Post by Plaisir Durante (R) on Jul 10, 2005 15:33:39 GMT -5
I have never been nervous about anything I created in a kitchen. Herbs, spices, meat, fruit, vegetables; they have always just made sense to me. I can tell if a squash is perfectly ripe just by running a finger across its skin. My mind has always instinctively known just the right amount of crystallized ginger to add to make the perfect reduction to go on top of my seared meats. Out of the kitchen though, things have not always been so easy.
I stood just inside the doorway of my restaurant. Tonight was opening night and I had never been so nervous. Every piece of furniture, every color, every flower had been hand picked by myself in an effort to create the perfect atmosphere. Simple, yet comfortable was the balance I was striving for. The focus of my patrons was to be the food, not the lavish décor. The furniture was all of pale ash wood. Half of the chairs were upholstered in a pale gray, the other half in a dark grey. There were accents of greens in the curtains, flowers, and the cut-class candle shades on the tables. I had paced the dining room so many times that there was no longer anything for me to adjust or straighten, it had all been done; and done again. I took a deep breath in hopes of steadying my nerves, but it didn't really help. Deciding I could put it off no longer, I opened the front door to let my small staff in.
I went over the dishes that were being prepared tonight with my three servers. I had spent quite a lot of time finding the right people, they were all personable and smart. I did not have the time or patience to be pulled out of my kitchen to deal with my service staff. After assuring me that everything would go wonderfully, the three of them went to the back room to change into their uniforms. The uniforms has been delivered just that morning from Eglantine House. They were of the same greys as the upholstery so that the staff would not detract from the atmosphere.
I headed to my kitchen to begin the finishing touches for tonight's meal. To try and minimize any possible disasters, I had kept the opening night menu to a single dinner selection. The guest list included some of the city's elite and I wanted to do everything possible to make sure things proceeded smoothly. My two kitchen assistants were already setting the plates and bowls in position to be filled and taken to the dining room with the greatest efficiency. I moved to the stove to give one last glance to the dishes simmering there.
My head server peeked in the kitchen to tell me people were arriving and that it looked like everyone who had been invited was in attendance. I nodded, unable to make my mouth work to form words. All my life I had known I was born to cook, tonight I would find out if I was destined for more.
The noise from the dining room grew as the guests made their way in. Distantly I registered sounds of approval at the décor. My assistants and I began filling the plates with appetizers. I heard the delicate tinkling of a bell and my head server announced, "Welcome to opening night at Désir. Your meal will begin with an opening course of miniature pastries stuffed with fresh roasted fish and herbed cheese. Enjoy."
The serves swept into the kitchen collecting plates and then just as quickly swept out to deliver them to the tables. A hush fell over the dining room as my guests tasted the first offering. My breath caught as I waited for the reaction that would encompass the entire experience of my restaurant. Almost as one it seemed every guest exclaimed in delight. My breath exploded out of me and my assistants turned to smile broadly at me. That was all we had time for, we had to prepare the next course.
It was the same for each dish; baby vegetable soup with fresh bread, crispy spiced duck with fig sauce, sweet pastries stuffed with fruit preserves and dusted with sugar; silence as the guests ate then exclamations of delight.
When the last dish was brought back to the kitchen and there was no way left for me to delay it, I stepped from the kitchen to the dining room. My head server announced, "Chef Plaisir!" All heads turned to me and everyone broke into applause. A smile broke over my face, and I knew I had done it. I went around to each table, personally thanking everyone for sharing this night with me.
"Baron Riche, well met. Thank you so very much for sharing this night with me. I hope everything was to your liking."
"Plaisir, my dear boy, Elua himself has blessed your hands. I know this is your opening night, but I must have you come work in my house. I will pay off your debts here and build you a kitchen you could only dream of!"
"Baron that is so very kind of you, truly. I must respectfully decline though. I have just begun down this path and I will see where it leads. You are welcome here whenever you are in the city. " I extracted myself delicately and moved onto the next table.
Congratulation followed congratulation. A few more offers of full time employment. I then came to the last table where sat my most faithful patron during all the years I was preparing meals for parties and galas.
"Plaisir, everything was perfection, as usual," exclaimed Comtesse Genre. "I am so delighted for you."
"Comtesse, I owe you so very much. I never would have had the courage to do this without your support."
The Comtesse chuckled, "Plaisir you are not the first man nor the last I'm sure to do something just so I will stop nagging him about it."
I bent over her hand, kissing the back. "My sweet Comtesse you can nag me about anything that tickles your fancy." She laughed again and patted my cheek. The Comtesse was over three times my age and loved to be flirted with. I thanked her again and made my to the front of the dining room.
As my guests began to leave I stood at the door and wished them all blessings and good night. As the last guest left, I turned to begin cleaning up and found that my staff had already tended to everything. They all smiled and congratulated me as the headed to their homes. I locked the door behind them and headed back to the kitchen.
