanese woman, his family immigrated to Belgium. Lai Shanlin recalled that at the beginning, most Chinese in Belgium came from Qingtian. Locals described Qingtian as “nine mountains, half water and half farmland.” Because farming was not easy, many young people left to find their livelihood. . One relative introduced another relative, and many people from the whole family went to Europe to work, which is why Qingtian is also known as the “hometown of overseas Chinese”.
In 1978, Lai Shanlin, who had no experience in the restaurant sector, came to work in a Chinese restaurant run by his uncle in Belgium. When he worked in the kitchen, he was often so hot that he only wore a small undershirt. Once his uncle scolded him for not dressing appropriately enough. At that time, he silently decided in his heart: “One day I will be my own boss and I will have to wear a tie every day.”
At that time, most Chinese people who arrived in Belgium were engaged in managing Chinese restaurants, and most international students worked as restaurant waiters. Some Chinese who studied art and literature later became monks and opened restaurants. Lai Shanlin said: “There were not many Chinese in Europe at that time and there was little competition. As long as the food wasn’t too nasty, business was good.
After working in the restaurant run by his uncle for six months, Lai Shanlin took over his wife Xie Xiuqin, and the two finally saved enough money to invest in the restaurant. In 1983, Lai Shanlin took over the Chinese restaurant belonging to his uncle’s friend in Liège. Although the business is very good, the cleaning and management costs are very high. Even though the couple works hard, the profit does not meet their expectations. After a few years of activity, he decided to divide the shares and open his own restaurant.
Lai Shanlin laughed at himself, maybe “mountain forests should open restaurants in the mountains.” Lai Shanlin came to Xinei because he was looking for a house. However, the process of purchasing the house was not smooth and he had to wait for the owner’s consent. the other party’s family before signing the contract.
While dining at a Western-style fast food restaurant in Xi Nei that day, Lai Shanlin found that the boss was very old, and even the hands that shook when he served food were shaking, so he asked the other party if he was willing to sell. Unexpectedly, the restaurant owner had already handed over the store to an agency, so following many twists and turns, Lai Shanlin contacted the agency and finally obtained the right to operate the store. With his own “Lai Lai Restaurant”, he can also work in the kitchen “in tie” as he wishes.
Lai Shanlin said with a smile: “Actually, it’s not just a bet. Since there were not enough staff at the time, I also had to serve as a receptionist to greet guests. So he always wore a tie to work. the kitchen, then went to the front to help order food and greet guests.
At that time, there was only one Chinese restaurant in Xi Nei, but the food was not delicious, so people in the small town did not have a good impression of Chinese cuisine. But Lai Shanlin chatted with the owner of the cafe across the street. After eating the food at Lai Lai Restaurant, the other party praised it and even offered recommendations. Soon, Lai Shanlin established itself in the area and became the most popular restaurant. Fried shrimp balls, sizzling beef and hidden menu, shrimp soup and fire-grilled hotpot are all very popular among foodies.
On May 1, 2024, few Chinese customers visited the “Lai Lai Restaurant” run by Lai Shanlin in Ciney, Belgium. (Xu Manyuan/Epoch Times)On May 1, 2024, the signature dish of “Lai Lai Restaurant”: fried shrimp balls. (Xu Manyuan/Epoch Times)
Upon arriving in Belgium, Lai Shanlin joked that he was blind, deaf and mute because of the language barrier. He was busy with his work every day and had no time to learn the language. He had no choice but to study French in the kitchen with Belgians, gradually accumulating vocabulary. What’s interesting is that Lai Shanlin’s colleague comes from a Dutch-speaking area and doesn’t speak French very well. The two parties simply learned from each other, one dared to teach, and the other was willing to learn, although the learning speed was very slow. , he gradually became able to communicate in French.
Sine is located in the Meuse valley and its development history dates back to the Middle Ages. The local rural landscape and ancient buildings have attracted many tourists; the local brewery is famous all over the world and the Sine beer festival is organized. every summer (Ciney Beer Festival) also attracts beer lovers from all over the world, so the main customers of “Lai Lai Restaurant” are not only locals, but also tourists from all over the world.
The most popular dish of “Lai Lai Restaurant” is “Teppanyaki”. This dish was discovered by Lai Shanlin when he returned to Taiwan to visit relatives. At that time, all-you-can-eat hot pot and barbecue were popular in Taiwan. streets and alleys of Taichung. After improving it, it became very popular in Belgium.
Lai Shanlin also specially ordered 10 tables with ovens from Taiwan and shipped them to Belgium, allowing locals to experience the special culture of the “Taiwanese” dining table. At first, it was not easy to buy ingredients for Chinese restaurants in Belgium. You had to make your own tofu and spring roll wrappers. With the growing number of Chinese immigrants, it has become easier to purchase these ingredients, but business is good. not as good as before.
Lai Shanlin lamented that the Belgian government’s labor tax is too high and that many restaurateurs are overwhelmed. He might only mobilize his family to help him. Now that the restaurant is gradually taken over by the eldest son and his wife, he and his wife can gradually let go and retire.
Lai Shanlin believes that Xinei is a small town suitable for experiencing Belgian rural life. People can slow down the pace of life, wander through the countryside and forests and live a quiet life. The local Ciney Castle, built in the 11th century, is an important landmark in the region and a frequently visited attraction by tourists.
After leaving his hometown and going to work in Belgium, Lai Shanlin looks back on his journey and is filled with gratitude. He said: “Everything depends on the help of noble people, and everything is going well, step by step. » Although the path to entrepreneurship is a bit strewn with pitfalls, he has no regrets: “I have no right to regret it, I just work hard. “. This is perhaps also the common aspiration of many first-generation overseas Chinese: to work hard and move forward.
Editor-in-chief: Fang Ping
1714943322
#Taiwanese #chef #wearing #tie #kitchen #Lai #Shanlin #Belgian #Taiwanese #Chinese #restaurant
