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Post by Plaisir Durante (R) on May 18, 2006 19:11:37 GMT -5
The restaurant was closed, I was having some repairs done in the dining room. I was in the kitchen, working on some new recipes when I suddenly realized I had no one to try them out on. The staff was gone and I wasn't pulling a carpenter away from his work just to try my new herbed shrimp mousse stuffed into baby onions.
I scrunched my face up, wishing Vivien was here and went out the front door. I looked around and noticed a very beautiful and dignified woman walking by.
"Pardon me," I said, smiling. "I own this restaurant and am in desperate need of someone to try my new concoctions, have you any interest in a meal?"
Not my best pitch ever, but it was off the cuff.
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on May 18, 2006 19:26:09 GMT -5
Turning to the man that was addressing me, I cocked my head sideways and raised a brow at his words- well, it was almost mealtime, and new things were always interesting. Besides, it was a long time since someone had assailed me from the streets for something other than my skills. He looked friendly enough, grey eyes calm and happy if somewhat irritated.
Smiling widely, I curtseyed slightly as said, "I would love to, my lord. I am Allisande no' Dahlia."
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Post by Plaisir Durante (R) on May 18, 2006 19:31:41 GMT -5
" Plaisir d'Nourriture," I said, taking her hand an bowing over it. "Owner and chef of Désir."
My smile went from harried to genuine pleasure as I took her arm and led her inside.
"You have no idea how grateful I am. I usually have scores of people around to taste whatever it is I manage to throw together, but as you can see," I said, indicating the men working on the overhead beams, "I am a little lacking of anyone with time to spare for me to experiment on. All I ask is complete honesty, if it's awful please let me know."
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on May 18, 2006 19:50:13 GMT -5
"It's good to meet you, my lord," I said with a smile as I let him lead me inside, taking in the construction process- it reminded me of being a child and watching my father work. Still, I turned and looked around me as I walked, taking everything in.
Smiling at his words I tossed my head a little. "I am Dahlia- our problem is more with not sugar-coating things then doing so too much. I only hope you are not offended by my version of honesty."
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Post by Plaisir Durante (R) on May 18, 2006 19:54:13 GMT -5
"Honesty is never something I am offended by, in any version," I said, smiling and leading her into the kitchen.
I pulled out a chair at the table in the corner, holding it for her.
"Can I get you something to drink? Would you like some wine? Water? Juice? I have it all," I asked her.
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on May 18, 2006 19:58:29 GMT -5
Smoothing my skirts under myself gracefully I sat down. "Thank you- I'll have some juice, I think- I'd hate to dull my taste buds while trying your new creations," I said with a smile. "You have a very lovely place here, just as I've heard."
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Post by Plaisir Durante (R) on May 18, 2006 20:06:30 GMT -5
"Thank you," I said, going and pouring her a glass of juice. "I am very lucky to be able to do what I love for a living. If I had to make a living doing something else I'd never sleep because I'd come home and cook all night."
I picked up a tray and carried it to the table along with her glass, setting them both down with practiced ease.
"We'll start with the appetizers, which seems appropriate," I said, chuckling. I handed her a napkin and fork.
"This is herbed shrimp mousse stuffed into baby onions," I said, pointing as I described each thing. "These are asparagus tips coated in a lemon dough and fried, these are mushroom and chicken tortes with a cream wine sauce I am working on, and these are spinach and ham stuffed potatoes with herbs and cheese."
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on May 18, 2006 20:20:22 GMT -5
Watching him bustle about I noticed how comfortable he was in the kitchen- either he was a prodigy or he'd spent so much time cooking that he was a master.
The tray was carried to me with the juice and I concentrated, nodding and looking at each of the foods as he described them. Everything smelled wonderful and I smiled. taking a sip of the juice so my throat wouldn't catch on any of it. "What do you suggest first?" I asked with a smile, tucking loose tendrils of hair behind my ear.
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Post by Plaisir Durante (R) on May 18, 2006 20:25:57 GMT -5
"I would start with the torte, then the asparagus, then the mousse, and then the potatoes," I said, working through them in my head.
I reached over and grabbed a plate, setting it off to the side.
"Anything you don't like, just toss there," I said, sitting down but not staring at her, no one liked to be watched while they ate.
