Chapter 30

On cold days, it's nice to have something warming, isn't it?

If it were summer, maybe I would have made a different dish...

I hope this makes you feel cozy.

"......What are you doing?"

The head chef asked, looking puzzled.

Lina had just finished transferring the soup from the bones and vegetables she had used into another pot.

"Hmm? Well, I thought I might turn half of it into a cream stew."

It could be curry too, but unfortunately, there aren't enough spices for that.

If I had tomatoes, I could make a tomato stew.

But cream stew goes well with bread, I think.

"Cream stew...?"

The head chef, along with everyone else, looked completely baffled.

"Think of it like a milk soup, kind of..."

I don't really think they're the same, but it's the closest thing I can think of.

They both use milk, so they're not entirely dissimilar.

"Whaaat!?"

Suddenly, Monica's booing could be heard.

I glanced at her and saw her pouting.

"I don't like milk soup..."

...I don't care!

I'm not making it for Monica...

...But she looks like she's ready to eat it!!

Ignoring Monica's booing, Lina started cutting peeled potatoes, carrots, and onions and adding them to both pots.

She decided to add salt at the end, and with that, one pot was now a pot-au-feu.

Ideally, she would add chicken or sausages, but everyone seems so eager to eat... so she'll skip the luxury ingredients.

"What is that?"

Ignoring the head chef and others who looked like they wanted to ask, Lina started making a white sauce in a smaller pot.

She felt a bit guilty for not explaining, but if she started, there would be no end to it. The head chef, Rick, looked so serious it was almost scary. He was trying not to get in the way while memorizing every step.

She had been worried about what to do if there was only all-purpose flour, but she saw that there was bread flour, so at least she could make bread.

She had gone to all the trouble of getting "sourdough" starter, and if there was only all-purpose flour, she wouldn't know how the bread would turn out. She could probably make it, but she had never tried it before... It's a relief that she can make it without any issues.

"...You're really going to put in... milk..."

As Lina started adding milk to the flour she had sautéed in butter, Monica's voice sounded almost tearful.

Is it that bad? Do you hate milk that much?

"Hey, Monica, you don't have to force yourself to eat this soup, you know?"

Lina said with a sigh.

Why does she even want to eat both?

With this amount for nearly 20 people, it's clear that everyone will only get one of the soups, Lina thought.

"......"

No response at all!!!

...