Upstart Pastry Chef ~Territory Management of a Genius Pâtisserie~ - Chapter 68

Chapter 68: Completely New, the Finest Course

The banquet began. I, as the head chef responsible for the cuisine, sat at the table of the Four Dukes to provide explanations of the dishes to them.

The Four Dukes are, as their name suggests, four individuals.

Duke Lenaril, who governs the east. A strikingly sharp impression of a beautiful young girl in her late teens. She’s also my current employer, seeking to avoid war within the royal faction.

Duke Hertling, ruler of the west. A young nobleman in his mid-twenties with a soft demeanor. He recently revealed a hint of madness beneath his sweet facade during a minor incident. He represents the faction desiring war.

Duke Eichhorn, overseeing the south. A robust man in his forties, exuding a friendly demeanor. I’ve heard he aligns with the noble faction.

Duke Ortlepp, responsible for the north. A stern-faced man in his early fifties, nearing old age. He aligns with the royal faction.

Particular attention should be paid to Duke Hertling from the west.

Upon Duke Lenaril’s cue with her gaze, I began speaking.

“I’ve had the honor of overseeing today’s courses. My name is Kurt Arnoldt. For the appetizers, I have prepared two dishes: tuna tartare steak and pounded deer liver.”

Two appetizers.

One, a delicacy where the finest meat clinging to the bones of the tuna is scraped off with a spoon, minced with a knife, and combined with gelatin-set superior consommé extracted from the tuna bones, herbs, and various seasonings to create the tartare steak. It’s garnished with a vibrant green sauce with a vinegar base.

The other, freshly caught deer liver from early this morning, seared on the surface then chilled, topped with a special sauce, served as deer liver sashimi.

Both dishes, without a drop of oil, represent the pinnacle of flavor. They serve as impeccable introductions to the course.

“This is exquisite. It’s my first time experiencing such a tuna dish. The vibrant red with the emerald-colored sauce.”

Somplimented Duke Hertling, the noble from the west, somewhat exaggeratedly praising my cuisine.

“The presentation is beautiful, but how about the taste…? Well, I’ll be darned. I’m surprised. I’ve never tasted tuna with such a strong umami flavor before. And it doesn’t stray too far as an appetizer, not overwhelming. Impressive… And the deer liver sashimi, let’s see.”

Duke Hertling eagerly tasted the liver sashimi.

“What is this?! Can I have seconds? For a moment, I lost myself. The perfect chewiness, the burst of pleasure when you bite into it. And above all, the wonderfully milky sweetness. Fantastic! The finest appetizer. The key must be in the cooking and the accompanying sauce. To impress with just an appetizer, you’re quite the chef.”

Despite Duke Hertling’s antagonism towards Duke Lenaril and his supposed lack of desire for the banquet’s success, he praised my cooking without reservation.

“My apologies. The deer liver sashimi requires special ingredients, so there’s only what I’ve served. Please excuse the limited quantity as there are more elaborate dishes to follow.”

“That’s a shame. But it only heightens the anticipation for the next dish. Hehe, I wonder what’s next.”

Duke Hertling graciously withdrew, wiping his mouth.

The other Four Dukes showed no signs of concern over Duke Hertling’s peculiar behavior.

However, they seemed intrigued by the dishes he praised, starting to dig into them one by one.

“Hmm, it’s no wonder Duke Hertling approves.”

“Indeed. Duke Lenaril’s declaration of a completely new and finest course doesn’t seem so much like overconfidence… But who knows what might be revealed in the next course.”

The stern gentleman from the north and the robust middle-aged man from the south also praised my cooking.

I used the world’s finest sashimi, deer liver, as a trump card. I needed them to be impressed by this.

Suddenly, I glanced at the common noble table and noticed that they seemed interested in the deer dish praised by the Four Dukes, gesturing to the servants to prepare some for them as well.

I felt a pang of guilt. I couldn’t provide for anyone beyond the Four Dukes due to the limited quantity. The burden fell on the servants.

But I couldn’t dwell on that remorse forever.

At this banquet, after serving the dishes, I had to hurry back to the kitchen to put the finishing touches before returning, explaining the dishes for a while, all before the Four Dukes finished eating.

Now, onto the next dish.

◇

The scallop salad served next was also well received.

The careful steaming of the scallops and the attention to the dressing were noted.

The dressing used papules, fruits similar to grapes. Grown by the elves, they were top-notch fruits. The dressing, drawing out their excellence, complemented the protein-rich flavor of the scallops perfectly, pairing well with fresh raw vegetables.

And what’s to come is the soup.

A special soup made by simmering only vegetables for a long time, then briefly infusing deer broth, akin to a clear broth, to draw out the essence of the deer.

Guests would savor the sweetness of the vegetables and the richness of the deer meat.

Various herbs and vegetables in the soup would cleanse the palate, regulate digestion, and stimulate the appetite.

“It’s a beautifully clear soup, delicious. It’s comforting. It warms you up inside.”

Remarked Duke Hertling from the west, still showering my cooking with praise.

