It's Not Quite Top Chef...

Posted on 28 Dec 2021 @ 3:27pm by Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Nesh Saalm
Edited on on 29 Dec 2021 @ 5:49pm

2,139 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Episode 18 - Cold Station 31
Location: USS Galileo-A - Deck 3, Galley
Timeline: MD 01, 2030 hrs

[ON]

"Okay...so take the protein off the boil..." Nesh Saalm muttered to herself, pulling the large pan to the side before picking up the replicated protein. She placed it to the side and wiped it down before pouring the liquid from the pan and then washing the pan, before putting cold water in. She groaned at the weight of it, carrying it back to put on the boil. She then added the protein, the vegetables (carrots, onion, Andorian parsley root), already chopped and cleaned, into the pot. And then there was parsley and dill which she also added before taking the salt and pepper and adding it to it.

"Okay..." she looked around, at where the matzo balls were cooling, nodding at herself. "Not too bad...just...let that cook for..." she stopped as she looked at the recipe, her eyes widening. "No! Two hours?! Who cooks for two hours?!" she shouted into the empty room, her voice echoing.

Allyndra was in the captain's ready room. It was her privilege of being senior most officer on the Galileo. There was just a little to do, mostly overlooking the repair logs and making summaries for Lirha when she boarded and assumed command yet again.

An alert came on. She had seen others as repair crews had done things, but this was late and in the galley. It indicated that thermal specifications were above limits. That puzzled her, as there was nothing going on there and in reality very little did anyone use the galley especially not at this time in the evening ship's time. She put aside her reports and decided to go take a look. There was no fire alarm but perhaps someone in the repair crew had left something on. It reminded her that she herself had not done much cooking lately. She had loved to cook for the Bolian. He had been a good critic.

As she took the turbolift to the deck the galley was located on she was already thinking of what she might put her hand to. Perhaps, Blanquette de Veau, oh and she just had to make some Tarte Tatin. She could at least enjoy a bit of the sauce. Her mind was running through things but came to an abrupt halt as she stepped off of the lift. She sniffed and made a face, it smelled like someone was trying to cook something. The galley was supposed to be shut down. She picked up her stride and entered the galley noting the various items seemed to be in use.

"Whoever is here, this area is technically shut down." she called out.

"Yeah, well, tough!" Nesh shouted back, biting her lip as she scrolled through recipes. "If Lirha expects me to be working here, I'm gonna have to know my way around the galley now, don't I?"

Allyndra was surprised at the response. "This is Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim currently in command of this vessel! Identify yourself at once before I summon security and have you arrested!"

"Nesh Saalm, new galley servant!" Nesh called out before she shook her head, muttering to herself as she looked through the cake recipes. "Tray bakes...sounds good...as does being arrested. Love the brig, hey maybe they have a prison ship with a nicer Captain."

Allyndra realized who was in here but she was curious as to galley servant comment. She moved in further in until she spotted the young Orion. "So when did you become a galley person? And just what is that smell?" She sniffed at the air. It was not bad, but did not tickle the senses into wanting more either.

"Since I got told to pull my weight. Because art classes and art therapy for the Trial survivors wasn't doing that," Nesh said as she looked at her, giving a weak smile. "And it was between this and science so...here I am. Galley duty! I am making what they used to call 'liquid penicillin' on Earth! It's a chicken soup with these dumplings. I am using the chicken protein from the replicator because eating reach flesh is just...nope...also, soooo difficult to get grey market connections out here." She sighed and motioned to the pot. "It needs two hours. But I dumped the first boil liquid like it said which apparently gives me a clear broth at the end. Been doing a lot of reading the last..." she glanced at the time. "Couple of hours."

"I understand." Allyndra thought a moment. She was here, there was not much else to do and since she had been on the turbo lift and thinking she decided to put her hand again to cooking.

"Alright, do you mind some company, and be a taster for me?" Allyndra asked and then added, "I have been cooking on and off but cannot have most anything of what I cook."

Nesh looked at her with surprise before she narrowed her eyes, clearly thinking. And then she smiled and nodded. "Don't mind it at all," she said lightly. "I mean, I am here anyway and...well, we don't talk much to each other. But that might be because I am all in all healthy. Can I just ask...why do you cook things you can't eat?"

"On my home world, we just do not. When I went off and during my career I was exposed to a whole range of sights, smells and textures of various foods that I never dreamed of. I knew physiologically I could never enjoy them but still wanted to partake at least a little. Thus cooking seemed like a challenge. I can only taste the little amount but to see others enjoy what you make is a sort of pride that I did that. Anyway, let me get started if that is alright with the chief galley chief."

"Oh, I doubt they'd notice..." Nesh said, smiling as she gave a small shrug. "I am just surprised. Didn't really see you as a cook. Have you ever tried adapting recipes so you can eat them too?" she asked, curious about what motivated Allyndra.

