Our Chaotic Order

15: Culinary Arts

^^Chef Laurent Jean-Paul Valhrona^^ Master Chef and Chocolatier

--- Greta's POV ---

I opened the door to the Kitchen in Baba's stomach, (which always made me giggle), looking around, and hummed when I saw no one in here.

"No one home? Maybe my teacher is late... ah well. Wonder what we'll learn today?" I opened the fridge, and pulled out two eggs, and then turned on the stove, setting a small skillet on the Eye.

It quickly heated, and I cracked the eggs into the skillet, humming happily. I reached for some ham, and was instead handed a tin of saffron.

"Saffron? Baba, that's not what I needed. Where's the ham?" I sighed, and set it down, taking a sprig and crumbling it over the cooking eggs.

A small packet of cubed ham was handed to me, and I grinned, dropping a healthy portion into the omelet pan. Then I smelled it, and hummed. "Maybe a little salt? No, the ham has salt, that's handled. Then pepper." I nodded and tapped a dash of pepper into the liquid eggs, and then waited as the eggs cooked, before gently folding it, and grilling both sides to give it a bit more crunch, but not too much.

I placed a small stick of cinnamon on top, and plated it, grinning. "Baba, would you like to eat with me?" I asked, turning around.

And promptly screamed, reflexively throwing up a ward and lashing out simultaneously with fire.

It was dodged, and the man that had been standing where my fireball hit huffed. "That was a bit overzealous, girl." He raised an eyebrow, and dusted himself off, straightening his hat.

He was about my fathers age, perhaps younger, around 25-27 by my guesstimate, with blonde hair and a blonde, well maintained beard/mustache.

I held my racing heart with my free hand, and breathed out slowly. "Sorry. You scared me badly. I'm Greta."

"Master Chef and Chocolatier Laurent Jean-Paul Valhrona, at your service, Lady Falkirk." He bowed with a flourish.

I grinned. "Ooh! You're my teacher?"

"I am, yes."

"Perfect! Then you can eat with me!" I sat down with my omelette, and retrieved two forks, holding one out to him.

He hummed and sat next to me, nodding. "I'm curious to how you thought cinnamon would be useful."

"I don't like overzealous garnish, but cinnamon is always pretty, and easily removed. Plus, I like a little crushed cinnamon on ham. It tastes interesting. Brown sugar is even better, but harder to remove." I responded easily.

"Aha! I see. Yes, you like sweets?"

"More than anything." I grinned.

"All types? Even bitter chocolate, salted caramel-?"

"I do like those ones you listed, but I haven't tried them all, so I can't say I like them all." I shrugged.

He nodded. "Good. No generalities... now. I'd like to know what you want me to teach you. Is it chocolate? Cooking? Both? And if so, what exactly would you like to know?" He steepled his fingers.

"I want to learn. That's all. I want to learn everything there is to learn, and then create new things for people to learn. I've already started teaching some new things to my teachers, but I don't know enough about cooking. And I like when people eat my food and leave happy." I nodded.

He chuckled. "Ah. Yes, a young chef, and a scholar. I can work with this... so you wish to know everything about cooking?"

"Everything about the Culinary Arts." I corrected, and his eyes sparkled with mischief.