Chapter Text
The noises of pots clinging, fast steps and loud voices could be heard from the other side of the wooden door. The heat was brushing Porco's cheeks, but he wasn't sure if it was the kitchen's fire, or the nervousness he was feeling. He was about to enter the Fritz's kitchen, two Michelin stars restaurant, famous not only for this, but for the well balanced dishes served by Chef Zeke Jaeger and his kitchen team. Fritz has never received a negative feed, and it was also known for the extreme quality control in every aspect of the restaurant. He clenched his knife bag and knocked on the door 3 times. Thirteen seconds passed after a tall girl, a very tall girl, opened the door and looked curiously at Porco
- Sorry, we are not buying anything - she said in a tired voice.
- Excuse me, I'm not here to sell anything, I was hoping I could see chef Jaeger? - The young man asked, hoping he could meet the chef and get a place in his kitchen team.
- Let me guess, just graduated culinary arts, your mom loves your food and you want to become executive chef - said the girl in a very condescending tone - Sadly for you Zeke is not here - she added, while she turned and grabbed the door to close it
- I'm here to learn - Porco said quickly. -I want to learn from the best, I'm not here to show off, I know I have to get experience –
Even tho his mom loved his food, it wasn't one of the reasons he wanted a job there. Since he was little, he and his brother Marcel learned the basics about food from his father, and during his teen years they became helpers at a dining room close by their home. Porco was so intrigued about flavors, he loved how you could hate two ingredients on their own, but combining them you could totally love them, the aroma added by spices and the different textures and colors you could bring to a plate, but what he loved the most about cooking was the look in the faces in those who ate their food, how their eyes would open in surprise and mouth draw a smile "It was delicious, thank you Porco" was one of the best things he could get from someone. He knew that he still had so much to learn about cooking and food, so, cheered by his brother, he gather up the courage and stuff to go to chez Fritz. The girl seemed to be amused by Porco's answer and said
- Well, now that you put it that way... come in, Zeke is not here but I'll let you meet his sous chef-
She gestured Porco to follow her throw the hall that took to the kitchen. When they got outside the kitchen area, Porco was amazed. It was an incredible place, the pass was impeccable, conformed by two big aluminum tables and equipped with heat lamps above them. The stoves were accommodated into two separated lines, with tables besides; the pastry area was behind, separated by a glass and a crystal door, he could see a blonde petite girl piping something in trays. The cooks in that kitchen were all working in an amazing way, it seemed like it was some choreographed play and every each of the four persons in there were moving as if every step was staged. Porco tried to guess who the sous chef was when the blonde girl said
- Hey Pieck, got you some newbie, says he want to be a part of the team - everyone in the kitchen gave a glance at him, without stopping what they were doing, chopping, mixing, piping ... Porco felt chills down his spine.
A tall blond young man said with a teasing tone
- Hey Yelena, you know the fresh meat is stored in the back –
Only a young man with wavy hair chuckled at the man’s pun.
- Quiet Braun, or else you'll be tomorrow's entrance - the girl called Yelena said.
A small girl with black hair tied in a ponytail approached the two of them. Porco at first couldn't believe she was the sous, but then remembered he wasn't the one who judged a book by its cover. As she approached he realized she was very cute, she also looked very relaxed, or tired, he couldn't decide.
- So, how familiar are you familiarized with the five mothers? - She asked. Her voice was very calming, but Porco just blinked and in a try to answer, he just stutter
- T-the five who?-
Yelena laughed and start walking back - Bet he won't last the night -
Porco felt confused and turned his gaze towards the girl.
- The five mother sauces? Have you heard of them? - He surely knew how to make a lot of different sauces, and suddenly a bell rang inside his brain
- The classics? Tomato, hollandaise, velouté, béchamel and spanish? - He asked feeling a little bit more confident. - Yes, so, think you can make tomato and béchamel for today's dishes? - She asked.
She didn't seemed to be mean or trying to mock him, she was being very polite and Porco was getting a little unsettled about that. He was expecting to get a kind of mocking test, the classical joke made to newbies, so he couldn't let his guard down.
- Yes ma'am, how much should I make? –
- 2lt of each, please, and call me Pieck. I see you brought your knifes so, wash your hands, put your apron on and you can use the table next to the big stove, the walk in is behind you and the stock room next to the chef's office.- she said and pointed as she returned to the table she was before.
- Get to work - she said. The tone of her voice wasn't loud, but the way she said that froze his blood. He took his black apron, left his knifes in the table and went into the fridge to look for ingredients.
