Chap.51 Chef's paradise

After speaking with the noble from the Land of Rice, they were ushered into a room for them to take a rest before starting their mission.

-It's a trap! Anko stated.

Tony rolled his eyes. Of course it was a trap! For a noble to try to boast of the taste of such bad tea shows that his sense of taste is non-existent.

Besides, he now understood why the mission explained his objective in such a vague way.

Tsunade understood that it should be a banquet for about fifty people, which is usually the norm when only allies and their families are invited. It was some work, but nothing strenuous.

But he did want plates for five times that amount! And not counting the desserts!

Even a ninja would end up on the floor after carefully preparing so many dishes with all his energy. Whoever was behind this, he wanted to knock Tony out before he acted.

"What's the plan then?" Tony asked.

—Tsunade-sama suggested that this time you will take the leadership of the mission —Anko replied with a smile— You are the one who knows how to cook and it will be good for you to gain a little experience in that area. So what do you want us to do?

Tony was momentarily silent, not expecting to be given carte blanche for the mission. He took a minute to think.

"In that case, Anko-sensei and Tayuya will check the surroundings," Tony said, "Since it's a trap, the enemy can't be too far away if he wants to act at the right time." Take a look at the people nearby and look for anything suspicious. In the meantime, I'll go prepare the food with Karin's help.

Anko nodded as she walked out without comment and Tayuya just grunted in affirmation before following her.

"Let's go to the kitchen," Tony said as Karin followed like a waddle.

The mansion's kitchen was quite large, about four times the room where they were staying. There were several cooks and apprentices running around piling up all the ingredients they had while they waited for the renowned cook that his lord had called.

"What are you doing here kids?" —a man in a chef's uniform and a goatee approached them— We're very busy, get out of here!

Tony just sighed inwardly. They were using the village gangs in full view and there were still people who weren't able to recognize them as ninjas.

Did they forget the glasses on the nightstand?

"We are here at the request of your lord, I will take care of the banquet for tonight," he spoke loud enough for everyone to hear.

As expected, people stopped and turned their heads to look at him and Karin.

-Who are you? asked one of the cooks who was holding a basket of apples.

"I'm not going to repeat myself," Tony replied. She had too much to do to spend the next hour convincing any skeptics—Karin, check how many cooking stations there are, if there are enough crockery for all the dishes, and find out how many trainees can do basic tasks. Cut, peel, plate and the rest.

-Yes! Karin obeyed.

—I want all the cooks to meet here in five minutes and explain what dishes they have cooked during the last banquets so that I can design the new menu. You also explain your specialties to me," Tony ordered.

Tony's aura made those present unconsciously straighten their backs and start moving at the clear directions out of sheer habit.

—Need a list of available ingredients and their amounts? someone asked.

"No need, I can provide anything we need," Tony answered quickly.

Eight head cooks, thirty able-bodied apprentices, and five dishwashers were Tony's soldiers at his command on this battlefield between pans and knives.

He spent twenty minutes listening or asking questions before starting issuing orders on different fronts while he created all the necessary ingredients before the astonished eyes of the others.

"Team one, prepare the black rice croquettes and the other five types of appetizers!"

—Team two, wash the vegetables and prepare the three types of salad! Leave the sauces aside so that the guests can help themselves! I'll do a taste test later!

"Team three, hit the meat like it's your wife's hidden lover!" I want a tender meat that melts in the mouth! And for your sake I don't want to leave a single bone behind!

"Team four, clean up the shellfish!" I want the calamari cut, the oysters like a mirror, the lobsters shiny and the tuna like a jewel!

"Team five, the rice and pasta dishes must be al dente!" I don't want old rice or hard pasta!

"Team six, I want a balanced soup!" Don't be afraid to add more if necessary, but don't make it watery! And be careful with the amount of salt!

"Tony, there aren't enough plates!" Karen told him.

—Send the dishwashers to notify the gentleman or his staff and take care of bringing what is missing. After that, I want you to go around the kitchen and check that no one is slacking off —Tony raised his voice a little more— My partner will taste the dishes for her quality control! Nothing will leave the kitchen without her approval.

-Yes Boss!

"Team seven and eight, wait a minute!"

Tony bit his thumb and hit the ground.

"Summoning Technique!"

After the smoke cleared, ten different types of Alcremie were looking around.

"This is my summoned beast, Alcremie," he pointed out. "You'll each take five of them and we'll all start working on the desserts." It doesn't matter if it's cake, biscuit or cream, my beast will help you, he has a very delicate palate with desserts, so you will have to adjust the recipe to get his approval before making the dessert en masse. Any questions?

Seeing that no one said anything, he was satisfied.

-Perfect! Let's go! Let's go! Let's go!

Everyone in the kitchen was suddenly excited and moving fast like never before.

Unknown dishes and flavors, endless ingredients of impossible quality, innovative and fantastic techniques, clear orders and priorities...

This humble place became a cook's paradise!

There will come a day when apprentice cooks will finish their training and burst into the world, wowing everyone with their new approaches to gastronomy and bold creations.

Gourmet critics declare it an unprecedented breakthrough in the industry!

A leap of two hundred years!

And when asked how they came to be like this, they will all answer the same thing:

—It all started when a stranger came to our kitchen to prepare a feast. I never expected it to actually be him...

But that is a story for another day.