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on May 18, 2006 20:35:37 GMT -5
With a nod of aquiescence I cut off a bite of torte and put it in my mouth, politely putting my hand in front of my mouth as I chewed and let the flavors roll around my tongue. The taste was fine, but something about the texture..
Smiling I picked up the juice and took another sip. Looking over at Plaisir I scrunched my brow, thinking for a moment about what in the texture of the dish had seemed wrong. Well, he had said honesty. "The flavors were delicious, but something about the texture of the mushrooms seemed...wrong. Almost slippery."
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Post by Plaisir Durante (R) on May 18, 2006 20:45:11 GMT -5
I nodded, thinking over what she had said.
"Good, good.. thank you. If I roast the mushrooms first they won't soak up as much of the sauce, they will stay firmer. The sauce itself though, good or needs something?" I asked, the ingredients all popping into my head.
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on May 18, 2006 20:49:43 GMT -5
With a mental sigh of relief that he was actually as well-recieving of criticism as he'd seemed- artists were hard things to judge, 'never help an Eglantine with their forte' was a common Night Court witticism- I shook my head in the negative. "I found the sauce to be very good, creamy and rich without settling heavily in the stomach and tasting like it tied the chicken and mushrooms together well."
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Post by Plaisir Durante (R) on May 18, 2006 20:55:11 GMT -5
"Wonderful," I said with a sigh of relief. "That sauce has been a bane for months now. I think it was the press of wine I was using. I tried a new press and I hoped it would improve."
I smiled, settling back in my chair.
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on May 18, 2006 21:08:23 GMT -5
"Wines are picky things, I hear," I said in agreement, taking another sip of juice, then cutting a piece of asparagus and placing that in my mouth and chewing thoughtfully. I tasted more fresh that sour and the asparagus was perfectly done.
Swallowing, I brought my hand down from my mouth and exposed a wide grin. "Bravo," I said, nodding in respect and clapping my hands softly. "That was wonderful, ten out of ten."
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Post by Plaisir Durante (R) on May 18, 2006 22:12:12 GMT -5
I beamed, bowing as much as possible while sitting at a table.
"Thank you," I said, smiling. "I adore asparagus, but it is one of those things what can b difficult to find new things to do with it."
I stood up to get myself a glass of honey water and stir the ingredients in a large pot over the fire.
"Please continue, this just needs a little watching," I told her.
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on May 18, 2006 22:21:09 GMT -5
Nodding again in understanding I moved on to the mousse. I cut off a portion and placed it in my mouth. It was good, but nowhere near the same league as the rest of the foods. I chewed and swallowed, taking note of what I saw as the problems.
After taking a sip of juice I said, "It was good, but not my favorite thing; I though the onion overwhelmed the mildness of the shrimp and that the mousse was a little heavy."
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Post by Plaisir Durante (R) on May 18, 2006 22:24:39 GMT -5
"You are very good at this," I said, nodding. "So many people are afraid to tell me what they really think. As if they think I believe everything I make is perfect. It takes work, lots of trial and error."
I gave the pot another stir.
"Have another asparagus before the potatoes, it will help clear out the taste of the mousse."
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on May 18, 2006 22:38:00 GMT -5
I did as he said without question- he was honest and I trusted him to know what he was doing where food was concerned.
Taking the bite of the potatoes I chewed slowly, savoring it. After a sip of juice I said, "This was my favorite so far- I'd even eat it as a meal with a sweet cream sauce. The ham wasn't too salty like it can get sometimes, the spinach wasn't soggy, the potato was perfect- I'd give this one an eleven, using a scale of ten," I said with a grin.
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Post by Plaisir Durante (R) on May 18, 2006 22:49:00 GMT -5
"The things that can happen when a cook if bored and looking through the stores," I said, walking back to her. "I just took things out and started putting things together. I am so glad I haven't lost my instincts."
I sat down and looked at the tray.
"So, roast the mushrooms, forget about the mousse, the asparagus is perfect and the potatoes beyond that… now they just need a name," I said, looking up at her. A smile curved my lips. "Potatoes Allisande will make their debut tomorrow."
I took the tray and set it back on the counter, grabbing a bowl and taking it to the pot I had been stirring.
