Day 26: Cantabile, Durin-Style Cream of Mushroom Soup
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.
"Big sis, you play harmonica really well! I want to learn!"
"Look! It's dad's gift for me! He brought it all the way here from Columbia. Isn't it just adorable? Here, it's the same one. It's for your, big sis!"
"You don't like it? Why though? I guess I'll ask dad for someone else for you next time."
"Miss Cantabile." A hand waved in front of her face. "Your lunch is here."
Cantabile twirled the elegant harmonica in her hand and was lost in thought. She was oblivious to the call.
"Lunch!" The Chef raised his volume. He pushed the bowl with mushroom soup toward her and said. "The Durins are coming. They'll have it if you don't drink it now!"
Cantablie picked up the bowl and looked inside. Chunks of mushroom floated in the light brown soup, and it was smothered by a layer of shredded parsley.
Rays of sunlight cut through the awning and spread across the bar counter. The sounds of yelling and laughter rang out nonstop from the pools behind her. Cantabile sat atop the bar stool like an out-of-place stranger. There were many patients deemed unfriendly by the Medical personnel, and Cantabile was one of them. When she just came on board, she resisted the help and treatment provided by the doctors and nurses. Though not by any means violent, she still caused quite some problem for the them. Fortunately Gavial was not around to see it, otherwise who knows what kind of incident would arise from the clash of the two.
"Big sis, please stay for dinner tonight. Afterwards we can have a sleep over – I still want to listen to you read stories."
"Grandma's braised beast meat is just the best, right sis?"
"Had meals for patients always been free?' She raise her eyes and asked in a whisper.
"Yes. We provide free daily meals and fruits for the patients." The Chef moved a tall steaming soup pot off the stove. "Infected operators also enjoy discounts on food. I thought you knew."
"But...no strings attached? At all?" Cantabile sniffed. She smelled the strong aroma of cream and mushroom, and the refreshing scent of parsley. "Why?"
"They are patients. It was our duty to kept the patients well-fed so they have the strength to battle their illness. Besides, how many Oripahy patients do you think could fully shoulder the treatment cost and still have money for meals?"
Cantabile listened to the Chef spoke as if taken all these for granted. She couldn't understand it, nor she believed what he said. Just like she could never believe Rhodes Island would take in those kids in the Medical Wards without ulterior motives, and never trusted the ones called "teacher" or "instructor" in the training room. Every time she heard these titles, a stinging sensation would course through her spine like a jolt of electricity, and the scent of blood would follow suit and float up in her memory. She could never wash the blood away, not matter how hard she had tried.
"Well, I know you wouldn't believe me. Talk to the Doctor if you have the chance then. The Doctor is a bit...how should I put it..." Just then the Chef's face grew sullen. He hastily moved the soup pot onto the bar counter, took off his apron and ran out of the kitchen. "I just remember I need to restock. If anyone asks, just tell them I'm not working today!"
Before Cantabile realised what he meant, she felt movement on the floor. A dozen Durins rushed towards the food stalls, carrying in their hands bowls the Chef had already given to them. Once they arrived they busied themselves with filling their bowls with mushroom soup, pushing and pulling among each other. Streaks of thick soup flew out from the pot, making perfect arcs in the air and fallen onto the floor. The Chef used mushrooms the Durins had brought from underground, and the unique environment that fostered their growth had endowed them with a flavour unlike any of its counterparts on the surface. The soup base was made with roasted flour and butter. Water was added in gradually so the thickness stayed consistent, then put in the mushrooms and fresh cream and seasoned. When the soup was brought to boil, it was put into a large blender and mixed thoroughly before more mushroom chunks and minced parsley were added to improve flavour and texture. Durins were much more lenient on food compare to their standard for liquor. As long as there were mushroom from home and cooked well, they would treat it as food fit for a king's banquet.
"Told you so! The uplanders could fully appreciate the essence of our cuisine!" A drunk Durin man said, downing large gulps of soup from his bowl. "It was an absolutely good move to give them our mushrooms!"
"Hey buddy." Another Durin man who did not get any from the previous struggle for soup looked at Cantabile bowl asked. "Not hungry are we? Could you...hic...could you please spare your soup for me?"
"Me? Sure, go ahead." Cantabile passed her bowl to the inquiring Durin.
"Th-thank you, my friend." The Durin man wanted to giver her a pat on the shoulder, but he couldn't reach it, so he patted her on the kneel instead. "I will leave some for you...hic...just a little bit..."
The Durins wouldn't mind if they were charged for the soup. They wouldn't mind that drops of beer had fallen into the soup from their whiskers, nor would they care that the soup was somehow poisoned. After all, who would do such thing to a pot delicious soup like this? There were perhaps many people and things never trustworthy in Cantabile's world, but Durins were not among them. At least when it comes to food and drink, Durins could always be trusted.