Upstart Pastry Chef ~Territory Management of a Genius Pâtisserie~ - Chapter 42

Chapter 42: Raspberry Tart of Blessings and Bonds

I decided to make a raspberry tart to celebrate with Farne and the children.

Raspberries are currently in season.

Yesterday, the children harvested them, and most of them were preserved in honey for storage, while the remaining portion will be used today and distributed to the villagers.

Honey preservation is quite effective as a method.

Honey has a strong bactericidal effect and can preserve fruit for over a year.

In other words, even in winter when fruit cannot be harvested, you can enjoy the taste of fresh raspberries. Plus, there’s a different kind of deliciousness compared to eating them raw.

“I think I’ll try a little taste.”

I pick a small, red raspberry and eat it.

A refreshing tartness spreads in my mouth.

And a hint of sweetness. Eating them raw leaves a bit of a lack of sweetness, but considering cooking them, it should be just right.

I take out the tart dough that I prepared yesterday from the shelf.

The tart dough is made from flour, walnut oil, and eggs, kneaded together.

I roll out the dough into a circular shape. I mustn’t forget to make the thickness uniform.

Then, I pierce the rolled-out dough with a fork, create an edge, and place a weight to remove air, completing the preparation.

Now that the base is ready, it’s time to make the cream.

This time, I’ll use pistachios from the mountains for the tart cream.

Pistachios are wonderful nuts that are rich in oil.

I mix the freshly prepared whipped cream with crushed pistachios to make a paste. Here, I mustn’t forget to add a small amount of egg yolk and honey, little by little.

The whipped cream gradually takes on a beautiful emerald color, and the pistachio cream is complete.

With this pistachio cream, it complements the raspberries with the strength and sweetness they lack, while also smoothing out their tartness.

I tasted it a bit.

“Mm, it tastes great.”

I spread the completed pistachio cream onto the tart dough.

Cooking the pistachios further enhances their flavor.

“Now, it’s time to bake.”

I put the tart dough with plenty of pistachio cream into the oven.

As it cooks, the enchanting scent of pistachios spreads throughout the kitchen.

After a while, the tart is baked.

The shape is good, and the pistachio cream is smooth.

I let it cool for a while.

While it’s cooling, I make custard cream using egg yolk, honey, and whipped cream.

It’s better not to cook this one.

I spread the custard cream on the surface of the thoroughly cooled tart. It adds a nice accent when spread over the pistachio cream.

I sprinkle finely crushed pistachios on top to add texture and accent.

And finally, the star of the show arrives. I arrange plenty of raspberries on top of the custard cream.

The red, juicy fruit looks like jewels, beautiful and enticing.

“With this, it’s finally complete.”

Surely, both the children and Farne will be delighted.

◇

Taking advantage of Farne’s kindness, I rented a room in her mansion, and a welcome party for Farne and the children was held.

As I approached the room, I could hear their voices.

“Big brother Kurt, you’re really rough with people!”

Johann was whispering unnecessary things to Farne. Despite his cheerful tone, he seemed somewhat pleased to be complaining.

“But, Kurt-sama, you’re kind. You teach us patiently.”

“And if you do your work properly, it’s not that much to handle.”

The other children quickly spilled the beans.

“Hey, don’t rat me out!”

Johann laughed and said, causing Farne to smile wryly.

“Have you been happy since coming to this village?”

Farne asked, and the children looked at each other before…

“Yeah.”

They all nodded simultaneously.

“Having a decent job is great. You don’t feel guilty, and you don’t get beaten up… Plus, there’s plenty of food to eat.”

“Yeah, after working hard, having a good meal is the best kind of happiness.”

The children were excited.

They were doing well without any bias. Tina was teaching them their tasks, and they were quick learners; they had almost learned everything in just one week.

And once one of them learned something, they would teach it to their friends, reducing Tina’s workload. Bringing them into this village had been a great success.

Feeling the happy atmosphere in the room, I naturally found myself smiling as I entered.

◇

“Everyone, I’ve brought some celebratory sweets!”

As soon as I entered the room, the children’s cheers filled the air.

“Wow, it smells amazing!”

“So pretty!”

“Hey, isn’t that the raspberries we picked yesterday?”

“I tried sneaking a taste, but it was just sour, not good.”

There were some comments that caught my attention, but overall, the reaction was positive.

