Chapter 463: Heons Restaurant (1/2)
The kitchen resounded with the sound of meals being prepared. Hidden from the 'bar-restaurant,' two intimidating doors acted as guardians. Inside, after a hard push, it opened to a place with white tiles, multiple counters else referred to as the cooking-station. One rested upfront for plating, it was usually mounted by the supervising chef.
”What smells so good?” wondered the demi-human receptionist wiggling her tail and nose.
”It's meat,” replied Konoe with arms crossed and half a smile.
”Meat?” sighed the other receptionist, ”-how original…”
”Don't insult meat,” came other workers, ”-it's the staple of what makes a meal great. Besides, we don't care about the fine dining everyone does here,” a bearded man with slippers and vest entered without tact. ”The world of the rich cuisine, who cares,” he laughed.
”It's personal preference,” argued Konoe respectfully. The bearded man seemed to be strong as the others were reluctant to speak or stare.
”I suppose we have to wait,” sighed yet another entering the kitchen. Soon after, the sweet aroma of the simmering stew knocked their senses.
'Late night meals must be light and easy to swallow. The body has to rest for the next morning. A stew should be enough, there's no need for fancy. It's the first thing Chef Leko taught me.'
”Konoe,” closing the lid, ”-where will you be seated?”
”In the restaurant,” replied he.
”Could you please take care of it?”
”Yeah, sure,” with a nod as the other stared, ”-let's move outside. I think the meal is about to be readied.” None could refute until a loud sizzling and burst of fire stopped the line. ”-What?”
A musician playing and imbuing each note with emotion. Igna stood there as if the guide. Both hands moved ambidextrously, the calm and compose exploded into the rash and irregular.
”What is he doing?”
”He's cooking,” said Konoe reluctantly, ”-I've realized why Lady Lordon asked for him. He told me it was less than a few months since he held the knife. I don't doubt the words, why would anyone lie about being a rookie, especially in such a grand setting as here. The techniques being used, the way he checks the pan, there's refinement, unlike anything I've experienced.” The show of ability grounded the would-be leaving guests. No words exchanged from that point forth. A hypnotic performance of skill and potential.
Twenty-five minutes later, ”-Konoe.”
”What is it,” approached he to Igna who washed his hands.
”Can you help me plate? It's sadly something I'm not that good at,” casually wiping and drying the hand,”-I might have cooked, still, the first impression of the food is what motivates one to eat. Please, I need help.” The sincerity in the face and voice couldn't be beaten.
”Fine,” he patted Igna's shoulder, ”-I understand you a bit more now. The technique you showed was tantamount to a seasoned veteran. Can't believe it's been that little o' time.”
”Thank you for the compliments,” tasting the food at last, ”-here.”
'What's this…' an explosion of flavor had the feet stuck to the floor, '-the rashness in his cooking is present in the food. It's strong and unrefined in a good way. I can taste the strength of meat, the wild nature of the beast.'
”It's demon-wolves meat,” smiled he, ”-I found some earlier and the Blood of a Covenant.”
”Are you insane? I thought only Master Leko could utilize such ingredients…”
”Why was it here then?”
”Oh…” the face shifted to cluelessness; ”-I don't know myself.”
”Yeah, whatever, it's going to get cold, help me with plating.”
Bowls in hand with side-dish of meat and vegetables, the food came out one by one. The table filled with the aroma of earlier, and soon the staff waited fondly.
”Thank you everyone for taking the time and coming to try the food of a recruit. Let me explain what's in the meal,” and so, after a few minutes, the ingredients weren't hard to grasp as well as the technique used.
”Young Igna,” said the bearded man, ”-don't feel bad if we hate the meal. Everyone here has experience in tasting. We've been spoiled by the best chefs around the nation, compared to them, there's no parallel.”
A lid covered the bowls, none had taken a look at the actual meal.
”Is that true?”
”About them being spoiled?”
”Yeah,” asked Igna with a frown.
”No two ways around it, the staff here have taste tested meals and recipes from plenty o' chefs. Some are good, many were bad, still, the heightened senses of the Ardanian's contested by a lot.” The casual chatter faded into silence,”-what happened?”
”They had a bite,” smiled Igna. A bite turned into another, '-what's this flavor, I need to know more.' Each thought the same, the modest food of a trainee had them craving more.
”Konoe!” screamed the same man, ”-who made this?” strong and heavy, the room dissolved into shameless murmurs.
”Igna, vice-director, it was made by him.”
”Vice-director?” asked Igna tapping the shoulder.
”Wait,” said Konoe with a facial expression.
”No, I refuse to believe it,” he sat with twice the force.
”It can't be him, can it?” argued the receptionists.
”Such a pleasant meal,” sighed the normal workers, ”-I'm filled with energy.”
”Yeah, I know,” replied the guards, ”-I can work the night without trouble now.”
Those who finished stood, ”-the meal was succulent,” compliments were given on the way out.
”I like the explosive taste,” said the demi-human receptionist, ”-I'm Ellie, and this here is my partner Ella. Guess you're not that bad a boy,” they left after patting his head arrogantly.
”Those two,” exhaled Konoe in disappointment, ”-they never changed, don't mind them.”