Sofia Santos, a culinary school graduate, now lives in Manhattan with her grandmother, working in their family restaurant, Cocina Santos. She loves the rustic charm of the little restaurant and chose to stay there despite the many opportunities she...
"Welcome back Monsieur Louis! We have prepared the best of the best for you tonight!"
I walk up to the dining hall, the maids bringing my luggage, and the butlers taking my heavy coats, Jacques pulling up the chair for me to sit. The bell rang to indicate service, and carts of gold trays and gold casseroles, complete with gold utensils burst in the room.
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"For your first course, may I present you fish consommé with asparagus and white truffle. The delicateness of the fish, complements the truffle, which I procured from one of the best truffle farms in all of Monaco..."
I look at the fancy plating with almost no fish in sight, but a few cubes. The plating is beautiful, the clear soup looked like a pond with the greens and the small fish. The asparagus looked like corals, as the green vegetable is sprinkled with gold leaves. There are flowers circling the plate that looked like ornaments to complete its sea theme.
It looks pretty, alright, but the taste... I hesitantly took the spoon, putting a small piece of the white fish and some of the soup, and shoving it in my mouth. As I thought.
"It's bland and it has no texture!" I push the plate away from me in disgust.
I'm so hungry, and tired, and hungry. I didn't even touch the food served in the plane even once. Geez, who knew first class meals are worse than those served in economy? And well, what do I expect from the royal family's kitchen? A change from their oh-so-fancy ways and serve me food that is actually edible?
I look around for someone to blame, and the chef, along with his subordinates, come timidly in front of the room.
"Is something not quite to your liking, votre altesse?"
"It tastes like paper, Chef Jacques! Les Papiers!"
"Papier?"
"What does paper taste like, chef?" I ask, wiping my mouth with the napkin, and getting up from my seat.
"Non. Nothing, my prince."
"Exactly!"
"There must be... something that you like, non? What about scallops? Or.. or... poulette?"
I see Chef Jacques following me behind, taking another plate of what looked like chicken dripped in bland and boring sauce. With one swift motion, I turned around, gave him my sweetest smile.
"Chef Jacques, the head chef of the Palace of Monaco for fifteen years..."
"Yes, your majesty?"
"You are fired. Please don't show up near the palace gates again. And if you leak any secret of our family, you're dead meat, you hear? Guards!"
The guards came in, taking Chef Jacques by the arm, and dragging him out of the door. I heard his pleading cries but I didn't pay attention to it.
"But my prince," My butler Seth came to me, looking rather worried. "Why did you fire Chef Jacques? Who will cook for the royal family now?"
I turned to look at my butler sternly, and he straightened up, bowing his head to me.
"Seth. I would rather not eat anything than eat what Chef Jacques puts up. Send the sous chef, Marco, to fix me dinner tonight."
"I hate to break it to you, but, Marco, went back to his homeland, in Austria. He left a few days ago and will be back after a month's time."
I rubbed my temples in annoyance. Geez, can't I just relax for tonight?
"Then I won't eat tonight, there should not be a problem."
"But–" I stopped him with my hand, and tried my best to smile, because that's what Princes do, apparently. Being nice and well-mannered.
"Mr. Sebastian, please prepare the bath for me. I would like to relax and call it a day." I flashed him a smile, taking my coat from his hands.
"What about your welcome home banquet tomorrow? Have you forgotten?"
Ah shit. I completely forgot that there's such a thing.
"There's no point. I won't show myself anyway since there won't be any pictures –"
"Your highness, it is a closed event. Your parents hosted it, with close family and friends. There will be no pictures, and security is really tight. They plan on introducing you tomorrow formally to everyone. And now, with the head chef gone, your parents will be mad!"
"Where are they anyway?" I snorted.
"Sir! You must not snort! It is inappropriate to do it public as it shows rudeness. And I'm afraid, they're in Turkey right now, finishing up some treaties and such."
Sighing deeply, and this is not something unexpected, as both of them are always not around due to these trips, I look at Sebastian more crossly.
"Mr. Sebastian, my bath."
"Why yes, of course. I'm sorry for rambling. I'm just really worried. I will get to it soon."
Seth started walking away, and I remembered something important.
"Mr. Sebastian."
"Yes, your highness?"
"Find me a chef by tomorrow. Someone who knows how to cook, and not someone who just elaborately designs his plate."
