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A brief discussion on the catering service industry in the Song Dynasty and its enlightenment to modern times

author:Ome Samurai

Copywriter|Kanshi Omei

Editor|Kanshi Omei

introduction

A brief discussion on the catering service industry in the Song Dynasty and its enlightenment to modern times

The Song Dynasty was an important period in Chinese history and a golden age for Chinese food culture. During this period, the catering service industry developed rapidly and became an important part of social life at that time. This article will discuss the business premises of the catering industry in the Song Dynasty, so that you can better understand the development and historical value of the catering service industry in the Song Dynasty.

The business place of the catering industry in the Song Dynasty

The Song Dynasty was a very important period in Chinese history and a golden age for Chinese food culture. During this period, the catering service industry developed rapidly and became an important part of social life at that time. There are mainly four places listed below.

1. Tea House:

A brief discussion on the catering service industry in the Song Dynasty and its enlightenment to modern times

The tea house is one of the most distinctive dining places in the Song Dynasty, it was originally a place to serve tea and snacks, and later gradually developed into a place integrating literature and art, culture and commerce. The status of tea houses in the Song Dynasty was very important, it was an important place for people to socialize, discuss and cultural exchanges. The tea house not only provides catering services, but also provides cultural and entertainment activities, such as poetry and song, chess art, calligraphy, etc.

There were often many literati and elegant people in the tea house, who exchanged scholarship and talked about current affairs here, making the tea house an important place for cultural exchanges at that time. The architecture and decoration style of the tea house is also very distinctive, usually in the form of a courtyard courtyard, the courtyard is planted with flowers and trees, and the walls are plastered with calligraphy and paintings, making the tea house more cultural.

A brief discussion on the catering service industry in the Song Dynasty and its enlightenment to modern times

The dishes of the tea house are mainly snacks and desserts, such as pastries, dim sum, refreshments, etc., which are light in taste and rich in nutrition.

2. Restaurant:

Restaurant is another important format of catering service industry in the Song Dynasty, unlike tea house, restaurant mainly serves wine and meals, but also provides entertainment activities, such as song and dance, opera, etc., becoming an important place for social and cultural exchanges at that time. The status of the restaurant in the Song Dynasty was also very important, it was an important place for people to gather, discuss and exchange feelings.

A brief discussion on the catering service industry in the Song Dynasty and its enlightenment to modern times

The restaurant was often filled with people from all walks of life, who exchanged work and discussed affairs here, making the restaurant an important place for business exchanges at that time.

The restaurant's dishes are mainly large dishes and side dishes, usually meat, seafood and other main ingredients, and side dishes such as snacks and vegetables. The decoration style of the restaurant is also relatively luxurious, often using mahogany furniture, tapestries, screens and other decorations, making people feel the rich ancient cultural atmosphere.

A brief discussion on the catering service industry in the Song Dynasty and its enlightenment to modern times

3. Restaurants and eateries:

Restaurants and restaurants were another important part of the catering industry in the Song Dynasty, which mainly provided simple catering services, such as snacks, pastries, etc., suitable for the dietary needs of ordinary people. Restaurants and food shops were more common in the Song Dynasty, and they were usually located in prosperous areas such as markets and streets and alleys, providing people with convenient and fast catering services.

A brief discussion on the catering service industry in the Song Dynasty and its enlightenment to modern times

The variety of dishes in restaurants and restaurants is relatively simple, and the taste is relatively simple, but the price is relatively cheap, which is welcomed by the broad masses of the people. The decoration style of restaurants and restaurants is also relatively simple, usually using simple tables, chairs and tableware to enable people to eat quickly.

4. Banquet:

A brief discussion on the catering service industry in the Song Dynasty and its enlightenment to modern times

Banquet is another special form of the catering industry in the Song Dynasty, it is a traditional form of Chinese culture, which was widely developed and promoted in the Song Dynasty. Banquet services are mainly divided into three types: official banquets, private banquets and business banquets.

Official banquets refer to banquets held by official offices, mainly to celebrate festivals, commemorate important events or receive foreign guests. The official banquet dishes are rich and varied, usually based on seafood, roast duck, stewed abalone and other high-end ingredients, delicious taste, fine workmanship and expensive price.

