Night 32: Mayer, Cinnamon Rolls with Black Coffee
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.
Cinnamon originated from Yan. When the bark of the cinnamon tree was sun-dried to the colour of brownish red, it would carry a distinct aroma what was only unique to itself. Because of this, cinnamon was often used in stewing and braising meat, eggs and other non-vegetables. When the amount was just right, it would add an even richer flavour and scent to the food. Yet adding anymore, even just by a small amount, would make the cinnamon jumping out too much and overshadow other spices and even the inherent flavour of the food. It would then become quite a disruption to the pallets of many gourmets.
Presently the kitchen was filled with the mildly sweet yet pungent scent of cinnamon. After fully leavened and multiple rounds of kneading, the dough was rolled into a large sheet of skin. It was then sprinkled with brown sugar, cinnamon powder and mixed nut crumbs on it and folded in half. The Chef then cut the folded skin into smaller strips and coiled into rolls on a tray. A layer of beaten egg was brushed on top of the rolls and then the tray was put into the oven.
When he counted down the time and felt it was ready, the Chef opened the oven door. A wave of heat rushed out, along with it came the thick toasty aroma of the bread mixed with the charred scent of the nuts, as well as that distinct sweet scent of cinnamon. The cinnamon rolls were baked to perfection. Each one of them carried a pleasant colour of golden brown. It might not be a good night for those who detest cinnamon. Yet for its aficionados, they had arrived just in time.
"I don't get it. How did you Yanese figure out some random tree barks could be used as spice?" Holding a cinnamon bun, the operator from Logistics looked reluctant. He watched as his colleague dug into his roll, and smelled the bread with hesitation. "Ugh. The cinnamon, it's too strong."
"Think this is bad? You gotta take take a whiff at the cinnamon fruit. You are going to remember it for the rest of your life." The Yanese operator took a bite at his cinnamon roll. The spongy and soft bread was filled with crunchy walnut and peanut crumbs. He could also taste the tart raisins, and of course, the sticky caramelized brown sugar with strong flavour of cinnamon. "But really though, back home we only use it to make braised meat. This type of bread came from either Columbia or Leithania. I haven't seen it much in my hometown."
"Not seeing it much? You seem to like it quite well." The other operator passed the untouched roll to his Yanese colleague.
"The way I see it, if you've been starving for an entire day you can practically eat anything. Didn't you just had a long overtime? Still picky about food after all these hours. Humph, I'd go have a talk with your supervisor to put you on another full-day shift."
"What are you saying that for? What's wrong with choosing something I like after a long shift? You sounded harsh. Harsh and inhumane!"
"Then you go talk to the boss about it. Let he be the judge." As the Yanese operator said, he took the last cinnamon roll from the plate and took off half of it in one bite. "I like it just fine. A bit strong in the smell but it's sweet and filling. Well what now? You really want to go argue with the boss?"
"Shut up. Look there, isn't that a Meeboo?" his colleague pointed towards the small mechanical otter wandering in circles beneath the bar counter and said. "Why is it here?"
"Meeboo? Aren't they wire controlled? Then where's Mayer?" The Yanese operator leaned over and scanned the dining area. "She's not the type to come out for late night meals."
Beside the bar counter, the somewhat sluggish mechanical otter finally succeeded in grabbing onto the edge of the counter surface with its two front paws. Then it rest its head onto the surface of the counter. With a series of electric beeping it caught the Chef's attention.
"Aren't you the little creation of Mayer? How did you find you way here?" The Chef leaned in for a closer look and said. "We don't serve motor oil here. Are you lost? Should I find someone to send you home?"
"Hey boss! It's me!" Mayer's voice came from the speaker atop of the Meeboo unit's head. "What you are looking at is my Meeboo Ultra-plus! I fixed it with a prolonged deep learning AI module and wireless control! Also a speaker system! I send it to get some take-out for me, also as a test for its functions!"
"You are making a lot of progress in the workshop I see. Well then, I'll get it carry some cinnamon rolls back to you." The Chef took out a take-out box and said. "If you got any chances, would you make a few bigger ones to help me with deliveries? I don't want to always bother my customers with it."
"Sure thing! Lemme check my schedule...It had to be three month later from now. Got loads of work lately, and still need to fix a bunch of stuff from the Rhine Labs. Sorry~~. Oh wait, can I also have a cup of black coffee? Need some pick-me-up for work at night. Ey! You there, Meeboo #2, careful! Don't knock that over, it's for Saria—"
The conversation was cut off by a noisy surge of statics. The Chef put the rolls and the coffee into the container on the back of the Meeboo unit and secured it. He patted on its head and said. "Don't forget to tell Mayer come over after work. I want to know how my cinnamon rolls tasted in person. If she doesn't want to come, bite her for me."
The Meeboo unit's head-mount camera zoomed in and out. It stood there without response as if it had broken down.
"If Mayer doesn't come over, bite her for me. Got it? If you do nod your head, otherwise shake your head." The Chef repeated himself, then curled his mouth with slight annoyance. "Hard to figure it out, this hunk of iron."
The Meeboo unit shook its head, then turned and left the Diner with a whirring of mechanical noises.