Night 15: Bagpipe, Shepherd's Pie
The Late Night Diner is a part of Rhodes Island's canteen. That goes without saying – to whom had anyone ever heard of a diner in the boiler room?
As the name implies, it opens around midnight. There are only a handful of customers at a time.
Operators off their night shift could take an order and bring back to their quarters. Night owls could sit dining-in while leeching off the Diner's wi-fi. The Doctor would come for instant noodles from time to time.
Drinks are in the cooler. Anyone burdened by their own thoughts could take one and chug it down, anytime.
Menu? No such thing exists. What the Chef prepares is what you get. It all depends on his mood of the day.
Welcome to the Rhodes Island Late Night Diner. In here, you might even meet a familiar face or two.
When the Chef first met Bagpipe, she had just arrived for a few days. She was carrying her six-feet-five gun-lance around the corridors, trying to make sense of the direction. Being an ex-soldier bound by rules and regulations, she was quite curious about a diner that would open till the early morning. As such, she slowed down and walked in, looking fascinated at the plates of food before the operators inside the Diner.
The Chef didn't know much about the newly arrived. He had heard that she joined as operator under Superintendent Chen's recommendation, and had signed the contract without reading a single word on it. Fortunately, Rhodes Island was a proper establishment that would never send innocent maidens under contract for hard labour or other unscrupulous enterprises. Her assigned works were reasonable enough both in terms of expectations and accommodations. Bagpipe herself was satisfied with the work load too.
Although, the rumors about Rhodes Island using child labour, mandatory overtime, violent treatment towards the injured, and hard-pressed attitude towards factory and trading post workers had never ceased circulating,
Bagpipe surveyed around the room for a while, then carefully examined the items on the other side of the counter. She saw a large bowl of grounded beast meat with potatoes and other vegetables. The Chef carried a tray of baked food from the kitchen, and saw the new Vouivre girl poking around. He asked habitually, "Newbie? Want something to –"
Boom!
"Former member of the second platoon of the Victorian Tempest Commandos, operator Bagpipe. It's my pleasure to meet you!" She clicked her heels and stood upright for a military salute. Though the siege lance leaning against her shoulder also stood straight up, and poked a wide hole through the somewhat low ceiling of the Diner.
"Ah!" Bagpipe was startled. In a hurry, she cuddled her lance in her arms and apologized "S-Sorry! I didn't mean it!"
"That...well, that's alright." the Chef said, putting the porcelain bowls on top of the counter. "You guys in line, the shepherd's pie is ready."
" Shepherd's pie?! I can make them as well. Are you using potatoes from Toron county? They make the fluffiest of mashes!"
Boom! Again.
Bagpipe thrust her lance upward in excitement. This time it was through the hole she made before. It broke the water pipe, and the splashing water turned freshly baked pies into unidentifiable mashes of potato, vegetables and meat.
One of the unspoken rules of the Late Night Diner: Never defile the Chef's cooking.
Afterwards, Bagpipe offered sincere apologies to the Chef under the watchful eyes of the canteen supervisor, the Human Resource representative and company CEO Amiya. Then she paid a month of her salary in advance for the repair bill.
"Ey boss! Are you making shepherd's pie again today?" Bagpipe arrived at the Diner after her night shift.
"Ah...well, yes." The Chef said. There was a rare tremble in his voice. It was a distinct nervousness that would not show up even when Kal'sit came for food, "Would you like some?"
"Yes! But please wait for just a moment!" Bagpipe stood attention, turned a hundred eighty degrees, then ran towards the dormitories in military style. A few moments later, she came bursting into the kitchen through the back door. She was short on breath, and a large sack was carried on her shoulder. She then placed it on the floor.
"Please use these!" Bagpipe requested with a loud yet earnest voice, "They are the authentic Toron potatoes I brought from my hometown, best suited for shepherd's pie!"
The official regulation of Rhodes Island canteen stated that all ingredients used must come from the collectively bought stocks from the Logistics warehouse. The unspoken rule of the Late Night Diner stated that *Sarkaz swearing* the official regulations.
The Chef picked out a few large round potatoes and threw them into the boiling pot. He poured oil into a pan and put down the grounded meat, stir fried for a moment to release the grease trapped within – shepherd's pie required as less oil as possible in its making. He added in some salt and black pepper. then put in shredded onion, carrot and garlic. He also used some Columbian chilly sauce and tomato paste, as well as red wine for flavour. A pinch of thyme and a clump of rosemary, he then wait till the moisture was mostly gone. Afterwards the Chef poured in a small bowl of soup stock and waited till it was nearly absorbed before taking the meat out of the pan.
Strictly speaking, shepherd's pie was not a pastry. In place of actual pie crust there was only a layer of mashed potato. The boiled potatoes were skinned and crushed. Seasonings, egg yolk and large amount of parmesan cheese were added in, and it was mixed thoroughly till the cheese had melted. Then a large spoonful was scooped and spread on the filling of meat and vegetables. Finally sprinkle more shredded cheese and draw a wave-like patterns atop the mashed potato with a fork. Then it was ready for oven.
"Please enjoy, " the Chef put down a steaming bowl of shepherd's pie before Bagpipe and said, "Your potatoes are quite good."
Bagpipe did not eat the pie. She simple sat there, looking at it and was deep in thought. The Chef had went back tp the kitchen to fetch more pies for other customers.
She would always come back with a few potatoes from her hometown after her leave ended. Once back, Cello would cook the meat fillings, she would prepare the mash, and Triangle would stand watch for officers. The rules were strict in the army encampment. Whenever Horn found them making shepherd's pie, she would always chid them. Yet by the end, she herself would have a slice in resignation. The crust was baked to a crisp with the salty aroma of cheese. The filling was succulent and browned to the right degree. It tasted of mild spices, but full of fragrance of baked onion and carrots.
Bagpipe cut the pie into seven slices and took one into her plate. She did not eat it.