“Everyone, Kurt-sama’s sweets are so wonderful that even nobles praise them highly. They’re the kind of sweets that many nobles want to eat but can’t. We’re lucky to be able to enjoy such sweets.”

As Farne said this, the children’s excitement soared even higher.

“Sweets that even nobles can’t eat!”

“Amazing!”

“I’m glad I came to this village.”

The children couldn’t contain their excitement, leaning forward eagerly.

Well then, I better let them taste it soon.

“Tina, could you bring some plates?”

“Yes, Kurt-sama.”

Tina smiled and brought small plates.

Then, I took out a cake knife from my jacket and began cutting the tart.

With each slice of the cake knife, there was a crisp, appetizing sound.

Amidst the sweet and tangy scent of raspberries and the rich aroma of baked pistachio cream, the sound of slicing through the tart filled the air.

With the combined assault of sound and fragrance, several of the children found themselves drooling.

“Tina, could you start arranging the slices?”

“Yes, understood.”

Tina placed the tart on a tray and began distributing it. Some children couldn’t resist reaching out for a slice as soon as it was placed in front of them, but most of them were gently reminded by their neighbors.

Once everyone had their portion of tart in front of them,

“Let’s skip the formalities. Thank you all for coming to my village. I made these sweets today as a token of my gratitude to each of you. I want you to know how wonderful the honey and raspberries you all work with are, so I made this dessert. Let’s appreciate the greatness of what we create together.”

With that, my brief speech concluded.

At this point, the children were probably too eager to wait any longer.

“Let’s say a mealtime blessing. I’ll explain it for those who might not know. Repeat after me before you eat.”

There was a brief pause.

“We give thanks to the forest and the gods for today’s sustenance.”

“We give thanks to the forest and the gods for today’s sustenance.”

In unison, everyone echoed the words before they started enjoying the raspberry tart.

◇

The sound of crisp tart crust being bitten into filled the room.

What a delightful sound it was.

Unable to resist any longer, I reached for my own slice.

The tart crust provided a crisp bite, while the pistachio cream was incredibly smooth, and the custard cream was light and airy.

As you bit into it, the crushed nuts made their presence known, the raspberry juice spread in your mouth, and the rich sweetness of the cream combined with the tartness of the raspberries, creating a captivating flavor experience that couldn’t be achieved separately—a delightful world unfolding in your mouth.

It tasted fantastic. Well done.

Glancing over, I noticed Tina’s tail wagging excitedly.

Lost in the moment, Tina was eating with gusto, a smear of tart cream on her lips.

The children were the same, completely engrossed in devouring the tart.

Naturally, with such enthusiasm, the tart disappeared in no time…

Once they snapped out of their blissful food coma, regrets started pouring out.

“Oh no, it’s all gone.”

“It’s already gone?”

“This is the best dessert I’ve ever had!”

“I want more!”

Some even resorted to licking their plates or using their hands to scoop up the cream from their neighbors’ mouths.

“Your sweets, Kurt-sama, are as amazing as ever. I’ve never tasted anything like this even in the Fernando Marchioness’s domain.”

Farne, the only one using a knife and fork instead of her hands, praised me.

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“After tasting this dessert, I’m convinced. Kurt-sama’s sweets are three-dimensional. The layers of flavor harmonize beautifully, creating a depth that sets them apart from any other confectionery I’ve ever tasted.”

Farne’s casual remark held a profound truth, reflecting the fundamental principle of modern confectionery.

Balancing flavors and layering the deliciousness is the hallmark of a skilled pastry chef.

“If you say so, then I’ll have to make even more delightful sweets.”

Feeling the expectation, I am eager to meet it.

“Big brother Kurt, are there any more?”

“Oh, I want some too!”

“Me too, me too!”

The children in their growth spurt seemed far from satisfied. This was expected.

“Well, actually, I have a bit more prepared.”

The door opened, and Vorg brought in another tart that was left in the kitchen.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. My lady, Kurt-sama, everyone.”

With the unexpected appearance of seconds, everyone became excited.

“Raise your hand if you want seconds.”

The children and Tina all raised their hands eagerly.

And then…

“I-I would like another slice too, please.”

Blushing with embarrassment, Farne timidly raised her hand.

It was so amusing that everyone burst into laughter.