Chapter Text
Chapter One: Origins
“So you’re telling me you have never been to culinary school?” Genji sat at the bar in his friend’s apartment, watching the man cook. It was only lunch but it had turned into Jesse wanting to clean out his refrigerator and having a guest was a great excuse. Carved roasted chicken paninis with arugula, Swiss cheese, tomatoes and a dash of balsamic vinaigrette. A roasted vegetable salad with a chimichurri dressing over a bed of romaine lettuce and baby spinach. Genji had no idea so much left over ingredients could make a fantastic meal.
“Nope.”
“And you want to open a restaurant?”
“Yup.”
“How far along are you in the process?”
“So far just talking to the bank about a business loan. Saving up to get a license. And getting pointers from my boss at the Mexican place around the corner.”
“You work at Poblano’s!” Genji was stunned. It might not be a five star restaurant but the reviews were outstanding. Featured in two national top fifty must try lists. “And you’re just now telling me this?”
“It never seemed important.”
“Jesse, with you, nothing ever seems important. How long have we known each other?” Genji held up his hand to stop his friend from talking. “That was rhetorical. The point is we’ve known each other long enough not to keep these types of things a secret. Next day off I’m taking you to meet my brother.”
“Genji, your brother works at the Orange Blossom. Poblano’s doesn’t even compare.”
“It’s not about comparison.” Genji protested. Orange Blossom was a high class, fine dining establishment with a six month reservation list. It specialized in Asian inspired fare. The food was highly ornamental and nothing like the warm home cooking Jesse produced. “And don’t discount Poblano’s reputation. Just because the prices are not set for the rich and snooty doesn’t mean it isn’t great food.”
“Boss would love to hear that. Might even put it on the advertisements.” Jesse chuckled, plating the paninis and salad.
“Good. But back to Hanzo. He likes the place just fine. But it doesn’t let him experiment the way he wants. He’s also been researching how to start a place of his own.”
“You’ve been spying on him again, haven’t you.”
“It’s not my fault he leaves his search results open.”
“Why don’t you have separate computers?”
“Hanzo thinks its a waste as he’s never on it. Until recently. So what do you say? Think you could talk about partnering up? As I understand it, it makes everything easier.”
“Well, we can talk I guess. But it doesn’t sound like we’ll be interested in the same type of restaurant.” Jesse placed the lunch in front of Genji. It was all Genji could do to focus on the rest of the conversation as he shoveled the amazing made-from-scratch food into his mouth. Jesse continued with a question that did surprise him. “So, I do gotta ask. Why haven’t I met your brother before?”
Swallowing hard, Genji did not even have to consider the answer. It was all too clear. “Because I always imagined you’d end up calling him a pretentious jerk. And I didn’t really want to deal with the fall out.”
“And you want us to be business partners? You are insane.”
“So…?”
Jesse took his fork and stirred at his salad as he thought. “I’ll meet with him. Just to shut you up.”
“Good. And I think you cook better than him anyway.” Genji grinned. His friend only snorted in amusement.
*
“Where did you meet this guy again?” Hanzo asked as he chopped the daikon radish. It was always fascinating to watch his brother prep for their weekly dinner. Quick as lightning and highly efficient. And when remembering the days of their childhood martial arts classes, Hanzo would no doubt be deadly with those blades should the need arise.
“A friend of a friend.” Genji had his seat on the dining side of the bar. He had long since been banned from the practical end of the kitchen for being inept. He was cool with that. Nor did he have a problem washing the dishes. Hanzo insisted on caring for his knives and pans. Genji took the rest. “Went to a paintball course for Jamie’s birthday. Met there. Let me tell you, Jesse’s got wickedly good aim. Everyone was colored red by the end of the day.”
“I can’t picture you playing paintball.”
“First time. It was a free for all, but Zen and I teamed up as we’ve never played before. I got stuck with white. Zen at least lucked out with yellow.”
“So white is still the newbie color.”
“Yep. Still it was a blast. I could invite you next time they plan it.”
“No. That won’t be necessary.” Hanzo scraped the radish into a bowl and started with another root vegetable that Genji could not identify. That usually happened when his brother cooked. Genji just enjoyed the meal because so far nothing had been horrible. This was the time when Hanzo created unknown menu items. And Genji was the test subject. “And you two just started talking about restaurants.”
“Eventually. And he wants to open his own. Seems farther along than you in that process.”
“And you decided to volunteer me as a potential business partner.”
“I only suggested you meet. Never said you ought to go into business together. But it has to be easier if there was someone else.”
“Since you went through all that effort I’ll at least meet with him. But you’re going to be present.”
“Sure.”
Genji did freeze when Hanzo’s dark eyes narrowed. “You had better not have dated this man.”
“What? No! We’re just friends. Honest.” Genji threw up his hands in surrender. “We had a few drinks but nothing like that. I don’t even know what his type is. I can have friends you know.”
“Fine.” Hanzo left the topic alone in favor of preparing his wok. “At least then we will not have to deal with the drama you and your ex’s bring.”
*
The meeting went about as well as expected for getting two chefs of opposing backgrounds together. Genji sat back and watched. It would be amusing if he hadn’t predicted the animosity. Still, it had to be better starting a business with another person than take on the task alone.
“You’ve never been to culinary school?” Hanzo finally asked in disbelief after Genji finished describing both of their training.
