Incite the cook's motivation is one thing that I want to do in the kitchen today. I still have other things to do here.
"Since you know what is lack form you, let's make testing for that. I will give you a recipe for a new dish. Watch carefully and after I'm finished demonstrating how to make this dish, try to develop your imagination and your creativity on this dish"
One of the cooks raise his hand
"Young master, can I ask the question?"
"Sure, what do you want to ask?"
"That new dish…is that also frikadel?"
"Oh right, I forget to tell you. It is not frikadel, it's called croquette. It's like a brother or sister for frikadel"
The kitchen crews and cooks laugh hearing this joke, well it's good to break the ice.
"Alright, I show you another recipe. Get me the ingredient that I need to make it"
I mention the ingredient I need to make the tortilla, since the equipment in the castle more complete than in the camp, make tortilla is easier in here than in camp. I also ask ingredient to make the salsa sauce too. After I finish making the dough and baked it, it's time to test the cooks
"Gentlemen, it's done now. But this only the base for the dish, what should you do next if you make this dish?"
They thinking for a while before one of them raise his hand and answer it
"Make the topping, young master?"
"That's correct, now what is that topping should be made from?"
The cooks then become hype with this question. One by one start telling their opinion
"Meat! Only meat that gives a strong taste"
"Stupid…there's a lot kind of meat, which meat?"
"Beef meat is the most suitable"
"No! Chicken is more suitable"
"What if there are people who dislike meat? Vegetables are the best, everyone can eat vegetables"
"Fish! There's nothing more challenging than making fish combine with the new dish"
See they will continue debating without making any progress, I clapped my hand to get their attention
"Gentlemen!... May I have your attention? quiet please…let me speak"
They stop debating and quiet to listen to what I'm going to say
"All you say about the topping is right. It can be meat, fish or vegetables, or maybe a combination between meat and vegetables, fish with vegetables…who knows? There're unlimited possibilities for this dish. Like I said before, your imagination and creativity will important thing to make a new dish. But, you also should honest with yourself. If you make something then try to taste it and the result is not satisfied you, don't pretend it was good. That just first step, next is asking people opinion. Something that you think good is not good for other people. If other people say it's not good, don't get discouraged, ask which part is not good. Maybe not salty enough, or the meat not soft enough, or the vegetables not fresh enough. The important thing is never to give up and always improve yourself to become better and better"
Loud clapping sound resounded in the castle kitchen. All the people there give applause for what I've just said.
"Young master Henry's speech is so eloquent and deep. I feel I get enlighten for my life"
'I thought cook profession is not promising, I was wrong"
"I will never forget this day!"
Wow, it seems I can be succeeding as a motivator too. But the important thing is they willing to become a better person.
"Alright, I will show you how I make a topping for this dish"
I ask ingredient to make salsa sauce and other ingredients to make the filling.
I use minimum ingredients to make the filling, it's only some beef meat, lettuces, and tomatoes. It would be good if I had cheese in my hands, but for an example, these ingredients are sufficient. I will give them chance to develop the filling with their creativity and imagination.
"Alright gentlemen, the base food that I just made is called tortilla. And when the filling added to this tortilla, the name changed into tacos. once again, there's various modification can be made on this dish. The limit is your imagination"
I start to stir the beef meat after sliced it thinly in the frying pan until the meat turns into brownies meat. Then mixed with sliced tomatoes and lettuce leaves put in the tortilla and pour the salsa sauce over it.
"Gentlemen…this is tacos"
I introduce the dish while biting the one I just made.
"Young master, is that how to eat it? Directly using the hand? No use fork or spoon?"
One of the cook asking me after see how I'm eating the tacos
"Human is born without spoon or fork in their hands. Spoon, fork or knives are created to help humanity in their eating manner. If with our hands is enough to eat why use any help anymore? Of course, you must have a clean hand before eating the tacos"
Everyone laughs with my explanation, and I continue my words
"This tacos, also with frikadel…you can be made it and sell it outside the castle after your Excellency Earl Stamfort return. I want to make this dish is known and eaten not only by people who live in this castle but also all the people in Harvard territory"
Loud applause comes from the cook's hands in the kitchen.
"Long live young master Henry! Long live"
After the applause recedes, I continue my words again
"Gentlemen, in the future I want people in Harvard territory can eat to their fullest dishes that now only can be eaten by nobles only. But to make delicious food, I know you will need salt, worry not about this salt. We already have thought to include salt as part of your work payment. You don't have to worry about the salt anymore although the price in outside start to rise recently. But we demand you to do your best in your work. Can you do that?"
"Yes!! We can do that young master Henry!"
"Good. Today's lunch…do your creativity for tacos recipe that I already teach you"
"Leave that to us, young master. We will present you with delicious tacos lunch today"
Well, it's nice to see those cooks get so motivated like that. With this kind of spirit, my job to make a great banquet for Earl Stamfort will be easier