A brief discussion on the catering service industry in the Song Dynasty and its enlightenment to modern times

A private banquet refers to a banquet held by a private person, usually to celebrate important occasions such as weddings, birthday banquets, and birthdays. There are fewer varieties of private banquet dishes, but the workmanship is fine, the taste is unique, and some private banquets will invite literati and elegant people to perform their talents.

A brief discussion on the catering service industry in the Song Dynasty and its enlightenment to modern times

A business banquet is a banquet held by businessmen in the process of business exchanges, aiming to enhance business relations. The variety of banquet dishes is mainly seafood and meat, and the taste is mainly delicious, and the price is relatively high, but there are also some merchants who are mainly shoddy and counterfeit.

In general, the catering industry in the Song Dynasty was a variety of business places, not only providing rich catering services, but also becoming an important place for social, commercial and cultural exchange. The characteristics of these places are different, but they all have rich cultural heritage and unique decoration style, showing the unique charm of the food culture of the Song Dynasty.

Catering industry practitioners and derivative industries

The Song Dynasty was an important period for the development of Chinese food culture, and the catering industry became one of the important industries in the social economy. In the Song Dynasty, both catering practitioners and derivative industries played an important role in promoting economic development, promoting cultural exchanges, and inheriting food culture. We analyze the employees of the catering industry in the Song Dynasty from the following aspects

1. Chef:

A brief discussion on the catering service industry in the Song Dynasty and its enlightenment to modern times

The chefs of the Song Dynasty were highly skilled and prepared a wide variety of dishes with rich flavors. Chefs need not only culinary skills, but also a deep food culture. Cooks of the Song Dynasty were usually divided into two categories, court cooks and folk cooks, whose duties and tasks differed. Court cooks mainly served the emperor and officials, while folk cooks mainly served the common people.

2. Dude:

A brief discussion on the catering service industry in the Song Dynasty and its enlightenment to modern times

The guys of the Song Dynasty were often called "tea boys" or "wine boys", and the duties of the guys in the Song Dynasty were not only to order and serve dishes, but also to have certain cultural literacy and etiquette knowledge. Because better service can increase the number of diners.

3. Dispenser:

A brief discussion on the catering service industry in the Song Dynasty and its enlightenment to modern times

Shopkeepers are managers in the restaurant industry who are responsible for managing and coordinating the day-to-day operations of the foodservice industry. In the Song Dynasty, shopkeepers were usually promoted from experienced former cooks or waiters, who needed not only professional skills, but also certain management skills and business acumen.

The dispenser needs to coordinate various departments to ensure the normal operation and efficient management of the catering service industry, so the dispenser is also very important for the service industry.

Song Dynasty catering industry derivative industry

1. Food processing industry:

The food processing industry in the Song Dynasty mainly included flour, soy products, sauces, vinegar and other food production and processing industries. These food processing enterprises provide high-quality ingredients and seasonings for the catering service industry, providing an important guarantee for the development of the catering service industry. In the food processing industry of the Song Dynasty, the sauce manufacturing industry was the most developed, and soy sauce, vinegar, tofu milk, etc. were indispensable condiments in the food culture of the Song Dynasty.

A brief discussion on the catering service industry in the Song Dynasty and its enlightenment to modern times

2. Catering supplies manufacturing industry:

The catering goods manufacturing industry in the Song Dynasty was mainly copperware, pottery, and porcelain. These catering supplies manufacturing enterprises provide beautiful, practical and durable supplies for the catering service industry, and also provide an important guarantee for the image and customer satisfaction of the catering service industry. In the catering manufacturing industry of the Song Dynasty, porcelain manufacturing was the most developed, and porcelain became one of the important industries in Song Dynasty society.

3. Food trading industry:

A brief discussion on the catering service industry in the Song Dynasty and its enlightenment to modern times

The food trade industry in the Song Dynasty was also an important part of the catering industry. With the development of social economy, exchanges and trade between food producing areas in various places have begun. In the Song Dynasty, important commercial cities such as Bianjing, Hangzhou and Suzhou became food distribution centers everywhere. The food trade industry provides more abundant and diverse ingredients for the catering service industry, and also promotes the food culture of various places

4. Communication and integration:

The catering industry practitioners and derivative industries in the Song Dynasty played an important role in the development and improvement of the catering service industry. They provide the foodservice industry with high-quality ingredients, production technology and efficient management, and promote the inheritance and development of food culture. Moreover, catering industry practitioners and derivative industries also created new opportunities and impetus for economic development and employment, and became an indispensable part of Song Dynasty society.