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on May 18, 2006 23:06:07 GMT -5
"I would be honored," I said with a wide smile that spread to shine warmly in my eyes. "And yes, I think that about sums it up. You are an artist- I'm suprised you're not in Eglantine at the moment," I said with a chuckle. "Though I'm sure a lot of adepts would have lost their figures."
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Post by Plaisir Durante (R) on May 18, 2006 23:12:53 GMT -5
"Thank you," I said, ladling some of the soup into the bowl. "I don't have the discipline to be an adept though. You all work so hard, I am far too self indulgent to have lasted in any House."
I place the bowl on a tray and cut some slices of warm, dark bread. I added a spoon to the tray and a pinch of herbs to the soup and brought it to her table.
"It is still very hot," I warned, setting it in front of her. "It not very fancy, just a beef consommé, but I am trying a new blend of herbs in it and on top."
I sat back down, across from her.
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on May 18, 2006 23:24:39 GMT -5
Smiling, I picked up the spoon and scooped up some consomme and blew across it gently. "You don't strike me as the self-indulgent type," I said with a grin, inhaling and then exhaling again, dimpling but not spraying any of the soup. "I've never seen anyone move about a kitchen as you do."
Smoothly I took the spoon and spilled the soup into my mouth to keep from slurping. "It's wonderful," I said after I'd tasted and swallowed it. "It tastes like a home feels."
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Post by Plaisir Durante (R) on May 18, 2006 23:34:38 GMT -5
"That's it, I have to figure out how to have you here to taste all my new things… such amazing descriptions," I said, beaming and leaning back again in the chair again.
"As for my self indulgence, it doesn't manifest itself here, but it is there trust me. In the kitchen I am a totally different person, I just know where to be what to do. I have spent more time in a kitchen that anywhere else in my life. It's like being inside my own soul. The kitchen is where I am meant to be," I told her. "Now, get me out of here and I can lay in bed for hours or days if the spirit takes me."
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on May 18, 2006 23:44:14 GMT -5
"If I test all of your foods for you I'll have to put in extra hours at the salle, but it would be worth it," I said with a laugh. "Feel free to ask me anytime."
Smiling warmly, I added, "I know just how you feel- I am just as at home in my House. It's wonderful when someone finds the place they belong. If only everyone had that chance."
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Post by Plaisir Durante (R) on May 18, 2006 23:48:08 GMT -5
"That would be nice, wouldn't it? I always feel so blessed to have what I have. I wonder just what it is I have done to deserve it. Perhaps that is why I am always trying to find new dishes, to keep up my end of the bargain," I replied, smiling. "Try some of the bread too, I just took it out before I snatched you off the street."
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on May 19, 2006 6:28:55 GMT -5
Smiling again I obediently picked up the piece of bread, broke off a portion and popped it in my mouth; it melted there, rich and crusty. Swallowing I said, "That's very good bread- you should think about opening a side bakery."
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Post by Plaisir Durante (R) on May 19, 2006 9:31:40 GMT -5
"If I opened another place I'd never be able to be self indulgent," I said with a laugh.
"When you're ready, I have a dish of crispy duck stuffed with wild rice, toasted nuts, and herbs for you to try next."
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on May 19, 2006 9:37:53 GMT -5
"That sounds wonderful- I'm ready whenever you are," I said with a grin as I took another sip of juice to clear my palate.
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Post by Plaisir Durante (R) on May 19, 2006 9:47:18 GMT -5
I cleared the table of all the previous bits of food and dishes and set them aside.
Then I got a clean plate and uncovered the duck that had been sitting on a sideboard. I sliced her off a piece, laying it on the plate. Then I spooned some of the rice, spreading it in an arch alongside the duck. I grabbed a clean fork and a knife and brought it back to her.
"Ta da," I said, grinning as I set everything in front of her.
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on May 19, 2006 9:58:24 GMT -5
"You have a good eye for visual effect," I said with a smile as looked at the food. "You should have been in Eglantine."
I cut off a piece of duck and placed it in my mouth, chewing thoughtfully. The outside was crispy, the inside moist and tender and, in all, it was wonderful. Once I had swallowed I scooped up some of the rice, letting the fluffy softness melt in my mouth along with the smooth flavors.
After I swallowed again I looked over at him and said with a grin, "You're got another ten here- the textures compliment each other perfectly and they just plain taste good, separately and together."
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