“Why does it matter?” Jesse defended himself. Rightfully so. He was a capable chef. “I’ve had twenty years experience in the kitchen.”
“It matters when it comes to investors. You could have twenty years in a chain with boil-in-bag foods for all they know. They look at credentials. As it stands now, you are no chef.” Hanzo leaned in and pinned Jesse with a hard stare. Genji was no longer certain this was a good idea. “You. Are. A. Line. Cook.”
The insult left their table silent. Jesse scowled but did not waver. “That was low.”
“That is the truth.”
There was a stalemate. For a moment Genji thought Jesse would storm away considering the dark glower in his eyes. Then Jesse took out a quarter and flicked it towards Genji. He caught it reflexively and waited to see which bet he won this time. “You were right. He is a pretentious jerk.” They did not get to savor Hanzo’s outrage as Jesse jumped right into his side of the argument. “Alright Mister Classically Trained Chef. When was the last time you worked the line?” Hanzo stopped cold, trying to find the answer. Genji knew it had been far too long. Jesse kept going. “There is more to the kitchen then supervising. And trust me, you will be doing a whole lot of line work in your own shop.”
Surprisingly Hanzo did not retaliate. He took the criticism as a point to improve and went on. “Very well, Line Cook. Since we’re holding these discussions, let’s start with your vision for a restaurant.”
“As Genji told you, I got a Mexican background. But I want a southwestern flare. Steaks and tacos and such. None of that refried, cheese covered stuff. Good hearty home cooking.” Jesse rolled his eyes when Hanzo sighed at the differences. “Yeah, I know you got specialized in Asian cuisine.”
“Not simply Asian. Japanese. And not that hibachi showmanship either. But what I want is to do Asian inspired creations.” Hanzo gained that resolute look in his eye. The one Genji was used to seeing when his brother had a plan he intended to carry out. That was what made him think these two chefs could share the responsibility of opening a restaurant. They had the same gleam in their eyes when they spoke of it.
Genji chuckled as a new thought came to him. “You know, I’m wanting southwest egg-rolls right now.” His laughter increased at the identical looks of horror from his friend and brother. “Think about it. Mexican influence. Asian influence. Experimental. It’s exactly what you both are!” He had them now.
*
They sat around the coffee table within Jesse’s apartment with papers and scribbles scattered everywhere. “The name can’t be so Chinese sounding. The moment you put Dragon or Blossom in the name, people are going to think Chinese.” Jesse was adamant about that point. He had shot down every suggestion that remotely brought to mind fast food Chinese.
Hanzo of course countered with equally fierce objections to all things screaming Southwest. “Everything you come up with is Mexican. The people will walk out just the same if you call it La Cantina and serve bowls of pad thai.”
“We can’t even agree on a name. What makes you think we’ll ever agree on a menu?” Jesse turned to Genji with his lament.
Genji was busy doodling and barely paying any attention to the conversation. “I still think you should call it Southwest Eggroll.”
“I am not naming any restaurant after that monstrosity.” Jesse immediately rejected the idea yet again.
Hanzo was more circumspect but he too reiterated his distain for the name. “It immediately invokes images of frozen foods or some cheap chain.”
Genji shrugged. His mind focused on the pen and paper forming a new picture. “It’s American.”
“No, that’s steaks and hamburgers,” Jesse clarified with his understanding.
Putting down his doodles, Genji engaged fully with the conversation. “No. Think about it. American food is really just some other nationality’s specialty mutated into something Americans will eat. Think pizza, pastas, hotdogs, nachos, even eggrolls. It’s what we do.”
The chefs actually paused in their conversation. Hanzo frowned deeply but heaved a sigh that told Genji he had won this battle. “I hate it when you have a good point.”
“But we are not naming it Southwest Eggroll. That might be the only thing we agree on.” Jesse stood and stretched his overly tall frame. “I’m making coffee. Want anything?”
“Just water, thanks,” Genji returned to his doodles.
“Green tea.” Hanzo never glanced up from his papers. No doubt menu options.
Jesse came back and held the glass of water over Genji’s shoulder. “What’s that?” Jesse pulled the sketch pad from Genji’s grip once he had his own hand free.
“Hey! I’m not done with that.” Genji tried to reclaim it. The fat happy Buddha with long earlobes wearing a large sombrero sat on the top page. Jesse passed over Hanzo’s tea and started flipped through the pages. Genji groaned as Jesse started to chuckle. “It’s just something I thought of when you started talking names. It’s just two iconic stereotypes of your styles of food.”
Jesse handed Hanzo the sketch pad. Hanzo scoffed. “This is hideous.”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Jesse grinned around his mug. “I kind of like the one with Buddha in a poncho. It’ll get attention.”
“The wrong kind. This is something you’d find in a strip mall.”
“You guys are mean. It’s not that bad.” Genji pulled the sketch pad back. “I’m calling him Señor Buddha.”
Jesse started laughing in full force. Genji frowned. Jesse said when he caught his breath, “That’s the best! It’s a mascot of everything wrong with this mashup.”
Hanzo had a small smirk lingering under his beard. “I wouldn’t necessarily call it wrong, but it is utterly strange. But it is better than the cactus wearing a kimono.”
“Let me see!” Enthusiastically Jesse reached for the sketch pad and nearly spilled his coffee.
“Hey!” Genji lunged away as he tried to save his doodles. “And Cactie-chan is adorable!”