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Beginning Gourmet Cooking Techniques | Friday, 3rd period

This week, the class had received ~~handwavy~~ e-mail messages to meet at Portalocity. When they got there, Hannibal greeted them and handed out a list of fruits and vegetables. "Today, we will be covering selecting good produce. The first lesson to buying decent fruits and vegetables is, whenever possible, to buy things which are organic, grown locally, and currently in season. It's healthier and tastes much better. That said, I realize that you may not always have that option. There are some foods that buying organic is more important for than others, due to the amount of chemicals they retain or the types used."

He nodded at the paper. "This list shows what is in season locally at different times of the year, and whether or not it's advisable to buy organically grown and why. Please note that if and when you move elsewhere, you'll need to find another list or compile your own, as available produce and its growing seasons are different everywhere."

He held up the list and indicated the current month. "If you read down this column, it will tell you what we can expect to find in Baltimore in September. I've also listed some simple reminders about how to choose the best of each; I will go into more detail once we arrive, and feel free to take notes. As our class activity today, rather than cooking you will be choosing your own produce to return with."

He gave them a serious look, with a bit of extra directed at Emma ~~if she's there~~, after her attempts the last time they'd done this. "When we step through the portal, we will be in Baltimore at a local farmers' market. Individual growers bring their own produce - and occasionally some other things such as jellies - and sell them themselves. At this particular one, most things will be grown organically, and should be marked as such." He frowned briefly in thought. "If you don't read the local language, please let me know. Stay close and pay attention while I orient you, and then you may wander as you choose to complete the assignment. I will be pleased to answer any questions. I imagine the farmers will be as well, but do remember we are not on the island."

He waited to see if there were any current questions, then nodded them through the portal.

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Vegging!

Elsa of Arendelle

Rapunzel

Emma Swan

Cosette Fauchelevent

Minako Aino

Ask any questions you may have during class, explain to the poor cannibal that his charts are also useless if you don't read English, don't listen and get scowled at for being rude...

Edited 2014-09-05 04:08 (UTC)

"Excuse me, Doctor Lecter?" Elsa tentatively put up her hand. "If you don't mind me asking... what do you mean by 'organic?'"

Chemical pesticides and the like were not so much a thing, back in the day.

"I'd like to know as well," Cosette chimed in.

And frowned a bit at herself for not having had an opportunity to read about that yet, but in her defense she actually had things to do instead of having to find ways to keep herself occupied and amused in solitude, so . . .

Hannibal nodded to them both. "A good question. The definition can vary in its particulars, and I encourage you to look it up if you're interested. On the whole, it refers to foods that are grown with no chemical pesticides or fertlizers, no genetic modification, no artificial processing, and no chemical additives. Food grown naturally. For meats, it also generally means that the food the animals consume is organic."

"Those of you who have not had this class before," Hannibal told them, "I would like you to pick out one head of spinach, one bunch of grapes, one eggplant, several tomatoes, a few onions, several apples, a couple of parsnips, and one other item of your choice. And yes, you will get to keep them."

That was half the class. "Those of you who have had this class before, please choose half a pound each of green beans and of brussels sprouts, several pears, one summer squash, two artichokes, several ears of corn, and one item of your choice."

Oh. Oh no. For some of these fruits and vegetables, Elsa could pick them based on sight alone. Others... well...

She frowned as she tentatively reached for an apple, holding it up in her gloved hand and inspecting it. It didn't seem as though it was anything less than firm, at least to look at...

This was going to be an interesting class.

Hannibal watched Elsa for a moment, then stepped a bit closer. "You'll have a better idea about texture and firmness bare-handed," he pointed out.

Elsa glanced up at Hannibal at that, and if there was a little catch in her breath at the suggestion, she'd be ever so grateful if he didn't mention it.

"I... would," she agreed, looking back down at her gloved hands and biting her lip. Some days, she was more confident about taking them off than others. In the wake of running out of Karla's class earlier in the week, she was pretty bent on leaving the gloves on for a while. "And I do want to do the best I possibly can, Doctor Lecter. But where I come from, it would be quite unladylike for me to take my gloves off in the company of others, I'm afraid."

