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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 2, 2021 2:41:09 GMT
After the mixing comes the actual cooking. The principles of an oven are surprisingly different from the small range Thel is used to using. The oven had to reach a certain temperature first to ensure the meal heated evenly, but could take dozens of quiche at once. The process allowed for a great deal of practice, trial and error. Jesse tutted and giggled over the edible mistakes, giving them their own tray.
Barring something that was unsafe or blackened to the point of inedibility, there were only snacks. Happy little mistakes for some tasting along the way.
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 2, 2021 2:52:36 GMT
The process is super interesting, and he gets lost in it... although it's a bit annoying things in the oven couldn't be tasted or tested... and that's not a thing you should do either, apparently. Oops.
He does try and get to know some of the other girls around, though, but doesn't press if they don't want to talk.
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 2, 2021 4:08:12 GMT
The chubbier brunette at the station next to him goes by 'Jazz', and seems nearly as enthused about the activity as Thel is. "Have you been cooking long? You're pretty good at this." She asks brightly as they wait on the actual cooking to take place, the smell of egg and crumbly pastry, cheese, and spinach filling the kitchen. "It's my favorite part of hosting, is making meals that people will just... gush over to their friends. People can't look down on a talent if you're good at it, after all. You just have to really wow them, you know?"
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 2, 2021 4:13:41 GMT
"No, not really," Thel says, shaking his head. "Only really started in the last month, and it's been... touch and go. Very much doing things by taste, and trial and error. Never had anyone teaching me like this. It... resulted in a lot of not-great food." He laughs.
"How about you? How long've you been doing this?" he asks Jazz. "I always like hearing about what people like to make and eat and everything. Gives me more things to try out! I do agree it's really fun, and... well, you and your friends get to eat the result at the end. What could be better?"
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 2, 2021 4:22:55 GMT
"Not having any kind of expense, getting to play around in the kitchen and eat for free." Jazz replied with a wink. "But no, like... Mom made her fortune doing this. Started her own company, trained the staff herself and got them certified. I've been learning about baking since I was old enough to reach the knobs on the oven! It's way different then on a stovetop. I've heard people say that cooking is an art, but baking is a science. Guess that makes me a scientist!" She leans down to peek through the glass on her batch, before announcing in a singsong tone "Not yet!"
"A lot of the processes start in similar places. Egg, flour, sugars, vanilla, shortening, baking powder, cream of tartar. How much of each, how you mix them, how long you bake them for. It's the difference between a cookie, a biscuit, and a cake!"
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 2, 2021 4:26:38 GMT
"Wow, you should like you really know your stuff," Thel says, impressed. "I mostly just... throw stuff together on the stove. Never really had the opportunity to play around with baking before. It's definitely a lot different, but fun!"
It's nice to have other people here who enjoys this stuff as much as him. Really makes him feel more like he belongs.
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 2, 2021 4:29:49 GMT
"That's its own kind of special too... it's improvisation, it's dynamic and wonderful! Baking if you goof up your mix, sometimes your final product comes out tasting like bland powder, or the texture is all wrong. Stovetop cooking you can adjust on the fly. Though I guess with baking sometimes it doesn't even matter. This one time, when I was really young, I forgot to add salt to several batches of cookies. The people we offered them too couldn't tell the difference, but Mom could. She scolded me for not following the instructions correctly." The chatty girl stuck her tongue out at the memory and laughed.
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 2, 2021 4:40:19 GMT
"Yeah, that's definitely the hardest part of this all," Thel says, joining in the laughter. "Just... having to wait until it's done to see if it's done right. Can't even quickly taste it. Feels like it takes forever. It's certainly a lot different with having instructions to follow, instead of just trying to reproduce things by taste. Especially when there's so many small, subtle flavours you can have."
Man, why can't every day be like this? Engaging with others as he's learning. It's fun! The class stuff is interesting, but sitting down not doing much for so long is kinda… boring. He's glad he's able to do it, though.
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 2, 2021 4:57:56 GMT
"Do you have a preferred flavor? The sorts of things you really go out of your way for? I like desserts that have a spicy kick to them myself. They aren't very common, but I use a lot of cinnamon in my recipes. I have a few kinds of gourmet dark chocolate that I've whipped up that lean on some really spicy peppers. It's a niche market but I really enjoy them."
