Volume 5 Chapter 2 Request To Chef Lloyd
After breakfast had been cleared, Cain and his group visited the kitchen to deliver a souvenir to Chef Lloyd. Inside, several cooks were chatting and enjoying a short break, with Chef Lloyd among them.
"Chef Lloyd, thank you for your time."
Cain called out as a lull settled in the conversation.
"Young Master Cain, good morning. How are you today?"
"Good morning. I brought some souvenirs and a new recipe I couldn't share with you earlier."
"Thank you for taking the time. But truly, the best souvenir is seeing Sir Cain return safely. I'm curious about this new recipe."
The other cooks nodded in agreement.
"I appreciate your concern. Let me show you the souvenir first—then I'll explain the recipe."
Cain placed three fillets of White Trout on the designated table with a soft thud.
"This is White Trout, isn't it? It's so fresh it looks like it was just caught. How did you manage this?"
"I stored it using a magic bracelet that can preserve items by stopping time."
Cain pointed to the bracelet on his wrist as he explained. Chef Lloyd gave a long sigh and murmured, "Huh..."
"Young Master Cain always brings surprises. I haven't seen White Trout in years—it looks rich with fat."
"Right? It looks delicious. The amount is small, but could you serve it to everyone in the mansion?"
"Gladly," Chef Lloyd replied with a smile, and the other cooks bowed politely.
"Next is a new recipe for Teriyaki Sauce," Cain continued. "It was shared by the innkeepers of Bridge Village, the Margrave Shield family, and the Sanroze family. I'd like you to improve it."
"I'll make it second to none," Chef Lloyd declared, thumping his broad chest.
"I wasn't sure you had the ingredients on hand, so I brought some—soy sauce, honey, sugar, and stock made from Giant Mushrooms."
Cain laid out the vials one by one. The seasonings were purchased in Margrave Shield territory, and the mushroom stock had been prepared with help from their head chef.
"I don't use soy sauce often, but the others are fairly common. I've never tried Giant Mushroom stock, though," Chef Lloyd said, tasting the samples. The other cooks gathered around to try them as well.
Following Cain's instructions, the chefs of Bridge Village had already prepared a prototype. Though skilled, the cooks under Chef Lloyd's leadership were even more experienced—spotting areas for improvement as they worked.
Within thirty minutes, the prototype was finished, and everyone gathered to taste it. Chef Lloyd examined its appearance and scent, then cut a portion into bite-sized pieces before tasting it. Cain watched with eager eyes.
As Chef Lloyd took a bite of the White Trout Teriyaki, his eyes widened. He chewed with intense focus and then swallowed with a satisfied sigh.
"This is excellent, Sir Cain. The aroma of the seared soy sauce mixes perfectly with the richness and saltiness of the White Trout. The blend of salt and honey's sweetness is something I've never encountered before. However... it could be refined a bit more."
His voice was filled with genuine excitement.
"I'm glad you like it. I was thinking the same—the balance of sweet and salty could be better. The sweetness feels a bit strong, and there's still a slight fishy scent from the trout."
Cain shared his observations and requested further adjustments to the sauce.
"As expected of Young Master Cain. I had similar thoughts and already have a few ideas. Also, this sauce might work well with both meat and vegetables, don't you think?"
"As expected of you, Chef Lloyd. You figured out what I was going to say before I could."
Cain smiled, impressed by the chef's insight.
"Haha, I'm happy to surprise you. Please look forward to tonight's dinner. Take the White Trout to the underground refrigerator. I'll ask Randolph to cast a cooling spell on it later."
With a warm smile, Chef Lloyd promised to have it ready by dinner. Cain couldn't wait, already imagining the smiles on Luke and Lydia's faces when they tasted the dish.
Notes:
• Lloyd - Head Chef of the Family.
• Margrave Shield - Cain's grandfather. An elderly man, robust, with white hair.
• Bridge Village - A village located within the Margrave Shield territory. It is known for its inn, where new dishes like the teriyaki white trout are developed. The village benefits from culinary innovations that attract more visitors and increase profits.
• Lydia - Cain's Stepmother.
• Luke - Cain's father.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!