I sat down on a chair in the corner of my kitchen and looked around. Tears began to roll down my cheeks. I had done it, it had been a smashing success, all my dreams were coming true.
I stood just inside the doorway of my restaurant. Tonight was opening night and I had never been so nervous. Every piece of furniture, every color, every flower had been hand picked by myself in an effort to create the perfect atmosphere. Simple, yet comfortable was the balance I was striving for. The focus of my patrons was to be the food, not the lavish décor. The furniture was all of pale ash wood. Half of the chairs were upholstered in a pale gray, the other half in a dark grey. There were accents of greens in the curtains, flowers, and the cut-class candle shades on the tables. I had paced the dining room so many times that there was no longer anything for me to adjust or straighten, it had all been done; and done again. I took a deep breath in hopes of steadying my nerves, but it didn't really help. Deciding I could put it off no longer, I opened the front door to let my small staff in.
I went over the dishes that were being prepared tonight with my three servers. I had spent quite a lot of time finding the right people, they were all personable and smart. I did not have the time or patience to be pulled out of my kitchen to deal with my service staff. After assuring me that everything would go wonderfully, the three of them went to the back room to change into their uniforms. The uniforms has been delivered just that morning from Eglantine House. They were of the same greys as the upholstery so that the staff would not detract from the atmosphere.
I headed to my kitchen to begin the finishing touches for tonight's meal. To try and minimize any possible disasters, I had kept the opening night menu to a single dinner selection. The guest list included some of the city's elite and I wanted to do everything possible to make sure things proceeded smoothly. My two kitchen assistants were already setting the plates and bowls in position to be filled and taken to the dining room with the greatest efficiency. I moved to the stove to give one last glance to the dishes simmering there.
My head server peeked in the kitchen to tell me people were arriving and that it looked like everyone who had been invited was in attendance. I nodded, unable to make my mouth work to form words. All my life I had known I was born to cook, tonight I would find out if I was destined for more.
The noise from the dining room grew as the guests made their way in. Distantly I registered sounds of approval at the décor. My assistants and I began filling the plates with appetizers. I heard the delicate tinkling of a bell and my head server announced, "Welcome to opening night at Désir. Your meal will begin with an opening course of miniature pastries stuffed with fresh roasted fish and herbed cheese. Enjoy."
The serves swept into the kitchen collecting plates and then just as quickly swept out to deliver them to the tables. A hush fell over the dining room as my guests tasted the first offering. My breath caught as I waited for the reaction that would encompass the entire experience of my restaurant. Almost as one it seemed every guest exclaimed in delight. My breath exploded out of me and my assistants turned to smile broadly at me. That was all we had time for, we had to prepare the next course.
It was the same for each dish; baby vegetable soup with fresh bread, crispy spiced duck with fig sauce, sweet pastries stuffed with fruit preserves and dusted with sugar; silence as the guests ate then exclamations of delight.
When the last dish was brought back to the kitchen and there was no way left for me to delay it, I stepped from the kitchen to the dining room. My head server announced, "Chef Plaisir!" All heads turned to me and everyone broke into applause. A smile broke over my face, and I knew I had done it. I went around to each table, personally thanking everyone for sharing this night with me.
"Baron Riche, well met. Thank you so very much for sharing this night with me. I hope everything was to your liking."
"Plaisir, my dear boy, Elua himself has blessed your hands. I know this is your opening night, but I must have you come work in my house. I will pay off your debts here and build you a kitchen you could only dream of!"
"Baron that is so very kind of you, truly. I must respectfully decline though. I have just begun down this path and I will see where it leads. You are welcome here whenever you are in the city. " I extracted myself delicately and moved onto the next table.
Congratulation followed congratulation. A few more offers of full time employment. I then came to the last table where sat my most faithful patron during all the years I was preparing meals for parties and galas.
"Plaisir, everything was perfection, as usual," exclaimed Comtesse Genre. "I am so delighted for you."
"Comtesse, I owe you so very much. I never would have had the courage to do this without your support."
The Comtesse chuckled, "Plaisir you are not the first man nor the last I'm sure to do something just so I will stop nagging him about it."
I bent over her hand, kissing the back. "My sweet Comtesse you can nag me about anything that tickles your fancy." She laughed again and patted my cheek. The Comtesse was over three times my age and loved to be flirted with. I thanked her again and made my to the front of the dining room.
As my guests began to leave I stood at the door and wished them all blessings and good night. As the last guest left, I turned to begin cleaning up and found that my staff had already tended to everything. They all smiled and congratulated me as the headed to their homes. I locked the door behind them and headed back to the kitchen.
I sat down on a chair in the corner of my kitchen and looked around. Tears began to roll down my cheeks. I had done it, it had been a smashing success, all my dreams were coming true.