66話 料理人たち
厨房に入ると、作業中の他の料理人たちの視線が刺さる。
けれど雨妹はそんなことが気にならなくなるくらいに視線を釘付けにされるモノが、台の上に置かれていた。
それは、新鮮ぷりっぷりの魚である。
――さすが港町、お魚が綺麗で美味しそう!
この辺りでは魚を刺身で食べたりするのだろうか?
漬け丼なんて前世で大好物だったので興味を惹かれるものの、そこをぐっとこらえてお仕事だ。
雨妹は魚から頑張って視線を引き離すと、料理長に向き直る。
「料理長、
「ああ、昨夜のお食事は召し上がられているようだし、このまま続けるのか?」
雨妹が話を切り出すと、料理長がそんなことを言う。
実は先だっての宴の際に、雨妹は潘公主の夕食の相談に来ていたのだ。
――あの時も揉めたなぁ。
雨妹は昨日の出来事を思い出す。
料理長も最初は当然、外部からの口出しを嫌った。
「素人が口を挟むんじゃねぇ」という事だろう。
しかし粘って交渉する雨妹の話が間違った内容ではないと認めると、聞く耳を持つようになる。
「潘公主に、栄養があって美味しい粥をお願いします」
「粥か、どうするかな」
最後には雨妹の注文に、料理長が早速粥をどう作るかを思案し始める。
けれどこの時、厨房の敵はまだ他にもいた。
「粥なんてものは、見習いに作らせるものでしょう。
作業中の料理人たちの中から年嵩の男がそう告げると、隅で作業する見習いの料理人を顎で指し示したのだ。
この話はあちらに持っていけと言いたいらしい。
この意見もわからなくもない。
料理人であれば腕が上がるほど、難しい料理を担当するもの。それが黄家の大公候補のお屋敷の料理人ともなれば、宴の料理でこそ真価を発揮するのだろう。
一方で粥のようなものは、見習いの仕事なのだ。
しかし、粥を食べるのは潘公主なのだ。
それを「見習いでいいだろう」と言ってしまうのもどうなのか。
そしてこれに、料理長は頷かなかった。
「公主様のお食事は、俺の仕事だ。
ぴしゃりとそう言われた男は、不満そうな顔をしていたものだ。
そして現在、彼は納得していなさそうな様子でこちらを見ている。
気にならないわけがないが、ここは外野を意識しないことにして、料理長と話をする。
「潘公主は体調を崩される前の食事は夕食のみで、しかも結構重めの料理だったと聞きました。
雨妹の話に、料理長が難しい顔をした。
「朝食ねぇ、今まで出したことがないんだが。
そう告げた雨妹は、朝食で野菜の湯菜と、夕食で胃に優しい食事を用意してもらえるように頼んだ。
「夕食ではできるだけこってりした料理ではなく、蒸し料理などがいいかと思います。
「牡蠣なぁ。あれは癖があるが、なんか考えてみるか」
こうしてとんとん拍子に進む料理長との話だが、気に入らない様子なのが他の料理人たちだ。
「料理長は、なんで素人の言うことを聞いているんだ?」
「都から来た奴はこれだから......」
そんな微妙に聞こえる大きさのヒソヒソ声が聞こえてくる。
ちなみにこの「都から来た」というのは、雨妹と立勇だけではない。
実は料理長も、潘公主の結婚のために都から引き抜かれた人なのだ。
「今まで食べ慣れた味の方がいいだろう」という、利民の心遣いらしい。
ならばそれまでいた料理長はどうしたかというと、副料理長に納まっている。
そして副料理長というのが、粥の件で口出しをしてきたあの年嵩の男だった。
Chapter 66
All the other chefs trained their eyes on them as soon as they entered the kitchen.
However, Yui Mei was not bothered in the least, her eyes glued on the thing on top of the table.
It was a fresh, plump fish.
'As expected of a port city! This fish is gorgeous, and it looks so tasty!'
Do people here eat sashimi?
She really loved tuna tsukedon in her previous world, so she was fascinated with the fish, but she had to prioritize her work now.
Yui Mei did her best to endure and tore her gaze from the fish, and whirled around to face the head chef.
"Head Chef, we would like to talk about Princess Pan's meals from now on."
"Yeah, the dinner's about to be served, should we go on?"
The head chef replied to Yui Mei's words.
In fact, she also consulted him about Princess Pan's evening meal previously during the feast.
'Ahh, yeah, he disagreed with me that time.'
Yui Mei recalled yesterday's incident.
The head chef naturally didn't take suggestions from outsiders well.
'Noobs should stay out of it', he said.
However, Yui Mei persistently tried to talk to him, and when he saw that she was not mistaken, he also started to listen.
"Can you please make a delicious and nutritious porridge for Princess Pan?"
"Porridge, huh. What to do."
Yui Mei finally told him her request, and the head chef promptly thought about what kind of porridge he will make.
However, this time, she had opponents within the kitchen.
"A porridge is something the apprentice chefs could make. Don't waste Head Chef's time just for that."
One of the senior chefs working suddenly butted in, then jutted his chin towards one of the apprentice chefs that were also working.
It's as if telling them that they should talk to that guy, instead.
Well, his view was also understandable.
The more skillful the chefs become, the more difficult the dishes they make. Most especially since this mansion is owned by one of the candidates for becoming the Huang grand duke, so the chefs here displayed their greatness during the feasts.
Something as simple as porridge was of course suited for the apprentices.
However, the one who would eat this porridge was no other than Princess Pan.
So what did he mean by 'an apprentice's fine with that'.
The head chef also disagreed.
"I'm the one in charge with the princess's meals. The preparations for the banquet's almost done, gonna leave the plating to you guys."
The chef was disgruntled after being 'slapped in the face' with that comment.
He then glared towards Yui Mei, his dissatisfaction apparent.
It's not that she wasn't affected, she just decided to let it slide and focus on the discussion with the head chef.
"Princess Pan had been eating only in the evening before she became ill, and they were heavy meals, so I've heard. And so, we would like her to have a lighter dinner, so that she can have an appetite for breakfast."
The head chef's expression was complicated as he listened to Yui Mei's words.
"Breakfast, huh. Never served that before. We're told 'no need' right off the bat."
And so, Yui Mei requested that the princess eat tang cai in the mornings, and light meals in the evening.
"For the evening meals, please avoid rich foods if possible, and replace them with steamed dishes. I also particularly wanted to recommend oysters, can you please make a dish that inland residents can also enjoy?"
"Oyster, huh. That one's a bit special, but will come up with something."
Their discussion went on smoothly and rapidly, while the chefs around them were increasingly agitated.
"Why is the head chef listening to that amatuer?"
"That's because people who came from the city are just like that...."
They can hear the chef's 'whispers'.
By the way, 'people who came from the city' didn't just refer to Yui Mei and Li Yong.
Actually, the Head Chef was also pulled out from the city during the marriage of the princess.
'It would be good if you ate something you are used to', the considerate Li Min had said.
The previous head chef was then demoted into being the deputy chef.
Speaking of the deputy chef, it was the senior guy who disputed their discussion about the porridge.
Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Palace
百花宮のお掃除係～転生した新米宮女、後宮のお悩み解決します。
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/housekeeper-of-the-hundred-blossom-palace/
Fantasy Romance Shoujo Slice of Life
Adapted to Manga Ancient China Complex Family Relationships Different Social Status Female Protagonist Imperial Harem Love Interest Falls in Love First Reincarnated in Another World Royalty
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4104ev/
黒辺あゆみ