“Hmph, this is rather underwhelming. The appetizers and salad were fantastic, but compared to the special pork potage we served at our last Eichhorn family banquet, this soup falls short. The sweetness of that pork fat, the richness of the buttery potage… Just thinking about it makes my mouth water.”

Complained the robust middle-aged Eichhorn from the south, finishing his soup in one gulp.

“What do you think?”

Asked the stern gentleman from the north, Duke Ortlepp, as he sipped the soup with relish.

“Any objections? Duke Ortlepp?”

“I believe this soup surpasses the one served at your banquet as the course’s soup. Your special pork potage was indeed delicious. However, it was too heavy. The fat made my stomach heavy, and my tongue felt numb.”

After that, I couldn’t even properly enjoy the fish or meat dishes. Frankly, a single bite was more than enough.”

“That’s irrelevant.”

“It matters. Right now, I can’t wait for the next fish dish. And about the soup… It’s just a supporting role. Moreover, in terms of flavor, I don’t think this soup is inferior at all. Despite bringing out the gentle sweetness of the vegetables and the robust flavor of the meat, there’s no hint of any unpleasant odor. Instead of feeling heavy, the more you drink, the more your appetite grows. It’s like magic soup. I’ve never had soup like this before. I couldn’t help but drink it all.”

“I feel the same way. Duke Lenaril, it’s amazing. Even the soup is outstanding. I’m truly impressed. As expected from the forefront of culture in the east. Today has been a series of surprises.”

Duke Lenaril’s expression faltered for a moment.

It seemed she had something on her mind.

“It’s an honor to receive your praise. However, this is just the beginning. We still have the main fish and meat dishes, as well as dessert, to come. If you’re amazed by this, you won’t be able to handle what’s next.”

“I’m looking forward to it. Thanks to this soup, I’m even hungrier now. Come on, bring out the next dish.”

As he said, the soup was already gone, even the southern Duke Eichhorn, who criticized it.

The conversation dragged on, and I missed the opportunity to return to the kitchen for the finishing touches. If I were to go back now, I would only keep the guests waiting.

But that’s not a problem. I anticipated this. The next menu item, the eel pie parcel, was already in the baking stage when it was brought out.

I entrusted Tina with the cooking. When it comes to using fire for cooking, she’s someone I can trust. She should have it perfectly prepared.

“Understood. Right away.”

I snapped my fingers.

At once, the servants brought out the dishes.

These dishes were served in large teacups.

“And this teacup is sealed with well-baked pastry.”

“Here we have the eel pie parcel.”

“What an eccentric dish. It’s the first time I’ve seen a fish dish served in a teacup. Seems intriguing.”

“It looks rather plain, doesn’t it? I was expecting more. Disappointing.”

The nobleman from the west and the one from the south, both representing opposing factions, expressed their contrasting opinions.

Indeed, as it is now, the appearance is plain, and there’s no aroma to speak of.

But this is a bombshell. Its significance lies in its explosion.

“This dish is meant to be completed by the guests themselves. Please break the pastry sealing the cup and sink them with the spoons into the cup. If possible, everyone at the same time.”

As I said this, the four dukes simultaneously grabbed their spoons and broke the pastry.

And at that moment…

“Oh, what a wonderful aroma!”

“Whets the appetite.”

“Oh, it feels like my stomach’s being directly grabbed.”

“A red soup, never seen anything like it before.”

The aroma, trapped within the pastry, burst out all at once.

Yes, the pastry served as a lid, containing the aroma within.

Inside the pie is thick eel cooked in a soup curry made with various spices.

The spicy aroma whets the appetite instantly.

This dish uses nothing but spices and eel. That’s why it has such a straightforward and clear flavor.

“This eel is so tender and fatty, it’s irresistible. Especially when paired with this spicy soup, it’s amazing.”

“Huff, huff, this spiciness is just right. I could eat this endlessly. Oh, sweating feels so good.”

“The crispy pastry pairs perfectly with it.”

The four of them were engrossed in devouring the eel stew.

Normally, eel with its fatty texture can be overwhelming, but the special soup curry mitigates that heaviness. The spiciness is kept just below the threshold of numbing the tongue.

Furthermore, the spices not only add flavor but also elevate the mood and stimulate the appetite.

It’s a completely unknown flavor. A fusion of astonishment and chemical reaction. Experiencing both, it’s impossible to remain calm.

Normally, something like this would be disqualified as French cuisine. But here, it’s permissible.

“Hahaha, I thought I wouldn’t be surprised anymore, but here I am, surprised again. It’s not just delicious. This is the most enjoyable meal I’ve ever had.”

Duke Hertling from the west laughed aloud.

“Now, it’s finally time for the main dish. Please watch as we finish it right in front of you.”

The servants brought in a drum canister. Inside the drum canister is today’s main dish.

Now, let’s shock them to the core.

“Now, everyone, please pay attention.”

So far, everything has gone smoothly.

All that’s left is the main meat dish and dessert. If I fail here, everything I’ve built up so far will be in vain.

With this momentum, no, with even more momentum than before, let’s dash through to the end.

With such thoughts in mind, I took something out of the drum canister.