Chapter 66.1: Soft Opening - Part 1
Neo''s POV:
Lady ina is simply the most beautiful woman I have everid eyes on in my life.
But it was not her physical beauty that I took notice of. It was her heart and how she was willing to help
people.
A few days ago, I told her about my Mana Spirit awakening within me after some deliberation with
myself.
She looked pleased and told me that she had seen the mana spirit in me just waiting to be awakened
but that was not what impressed her.
Apparently, my speed and efficiency in the kitchen were also why she had her eye on me.
I was sorry I doubted her and nearly knelt on my knees crying at how kind she was even when I was
harboring dark thoughts about her.
I made a vow to work hard for the cafe and even assisted in training the staff who would be joining me.
To my surprise, Beatrice and Lisa were assigned to be my cooking assistants. They had voiced their
interest in working in the cafe instead of being maids so the duchess gave them permission to work half
the day here and the other half maintaining the culinary house which suited them just fine.
Since they have witnessed their duchess cooking, they were easier to train. I learned that each of them
has their strength and weakness so I was aware of what to avoid when giving them orders.
Four days before the opening, the duchess suddenly ushered us to her carriage and we drove to the
cafe location so that we can take out first look at it.
I chose to ride with the driver since I was the only male while the duchess, Linda, and the two girls rode
the carriage.
Soon enough, we came upon a cafe that was not too big but not to small either. It was a rustic style sort
of eating establishment with green and earth-toned colors as a motif. The curving signage hanging
beside it says "Cafe Terra"
Inside the building, the wall was a shade of cream and the tables were made of redwood and oak.
Small potted nts and red checkered napkins were eyes catching against the tables.
The front counter was simple but the cloth and small potted nts soften the simple look as the disy
case was well lit using luminescent stones and an ice crystal.
A few potted nts and decors were behind the clean coffee counter area where coffee can be made
and inside the main kitchen.
My jaw almost dropped at how clean everything is and that there were a few pieces of equipment
inside it that will make it easy for me to make bread and cakes even baking meat.
This ce is where I will start dreaming again.
Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.
"What do you think?" The duchess looked at me expectantly as if gauging my response to the ce.
It was different from the sterile perfection of the royal kitchen but the rusticfort of the ce suits
me better.
"It''s perfect chef."
"Great! We will be having a soft opening the day after tomorrow. The guests are the senior port masters
and their family plus a few trusted sailors and workers that have been with my husband''spany for
years." She told me. "We will be making all five set meals and I will observe how you handle managing
Lisa and Beatrice as assistant cooks but I will help out if we are struggling. But for now...We will train
here for the next 2 days."
She led us into the kitchen and gave is a tour of where everything is kept and where everything is. Her
strictness in maintaining her standards on hygiene and cleanliness was unheard of in a cafe setting but
I felt myself gaining respect because I agree that a hand touching your customer''s food should be
clean always.
She made us memorize where each utensil and cooking equipment is ced and then throughout the
afternoon, she ordered a set meal and taught me how to read the order through the ticket system she
devised.
The first set meal waste by more than 10 minutes and mydy chef pointed out the ws of why it
came toote and told me to work on it as she ordered a different set.
"She is much more strict than at the house," grumbled Lisa as she yed the dish exactly how I was
taught.
"But...you have to admit...Mdy''s eyes when she taught us these things we''re really shining and so
captivating. She really loves what she does and I find that she really wants us to be the same."
Beatrice said as she cleans the tes she just washed.
"Let''s work even harderdies. For ourdy chef." I encouraged them and they nodded as I took the
second set meal and handed it to Linda who was waiting by the counter.
"On time. You learn fast." The stoic maid cracked a smile as she took the te from me and nodded
her head in thanks.
I watched as the duchess ate everyponent and nodded her head while picking through the food.
She then called me over to discuss the problems of the dish. She repeated this for thest 3 set meals
as well without mincing words.
I thought I did it well but she even noticed the way the meat dries out by a here few minutes or how an
arrangement of a dish can ruin the appeal.
After being the food critic; Lady ina rolled up her sleeves and demonstrated how to correct my
mistakes on cooking each ingredient with patience as she demonstrated her cookery skills that had me
and the girls gaping in shock.
The expert way her dainty wrist flips a pan as she mixes the ingredients and the way she moved while
frying the burger patty. They were all hallmarks of an experienced chef.
My blood tingled at seeing her in action. I was right in leaving my job to follow and train under her
tutge. The rush and excitement I feel was an indescribable feeling that stayed with me till she ended
our training session for today and promises that we can pick it up again tomorrow.
I could not sleep that night as my mind recounted my master''s advice and the way she moved in the
kitchen.
My hands moved through the air as if visualizing and mimicking her worst movements and the way she
flips the meat.
No chef has ever excited me as much as the Lady Aisenburg.
I am a lucky guy. She is someone I really want to learn from even if I do not get paid as well as in the
Pce.
Her knowledge is three times more valuable than all the drachmas in the world.