When he opened the door, he got marveled by the quantity and quality of fruits and vegetables in it, everything was perfectly arranged, left side was for legumes, and center was for prepared foods and packed ingredients and right side, with a protective glass door, the amazing sight of desserts. All of the items inside were perfectly labeled and organized, it was a beautiful thing. He grabbed a small basket and put inside some onion, tomatoes, milk, parmesan cheese, and some spices. When he went out to the storage room, he was also marveled by the organization of it. All of the spices were arranged in small jars with labels, and the name of the item was written in such a delicate cursive handwriting. He took what he needed and went to the table. Porco located the washing area and disinfected the veggies. In the mid time he gave a glance to the kitchen and its staff. The blond tall guy who Yelena referred as Braun was preparing some meats, he had a cocky and confident look, which Porco absolutely disliked within 2 seconds. The young man in the table next to him had wavy blonde hair and green eyes, and he was cleaning some shrimps and lobsters, he looked very focused but what caught Porco's attention about this one was that his organization was impeccable. To be honest, the whole place was amazing, but this guy looked even more organized. The girl in the pastry area had a very scary look on her face, she seemed as a very tough cook, not to mess with. His gaze turned over the sous chef, she was chopping some vegetables, so fast he feared for a second about her fingers. But she was so confident, and the way she was doing the task she looked so graceful. Every vegetable has the same size and form and her working table was impeccable. She turned her face, as if she had felt Porco's eyes on her and he quickly turned to his table expecting she hadn't seen him staring.
He got a little intimidated by this new kitchen, the size, and the other cooks. They all seemed incredibly skilled. But he had skill too, and a very refined nose and palette, so he took a breath and started chopping his ingredients in the green cutting board he took from the bottom part of the table. When he had his mise en place ready, he looked around the kitchen searching for pans or pots.
-Behind- he heard a many voice and saw that Braun guy walking fastly behind him towards a room across the hallway.
-Hey, where can I find a 9? – Porco asked him from his table. –Follow me rookie- Braun guided him to a small room in the hall.
-You can find pots, pans, lids, trays, anything you need here. Welcome aboard, if you last the shift, you can call me Reiner, meats and birds- he said as he crossed his arms.
-Thanks, I’m Galliard.-
-Have you ever worked in the line?-
-A couple of years, I used to work at the Grice Dining room, but it was mostly fast food oriented-
-Well, good luck then, I’m not sure if Pieck is going to let you stay after lunch, maybe you’ll become the bubble dancer- he said, walking back to his station, while laughing.
Found the a-hole already, and it’s been only 20 minutes. Porco tough while taking his equipment and got back to his table. He took his lighter and turned on the stove, heat his pans and started with the onions.
While sautéing his first ingredients for his sauces he tried glancing through the glass that gave a view of the dining room. There was a big wooden bar, and the back was full of polished bottles, perfectly arranged by type. There were some people too in the floor, he saw Yelena, the girl who let him in, surrounded by other 3 persons, she seemed to be in charge of the floor, she had a piece of paper and was talking while the others listened carefully to her. Around them, the tables and chairs were placed in a symmetric pattern, and every table looked perfectly placed, with cutlery, dishes, napkins and a candle.
The tomato sauce was ready, in a pot with lid, and he was stirring the béchamel while waiting for it to thicken, when he sensed a presence behind him. He turned his gaze and got scared by Pieck’s presence beside him
– Did I scared you? - she asked.
– Yeah, I didn’t heard you –
- Sorry, may I taste them? – the girl asked pointing at the pots with her eyes.
Porco took a spoon from his apron and opened the tomato sauce, grabbed a little with the spoon and passed it to Pieck, who took it and smelled it first, then proceeded to taste it.
– Nice thinking, covering the acidity of the tomato with sugar- she said. – You could tell? It was a trick my old boss taught me-
-Let me see the other one. Hmm, nice texture- the sous chef praised- but, don’t add more nutmeg, try with mace instead- she tapped his shoulder in an approving way and moved to the next station.
-How are my fruits de mer doing Nicolo?-
Porco followed Pieck with his eyes. She went station by station asking the cooks about their tasks, giving some tips or approving their mise en place. He could see that she was very respected by his team mates, and she was a very good lead. When she finished her rounds she stepped in the kitchen door and called.
-Okay guys, let’s go to the table, it’s time to check if newbie here has what it takes. Come on red, bring your sauces with you.-