Out of the Frying Pan [Open]

[Coco Moreau]

Cabaret Kitchen; About 10:30

Chop… Chop… Chop…

Coco stood in front of the counter close to the large oven that occupied the Cabaret’s kitchen. In her right hand was a meat cleaver, the blade covered in blood, and on the bloodstained cutting board in front of her were thick strips of red meat. Coco’s bright auburn hair was pulled into a stylish French twist and she was wearing one of her regular black knee-length dresses. As usual the skirt flared out around the upper half of her legs, and the sleeves were cut off. The corset underneath the dress’s bodice was slightly cinched around her waist. Of course the finishing touch was her apron, the white fabric decorated in speckles of bright red.

As the blade chopped the meat into smaller and smaller bits, thick, dark crimson liquid oozed onto the wooden board. As the liquid spilled onto the board, it smoothly covered the tips of Coco’s pale fingertips like red wine on white silk. The demoness hummed as she cut up the meat, occasionally licking the red liquid off of her fingers. Once strips were minced into tiny bits, Coco put her bloody meat cleaver down on the counter and turned her attention to a large stock pot on the stovetop. Inside the pot was a mixture of meat stock, okra, roux, and vegetables. With a long wooden cooking spoon, Coco stirred the thick, brown stew while picking up the cutting board with the meat on it. Raising the board over the stock pot, she added the red meat to the stew, and almost immediately the stench of iron and copper filled the nearby area.

Now Coco didn’t mind the smell, but she was certain someone else might. Quickly, the demon chef rose onto her toes, the heels of her black Mary-Janes lifting up off the ground. Then her humming stopped short as she shifted through the herbs and spices rack above the stove. Like mist, Coco’s fingers ran over the glass bottles as she selected the ones she wanted. Lowering herself, the demoness threw in a pinch of saffron, a dash of nutmeg, a just a bit of bay leaf. After putting back the bottles, Coco stirred in the newly added herbs and spices. Soon after, a new scent permeated the air, giving of the aroma of Mongolian beef.

Now it was time for the taste test. After stirring the gumbo a few more time, Coco dipped her cooking spoon into the thick broth. Gathering a small amount in the ladle, the demoness brought the spoon to her blood red lips and tasted the gumbo. An eruption of flavor burst in Coco’s mouth. As she swallowed, Coco was filed with pride. Who new added a human heart to a meat gumbo would taste so appealing. Now she just needed someone else to taste it. Once someone else told her it was perfect, Coco could add her new dish to her repertoire.

As Coco came down from her cooking high, she was brought back to the reality of the kitchen. It was as nosy as always. Pots clanging and pans banging… the whole bit. Flames burst from a wine soaked dish while a white sauce simmered in a small pot. All sorts of smells and aromas floated in the hot air, all mixing together in harmony. Sometimes there would be too much of a sensory overload, but that’s what fans are for. The Head Chef scanned the kitchen making sure everyone was doing their job. Of course every station was being manned. The other cooks were preparing the regular, everyday delicacies for Coco limited what ingredients they could use in her kitchen. Besides it was good to have a normal entrée on hand, and she did not like to make normal food. It was all good fun.