Finally, the day of Paul-oniisan’s banquet arrived.
Today’s menu looks like this.
| Terrine with scallops, crabs and dungeon mushrooms Miracle soup with swift’s nest Lobster Poiret with Americane Sauce Rock oysters from Gandalcia with lemon Truff pie wrap Trifle Ice Cream and Sorbet |
There is plenty of variety and volume, so even the most voracious gourmets are sure to be satisfied.
Shortly before nightfall, three carriages arrived in front of the auberge.
“Paul-oniisan, welcome to Gandalcia.”
“You look great. I’ll be in your care tonight.”
My brother seems to have gotten a little sunburned. I’m sure he’s busy with his ranch work.
A large man came down after my brother. He was large both in height and size and looked very cheerful.
“Hoh~! It’s surprising that there is such a fancy shop in such a place.”
“Welcome”
“You must be Cedie, the lord of this island. I’m Giorto Masciolini, and I’ve been friends with Paul for ten years.”
Masciolini-san grabbed my hand with his large hand filled with gold rings and shook it enthusiastically. He is wearing a dinner jacket made of fine fabric.
I thought he looked quite wealthy, and it turned out he was the owner of a casino. He was the third son of a nobleman, but he opened a casino and made a lot of money.
“Hahaha, when you grow up, please come to Casino Wyall, you are very much welcome.”
I’ve never been interested in gambling before, but I guess I can go there at least once for my later studies, right? Well, if I do go, it’ll probably be when I’m a bit more grown up.
The course started with a terrine with scallops, crabs and dungeon mushrooms. My brother and his friends are enjoying the food while drinking white wine.
Masciolini-san seemed to be a gourmet, and he told the group about his culinary knowledge.
“Oh speaking of which, it’s very important that dungeon mushrooms should be fresh. If you don’t eat them within two days of harvesting, they will start to taste bitter.”
Paul-oniisan, who had taken a bite of the terrine, tilted his head.
“But these mushrooms aren’t bitter at all, and I don’t think there’s a dungeon around here.”
“I’m sure they rushed it here from around Sable. Either way, it’s a rarity.”
Everyone seemed satisfied, realizing that they were served with something both delicious and valuable.
But for now, I’ll keep it a secret that there is a dungeon in Gandalcia. Because of Alexei-oniisan, this secret should be kept as possible.
Next, we served the highlight dish of the day, the miracle soup made with swift’s nest.
Again, Masciolini-san explained.
“The swift’s nest is also rare, and it is served in the court cuisine of Fanxiao, a great country in the east.”
“You are quite knowledgeable.”
“I’m greedy for the pleasures of life.”
“Please enjoy it while its warm, you’ll be surprised.”
“Hohoh~…… Cedie seems to have a lot of confidence.”
Masciolini grinned as he lifted his spoon and took the soup into his mouth.
“Mm, it’s delicious. This soup is full of flavor. It’s based on seafood and…..hmm, duck?”
“As expected from you. You’re correct.”
“The texture of the swift’s nest is wonderful. The way it melts softly in your mouth is just amazing.….”
The gentlemen at the table are busily carrying the soup to their mouths. But the surprise is yet to come. It’s only from now on that the miracle soup will come into its own.
I asked Paul-oniisan.
“How are you feeling? Any changes in your physical condition?”
“Physical condition? Hn…? Come to think of it, I feel like my body is lighter……”
“Me too, the pain in my shoulder is gone.”
“The swelling in my feet has gone down. My boots used to be tight, but now they’re more comfortable!”
Great, the miracle soup is working!
I explained the immune system and skin-beautifying effects of swift’s nest.
Paul-oniisan nodded admiringly, and the other gentlemen put their mouths directly to the bowl and drank up the soup until the last drop, so as not to leave a single drop behind.
“I didn’t know it was such a precious ingredient, thank you, Cedie.”
“This time is special because I am always indebted to you. Alright, I will bring you the next dish.”
Next is everyone’s favorite rock oyster. The gentlemen were delighted to be served with out-of-season lemon. They devoured the oysters like they were drinking them down. They also ordered a lot of additional white wine, which was impressive.
“Brother, don’t eat too much, it’s time for the main dish.”
“Oh, that’s right. Sorry, sorry.”
Paul-oniisan doesn’t usually show his expression, but tonight he has a gentle smile on his face. It was a fun banquet, I think it was also because he has lived up to his reputation as the organizer by introducing a great restaurant.
“Was the main course a meat pie wrap?”
“That’s right, it’s about time it is baked.”
I’ve told him the course of the meal, but I’m still keeping it a secret that it’s Truff meat.
I’ll show it to him right before they eat so he’ll be surprised. Surprises like this seem to be very welcome here.
The Truff pie wrap was brought by Lynn herself.
It takes a lot of skill to separate them. It’s a trick that only Lynn can do.
When I say meat pie wrapping, it’s not just meat wrapped in pie and baked. Foie gras, dungeon mushrooms, onions, etc., are sautéed in butter until they form a paste, covers them to the fillet of the truff, then wrapping it in puff pastry and baking it. The meat is sprinkled with various spices with Lynn’s original formula, which is a nice accent. The meat is surrounded by grilled vegetables from my garden. Potatoes, Brussels sprouts, carrots, asparagus, every ingredient are delicious.
If they eat this, brother and the others will surely be impressed.
Lynn inserted the knife and made a cut, revealing a rosé-colored cross-section.
“It looks really good. Cedie, add me a bottle of full-bodied red wine.”
An order came in from Masciolini-san, who was in a good mood.
“Then go ahead, please enjoy your truff pie wrap.”
For a moment, the place fell silent.
“Truff! You just said truff, right?”
“That’s correct, brother. Actually, it’s Upa, the manager here, who killed it.”
The gaze of the gentlemen was on Upa, but he continues serving as if he did not care.
Hmm? Somehow, everyone seemed a bit restless….
“Upa? Don’t tell me….. that General Douglas Upa?”
“T-the Grim Reaper of the battlefield?”
Come to think of it, Upa himself said that he was a Grim Reaper or something. But this is the first time I’ve heard of him being a general.
“Could it be…. are you really General Upa? I heard that the general has been missing since he resigned from his post ……”
Paul-oniisan’s voice trembles slightly.
“No, no. That must be a complete mistake. I’m just a stranger with the same name.”
“No, but the scar on your face….…”
“This is something from a fall.”
Is that excuse reasonable?
That’s what I thought, but Upa continued to pretend not to know what they are talking about.
“There’s no way that General Upa is a manager in a place like this.”
Maybe he is trying to hide his true identity?
I don’t think it’s right to press him on the matter when he doesn’t want to talk about.
“Come on, everyone, enough with that. Enjoy the truff pie wrap instead. It is also a dish with a magical effect.”
“What do you mean?”
Masciolini-san, who was tasting red wine, leaned forward. He seems to like meat dishes and orders Lynn to “cut it into large pieces.”
“The meat of the truff seems to have a magical effect, and when you eat it, you will feel a surge of power in you.”
“Hoh~, I’m looking forward to it!”
The gentlemen who brought the food to their mouths were mesmerized by its deliciousness.
The dessert trifle was also popular, and all the gentlemen promised that they would definitely eat here again soon.
Paul-oniisan seemed to be very satisfied too.
“Cedie, sorry, I’ve made me worry about a lot of things.”
“It’s alright. Brother has always taken care of me after all. But, please keep the swift’s nest a secret for me.”
I don’t want to have too many customers asking for it.
“Got it. I’ll make sure to make it up to you.”
Thanks to the food, everyone left feeling more energetic than when they came.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
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