章 8: Cake and Cooking
...
Before we start the next episode, this was the aftermath of the previous night, and Felix has work the day after.
...
The snoring in the Pritchett-Tucker house was unbearable. Although, it was just a cleverly parted ruse made up by Cam. Overacting the part in his scheme, Cam loudly crackled and popped, creating an echoing illusion that he was sound asleep. He slowly opened his eyes and peered his head over to his side. Mitchell, having been accustomed to the gravitas of the snoring, slept soundly with bits of scurrying through the night. If an earthquake were to happen, in this condition, he would barely move to change directions in the bed. The wind, picked up slowly brushing elements of air in the bedroom
Cam crept out, slowly achieving the weight of his footsteps. Like a ninja, he carefully placed his movement, as to not create a sound of a creak on the wooden floor. Continuing his stride, Cam gracefully carried himself throughout the midnight dark kitchen. Feeling the walls, navigating his way towards the fridge. He was hungry, and the perfect dessert was created hours ago for a situation like this.
He heard noises, scuffling around the kitchen area. Cam was alerted, his stomach pushing aside the hunger; feeling a sense of dread that came unto him. If this was an intruder he would be in trouble, however, he must protect his family. Slowly, he pushed open the door... All he could hear was smacking. The smell of fragrant food, followed by chewing; an audible, loud chewing. Confused he gulped a big wad of breath, if this was his last day on Earth, this intruder will not take his family with him.
Cam screamed at the top of his lungs flipping the light switch open. The light revealed a startled Mitchell, broken plate, and a cake splattered on the floor. Mitch shrieked as well, his voice was just displaced by Cam's.
"Cam! Oh, my God! That was horrible, why did you just scream at me?" - Mitch
"Well, I thought you were an intruder Mitchell." Cam flauntingly wagging his arms around. Another voice of crying had awoken them of their earlier misunderstanding. Lily, the newest addition, had woken up. Worried, Mitchell and Cam strode on to Lily's room while conversing.
"What were you doing, eating alone in the dark?" - Cam
"I got hungry. Dad ate like, 4 pieces of the damn thing when Felix told him there was rum in it." - Mitch
"I still can't believe he made that cake." Cam, stopped in the doorway, dazed. He looked back to Mitchell with an inquiring tone. "Did you eat the last piece of the cake?"
Mitchell passively brushed off the question. "No..." He looked off into the space around him. Maneuvering around Cam, he fenced off his attacking accusations and pivoted to open Lily's door.
"That was for me, Mitchell. You smacked my fork when I asked you for a piece." - Cam.
"Was not the last piece." - Mitch.
Cam looked at Mitchell carrying a sobbing Lily, bouncing her up and down; cradling her to sleep. Guiltily Mitch looked to the camera for help. "Fine, it was the last piece, Cam. I had a tough day, so... It was deserved."
"Did you sneak... Who is in our bed?" - Cam
"Uh... Just a couple of pillows." - Mitch
Cam shocked, confused, wandered his eyes to Mitchell. "But, I heard you getting comfortable."
Both looked at the entryway and soon enough a raccoon, with pieces of cake in its mouth scurries to Mitch and Cam's bedroom. In a serious tone, Cam looks at it and chases after the animal.
"There is no way that rat is stealing my cake. Let's go, Mitchell." - Cam
"Cam, stop." Mitchell, relents and bounces Lily to sleep in her room, hesitating to follow Cam to a potential confrontation with the raccoon.
...
[After noon. Next day]
The day after, Felix showed up inside the bustling lobby of 'The Jester'. Who knows why this day was especially packed, however, the amount of people is always a welcomed challenge. Felix wandered into the kitchen where the sound of chopping and preparation rang. The smell of various aromas wafted through the air.
"It always smells nice in here." - Felix
He weaved throughout chefs and onto the fridge list. Examining through it with agile and hawk-like vision, he scanned for every discrepancy and item needed today. "Hm... do we have everything prepared?" He called out towards the preparing chefs.
"Oui, Chef!" They called back. "Oh my goodness, why don't you answer with this much vigor when I ask?" A heavy French-accented man asked.
"Maybe they like me more. Who knows, Monsieur?" Felix shrugged and opened a variety of the pantries. "I'll prep for family meal now, and I'm gonna make something for the birthday boy."
"Chef, my birthday was yesterday." - The man of yesterdays hour answered.
"I know that Chef. I'm a fool not an idiot." Felix replied from within the fridge. He emerged about 10 minutes later carrying a crate full of ingredients. Gathering several scraps from the tables he prepared a meal that was fairly hearty. See, family meals are usually eaten before service, since, he missed the 12 am to 2 pm service, he needed to prep for another family meal.
There would be the morning chefs who cycled through 6 till 12, and then the afternoon chefs would arrive at 12 to takeover. Every restaurant works differently, and the "morning service" is only one week every month.
"What are you cooking?" - Jacques
"Decided to make soup. A salad, sticky rice. And a butter basted hen, with balsamic vinegar and blood orange for Gerome." - Felix
"Do you need any help?" Jacques inquired. Felix signed that he was perfect and continued with his plan. All the undesirable bits and pieces of the fish get thrown out. Fish bones are blanched and created to make fish stock. The meat however, is usually thrown out... This time its meat shall be made into a fish cake.
Working tirelessly in the corner of the kitchen, Felix, commanded his own little world. Preparation of the mise-en-place, sliding the ingredients, washing his hands several times. His control over fire and organization was a marvel to the human mind. He started to shut ovens and tidy up after creating every component, finishing up his cooking in 3 hours.
...
The 30+ staff and chefs of The Jester gathered around the feast inside what was known as "The Dining Room" a secret compartment separated from the secret drinks compartment, attached to the opposite side facing the kitchen. Inside an array of aromas filled the corners of the room. Perhaps it was very fragrant.
"So, I took the liberty of making the family meal, don't stain anything your uniforms when eating and enjoy." The food was arranged in a very specific manner, starting with the pot of soup, moving to the tteokbokki, the nicoise, the fish cake, and 4 other dishes. The finale was carted in by Jacques himself.
"Gerome, you are a spoiled man. We get birthday meals once, you get it twice." Jacques merrily pushing the cart with a silver dome overtop it towards Gerome. The onlooking staff became curious with the theatrics. When the dome was lifted, they became amazed at the sight of the whole quail, stuffed and basted, glistening with color. Dallops and garnish arranged a medley of artistry in the plating.
"I made it look nice for ya. Happy birthday Chef." - Felix
Gerome feeling a bit bashful due to the attention said thanks and dove into the food. What he felt was a mystery, even to Gerome, however, there was one thing for certain. He needs to confess... his birthday wasn't yesterday. It was next month. The guilt from this lie was washed away by the food.
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