It's been exactly a year since I've uploaded the 76th chapter of "Culinary Rivals". Wow! I can remember where I was at the time, in the classroom and showing "Culinary Rivals" in a class presentation and mentioning the 77th chapter. It seemed like a long time ago.
And yes, I admit failure that I couldn't finish "Light of Winter" before the end of the season. This brings me back to high school! But now that I'm working, it seems like I'm back to monthly updates. Shout out to the honoured Guest, by the way! Have a slice of Figy berry and de Cyllage quiche.
Chapter five: Le Café Sinnoh
The smiles never left their faces until they left the Ambrette Pokémon Centre and regrouped with Wallace outside. He was finishing his count of the orders completed over a slice of quiche. A light layer of snow had formed on his head but he was wearing his hat.
Winona looked like she really was going to catch a cold.
"You sure you're okay, Winona?" Cynthia asked again.
"I'm sure I'm ah-ah-ah-CHOO!" Winona sneezed loudly, earning some sympathetic looks from those around her.
Not to mention the media were awaiting his verdict. Viola and her journalist sister Alexa were among those at the front to hear it. Even journalists from the television show Gym Freaks were on-scene to listen in.
"And the result is… a tie!" he declared. "106 to 106 orders!"
"I'm not sure they're surprised, uncle," Lisia said. She looked at the chefs who shrugged.
Wallace expected that too. "But we have good news! The fundraiser here in Ambrette Town was a success. We even got an enormous cheque from Hotel Ambrette tonight. That will surely be helpful!"
Both Steven and Cynthia sighed. Given it was a baking competition that was a test of speed and nothing else, they had expected the outcome to be even. However, they wondered if this was merely a setup by Wallace for everyone's entertainment.
Moreover, the fundraiser was successful tonight. That was success enough. Wallace further explained he would bring the money straight to the charity account.
"Well… At least we know we're even on baking, right?" Cynthia said, looking into Steven's eyes.
"Yeah." Steven nodded. He shivered. "Shall we head back? I'm getting cold."
Cynthia rolled her eyes. Even though she and Steven had lived in Kalos for at least a year so far, it seemed he wasn't as accustomed to cold weather as she thought. Steven, being a Hoenn native, obviously hailed from warmer weather than Sinnoh.
She took Steven's arm. "Venez, I'll make something for you… and for Winona too."
There was a certain specialty of Cyllage City that strengthened its reputation as a seaside resort. That speciality was Cyllage soda pop, which was only ever sold in Cyllage City and nowhere else in Kalos. For summer visitors, it was a treat, but in the winter it was hardly made and sold.
Skarmory and Togekiss, belonging to Steven and Cynthia respectively, led the way for the two chefs who walked back into Cyllage City. Like the two chefs, the two Pokémon were braving the cold as a seaside wind chill blew on the city, which felt cold amid the snowfall.
The lights of Cyllage City were twinkling in the streets, some stayed on throughout while others faded in and out, creating a heartwarming effect to those who saw it.
The two chefs walked into Le Café Sinnoh. As they walked through the doors, they felt the welcome warmth hit their faces and chests. Next, Steven, Skarmory, and Togekiss took a seat at one of the coffee shop's tables. They waited for Cynthia to prepare whatever she had in mind.
While watching Cynthia, Steven heard the door open and then felt the wind chill hitting his neck and shoulders. He and his Pokémon turned around to see a few more familiar faces walking in. No, it wasn't just Wallace, Winona, and Lisia, but Diantha too. He greeted them with a warm smile.
"Did you enjoy the show, Diantha?" he said.
Diantha and the others took a nearby seat. She waved to Cynthia as they sat and then turned to Steven. "Not as much as your customers, I bet. Glad the media has been promoting Wallace's fundraiser too." She smiled at Skarmory and rubbed his neck.
Steven's face fell, which Diantha obviously noticed.
"Don't be like that, Steven! People around Kalos know what you're up to and they're giving more to the fundraiser than we can count! And besides, you're making good food… and getting some back. Say, is that ginger I smell?" Diantha's face perked.
Steven, Wallace, and Lisia could smell it too. There had to be only explanation and that was Cynthia. Cynthia had arrived at their table with a tray of hot cups of steaming Cyllage soda pop mixed with ginger. Without another word, Cynthia served each a cup of the appetising drink.
"It's merely the Cyllage City soda pop, gently boiled with ginger and served with lemon slices," Cynthia explained. She looked at Winona specifically. "It should make a good cold cure."
