Kays Translations

Chapter 88: Novelty Food

　The lady-in-waiting asked for ‘a dish that no other noble has yet eaten.’

　Most of the dishes I’m used to making have already been shown off in deliveries for the nobility. Would a few adjustments be acceptable? Probably not. And of course it has to be delicious.

“Better yet, maybe I should make dim sum.”

“What’s dim sum?”

　As I was mumbling to myself while holding Sophia in my lap, her cute face looked up at me. Her pigtails had grown out a little, making her even cuter.

“Dim sum is such a delicious snack.”

“I want some.”

“I’m going to make some for practice now, and we’ll eat them together.”

“Eat with Grandma”

“It’s okay to eat it here, because we’ll have souvenirs to take home. Grandma can eat it too. And so can Grandpa and Dad.”

　When I think of light snacks I think of sandwiches, canapés, and small burgers, but dim sum would be nice, too.

　I love dim sum so much I’ve made it many times and eaten it on the go. It’ll be fine… I think. I can make the steamer with transformation magic, and use the seasonings I’ve procured from the coulou district.

　I want to make a wide variety of dishes. But there is not enough time to teach the chefs how to make all of them. So, when I said, “I want to make them as an outside chef for the Howler family,” Henry said, “I’ve never heard of an outside chef, but I’ll go ahead with it.” He gave me permission.

“All the recipes for the dishes that have been served under our name up until now were taught to us by you. I will pass them on to my family.”

“Thank you very much. Now all I have to do is practice.”

　I started with the meat buns and custard buns, which I had made many times in the past. I was not sure about the red bean buns, so I asked Henry, “Are they made with beans that are richly sweet? I’m not sure about it,” so I decided not to make it. I want to put the time and effort I’d put into making red bean paste into something else.

　The small, white, steaming hot meat buns and custard buns. Tasting each one brings back memories.

Illustration (By Mitemin)

“Would you guys like to try the samples?”

“Is that okay?　Eh, is the rest all good? Yay! Wow, this is so delicious!”

“You can have some too, Sophia.”

　The three of them ate everything. Everyone was smiling. Soon after, Sophia left with Karin-san, carrying a package of steamed buns.

“I wish I could give these to the others too. We are lucky to have such a good workplace, but I wonder how the others are doing.”

“We’re not allowed to see them during our community service.”

　Sandor muttered, and Albert nodded. Is that so? You can’t see your friends? I hope the other kids in your group are enjoying their workplaces. I’ll ask Victor how the other kids are doing next time.

　Today I made steamed shrimp dumplings with rice flour crust. While I was making them, I talked to two young people.

“You know, what I’m about to tell you is my own dream. I want you to listen to me with that in mind.”

　Sandor and Albert replied “Yes” and stopped eating.

“I’ll teach you everything I can, from cooking to running a restaurant, purchasing ingredients, and costing. So, if your friends at that time are motivated, and if cooking, cleaning, and customer service are not too much trouble for you, why don’t you try to open a restaurant with them?”

　Then Sandor’s became fidgety.

“It would be great if we could do that. But I’m sure our friends wouldn’t be amused if they had to work for us.”

“That’s a possibility. You two will be seniors and your friend will be your junior, so if that’s not your thing then it won’t work. Friends running a business together often doesn’t work out. But I feel like you can organize your friends, Sandor. But I don’t want to force you to do anything. You guys should do whatever you want to do.”

　Sandor wasn’t a very expressive boy, but he made a face like he had something distinctly bitter in his mouth.

“The reason my friends were arrested was because I proposed we got revenge on Ridrick. If they’ll let me, I’d like to open a shop with them.”

“When you are able to meet, have a long conversation with each other. I’ll be rooting for you.”

　I continued making dim sum. Just having a mincing machine can greatly expand the range of dishes you can make. I’m glad I came up with the idea to make that.

　I have been making shumai, xiaolongbao, dumplings, and other delicacies, day after day, and serving them to our lunch and dinner guests, saying, “These are just samples, so they’re free.” The food was very well received, partly because it was free. The question is whether they will be accepted by the queen’s attendants, who are likely to have a discerning palate.

　As I continued making dim sum day after day, Albert timidly approached me.

