My Lady Chef novel Chapter 67

Pierce's POV:

The day of the "soft" opening was unusually well received by the senior port master and the tenured dockworkers and their families.

I had my doubts that Lady Alaina's protege could handle more than 30 people all at once but oddly he was able to pull off tonight's service.

Everyone was "over the moon" over the food and are enjoying their set meals and their wives and kids are also loving the various dishes they ordered.

The Duchess had taken off her chef's jacket and re-dressed in a simple, free-flowing dress and was casually interacting with the people who were full of questions on the set meals she conceived.

I was impressed at how she comfortably interacts with people who were a class beneath her. She did say that she values competence over pedigree once but to see her talking to a dockmaster's wife as if she were an equal made me inordinately proud to serve her.

She was a breath of fresh air and the people seem to be in love with her.

"Milady, How did you make the sauce for this dish. I love it!" A dock worker's wife gushed over it.

"It is a cafe secret but I will tell you that the sauce is always made from scratch every single day," she answered with a smile.

"This baked chicken is simply delicious milady! I can not get enough of it!" one burly worker said as he ordered more.

The kids were all over her and were over the moon with her sweets. I can see that unlike other ladies who seem at lost at how to handle children; she was all smiles as she even gave the kids an extra dessert plate.

"Mr. Pierce. A moment please." one of the senior dock workers whispered to me as he stole a look at the duchess before he lowered his voice as we walked outside the cafe. "I had expected stew and bread...maybe even a beefsteak with boiled greens but the food that my family tasted in Her Grace's new cafe is nothing short of a shock. I have sampled food at a merchant's party and they were nowhere near as good as that! The workers were all saying that if their food were as good as this every day. They would work harder."

The one asking me this was Master Yarrow, a veteran dockmaster who has known the duke since he was a strapping young lad and he was still with us till now.

"Is that not good news?" I smiled at Yarrow who was wearing a bear-like smirk.

"It is. This place will be swamped with workers every day and I saw the price. Does each set meal cost 5-7 copper drachmas? That is more than fair considering the usual stew and bread costs 4 copper drachmas."

" It is only fair since all meals come with a dessert and a drink," I told him.

"This seems too good to be true. Such good food...for that little price. Is the duchess paying for the extra ingredients from her own money?" Yarrow cannot seem to believe that this type of food was only made of everyday spices and seasonings.

"All the ingredients and seasonings have been taken into account. The duchess and I did the costing , found wholesale sellers and the final calculation of the meal price based on the suppliers we went with. 5-7 drachmas each meal is more than enough to cover the price. Cafe Terra will run smoothly...as long she has customers, of course."

The senior dock master looks really impressed.

"Well, this cafe will have more than just customers...I and the others will spread the word. My wife has been eyeing one of those roll cakes that was on the window display. Is that expensive?"

"It costs 1 silver drachma but you can buy half a cake and it will cost you 5 copper drachmas."