Chapter 23: Stagiaire Two: Day Six
First Specialty!
'Shino's Tokyo'
"It's a revenge match for the food war during the training camp!" Chef Hinako exclaimed, pointing towards Kojirō just as a hand was immediately clamped over her mouth by chef Mizuhara, who kept her expression benign as Master Chapelle's scowling and annoyed questioning began.
"A food war took place at ze training camp?" The professor glared. "Pay no attention to her, master Chapelle" Mizuhara spoke. "Yes", chef Donato Gotōda added, "Hinako has had one too many drinks. She is known to drink too much at parties".
With the Tōtsuki professor somewhat placated, and the staff in the kitchen cooking, the graduate chefs began sitting down at tables awaiting their food. As well as, to watch Kojirō judge the competition. Just as the first course arrived, and as Sōma was talking to Lucie about the competition; being a regular thing back at the Paris main restaurant, the doors opened and a middle aged woman dressed in dark jeans and a purple blouse walked in.
"Hey there Koji", hearing the woman address the former first seat of the Ten, in such an informal way, was weird. But then Sōma, and everyone else in the room, practically dropped to the floor in surprise at her calling him "pumpkin", and him replying "mumsy-wumsy".
"Chef Kojirō's... mother!"
—-
The loud exclamation was enough to make both mother and son look at the other people in the room. "And why aren't you two cooking?" Kojirō spoke, narrowing his eyes, as he approached a still gawking Sōma. "The meals for these important guests will not cook themselves, so hop to it", he growled out the last bit. Not out of anger or annoyance but out of embarrassment of being overhear speaking like a child.
Not wanting to annoy the flustered Kojirō, Sōma and Lucie bolted back into the kitchen. "Okay let's focus on the food", Abel admonished them both, "if you two are quite done". Within seconds everyone was calm, silent and diligently cooking and yet Sōma could sense that despite Abel's words, everyone was excited about the competition to come. 'I will win! I will create a specialty!' He mused, whilst monitoring a saucepan of font de veau. 'I will get my dish on to the menu'.
—-
Nine courses. Followed by a cheese board with chutneys and biscuits accompanied by coffee, which was then succeeded by a final small pousse-café. Of which the majority of the guests chose to drink small glasses of cognac, the sole deviation was chef Danato who chose instead a glass of limoncello. "Oh my goodness", chef Hitoshi sighed contently. "That was delicious Kojirō. If you don't get a third star, I will be stunned".
"I as well", Chapelle added. "You always were a wild student, forging your own culinary path forwards but I see you have grown somewhat out of it. I am quite proud of you".
"Honey-bun", Kojirō's mother spoke up, from which elicited a muffled giggling from Hinako Inui. "It really is delicious. I'm so proud of you". Standing up form her seat and making her farewells, Mrs Shinomiya was seen off departing the restaurant by Kojirō, who after the taxi had disparate dreams down the road, turned and walked back to be a judge.
"Thank you", Hinako stated, "this completes the tasting of dishes made by Abel, Wei and Lucie". The three chefs remained impassive in the face of their own dishes judgments, now only Sōma was left in the presentation order. "Hey, Sōma", Hinako called out toward the partway open doors of the kitchen. "Are you ready?"
—-
From within the kitchen, Sōma grinned as he finalised his plate of food. Walking out from the kitchen carrying a single plate he moved with the grace and poise of professional chef. "Chef", Sōma exclaimed, "please enjoy the first plate of food from my new 'Yukihira' style. Quail Oyakodon with a poached egg!" The surprise was evident, everyone present was stunned by Sōma's take on an Oyakodon.
"I do not see it", Hinako indicated, frowning, as she observed Kojirō sample the dish before him. "Is it the juxtaposition of quail and egg that makes it oyako?" Looking towards his chef seniors, Sōma grinned. Pleased that his dish was being well received and was being praised for its aroma and taste. He then began to explain the concept behind his dish, and his desire to grow as a chef.
"This dish was inspired by something chef Kojirō told me the first day I arrived here. 'I return to Japan to asses my roots as a chef in the country I was born', but for me this recipe is not just about assessing what kind of chef I am but about fundamentally changing who I am, and growing beyond that and learning more about the culinary world".
Undoing the top buttons of his chef whites double breasted jacket, Sōma released a deep intake of breath. "So here today is the first new plate of mine! Yukihira Style - Risotto Stuffed Quail!"
—-
The mood of the room was transformed from stunned curiosity to sheer wondrousness, as the aroma of the risotto permeated the air. "Screw standing around", Hinako stated darting forwards. "I have to try this!"
