Title: Feeding the ARC
Author: Pinkcat4569
Rating: K+
Spoilers: Series 5
Description: Meet the ARC's most important employee, Bernard Rice, head chef. It's a difficult and often strange job, feeding the ARC.
Disclaimer: I do not own Primeval or the characters. This is for fun.
Feeding the ARC: Chapter 3 :Dinner
Bernie decided to scrap his plans of chicken florentine, and implement his emergency plans. With his clientelle living such spur-of-the moment lives, back-up plans and emergency measures were a must. Bernie had stock on hand at all times to make easy fast dinners, and he could make as many or as few as necessary.
Prep was different for the emergency dinners. They started cooking much later. Prep was the essential ingredient. His sous chefs lined up hoagie rolls, filled vast pots with barbecue sauce, thawed the pre-made, pre-cooked beef, prepared fresh vegetables and fruit, and baked lots of ready-to-bake cookies.
That was just the first meal option. Bernie also had soup started, lunch meat moved to the refrigerator to grab at a moments notice, lettuce, onions, and tomatoes prepped, as well as hundreds of pickles, and chips brought out. This was option two.
Option three required more work, and also called for some reconnaissance. His servers were sent to the control room to quietly get an update on what the situation was, without distracting or disturbing work.
Bernie knew how delicate the operations were and any interference on his staff's part could literally cost lives. He had three long-time servers who were excellent at recon work.
The servers returned with good news. The mission was a success and the teams were on their way back. The ARC staff was in normal mode, so departments would dismiss for dinner as normal. If Bernie weren't prepared, this could have been a problem. He'd be upset and so would his clientele, they would not have a 'proper Bernie' meal. But Bernie was prepared.
The third option had two possibilities. If the mission was long, Bernie would have made a quick and easy bangers and mash or sausage sandwiches. If the mission turned out to be shorter, as it did, Bernie had the second possiblity, a casserole, it would take longer, be hardy and be delicious. In a big pot, he put the sausage, peas, potatoes, rice, herbs, and onions. He let it simmer while he baked rolls.
His staff prepared for service, and Bernie was ready, right on time.
The first person served was Connor Temple. Bernie smiled. Connor would love the casserole. He
liked comfort food, things dear to Bernie's own heart: bangers and mash, spaghetti and meatballs, slow roasted beef with potatoes and carrots, and homemade meat pies. Bernie had a soft spot for Connor.
Connor often came in late at night, and sometimes Bernie stayed open just for Connor. They'd sit down, Connor with his meal, Bernie with a cup of coffe and simply talk. Connor often talked about things Bernie didn't understand, but he seemed to like just having someone listening. Bernie would mull over menu choices and recipe revisions and Connor would add input. It was a quiet little get-together before Connor went back to work and Bernie went on home.
"Hmm," said Connor, sniffing the bowl of hot casserole. "Smells delicious. Thanks, Bernie," he said.
Right beside him, of course, was Abby. She took a moment and then decided soup with a cheese and mushroom sandwich. Bernie was grateful he incorporated vegetarian meals. Abby wasn't a vegetarian, but she always wanted to know where the animal products were from, and how the animal were treated. The vegan sandwich spared him a lecture.
Bernie smiled as Abby and Connor moved along. Next, Bernie saw Matt and Emily in line. Matt Anderson was an enigma. He was team leader, so Bernie knew he was intelligent and capable. To Bernie, though, he was strange. He seemed unfamiliar with food. Every dish seemed new to him. Bernie had to explain simple dishes to him. Where in the world had this man been that he'd never had meatloaf, or pizza, or even steak?
The strangest thing was Matt's reactions upon tasting the food. Bernie knew he was a good chef, but Matt reacted like a man who'd drunk water his entire life and finally tasted a fine wine. Where Connor would not try anything, Matt tried everything. It was as if he was afraid that it was all going to disappear.
Emily was just as strange, but she was so sweet and dear, that Bernard was always happy to see her. Unlike Matt, she was not surprised by everything. Tradional recipes like Bubble and Squeak were familiar, but things like pizza and stir fry surprised her, but she ate them eagerly. She was keenly interested in the recipes asking Bernard to explain them to her and she even wrote them down. She was excited to go home and cook. Bernard got the idea that she had not cooked much in her past.
Emily looked at the cassereole, and smiled. "I may require this recipe as well," she said.
"It would be my pleasure Miss Merchant, just let me know. What will it be, Mr. Anderson?"
Matt smiled. "You know how I love barbecue. I'll take the beef sandwich. Thank you, Bernie."
Bernie remembered the first time Matt tried barbecue sauce. His eyes widened, and he smiled, then his lips puckered a little. He went on to order two more helpings.
Bernie kept serving, but was a little anxious, as he had not seen any soldiers yet. Just as he was getting concerned, Becker walked in followed by Jess.
"Hi, Bernie," said Becker. "How are you this evening?"
"I'm well, thank you Captain. How is everything?"
Becker smiled. "No injuries, no casualties," he said. "It's a good day, so far."
"Glad to hear it," said Bernie. "What can I get you?"
"I'll try the casserole," said Becker.
"It sure does look yummy," said Jess, crowding Becker.
"Do you mind not looking over my shoulder?"
"I'm just trying to see the casserole, Becker."
"Wait your turn, Miss Parker," said Becker with mock annoyance.
"I am waiting, I'm just having a little look-see, that's all," said Jess sweetly.
Becker stood still, after Bernie had served him.
"Excuse me," said Jess. "Becker, it's my turn."
Becker smirked and stood still as Jess tried to push him.
"Move. Come on, Becker, move!"
Becker had a big smile on his face, as he finally let Jess push him aside.
"Finally. Hello Bernie," she said with a smile, glancing at Becker in annoyance.
"Good evening Miss Parker. Would you like the casserole?"
"Yes, please," she said to Bernie, then she turned to Becker. "Don't you dare take all the brownies, Becker."
Becker smirked at her. "There's chocolate chip cookies too."
"Oh, well then I'll have those too."
Bernie watched amused as Becker and Jess continued to tease each other. He managed to sneak a glance at them as they sat down together. Bernie smiled.
Dinner service went well, and when Bernie remembered how it could have been a disaster, he felt proud. It was a job well done. Of course, his job wasn't done, he still had clean-up and prep for the next day, as well as tons of paperwork.
Lester came in as Bernard's staff was clearing the dinner service.
"Just a cup of coffee, Bernie," he said.
"No."
"Excuse me," said Lester, offended.
"I'm sorry sir, but you skipped breakfast and lunch. You are not getting away with just coffee. No."
Lester groaned.
Bernie came around the counter, and physically dragged Lester to a seat. "You stay, and I will get you a proper meal."
Lester groaned again. "It's like being baby-sat," he grumbled as Bernie went off to get Lester's dinner.
Sometimes Lester ate what the rest of the ARC ate, and sometimes he was served something special. Tonight, despite the possible crisis, Bernie had prepared something special for the director.
Bernie brought it out himself, along with a bottle of wine. He removed the silver cover to reveal a lovely steak, baked potatoes with fixings, and some lovely steamed broccoli. He even had placed dessert on the tray as well, a piece of cherry pie.
Lester sipped the wine, and as Bernie left, he thanked him. Lester sighed happily, as the food hit his stomach, and the wine eased his nerves. "Good man," he said softly.
Bernie went back to work, happily cleaning the counter, as he did he heard humming coming from Lester's table. Once again, Bernie felt pride for a job well-done, and smiled.
End of Chapter Three