Allyndra chuckled in that musical way of hers. "They would almost all have to be liquid or very soft. Not easy to do with say a beef dish. Now then," she went to a replicator. "The following please, 3/4 cups flour, 1/4 cup cake flour, 2 tablespoons sugar, 6 tablespoons chilled butter, diced, 2 tablespoons chilled vegetable shortening, 1/4 cup ice water, 6 Golden Delicious apples, cored, peeled and halved, 1 lemon, zested and juiced, 1 1/2 cups sugar, 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, whipped cream and vanilla ice cream."

It took the computer and synthesizer only a few moments to produce the requested items. Allyndra put the items that need to be chilled on a chiller and then she got to work. She looked over at Nesh. "I will be busy for a little bit, but you are free to watch, or attend to your own dish."

She had the machinery in a bowl with the flour, sugar and butter mix then the shortening while immediately adding the ice water and mixing again. If the mixture is too dry, pulse in more water by droplets. Until she had the dough. That went onto a surface and she pressed the dough into egg-sized blobs. Next she halved the apples into 4 lengthwise wedges each, and tossed in a large bowl with the lemon juice and zest and a 1/2 cup of sugar. She then drained the apples after macerating 20 minutes. Next came melting the butter in a skillet. She then stirred in the remaining sugar and cooked until the syrup began to bubble and caramelize, with a light brown color. Next came the apple slices arranged in the skillet. The mixture was allowed to cook another almost half an hour but periodically she would press down the apples and baste them.

On a lightly floured surface, she rolled the chilled dough into a circle, 3/16-inch thick and 1-inch larger than the top of the pan. Carefully she draped the dough over the apples, pressing the edge of the dough between the apples and the inside of the pan. The thing was allowed to bae for another twenty minutes until it was light brown. She then unmolded the tart onto a serving dish then added the chilled vanilla and whip cream on top. She stood back and nodded. It smelled correct, and a light taste of the sauce made it seem right.

"There we go, Tatre Tatin. If you would be so good as to try it please?" Allyndra waved at the tart.

Nesh looked at it with curiosity, taking a knife and fork. She cut herself a little piece, trying it, clearly thinking about it. "I like the tartness of the apple against the caramel," she said and gave a nod. "You're good at this. Maybe you should get out of Medical and come here instead. We can swap...although I think I'd be doing more napping on a biobed than...you know...waving a dermal regenerator around."

"I think I will stay where I am. However, it is nice to sometimes to see if I still can do this. I always worry I sweeten things too much." She nodded while she said that. "So you are going to be the new galley chef? I think you are going get more complaints but also more compliments that I will in medical. No one seems to like the doc, and they disappear as soon as they can. Frustrating at times."

"Well, no one likes sickbay except those that work there," Nesh said and gave a firm shake of her head, trying a bit more of Allyndra's dessert. "Can't blame them, sickbay means either they need a check up or they're not feeling good. Or bleeding. No one goes there to have a good time! Sort of like the brig...no one goes there to have a good time either. The galley..." she paused, to look around, a frown wrinkling her usually smooth green forehead. "I don't know. I had a choice and out of Anchilles fever and Anaprolean fever of assignments and chose the lesser of two evils."

"I know. However, one has to just take personal pride that the person you pass in the hallway, or is having a good time in the lounge or dare I say it? Enjoying something from our new galley chef can do so because you managed to make a difference. Well, carry on then. I unfortunately still have a lot of other things to do, but with permission I would not mind periodically being Sous chef if that is alright with our new Chef de Cuisine?"

For a moment, Nesh just watched the Akkadian. She was the Chief Medical Officer and the Second Officer of the ship. With one word, she could just take over and order Nesh around. A wave of a hand and she could make her life a living hell. She looked down, thinking. No. That was anger speaking. She didn't know the woman well, but from what she had seen she knew she wouldn't do that to her. Not even Lirha would, even if anger made them both say things they didn't fully mean. And logical Nesh knew that. Emotional Nesh was however in control so she'd stew a little longer. Realising that Allyndra had actually asked a question Nesh looked at her again and smiled. "Sure, or you could do a special dish of the week? Special Appearance and that stuff?"

Allyndra made a tilt of the head. "That might be interesting. Certainly would allow me to keep my hand up. Good thinking. Think I will make a note of that in the file." She looked around and sighed slightly. "Well, unfortunately this has been a nice diversion but duty sounds the call once again. Carry on Chef Nesh."

Nesh looked at her with surprise before she nodded. "Thank you, Commander!" she said and took a breath. "And I'll try and think of cooking something you can eat and enjoy."

"I look forward to it, Chef Nesh." Allyndra made a little curtsy. She straightened. "Well other duties call, but this was interesting, thank you for pulling me away for a bit into something interesting. I will make note that you are authorized personnel here so security leaves you alone."

"Thanks, unless they want to taste the food. Then they can come," Aria said and waved at her. "Have fun! Or as fun as you can have here..."

"Carry on, just do not burn the place down. It screws up the reporting something bad." Allyndra waved a hand as she departed.

[OFF]

--

Cmdr Allyndra illm Warraquim
Second Officer and Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo-A

Nesh Saalm
Newly appointed Sous Chef
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Rice]

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