Cooking always cooking

Posted on Tue Sep 24th, 2019 @ 3:10am by Civilian Jessica Haugen & Civilian James Sulu
Edited on on Tue Sep 24th, 2019 @ 3:10am

1,029 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: The science of stars
Location: The Lounge
Timeline: 7th - 8th March 2395

ON:

James woke early. It was time to start planning. Well, continue planning the party. They had been a few days between the end of this mission, and scuttlebutt had it that they would be going to do some scientific experimentation and exploration.

Showering, James shaved with his favourite Damascus straight razor before he dressed. Once he had finished that, he picked out the Damascus blades he would take to work. Today, the twist pattern spoke to him most. He sharpened them and put them in his case, then left for work.

Jessica was already in the lounge's kitchen. She'd had a request for a specific meal from a couple of crewmembers for dinner after their and was preparing a few things in advance.

James arrived to find Jessica had already arrived. That was never unusual, she loved the lounge as much as he loved the knives. “Good morning, Jessica. I see we have a bit of a party on for this evening?”

"Morning James," Jessica said, not turning away from her food preparation. "They told me they wanted it a little low key, more of a wake than a party."

“That makes sense I suppose, considering we lost some good people during the last mission. So, more canapés and light snacks than heavier meals. I’ll get started on the fishy ones. I know you don’t like the slimy way the Japanese do their fish, but some of the crew love it,” James said with a smile.

"Some might want something a little heavier," Jessica replied. "Might have to make some sandwiches and savouries."

“Do we have a list of favourites of Lieutenants Sika and Polaris? Maybe we can smatter some of those throughout the meal,” James said, feeling like it would be a nice touch.

"I'm not sure. We can probably check the replicator records to give us some ideas." Jessica slid her now well diced meat off the chopping board and into a bowl of marinade as she spoke.

“That is probably a better way of doing it than Ensign Sato’s wasted hours of attempts to find out Lieutenant Reed's favourites I suppose,” James said, getting his uniform on.

"Sato and Reed? What happened there?" Jessica asked, while she'd been on the Wolff for over a year now and she still didn't know all the crew, especially the newer ones.

“Oh, sorry. On the NX 01 Enterprise, Jessica. I have spent some time reading pre-Starfleet history. The crew were trying to surprise Lieutenant Reed for his birthday and Captain Archer asked, well ordered, Ensign Sato to find out his favourite meal so they could serve it to him for his birthday. She went through all his family and finally went to a Dr Flox and they worked it out,
through an allergy to an enzyme in Pineapples,” James said with a chuckle.

"I bet they had a bit of trouble keeping the whole thing secret." Covering the bowl, Jessica put it in a refrigerated compartment.

"Well, Ensign Sato was the communication officer and she had the Captain's orders to find the information. The funniest bit is in the end all they needed to do, rather than go to his parents and sister, was talk to Doctor Flox," James said with a laugh. "Oh, they got it perfectly right after she went to the Doctor and he was still completely unaware of them doing it. I think I prefer the idea of looking over the replicator records and getting a few different ideas for the food."

"I certainly think it'll give a much more accurate idea," Jessica said, sterilizing her hands as she spoke. "The Captain has authorised a few real alcoholic drinks per person as well. If they want them."

“What good is a wake without some saki?” James asked rhetorically. Alcohol is good to help release the tongue. “Suffice it to say, couple is a good thing in that situation,” he added, with a smile.

Jessica nodded slightly. "Along with lightening the mood, I've seen that quite a number of the newer crew seem to be having trouble making friends."

“I expect that is often the case. Fitting into a functioning crew is hard enough, but when your taking over a role of a crew member that has died, I expect it is even harder to fit in and make friends. I suppose that is the other reason for having this...” James said, and took a while to think on how he would phrase it politely before he continued, “Wake, to help the newer staff to get to know the former staff and and those still here.”

"Exactly." Jessica moved over to a storage cupboard before continuing. "If you take a look at the replicator logs for Sika and Galatea, I'll go and have a good tidy up."

With that, James headed to the replicator. After a cursory glance through it Lieutenant Sika was obvious. “Lieutenant Sika likes the normal Bajoran stuff. I think maybe serving Bajoran ale, or Jumja tea or Moba juice for those that don’t like alcohol. He seemed to like Hasperat, Milaberries and Mapa bread for eating. Galatea doesn’t seem to have eaten from the replicator system that often.” After a few more minutes searching he said, “Ah found it, Oskoid leaf salad, Uttaberry crepes and Jestral tea from Betazed and apparently Lady Grey tea from Earth.” He made his way back to the kitchen and started preparing some of them for the dinner service.

At 17:45 the preparations for the dinner had finished and James had stared putting the ice out in the cold section of the self service so he could just rest the salads on top and have them stay crisp. He set up the Bain Marie for the warm food service then started bring the hot food out. He would enlist Jessica’s help to get other foods out.

Then at 17:50 the non warmed, non cooled food was brought out and presented in the protected buffet area. Then at 17:55 he brought out the different salads and arranged them. “Just perfect.”


OFF:

Jessica Haugen
Lounge Manager
[NPC Taliserra]

James Sulu
Chef
[NPC Edwards]

 

RSS Feed