'Where she came from' being a troubled childhood where she was taught to repress to an unhealthy degree, and unladylike on account of the terribly high chance that she might accidentally kill somebody.

Who said killing someone wasn't ladylike? Hanna would have argued that.

Hannibal eyed her for a moment, sensing there was more there, but he let it pass and nodded. "Of course." He picked up an apple. "As far as texture, you can feel that for yourself with your upper arm or your cheek." He rubbed the apple along his jaw. "For bruises, you'll have to be more careful."

He ran one finger slowly over the surface of his apple. "If you press very slightly, and move very slowly, you may be able to get a feel for the softness or hardness of the fruit. Look for spots that are softer than that. It won't be as precise, but you shouldn't end up with anything unsavory."

"Thank you," Elsa replied, not even trying to hide the relief in her voice. "I'll try all of those things and see what works best. Is there a visual marker for bruises as well, by any chance?"

People tended to get ugly discolored splotches when they had bruises. Elsa could hope that there was some sort of apple equivalent, right?

"Sometimes," Hannibal answered. "Depending on the produce and the degree of bruising." He spoke to the farmer for a moment and got them to hand him a piece of rejected fruit, thanking them with a nod.

"Once the skin is broken, it may turn brown. Pears are more delicate, and more likely to bruise visibly. Also, you want to look for holes which may be caused by insects or worms. Of which there are thankfully none here."

He eyed Elsa mildly for a moment. "Not every harm leaves a visible mark."

Elsa swallowed a little at that, pulling in a breath, but refusing to look away. That comment, subtle though it was, made it fairly clear that Doctor Lecter was more observant than most. She gave him a smile.

It didn't reach her eyes.

"I might end up becoming quite the fan of pears," she replied, "if they wear their damage out in the open for anybody to spot."

"Honest fruit," Hannibal noted. "They go very well with a number of other foods as well, savory as well as sweet. Almonds, spices, and some types of cheese are quite popular."

Observation rather went with the job, Elsa. (And the hobbies.)

Edited 2014-09-06 00:08 (UTC)

"I've had them spiced and with almonds before," Elsa replied, clinging to that. "Not often, not by any means. Almonds have been in short supply back home, especially after the borders closed to foreign trade. But I remember they tasted divine."

"I shall have to make some, then," Hannibal answered, smiling. "Why were your borders closed - war or disease?"

"Neither," Elsa replied, shaking her head faintly. "The King and Queen closed them quite some time ago, as well as firing most of the staff at the castle. Something happened that scared them, suddenly, and the gate hasn't been opened again since."

Neither. Both. It was complicated. And Elsa's fault, though she was trying not to make it too obvious that she felt that way.

Sorry, Elsa, that guilt was pretty obvious, at least to Hannibal. He looked her over. "Would you like to talk about what scared them?" he asked calmly.

Elsa looked up at him, her expression torn somewhere between worried and a little lost, before she shook her head and looked away again.

"Not here, no," she replied. "It's not really 'middle of class in a marketplace' conversation."

It wasn't really a brush-off. It was the honest truth. She'd run from class the other day because of less. She couldn't do this right now. Not here.

"Of course." Hannibal gave her a nod that was almost a bow. "In your own time, then." He held out an arm to encourage her forward. "Come; I'll show you the grapes. Those are easier to determine the quality of."

When you've all chosen and returned to the school, Hannibal will grade you on your choices, and let you taste what you chose, what he chose, and some of the same items of produce he picked at random from the non-organic, non-local supermarket. (Feel free to not taste a difference and make him feel sorry for you!)

Before or after class, he's here! He is also still TA-less, if you're interested.

Wow, this class goes a lot faster when you already have the Spreadsheets of Doom created!

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Beginning Gourmet Cooking Techniques | Friday, 3rd period

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Listen to the lecture!

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Choose your veggies (and fruit)!

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Discuss!

Talk to Hannibal!

OOC!