Sōma couldn't help but laugh at the resulting glare on Kojirō's face as Hinako muscled her way past him and stole a forkful of food for herself. A soft glow emanated across Hinako's face as she chewed and a highly seductive sigh escaped her lips, resulting in chef Mizuhara moving forwards and dragging her fellow female away to allow Kojirō to judge again.
"This texture..." chef Shinomiya murmured, once he began eating . "The crunchiness goes perfectly with the gooey risotto within the whole quail". From his seated position beside him, Rolland Chapelle raised a quizzical eyebrow at the moment when Kojirō suddenly, imperceptibly, gave a very very subtle smile.
"How did you stuff the risotto into the quail?" Abel asked, "there should be a pool of liquid on the plate but your plating is emasculate. Not a single spillage from the bird!"
"The texture!" The loud voice of Hinako Inui exclaimed bolting out of Mizuhara's arms. "You wrapped the risotto rice in cabbage!"
"Bingo, chef Hinako", Sōma spoke, "I wrapped the risotto in a savoy cabbage leaf and then placed that into the whole quail and then pot roasted it". Smiling, Abel walked forwards and took a small sample of the quail-risotto for himself. He was soon followed by Lucie and Wei, much to the begrudging annoyance of their boss. "This aftertaste... it's Madeira", Lucie exclaimed, sighing as she too was overcome by tasting Sōma food. "The sauce is sweet but tangy. It pairs well with the creamy gooeyness of the risotto!"
—-
"You freaking did it Sōma!" Kojirō stated, a sly grin plastered on his face, his hand adjusting his glasses. "You have certainly grown as a chef since our last meeting. However... at the current stage I would say that this dish is a little unrefined to showcase be showcasing a Shinomiya restaurant". The look of dejection upon the redhead boy's face quickly disappeared when the older chef continued. "But... I can certainly show you what I would do to improve its standing".
"Yes please chef!" Sōma yelled excitedly, practically deafening the others in the room. As well as the hidden Tōtsuki observer, standing outside and looking in thorough the window.
"I mean... I would be honoured", he added restrained himself before following Kojirō, like a puppy with a bone into the kitchen. "Huh" murmured Chef Donato, "I did not expect Kojirō to show Sōma how to make improvements..."
"Well, he was always did see things differently", Hitoshi Sekimori added. "Chef Shinomiya must have recognised him as a worthy chef".
"Ahhhh! Koji has a student!" Hinako grinned. No sooner had the words left her mouth, the kitchen doors were thrown open and Kojirō stood there red faced looking both frustratingly annoyed and extremely embarrassed. "You are soo dead!" He growled moving towards his friend, and Tōtsuki alumni. Yet, Hinako didn't move, she stood still grinning, deciding that punishment was worth it just to see him so flustered.
—
The next day, Sōma stood outside the restaurant as a black sedan car pulled up and waited for him to say his farewell and gratitude to his hosts. As he placed his rucksack inside the chassis, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning around he faced chef Kojirō, who looked almost jovial as he spoke. "Sōma, go get it, a seat on the Ten. The number one spot, got it". Sōma grinned, "sure thing. Thanks for everything you taught me, Master Kojirō!"
Bowing to the chef before him had the affect of making both Hinako and Lucie start giggling as the chef owner flustered and yelled back. "Don't call me master!"
"Your secretly really happy about it though aren't you, boss", Wei added. To which Donato and Hitoshi both looked quizzically toward their alumni as if saying 'don't deny it'.
—
As the car drove away, Sōma suddenly felt his phone vibrating in his pocket. Taking a look at the screen, he gawked at the text being displayed:
Hey Sōma,
Just a quick message to say that there is a large box waiting for you here at Kyokusei dorms. Also, you'll be glad to hear, Megumi and the others have all passed their own Stagiaires.
However, something happened with Megumi at her Stagiaire as when she arrived back, she was accompanied by Erina Nakiri; who said that 'it was best if Megumi explains all'.
See you when you get back,
Isshiki
Resting his head against the car window, Sōma pondered what Isshiki was talking about. He hadn't ordered anything to be delivered, nor had anyone spoken about getting anything for him... 'Crap... dad'. A very bad feeling wriggled it's way into his mind. 'Oh god! What have you sent me'.
Yet, the overriding emotion in his head was a profound sense of worry. A need to see Megumi and hold her in his arms, to comfort her through whatever had occurred to her during her stagiaire.