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 2, 2021 5:09:57 GMT
"Spicy is very good," Thel agrees. "I like heat, things that give you a fire feeling inside. Sweet things are also good. It's very different, but... I dunno, it's really, really good. They're things for different moods. Spicy for energy and pump, while sweet is nice and relaxing. It's nice how food has so much diversity. Something for every occasion."
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 2, 2021 5:21:42 GMT
"I wish we'd met sooner, you're really nice Miss Lucasta." Jazz grinned, having only heard him addressed by Jesse thus far. "Course, we might have had classes together already and just not noticed. It's all atrociously prim and proper. THIS IS WHERE THE REAL LEARNING IS!" There were some giggles at the outburst, and their instructor smiled and pulled the batch of mistakes out of her oven. Tray after tray of piping hot quiche came rumbling out of the ovens on mittened hands. The smell was wonderful, but the food itself was far warm to touch much less consume.
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 2, 2021 5:43:36 GMT
"I take it you're not here for the studies, Jazz?" he asks. "And you can call me Thel if you want. But... yeah, it's nice to get to talk with people, and get to know them. The most I really interacted with any classmates was... like, on my first day, introducing myself. It's been all outside class since then, and most people seem to just stick to their groups."
Ooh, everything's done. He's ready to see how everything is. It smells good!
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 2, 2021 12:56:40 GMT
"Just the table etiquette really, and the hosting lessons. They require a full semester of enrollment to have any courses at all. Mom was super busy this last while, and we figured it couldn't hurt to see a third party take on what she's been doing for years on her own. She wants to be a hybrid of the new way and the old way. Making guests feel comfortable without the whole posturing and constant tense atmosphere thing! Good food is a big first step to that, can't be mad when your senses are being captured." She takes a long inhale off of her tray and selects one of the pastries, removing it with a spatula and setting it aside to cool.
"The filling will still be molten for a little bit."
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 2, 2021 18:27:07 GMT
"That makes sense," Thel says, nodding. "Sounds like you and your mom really know what you're doing. Must be nice," he laughing. "I have no idea what I'm doing in life, so that's why I'm hear. Been learning a lot. So that's been really fun."
...would be nice for all this stuff to cool faster, though. That's the difference between not having exposure to cooler air, and having it, though, he supposes.
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 2, 2021 19:19:52 GMT
"When you find it, you'll know. Might have already found it and just not realized it yet.". Jazz cut a wedge out of her quiche to let the steam escape. "Some people it is just a hobby they make into a career. Some people it is something they have never tried before.". After another moment or two of gabbing, she has a bite of her pastry and nods happily.
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 2, 2021 19:28:06 GMT
"Yeah, that's my hope, it's why I keep trying new things." Thel follows her lead on the cutting and everything, hoping that it came out well. And tastes good.
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 2, 2021 19:46:22 GMT
The food is more than a taste, it is an experience. A flaky outer layer of buttery pastry gives way to the soft warmth of lightly spiced egg, then the heat of gooey cheeses and the crisp strong flavor of spinach. The room gives way contented sounds and quiet chewing as the food is put to the proof.
Jesse tries a small piece from each sample as she makes her rounds, making small comments here and there on how to improve. (Make an Intuition please.)
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 2, 2021 20:07:23 GMT
Oh, that's very good. Not necessarily something he'd eat regularly, as he prefers things with a little more... solid-ness to it, but it's still delicious. If with the potential to be very, very messy. ...not that he could make it regularly as-is with his little station. But, in the future! Good to know it's a possibility, at least. 19 Intuition. |
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 2, 2021 20:14:55 GMT
"That's wonderful Miss Lucasta.". Jesse compliments after taking a bite of Thel's sampler. "You didn't overmix, your filling settled evenly, and you pulled your food just as the edges were starting to brown.". Turning to the rest of the class. "You must understand when baking, that pastries, cookies, and cakes will continue to cook as they are left to set and the heat dissipates. With that in mind, you will always want to pull your food before it is the ideal shade of brown. It will cook more as it cools. With that in mind, if I have samples your quiche, you can begin plating them with the potato pancakes I've been making. When everything is situated and in the dining hall, we can settle in, eat, and discuss."
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 2, 2021 20:45:23 GMT
"Thank you, Jesse," he says, beaming. It feels... really good to be recognized for this, he realizes. It's something that he can be good at. It's proof that he can learn, that he can work on growing, and shape his future. Before? He had no control over food. Now, here he is feeding himself and others. In a way that's being complimented in a non-condescending way.
He begins to plate his food, looking at the food that Jesse'd been making.
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