"So. Explain it to me again?" Noir asked as he held a cigarette that was not the proper brand that he enjoyed to his lips and lit it with a flick of his lighter. In his hands he read the New Papers the said 'Notorious Pirate Crew Dead' of course…It was refering to the Red Sashes. After Leroy's disappearance. Reports from all over came out of rumors of seeing some of them. Others reporting that they had been killed on desamare…
Oh if only they Knew. They'd be lucky if it was that easy for them.
"Gardens! All across the world. Theres islands that are known as gardens. They hold some of the most unique, rare, exotic, and strange ingredients and animals in the world. Big Garden. Little Garden. Spice Garden. They all have basic names like that but they all have a flavor to them."
Across from Noir was a man named Feta Bourdin. A world famous chef. And close friend of Ducase. "So hows the old man anyway?" Feta asked. His face was wrinkled, square, and a weathered and creased brow. His hair was simply done up.
"Fine I guess…" Noir was surprisingly one of the most put together of the crew even before getting the hidden message of 1W4Y from Leroy. He'd landed on the an Island known Render Isle. It was a world famous Island at the end of the 5th route of Paradise known for being essentially the worlds Capital of Cooking and Food. Rather that be cheap stalls, free samples, or high and mighty and ridiculously over priced restaurants that think they put the Rose Arbor to shame.
You could even buy a pass before entering the city known as a Gourmet Pass that allowed you to treat 50% of Restaurants as all you can eat buffets. At the cost of ludicrous entry fee.
There was one upside. If a Chef wanted to get better at…Anything. Rather that be skill at a stove, developing a palette, exploring unique places to catch fresh ingredients…It was there.
"Why do you ask?" Noir turns back to him after gazing out to the calm waters.
"Oh you know. Guy goes and opens up a big famous restaurant in the middle of nowhere East Blue, and doesn't think to call or write to me…" Feta turned the wooden wheel as the fishing vessel continued across the gentle waves.
Noir continues to mindlessly distract himself. Thinking back to why he even accepted this…Accepted this challenge.
Make a Full Course Menu.
Was it to see if thats what he wanted to do? The Rest of the Crew always had such a concrete set of goals…But his was 'Find the all blue and see the fantasy of the world' It was good. Certainly…But it felt like maybe it needed some refinement. Dezzi's goal was refined…Jeanne's is…Basic. Ravens is constantly advancing the more they find Poneglyphs and secrets of the islands they land on…
"So. These Gardens. Could…Could the All Blue be a Garden?" Noir asked. Attempting to ask it as nonchalantly as possible.
"Hmmm…Well. The All Blue is known to be a place where creatures from all over the World and congregate and mix together. It's not a matter of if it exists. More of where." Feta leaned against the wheel
He scratched his chin and the thin 5 oclock shadow on his jaw. "Theres a good amount of research and proof that the All Blue exist. Its not exactly Atlantis or anything." He pulled a pack of cigarettes from his chef coat that he was still wearing and popped it between his lips.
"Is just every time someone goes back to find it…Its not there. But!" He lifts a finger. Burning length between them. "If the All Blue is a Garden. Which by all accounts it should be. Then the only thing keeping it from being permanently found in one place-"
"Is that it moves." Noir said.
"I was gonna say that it appears and disappears at certain times of year. But that works too." He took a deep lung hit of the Unfiltered pure tobacco.
"Feels like the All Blue…Just too basic. I'm gonna find it. But it aint gonna be the end goal…" He says resting his stumble covered chin on his hand.
"Youre speakin out loud again there, Chef." Feta teased. "Sorry Chef. I think I really know what I want to do."
"Oh yeah? 12 Years as a Chef from when you were a wee lad and now its changed again?" Feta teased again. He'd met Noir when he was young quite a few times. So it wasn't exactly stranger talking to stranger.
"Yeah."
"I think I wanna….find the greatest foods all over the world. A chefs goal is to fuel his crew and keep them healthy and fed across the journey. Then my goal should be the finish line. But something thats….Prepared piece by piece. Dish by Dish. Island by Island…." He dreamed to himself of making the Ultimate Meal. Something that could fill even the most starved of peoples.
"Hm…Alright." Feta nodded. Beginning to steer again. "Real chef words those are."
"Heh." Noir grinned.
"Noir. Being a chef. Is like being an artist. Even if you don't tell the story of the dish you make. Or its ingredients. Knowing their story. Their origin. It can inspire you more and more. For instance" He looked over his shoulder. Cig still between his lips, bouncing as he spoke.
"What is Meat?"
"The flesh of…Living things. Animals. Beef, Pork, Fish. You slaughter animals and then use it to feed others."
Feta nodded. "Yeah. True. But its more than that. Think about it. You are taking and using a life to continue the perseverance of another. Its almost like the Ultimate Symbiosis. At least when they aren't mass slaughtered. Finding a cow, end of their life. But not sick. And you allow their life to end in a way that is respectful for it to continue another."
"Meat isn't just parts of an animal. It's their very being. No matter how processed. It may be strange to use animal products like Leather, Feathers, Ink, fat for soap. But is that not the biggest encapsulation of Human Ingenuity? Not making stuff from nothing. But understanding the world around it, transforming it and making it into something new and useful. Its why you gotta stand up for animals. Against their cruelty. So that when we do use them. Its not barbaric."