Winona was the first to enjoy her serving. She took a sip and felt the burning sensation of heat and ginger sear through her throat and nostrils. Immediately she started sniffling. And Wallace, sitting beside her, was of little help.
"My dear! It's really having an effect on you!" he said.
"That makes me feel much better, my dear," Winona replied, rolling her eyes and sniffled.
She brought the hot ginger soda back to her lips again. Wallace happily started on his cup and so did Lisia, and then while everyone was sipping away Cynthia returned to serve the Pokémon some. Those Pokémon who did enjoy spicy or sweet tastes found this particularly welcoming. It was a perfect treat in cold weather.
Wallace's eyes turned to the still-gift-wrapped bottle at the counter. "So what is that? Where did you get it?"
"It's a gift from the lovely people in Ambrette Town. Ambrette wine" Cynthia explained, who took a seat with her own cup of hot ginger soda. At that, she saw Wallace's eyes brighten.
"Perfect!" he said. "Let me have some…" But immediately he was pulled down back to his seat by Winona. He looked back at Winona and saw a glare in her eyes, which was uncommon given her mellow and graceful personality.
They stared at each other for a short while.
"You don't look so cold anymore!" Wallace said brightly.
Winona sighed. "Do I really?"
"It's true! Your sniffling has stopped."
Even Steven agreed that Wallace's words were true. Winona, who had sneezed earlier, was no longer having symptoms of cold. It must have been the searing flavour of hot soda pop and ginger working through her throat and sinuses.
Diantha changed the topic as she lowered her cup down. "So Wallace, can you tell me how your fundraising efforts have gone so far?"
Wallace was more than happy to. After he had downed his ginger soda which sent a small shock through his body, he took out what appeared to be a list on printed paper. "Let's see… the two communities have been generous and the supervisor of the Coastal Kalos Pokémon Centres has been keeping tabs on it. A small part of this will go toward your ingredients as promised, and the Pokémon Centres will get a huge benefit from this. I'm surprised the hotels chipped in too!"
He showed the cheque copies to his fellow Champions, surprising them.
Lisia added, "Your food has been broadcast across television and internet too. Makes you wonder if the next event will be even bigger?"
Cynthia shrugged. "We'll find out, won't we?"
After Wallace, Diantha, and the others bid each other goodnight until they would meet in Geosenge Town the next day, Cynthia and Steven were left on their own in Le Café Sinnoh, save for their Pokémon. The other employees, Sébastien and Henri, saw to cleaning up their table and the live band had left for the night. Even so, they were still in business and hadn't closed yet.
"I'm going to head home too," Steven said to Cynthia. "So, see you later?"
"For sure," Cynthia replied. "À bientôt."
Smiling, Steven opened the door to head outside. Once again, he felt the wind chill and light snowfall blow in his face the moment he did. Such was wintertime, wasn't it?
What he didn't expect was a tight hug coming from outside too. "Steven!" a bright and cheery voice greeted him.
Even though Steven felt half-choked such that he stumbled backward, he kept his balance. After the surprise passed, he realised a certain platinum blonde teenager was hugging him. She was dressed in a long purple coat.
It was a certain Ace Trainer who was also his student, Astrid.
"Ah… How are you?" Steven mumbled. He could imagine Cynthia wasn't taking this too kindly.
Astrid looked at Cynthia and waved at her. "Salut, Cynthia!" Astrid beamed at her.
"Salut…" Cynthia couldn't tell if she should be glad to see Steven's student or not. In the past, she had taken Astrid's mentor-student relationship in a manner blown out of proportion. Since then, she still wondered how to manage her relationship with the bright and slightly bubbly Ace Trainer, even though it was battle sessions with Steven for now.
Astrid looked back to Steven. "I'm doing great, by the way! And then I heard you two were doing some kind of charity, so I had to check you out. You two have been all over the news."
Steven and Cynthia mentally slapped themselves. Of course the media would catch on. It was inevitable.
"And I had to see how my mentor is doing." Astrid then clung onto Steven's arm, looking at him expectantly as if expecting him to say something.
"Well, I…" Steven was lost for words.
Cynthia sighed. "Shall I get you something, Astrid?" She had nothing to say about how clingy Astrid was to Steven, even though Cynthia should have been used to this by now. Still, Cynthia couldn't help but feel irritated at how close Astrid could get to Steven, and Steven didn't mind!
Astrid turned her head toward Cynthia. "No need!" She grinned. "It's late."
Rolling her eyes, Cynthia set about making a cup of hot cocoa. "It's cold out there. If you're stopping by, you might as well have something. Have a seat. I insist."
