Hell's Smitten (Gordon Ramsay x Reader)

Chapter 65- Red vs Blue Menu Part 1/2

Friday, July 12th, 2013

We finish prep as the time ticks closer to opening. Since it's our menu, Gordon has us decide our stations. Dave chooses to run cold apps, Kalyani heads up the garnish station, and Abel and I are on the hot appetizer station together. Once we get through apps, Abel will switch off to fish and I'll head over to meats while Dave takes to preparing desserts and floating between stations.

Gordon looks at his watch and leans out over the pass. "JP, please open Hell's Kitchen for Red versus Blue menu night!"

JP puts down a stack of red plates on the nearby countertop and nods to Gordon before heading to the doors and allowing the customers in.

The customers are sat down and given both the blue and red team's menus. They then pick the menu they think looks tastiest and order from it.

The first ticket comes in for the red kitchen. Gordon calls it out and as soon as he turns around, another ticket comes in for the red team. I look out into the dining room to see what plates the customers have picked, but I can't get a good enough look before Gordon receives another ticket and turns towards us.

"Two top, table twelve. One Greek salad, one scallop!"

"Heard!" both Dave and Abel call out before trading times with each other. A second ticket comes in for us.

"Four top, table thirty. Four slider orders, how long?"

"Seven minutes, Chef!" I call back. I heat three pans and set the patties in them, being careful not to crowd the pan.

After three minutes pass, I flip the patties. The sear looks good. I sprinkle some cheddar cheese on top of each of the patties and let them sit another three minutes.

Abel is still busy working on his scallops. Once they're cooked properly, he passes the pan on to Kalyani, who garnishes the plate with mangoes and brings it along with pineapple sauce to the pass.

One Kalyani returns, I pass the patties onto her. She sets them between sweet potato 'bun' slices and pokes a toothpick through the top before bringing them to the front.

Gordon inspects each of them carefully before calling for a waiter to take the tray out to the customers.

The simplicity of our apps makes getting through the first third of dinner service a quick process. Having Abel at my side helps me to focus on my work. I have to be sure I show out enough so Abel doesn't surpass me. Black jackets lurk in the back of my mind. It dawns on me that there is less than a week before the black jacket chefs will be chosen. I grip the handle of my slider pan a bit tighter.

"Do you want to try making the scallops this time?"

"Huh?"

"Gordon called out two sliders, two scallops, and one salad. I was wondering if you wanted to try and make the scallops for a change of pace." Abel shrugs as he holds out a tray of uncooked bay scallops to me.

Fuck, I missed Gordon calling that ticket. Thank God Abel was paying attention.

"Oh! Yeah, sure." I take the tray from him.

"Remember, bay scallops are a lot smaller so they cook much faster. You don't need much time at all on the heat. I'll let you know when I'm ready with my sliders. Be sure to let Dave know he needs to start on his salad when you drop the scallops."

I nod as I lay out the proper amount of scallops for two orders.

Abel nudges me after a while and I season my scallops.