He took a deep breath. Acrid smoke leaving his lips. "But a respectful end and sacrifice to continue more. The very thing that gives an inteligence and instinct shape, cooked over mans control over fire and nature, to then continue and fuel themselve."
"And I think thats beautiful." He pulled the lit paper from his lips and gave a smile to his companion.
"Yeah…Yeah….I like that. Theres a story and history to everything. A process before they even end up as ingredients with their own place in the process of cooking. Heheh. No wonder your food reviews do so good."
After another half hour. The boat came to a stop. "Welcome, to Mammal Garden. A place that seems so familiar, filled with Mammaries and hair, that if you went in blind you might just think you were surrounded by a bunch of bears…And not the Hibernating Predator!"
"Good thing theres no drains here or it'd be a nightmare of soggy strands." Feta clapped his hands to clean then off as he spat his cig out,
"So. Remind everyone at home what your goal is?" He gave a snarky smile.
"Full Course Menu. As full as you can get. From start to finish,
Drinks. Something to get ready and wet the palette.
Amuse Bouche. A Single curated bite of flavor to ready the eater.
Canape, a small easily eaten portion thats crisp or creamy.
Ceviche Course, cold course with sharp notes like acid or brine. But slowly of a few minutes.
The Appatizer. Something stunning and the first actual plate of food to be savored and discussed.
Followed by that is a soup course. Light, liquid, nothing to heavy. The opposite of the cold dish.
Then we have cleanser, usually theres a small snack of portion. But I think I'll have this be where the atmosphere is the dish. Maybe a small shot of a cocktail.
Fish course. Its fish.
Pre-Main and intermission. Savor non food stuffs such a cigar or alcohol tasting.
Then the Main course. What everything is built toward. The Meal. The Dish.
Cheese Course. A palette cleanser.
Pre-Desert. Something basically nothing but still food like ice or fruits.
Desert. Something Sweet finally after umami, bitter, creamy and the like.
And finishing it out is Petis Fours, Tea or Coffee and lingering before finishing the night. Small finger foods that are quick to pop but nothing remotely heavy."
"14 Courses. Meals, Ingredients, stories. Quite a lot! But lucky for you…Theres far more than 14 Gardens. And given your gathering it all yourself. It'll definitely check off the requirement for you to get stronger…" He thumbed over his shoulder "Now get in there."
Mammal Garden was filled with countless creatures. From Moose that had the build of a grizzly. Cows with thick fur that was like armor. Rodents that could spray a smoke screen before burrowing under ground.
There were many aggressive creatures. Hyper predation and breeding. It was a localized niche and ecosystem all within an island a dozen kilometers large. He bounced through the air. Slammed his heel into tough hide of massive horned Gorillas. His fights nearly razed and entire section of the forest and attracted massive squirrels that had adapted to having abilities to store solid projectiles to shoot! They were faster than cannons and hit harder too!
But…By the end. He had his kill. A Massive Chicken that breathed fire. 5 meters tall and wearing 20 tons. He dragged it effortlessly back to the shore.
Its feathers were like steel as he plucked the fowl. Thick layer of fat and cartilage as it was filled with white meat. "So. Whatdya think? Broil, Bake? Roast?" Feta asked. Looking at the massive meter long drum stick.
"No. I think I got something classic." He said as he sliced a piece from the skin. Seeing speckles across the bumpy flesh. This thing had capsaicin in it…! Or a chemical similar to it. Most likely as a predator deterrent from pheromone release.
"I'm gonna fry it!"
Quickly. They got a out a massive cast iron skillet and set up a camp fire and stand. An entire bottle of peanut oil. An egg wash with milk to thin, Bread Crumbs, Cayenne, Sea Salt, flour, cornstarch, paprika, Garlic, Celery Salt, Ginger, onion powder.
First there was a large tub for dry mix. Then a massive whisked egge milk mix, and another part for dry mix again. Thoroughly caked and mixed. And into pan! Immediately boils and liquid that sounded like a storm filled the air. The scent of frying chicken filled the air! With his hands he reached in and flipped the chicken again and again. After minutes of frying.
He double fired it. Using the last of the Mix and Wet to double coat it. Leaving the the breaded exterior in a thick, crispy layer that was almost orange in hue and gave a scratchy sound as he dragged the edge of the knife against it. It wasnt is favorite set. But it was a custom set of Feta's own design.
The chicken was delicious. Mouth watering. A hit of spice and savoryness, all ontop of a supreme profile of a classic fried chicken crunch. The oil was just wet enough. Each bite released a squirt of juice that salivated the two chefs mouths. Each chew filled with a loud crunch of skin and fry before being shallow and quite at the meat.
"Mmm…Mmmm mhmhm….Wow." Feta said shaking his head. "Better than sex…" He joked
"Thank you for the meal noir. But the better question is, do you know where you want this on you Menu?" He asked. Tossing the bone to the side.
"I know exactly where. I think this will be my pre-main course food. Homely, Savory, Classic. Andd can be potioned to be enough to fill until the Main Course…" He wiped his mouth with a handkerchief
"Thats a good choice. To think you'll have to think of Atmosphere, sound, Auroma, Decor when you serve this."
"Very very true. Just like you said. Food isn't just fuel. Its art."