Steven laughed nervously. "Um… If you don't mind, I must go. I'll see you tomorrow though. Bonne nuit."
"Bonne nuit!" Astrid waved.
Then she took Cynthia's offer and sat a table near Cynthia. Cynthia poured a big mug of hot cocoa topped with a hearty serving of marshmallows and drizzled with whipped cream and chocolate syrup. There were so many marshmallows that it looked like it formed a layer in the mug itself. When it was done, Astrid's eyes lit up. The whipped cream and marshmallows looked like a miniature mountain when Cynthia brought the mug to her.
"Thanks!" Astrid took the mug and sipped the hot cocoa generously. "Ah… It's so good…" She didn't mention it to Cynthia but Astrid could tasted peppermint. It tasted refreshing.
Cynthia also took a seat. She had peppermint tea.
And watching Astrid her hot cocoa the way she did was a cross between entertaining and heartwarming. With a spoon, Astrid scooped the marshmallows while they were still hot. It was then after swallowing she noticed Cynthia watching her.
"You're not going to have one yourself?" Astrid asked.
"I'm good," Cynthia said. "I've already had something so… yeah, this one's just for you. But enough of that. How has training been?" Cynthia didn't need to be reminded that Astrid was training under her in addition to Steven. It was Astrid's ambition to win the Kalos Pokémon League and Steven promised to train her.
"It's been good. Absol and I are trying to get used to battling in cold weather like this lately." Astrid glanced at the light snowfall outside, illuminated by the Cyllage City streetlights. Then she looked back to Cynthia. "But training can wait. I thought I'd check on how you and my mentor are doing." Then Astrid looked at Cynthia's expression closely. "Okay, Cynthia. I can tell you really want a mug yourself. Can you show me how you made it?"
How did Astrid figure that out? Cynthia thought. Nevertheless, Cynthia did want a mug. With a nod, Cynthia motioned Astrid to follow her toward the counter. She couldn't let Astrid stand too close to the equipment but close enough to watch.
"It's not that hard, really. Just watch," Cynthia couldn't help smiling at Astrid's enthusiasm for learning to make a simple recipe. Of course, one would need the will to buy the ingredients too, and that was another story.
She poured two full cups of fresh, cold, Moomoo milk into a saucepan and began bringing it to boil. "You have to use Moomoo milk," Cynthia explained. "If you wish, you can add cream, but don't forget I'm using marshmallows in this too." Cynthia held up a bar of dark chocolate, smiling. "This chocolate has almost no sugar in it, but you want that cocoa flavour right?"
Astrid nodded, watching carefully.
Cynthia opened the bar and began chopping it into fragments. Astrid watched carefully. As the milk started simmering, Cynthia put the dark chocolate fragments into the saucepan, put in some sugar, and started whisking the mixture.
"It has to dissolve, right? The chocolate, I mean," Astrid asked, watching the simmering milk turn into a brownish colour.
Cynthia replied, "Yes. You don't want chocolate sticking to the bottom." She picked out a bottle of peppermint extract from the counter shelf and poured out a spoonful, dumped it in the mixture and continued whisking.
Then she brought out one Chople berry. "The secret is this. Chople berries have a natural tendency to warm up the coldest of hearts, so its said. Its bitterness will also intensify the cocoa flavour, you know!" Like the dark chocolate before, Cynthia cut up the berry into fragments and added them in the saucepan.
Astrid could feel the air turn warmer the instant the Chople berry melted into the milk. Her mouth started to water, so she drank from her own mug.
Afterwards, Cynthia poured out the entire saucepan into a giant mug and added a generous amount of marshmallows and topped it with a mountain of whipped cream. "See the marshmallows melt instantly? That's the Chople berry at work," she explained. Using a small bottle, she drizzled chocolate syrup over the whipped cream.
And the mug was finished. Cynthia quietly cleaned up her station and brought the mug to her lips.
Astrid clapped her hands. "That's so cool, Cynthia! Thanks! I should really try making this sometime."
"Well, if there's time, I can teach you," Cynthia offered. Astrid's smile was infectious.
"Perhaps! But you have a cook-off tomorrow… After your outing tomorrow, maybe!" Astrid reminded. "Come, let's enjoy these mugs together!" She sat down near the window to watch the snowfall. Cynthia, smiling, brought her mug with her and went to enjoy it.
Want a cup of Chople berry hot chocolate? Peppermint tea? Hot ginger lemon soda? Leave a review and ask for one!