Cooking Training

Everyone showed up together at a later time than usual.

“Good morning.”

Emily, who had been in the shop, stopped cleaning and greeted us.

“Good morning, Emily. Let’s have another good day.”

Today was a training session for preparing food and drinks to be served in the dining space. Since there were no customers this time, whatever we made would be eaten by us as a tasting session as well. For some reason, when I explained that, the women all looked pleased.

“Good morning, everyone.”

Josette arrived at the shop a little later than the others.

“Looks like everyone’s here, so let’s get started. Everyone, gather in the kitchen.”

I guided everyone into the kitchen. With seven people inside, it felt a bit cramped, but that couldn’t be helped. We all gathered around the cooking table placed in the center.

The main focus was drinks. We prepared a wide variety, from coffee and tea to various juices. However, the preparation methods were extremely simple. Coffee was made using a coffee maker that brewed instant coffee well, tea used tea bags, and the juices were simply poured into cups from 1.5-liter plastic bottles.

“Big brother, if they’re standard commercial products, the taste won’t be bad, and they should sell well. This could be good business.”

Rachel said this, since she understood both the cost and flavor of everything. With a refrigerator fully equipped, we didn’t have to use everything in one day; we could spread it out over several days, reducing waste and lowering the risk of disposal.

“Juices are easy to pour, but there’s one thing you need to watch out for. Anything labeled as carbonated must never be shaken. For the others, if there’s sediment at the bottom, shake them a few times before pouring.”

I took ice from the freezer, put several cubes into each glass, poured in the juice, and finished by inserting a straw. Everyone drank them to memorize the flavors, so they could answer customers if asked. It would be unacceptable for staff not to know the taste of what they served.

“Big brother, I need to pee.”

After drinking nothing but beverages, Catherine interrupted and went to the restroom.

There was one restroom for customers inside the shop and another on the bakery workshop side. Employees were mainly supposed to use the workshop one, but since the shop was closed today, Catherine went to the customer restroom.

“Then I shall excuse myself as well.”

Blushing slightly, Josette headed toward the restroom too.

The customer restroom area was designed for multiple users, separated by gender. The men’s side had two urinals and one stall, while the women’s side had three private stalls. For the size of the shop, it was more than sufficient. Of course, everything was flush toilets with heated bidet functions. Usage instructions were clearly displayed on the walls, so I thought even first-time users would be fine.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

Before long, Catherine returned. Caro and Rachel followed soon after.

“I had heard about it, but I never imagined it would be this comfortable…”

Josette returned with a refreshed expression.

“Kent-san, could something like this be installed in my home as well?”

“I wouldn’t know until I check the building, but I think it would probably be fine.”

“I like it very much. Please do arrange it sometime.”

She spoke indirectly, apparently embarrassed to say the word “toilet,” but I understood her meaning. Since she always helped us, I had no reason to refuse and agreed. That said, answering so lightly would later turn into a much bigger matter—but that was a story for another time.

“Um… may I go as well?”

Emily asked apologetically.

“Go ahead.”

Even fairies apparently needed to use the restroom. I found myself wondering what she had done during the long period when no one had been managing this house.

In the end, Marie and I also went, and once everyone had returned, we resumed the training.

Next, we moved on to the light meal menu. Since this was a bakery, food naturally meant bread, but customers were allowed to eat items purchased in the shop here, so we planned non-bread items. Vegetables were also hard to procure, so salads were limited. For now, standard menu items like pasta, omelet rice, hashed beef rice, curry rice, and gratin seemed reasonable. Rice dishes were completed by cooking rice in a rice cooker and pouring warmed retort sauce over it. Gratin was heated directly from frozen in a microwave. Pasta required boiling, then topping with retort sauce. The only real work was cooking the rice and boiling the pasta.

“They probably won’t compare to high-end restaurants, but they don’t take much effort to make, so I think we’ll go with these.”

I explained while the various light meals were laid out. If one person made everything, we’d end up with too much food, so we divided tasks—pasta, rice dishes, and gratin—each using different seasonings.

“When carrying gratin, it’ll be hot, so make sure to use these gloves.”

I had everyone prepare the dishes, explaining key points along the way. Then everyone sampled what they had made.

“It may not reach the level of a fine restaurant, but at this price point, the taste is quite acceptable.”

Josette gave her impression. Hearing that from a duke’s daughter was very reassuring for me.

By this point, I felt completely full and thought I couldn’t eat another bite.

“Next is the dessert menu, but everyone’s full, right?”

I said this to seek agreement, but the women all voiced opposing opinions.

“I want dessert.”

“You mean you’re stopping after we came all this way looking forward to it?”

“I can still eat more.”

“I think I’m fine too.”

“I won’t worry about gaining weight today.”

“I’d like to try some as well.”

They all said different things, but the meaning was the same.

“Well, I guess it can’t be helped… let’s continue.”

I pushed through the discomfort in my stomach and started the dessert training.

“We could make jelly or pudding since we have the equipment, but for now, to gauge customer reactions, we’ll transfer cup desserts onto plates before serving.”

I lined up various jellies, puddings, and yogurt.

“Like this. It’s not that difficult, so I think it’ll be easy.”

Colorful desserts were arranged on plates. I couldn’t eat anymore, so I left the tasting to the others. The women happily sampled them, and everything disappeared in no time.

“Alright, last is ice cream.”

““““Yay!””””

The women’s eyes sparkled.

“We have several flavors prepared. Use the ice cream scooper like this to plate them… like this.”

I demonstrated. At first, shaping nice scoops was difficult, and there were several failures, but eventually everyone could plate them at a level suitable for serving. Until now, tasting happened after completion, but since ice cream melted, we tasted each one as it was made.

“There are also menu items that combine drinks and ice cream, but until everyone gets used to things, we won’t include them. For reference, they look like this.”

Saying that, I made several float-style desserts and had everyone taste them.

“Big brother, wouldn’t it feel really nice if classical music were playing with this?”

Rachel said after finishing her tasting.

“Music, huh… that might be nice.”

I decided to go along with her idea.

“If it’s musicians you’re thinking of, I do have connections with an orchestra. But there’s no space to place instruments, is there?”

Josette said this from a noble’s perspective. It was easy to imagine that live musicians were common at aristocratic balls.

“If we hired an orchestra at these prices, the shop would go bankrupt.”

Caro said worriedly.

“It’s fine. There’s a way to play music without spending much money.”

Saying that, I brought out a CD radio-cassette player and several CDs of classical music that I had ordered.

“I think it’s fine to place it around here for now.”

I set the player down, plugged it in, loaded a CD, and pressed play. Gentle music flowed from the speakers.

“To think music could come from such a small box… it lacks some power, but the atmosphere has improved.”

“Eating while listening to music… it feels nostalgic somehow.”

Josette looked satisfied, while Caro seemed slightly teary, perhaps recalling her past life. The contrast between them was striking.

“Thank you for the wonderful meal today. Tomorrow is the official opening, is it not? Our household will send flowers to celebrate.”

As Josette gave a signal, vendors carrying flowers entered the shop and placed them around key spots. Large arrangements were also set up outside.

“They look like the flowers you see at a renovation opening.”

Rachel whispered to me.

“Yeah, you’re right. We’ll have to work hard starting tomorrow.”

“I’ll do my best too.”

As we looked at the flowers, my sister and I thought about the days ahead.

“Then I shall take my leave. Farewell, everyone.”

With that, Josette boarded the carriage waiting outside and returned to her mansion.

“Alright, I’m heading back too. See you tomorrow.”

Rachel said her goodbyes and returned to her dormitory.

After saying goodbye to Emily as well, we returned to my house.