“This may sound presumptuous, but I think it’s a good idea to make some dishes that they’re used to eating. If you make only dishes that they have never seen or eaten before, don’t you think that those high class people will drop everything if even one thing is not to their liking?”

“That’s likely. I should prepare some safe dishes as well. Thank you, Albert. I’m glad you are here.”

　Since that’s decided, let’s use the bread, meat, and eggs that the people of this country are accustomed to eating.

　Most bread in this country is of the hard type. Although they sell pure white bread, they don’t sell square bread with a high moisture content made with cream. What about making a sandwich with fluffy bread?

　I used luxurious ingredients and baked a fluffy loaf of bread. I used it to make egg sandwiches and hamburger steak sandwiches. Yes. I think it looks delicious.

Illustration (By Mitemin)

Illustration(By Mitemin)

　The two young men looked at the sandwiches with wide eyes.

“It looks delicious. And stylish too.”

“This bread is so fluffy. If I squished it, it would be the size of a candy ball.”

“Don’t squish it, just eat it. Here you go.”

　The two of them devoured their sandwiches in no time. I could tell by their faces that they were satisfied. I had some misgivings about the combination of the dishes, but I’ll just look past it.

　Two days before serving the meal, I asked Henry to taste it as well.

“What do you think? It looks beautiful, is new, and is delicious, right?”

　Mr. Henry looks at me with his beautiful, melancholy face.

“I have a feeling that it’s not the lady-in-waiting who is hoping for new dishes.”

“Who, then?”

The royal family, I think. Should I just make up a suitable excuse to turn them down?”

“No, not that. It would be rude to keep them waiting and then turn them down, and it would ruin the face of the Howler family.”

“That’s true, but ……. Haaa. I’m trying to keep you to myself and it’s not going well at all.”

“It’s okay, it’s okay. I have a feeling that this won’t turn out badly. Come on, let’s have some coffee.”

　Mr. Henry chuckles and says, “You’re  such an optimist, Mai.”

　I’m glad you think so. I want to be an optimistic and cheerful person in front of you, Henry. I want to be a big tree that you can lean on and rest on when you’re tired. I love you more than you can imagine. But I don’t say it because I’m embarrassed.

　Well, the day of serving the meal came. I made three kinds of sandwiches and some dim sum. I made strawberry sandwiches with strawberries and whipped cream, and cut the strawberries into beautiful shapes.

　Large, sweet strawberries are hard to come by in this country, so I converted the strawberries here into Japanese strawberries. I cheated with the ingredients, but that’s okay because it’s a wizard’s dish.  

Illustration (By Mitemin)

　To keep the dim sum hot, I used a three-centimeter-thick marble slab. I used magic to heat the slab, put it under the table, and then placed the food on it. The whole slab was then carried away. Henry accompanied the food.

Illustration (By Mitemin)

　On the day the food was delivered, Marilyn, the maid of honor, told Henry, “The food was very well received.”

　Later, however, another story was conveyed to him via His Majesty and Viscount Howler.

　　The Queen was delighted, saying, “I had it prepared for me, but what made me happiest was seeing His Majesty and the Prince so happy.” The Prince then begged, “Mother, I want to eat more of these strawberry bread. And I’d like some more bread with eggs in it. Are there any more?”

　Henry said with a smug look on his face, “It was an order from the royal family after all. My hunches are always right.”

“They said they would eventually ask me to do the dish again. I thought for sure they would.”

“I wouldn’t mind offering to cook for them.”

“you will soon become the Queen’s favorite. More as a conversation partner than as a cook.”

“You’re overthinking it. You think too much of me, Henry.”

　Mr. Henry  laughs, “Fu.”

“Now that’s a rare, uncharacteristically unpleasant laugh, isn’t it?”

“In time, my hunch will be proven correct.”

　But that offer never came, because something else happened that was far too important.

Tl note:

そ点心て- tenshin – dim sum is a Chinese cuisine of small, bite-sized portions of food that are typically served in steamer baskets

Xiaolongbao (eastern Chinese steamed bun), gyoza (crescent-shaped pan-fried dumplings stuffed with minced pork , shumai (steamed meat dumpling)

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