48 Pizza Party (1/2)

The ovens belonging to the camp cafeterias are magnificent. Things of absolute beauty. They're large firestone brick things with enough capacity to bake enough food to feel all these calorie-burning athletes here on a daily basis.

No other set of ovens, not even the Ventrella mansion's, can compare.

How did I get access into these kitchens with the sublime ovens?

I didn't sneak in, I have to be able to use and command people to use these things after all. While I'm nowhere as in power here like I am at home, there are a few familiar faces. It's true, some of my kitchen staff work rotation with the cafeteria. That explains the shared recipes.

If the little eldest Miss, granddaughter to their boss, wants in then she gets in. She also gets a cup of juice! Giving orders is thirsty work.

I should have realized sooner that my yeast research was actually taking place here, where the more experienced bakers are. God where these massive ovens are.

”And what business doe the little lady have barging up into my kitchen like this” grunts a man that resembles a warthog., sharp mustache for tuffs. The head baker I believe.

”I've come to give my thanks and greetings for our daily bread, may I just say what beautiful a kitchen this is. Especially the ovens, what glorious ovens!”

”Hmmpf, is that so!”

He huffs but looks very pleased every time I compliment the bread or the ovens. Yes yes the kitchen and tools are a chef's pride! I shall rain on the praise, no need to lie, because these are some really great brick and clay ovens. It smells wonderful in here!

”It's not much but please accept these little things as a sign of my love and appreciation all this time.”

”Oh, I think I've seen some of this from the mansion.”

Yes, the thing I've prepared ahead of time and paced in my storage bag is loads of soap. Batch one and two basic cleaning soaps! There's also the 'olive oil' soaps since that may be more familiar of a thing. I've rounded up the rest of the stock except for some saved samples to not only curry favor with the staff here but get more test subjects!

After some inquiring, I've discovered that no, grampa did not dip his toes in soap making nor did he share such things with his own training camp. I do have a monopoly on this, bwahahaha.

”Just scrape a little into a water or vinegar mixture, you will find it far more effective in cleaning all matters of things. By itself, it is also very gentle on the skin. Yes, your poor hands will thank you!.”

In one final hit of kissing up, I present Mr. Boar Baker with some bars of the more limited new poppy seed and slightly older rose soaps, making sure to play up my sales pitch in a complimenting way.

Amar and Lukas sit watching on the side, one casually sipping kiddy juice while the other stares slack-jawed. Something tells me Lukas and Mr. Boar Baker don't get along the best. It's not just Amar's previous warning about how Lukas keeps getting caught stealing food.

”Oh ho ho, not bad , not bad at all. You certainly know how to show your respect to your elders. Now, what do you really want.”

Mr. Boar Baker gives me a look sharper than the point on his mustache. Threats aside he's definitely pleased, I can tell from how he's immediately pocketed the bribes. I like smart and to the point people so I don't mind at all.

”I've heard the word 'pizza' trickled among and whispered by the troops here. For once I would like a little more discretion on what is shared and spoken about to others outside the kitchens, some things are not ready to be revealed yet. But secondly...”

Mr. Boar Baker goes form glaring in the boy's direction to carefully regarding me again, hanging on to what I'm about to ask.

”...I require help in creating the full version of 'pizza'. Today.”

Instead of confusion or even a sign of complaint like I expected, Mr. Boar Baker breaks into a rather murderous looking grin. With a clap of his very large hands, a line of staff people come rushing out. They carry a variety of items but at the forefront are those with large bowls and lumps of dough, in various states of rest and rising.

”My Lady, I have been waiting for this since we've first received your orders. To find and create the perfect dough for this savory 'pizza' pie. ”

”You're very well prepared.”

”We have been expecting you My Lady, please inspect the results of our labor.”

I should be a little more shocked at the level of preparedness but again, I don't dislike straightforwardness. Especially not when it's so effective. There's too much dough though, I can't possibly know what's going on here or which one will work out. Still, I poke and prod at each sample presented to me.

”There's only one real way to test your work, you must know. What of the other ingredients?”

”As my Lady has spoken, we have long gathered and bottled a sauce made from tomatoes and herbs. The now regular purchase of water buffalo milk and cheese has acquainted our staff with proficiency in using the ingredient. It is well stocked.”

”Wonderful, excellent work! You shall all be rewarded appropriately! Very well then...Fire Up the Ovens!”

”Yes My Lady, you heard her! Get to work!”

”Yes chef!”

A chorus of the same lines echoes back as the entire cafeteria staff bows and rushes to work.

Lukas jaw seems to have dropped even lower while Amar looks like he's watching an entertaining show, Somewhere in the time I've been giving orders he's gotten a refill of juice, hey no fair I'm parched too.

While the ovens are firing up to the right temperate, everyone is acquainting themselves with the mandatory soap hand washing.

There are 17 different yeasts and dough types, and each is no small amount. With a very tall stepping stool and a lot of willing eyes and hands, I demonstrate the proper way to prepare a pizza pie.

You must work the dough! Stretch it and flatten it! They are to be molded to a safe 12-14 inch sized pizza each. The primary test today is not on the sauce, cheese or even toppings but the dough. Thus all of those other things are to be kept simple, margarita pizzas for all. Herbs and cuts of veggies annd bacon are kept on stand by for variety in toppings but it is my belief to keep these crucial first test tastes simple and unaided by other flavors.

Not long after the first round of pizzas was put into the ovens, that familiar mouth-watering smell wafted through the room. Even though everyone is hard at work preparing the next pies to baked, such a scent stopped everyone in their tracks, even Mr. Boar.

”Is...is it supposed to smell so good?” spoke Amar, barely above a whisper.

”This really is the stuff of legends!” exclaimed Lukas, jumping up and down in excitement.

Only the boys had to guts to speak up through the tantalizing smell. Put of fairness I also made them help out if I have to be covered in flour, so do they.

”Not legends, no. This is pizza.”