A brief discussion on the catering service industry in the Song Dynasty and its enlightenment to modern times

The above four points show that the Song Dynasty was an important period for the development of Chinese food culture, and food culture gradually became an important social culture and lifestyle, which played an important role in promoting economic development, promoting cultural exchanges, and inheriting food culture.

The enlightenment of the catering service industry in the Song Dynasty to the modern era

The development of the catering service industry in the Song Dynasty has great enlightenment and reference significance for the modern catering service industry. Although the background of the times and the economic and social conditions are very different, the catering service industry in the Song Dynasty is still worthy of reference and learning from the modern catering service industry in terms of service quality, dish production, table manners, etc.

1. Service quality:

The catering industry in the Song Dynasty focused on service quality and customer experience, and pursued maximum customer satisfaction. In the Song Dynasty, the catering industry was mainly divided into two categories: court food and folk food. The court diet is known for its excellence, high cooking skills and rich variety of dishes, while the folk diet focuses on the popularization of the taste and price of the dishes.

A brief discussion on the catering service industry in the Song Dynasty and its enlightenment to modern times

In the modern catering industry, the customer's experience is also a very important part. The modern catering service industry can learn from the service quality concept of the catering service industry in the Song Dynasty, pay attention to customer experience and service quality, and provide high-quality services, thereby improving customer satisfaction and loyalty.

2. Dish preparation:

A brief discussion on the catering service industry in the Song Dynasty and its enlightenment to modern times

The food service industry of the Song Dynasty was known for its exquisite cuisine making skills and rich variety of dishes. Chefs in the Song Dynasty paid attention to the taste and nutritional value of dishes, as well as the preparation process and decoration of dishes. The modern catering service industry can learn from the food production concept of the Song Dynasty catering service industry, pay attention to the quality and taste of dishes, and improve the dining experience and satisfaction of customers.

3. Table manners:

A brief discussion on the catering service industry in the Song Dynasty and its enlightenment to modern times

The food service industry in the Song Dynasty focused on the norms of table manners and social etiquette. When eating, people need to follow certain norms and rituals, such as the placement of food, the order of meals, the posture of eating, the use of utensils, etc. In the modern foodservice industry, table manners are also a very important part. The modern catering service industry can learn from the table manners and social etiquette of the catering service industry in the Song Dynasty, pay attention to the inheritance and development of table culture and etiquette culture, and improve customers' dining experience and brand image.

4. Cultural exchange:

A brief discussion on the catering service industry in the Song Dynasty and its enlightenment to modern times

The catering industry in the Song Dynasty was one of the most frequent periods of food culture exchange in China, and food cultures from various places exchanged with each other, and a variety of new and delicious dishes and cooking techniques continued to emerge. The modern catering service industry can also learn from the cultural exchange concept of the catering service industry in the Song Dynasty, pay attention to cultural diversity and cultural exchange, absorb the advantages and characteristics of food culture in various places, constantly innovate and enrich dishes, and improve customer satisfaction and brand value.

5. Innovation and development

The catering industry in the Song Dynasty was notable for its constant innovation and development. During the Song Dynasty, chefs continued to experiment with new cooking methods and flavors, creating many new and delicious dishes. The modern foodservice industry also needs to continue to innovate and develop to provide more diverse, innovative and healthy dishes to meet the needs and tastes of customers.

conclusion

The development and prosperity of the catering service industry in the Song Dynasty provided a lot of useful enlightenment and reference significance for the modern catering service industry. The modern catering service industry can learn from the experience of the Song Dynasty catering service industry in terms of service quality, dish production, table manners, cultural exchange and innovative development, continuously improve its own quality and service level, improve customer satisfaction and loyalty, meet the needs and tastes of different customers, and create its own brand image and value.

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