fandomhigh | Beginning Gourmet Cooking Techniques, Friday 3rd Period

Hannibal nodded at the students as they filed into the Danger Shop, which was set up as very well-appointed individual cooking stations. “Hello; I believe I know most of you, but those I don't, I am Doctor Hannibal Lecter, and this is Beginning Gourmet Cooking Techniques. If you didn't intend to take this or have changed your mind, now is the time to leave.”

After anyone had left if they wanted to, he continued, passing out the syllabus. "We will be learning a number of basic techniques for cooking, and how to apply them in both basic and advanced ways." He eyed a few of the students, assuming they were there. "Particularly as some of you have taken this class before; I do feel somewhat obligated to make you work for the food." He smiled to soften that. "Before today's lesson, we'll conduct the standard introductions. For those of you who haven’t taken a class with me before, this consists not only of your name and class, but also any allergies you may have — food or otherwise — and any objections or restrictions to eating or working with any foods. Also, the class will entail several trips to the mainland, so if that will be a problem for you, please let me know."

Once the introductions were over, he continued. “Our first lesson is something simple, but more complicated than it sounds. How to boil water.” He turned to the cooking station at the front of the room. “Gather around, please.” He gestured for them to come closer. “First, you should always begin with cold water. It will take longer, but it will taste less like pipes and water heater. Filtered is best, if you can get it, both for taste and for exactness of temperature. Now, there are several types of cooking you may see referred to, and it's important you know the difference: a simmer, a slow boil, and a rolling boil. The best way to achieve and maintain each depends upon your tools and what you are using them for.”

He explained the differences, plus the relative sizes of pot that should be used, how to adequately work a gas stove (and how to make do with electric if necessary), and the benefits of boiling before simmering versus not.

“To apply this lesson, those of you who have not had this class before will be making pasta today. It’s a good first step, as a simple food that can be made much more complex depending upon what you do with it. And how you boil it does make a difference.” He showed them overcooked, doughy pasta; undercooked, crunchy pasta; pasta that had been stuck together from not enough room in the pot; and pasta cooked correctly. “I prefer fresh myself, but dried is easier to find these days for most people, so that's what you're most likely to use and what you’ll find at your stations." He nodded to them.

"Those of you who have taken this class before," and you knew who you were, "you get to try something slightly more challenging. You will be poaching eggs today. This requires you to keep the water at a simmer just on the edge of a boil." He explained the details.

"When you’ve all finished, we’ll discuss what you've learned, and eat what I’ve made using the techniques we've gone over.” He smiled and waved them toward the individual stove set-ups.

"If you have questions, please ask me. Also, I have no teaching assistant as of yet, so if you would be interested, please let me know."

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Already, Elsa was learning so much! She'd really only mastered plugging in the kettle since coming to the island. Food wasn't difficult to come by otherwise. But she couldn't quite contain how excited she was, silly as it might be, when her pot came to a boil and she put her pasta into the water.

It was something completely new.

Her excitement was rather adorable. Hannibal smiled as he walked past, supervising. "Well done. You're very new to cooking?"

"Extremely," Elsa admitted, biting her lip and nodding. "Our family always had people to do the cooking for us. Even around here, the extent of my ability to prepare food... mostly ends with me heading in to town."

She'd taken Thor's class, once? But putting two pieces of bread with some cheese in the middle into the microwave had been a terrible plan.

THERE WOULD BE NO MICROWAVES IN HANNIBAL'S CLASS. MICROWAVES WERE EVIL!

"At least you know how to feed yourself; that's the important part," Hannibal pointed out with a chuckle. "When my uncle adopted me, he had chefs to cook. But I found learning and cooking on my own to be quite rewarding. Soothing and an artistic outlet. There aren't many of those you get to eat."

"There aren't," Elsa agreed, smiling as she attempted to keep an eye on her water while also looking at Hannibal enough to carry polite conversation. It was an interesting challenge. "My own artistic outlets have been more along the lines of flower arranging, and... while some flowers are edible, that wasn't exactly the point."

Multitasking was also a useful skill!

"We used quite a few edible flowers in this Spring's class final," Hannibal noted. "But no, that generally isn't the point. It does mean you should have an eye for presentation, however, which can be extremely important in food as well."

Elsa nodded her agreement.

"I've noticed quite a difference between the food I'm used to eating and the way most food here is presented," she admitted. "I didn't realize how much I took for granted until I first encountered Chinese delivery."

Hannibal grimaced sympathetically. "I understand the need for that sort of thing, but I can't help but lament the poor appearance of the food. It's so much more a pleasure to eat a meal that's been properly presented."

Look out, Elsa; Hannibal liked you!

Elsa just found it a relief to be able to talk to somebody about this sort of thing without worrying about being seen as a rich snob or... well... a princess.

"It is! I miss that... some of the restaurants in town are fairly good about their presentation, but nothing quite like home."

Yeah, if Hannibal thought you were a rich snob, you pretty much were ~~dinner~~. You didn't have to worry, Elsa.

"It's not specific to the island, I'm afraid. These days, even most restaurants don't bother much with the way foods look." Or, he would argue, with the way they tasted, some of them. "It's rare to find someone who does at home." Hannibal's life was so hard!

"I wonder why that is," Elsa mused, frowning slightly. "Is it that it's an art that some people never think to learn? Or perhaps people don't have the time or the means to do so? People not learning flower arranging, that makes sense, but everybody eats."

... Most people eat. Sorry, Jono.

Yes, well, even Jono could appreciate the artistry! "It's partially due to a lack of free time," Hannibal noted. Most people these days put in a full day of work, and only want to eat afterward. They've never been taught this art, and have no experience, so they dismiss it as unnecessary." He smiled. "Hopefully I can alleviate that somewhat."

Beginning Gourmet Cooking Techniques, Friday 3rd Period

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