5th Zi'da, 716
"It must be some kind of a holiday that no one knows about!", Guiseppe, the owner of the restaurant said cheerily. Faith looked up at him and wondered how it was that he managed to be so chipper. It had been an incredibly busy evening, so far, with every table booked and apparently, lots of couples deciding to go out for a romantic, candlelit meal. Faith had worked without stopping, producing excellent food cooked fresh to order. Considering that she was a young woman who, until very recently had been a slave, she ran a tight ship in terms of her kitchen. It had become her kitchen quickly and she had spent the last season working to get it in order. Things now were suitably organised and Faith was pleased with the standard of the food that came out of there. Nothing left her kitchen without her tasting it, checking it or examining the plate.
"Replate it, clean the plate first, no fingerprints", was a commonly heard directive, as was "It's not good enough. Do it again, season it more. Call if you need help." She didn't shout, she was never unkind but she was unyeilding. Nothing left unless it was good enough. It was not easy, at first, as the staff were used to doing things one way, but there was no doubting that the young woman worked twice as hard as anyone else and so, slowly but surely, they had come around. As for Faith, she had learnt that running a kitchen was about running the people in it and upholding quality. As long as those two things were done, the business would be successful, she was sure.
But still, she looked at Guiseppe and raised an eyebrow. There was some reason that he'd come back here, no doubt and indeed, he smiled and held his hand out to her "One of our guests has asked to compliment the chef. He has requested that you join him for dessert and I have agreed." Faith looked as though she was about to argue, because she was, and Guiseppe raised his hands and made a little meeping noise, at which Faith fell silent "He has paid for your dessert, he is a noble lord and he has asked for you specifically. Table seven. Go now. But first make yourself presentable!"
Faith looked down at her apron and sighed, took it off and handed it to Guiseppe "We just have a few more orders waiting. Vinta has been running the pass. Excuse me" She made her way out, ran a brush through her hair and adjusted the black dress that she wore. The cold of the season or not, it was too hot in the kitchen for anything else, so her sleeveless dress meant that her brands were visible. She glanced at herself depreciatingly in the mirror and let out a slight snort, but then moved out to the packed restaurant. Table seven, there was, as Guiseppe had said, one lone diner seated amongst a lot of couples who were enjoying a romantic candlelit meal. Faith approached and, instinctively, dropped a curtsy "Good evening, sir, you have asked to... Lord Warrick?" Even the usually unflappable young woman was surprised and she looked it. "Um. I am the chef. It is a surprise to see you, Lord Warrick" She spoke in her usual quiet tones and then waited to see what he wanted to do. He would not wish to sit and eat desert with her, she was sure.
"Replate it, clean the plate first, no fingerprints", was a commonly heard directive, as was "It's not good enough. Do it again, season it more. Call if you need help." She didn't shout, she was never unkind but she was unyeilding. Nothing left unless it was good enough. It was not easy, at first, as the staff were used to doing things one way, but there was no doubting that the young woman worked twice as hard as anyone else and so, slowly but surely, they had come around. As for Faith, she had learnt that running a kitchen was about running the people in it and upholding quality. As long as those two things were done, the business would be successful, she was sure.
But still, she looked at Guiseppe and raised an eyebrow. There was some reason that he'd come back here, no doubt and indeed, he smiled and held his hand out to her "One of our guests has asked to compliment the chef. He has requested that you join him for dessert and I have agreed." Faith looked as though she was about to argue, because she was, and Guiseppe raised his hands and made a little meeping noise, at which Faith fell silent "He has paid for your dessert, he is a noble lord and he has asked for you specifically. Table seven. Go now. But first make yourself presentable!"
Faith looked down at her apron and sighed, took it off and handed it to Guiseppe "We just have a few more orders waiting. Vinta has been running the pass. Excuse me" She made her way out, ran a brush through her hair and adjusted the black dress that she wore. The cold of the season or not, it was too hot in the kitchen for anything else, so her sleeveless dress meant that her brands were visible. She glanced at herself depreciatingly in the mirror and let out a slight snort, but then moved out to the packed restaurant. Table seven, there was, as Guiseppe had said, one lone diner seated amongst a lot of couples who were enjoying a romantic candlelit meal. Faith approached and, instinctively, dropped a curtsy "Good evening, sir, you have asked to... Lord Warrick?" Even the usually unflappable young woman was surprised and she looked it. "Um. I am the chef. It is a surprise to see you, Lord Warrick" She spoke in her usual quiet tones and then waited to see what he wanted to do. He would not wish to sit and eat desert with her, she was sure.
