Absinthe

Chapter 43: The Moves

"Can somebody explain to me why we've been eating the same chicken dish for three days in a row?" Vivi demanded as we sat in front of the pinikpikan we were about to have for lunch.

"Leave it," Jiwoo said in an authoritative tone.

"I can't," Vivi said. "We're on a farm, for crying out loud—the best ingredients are here! Yet we've been stuck with pinikpikan for how many meals now... God, I've lost count!"

"Seven," Nico interrupted. "And now is the eighth time. I'm guessing we'll all be sprouting wings come dinner time."

I glanced at Jiwoo. I wasn't sure whose cheeks were redder: his or mine. I was embarrassed because I was the reason our group had to keep eating the dish, and we would have to do so probably until the end of our stay.

"You call yourselves gourmet chefs?" Jiwoo hissed. "This is the region's specialty! You can't get this kind of flavor anywhere else!"

"I agree there's nothing quite like it," Vivi said before raising her voice. "But that doesn't mean we should keep eating it. Even water tastes like pinikpikan to me now!"

"Frankly speaking, what you guys did is animal cruelty," Nico declared. "I'm sure it's illegal because of the Anti-Animal Cruelty Act or something."

"It's not wrong nor is it illegal if it's a centuries-old tradition!" Jiwoo answered back. "And besides, that distinct flavor won't come out if you don't beat the chicken."

I saw both Nico and Vivi raise their eyebrows, Vivi's dangerously higher than Nico's. No chef ever takes flavors for granted.

"It's true," Jiwoo said. "Striking the chicken repeatedly allows the blood to coagulate in its muscles, adding an extra layer of umami. Anyway, the chickens were hit on the head first. They were pretty much unconscious, and I doubt they felt a thing."

"Fine," Vivi said in defeat while reaching for eating utensils. "But I'm not letting this slide. The two of you owe us a full week's worth of gourmet food once we get back to Manila." She pointed her fork at Jiwoo to make her threat clear. "You hear me? A different. Menu. Every. Single. Day."

Jiwoo's face broke into a wide smile. He nodded at Vivi before coaxing me and Nico to start eating.

"Exactly how many poor chickens did you two have to kill? " Nico asked.

Jiwoo only threw him a sharp look and changed the topic with another question. "What's our schedule this afternoon?"

"Vivi and I are on leafy vegetables while you two are on root crops," Nico replied before taking a spoonful of rice and chicken.

"Root crops? Isn't that where you guys went on our first day?"

Nico nodded. "Yeah, which you both failed to attend. It's a bit far from here, about a 2-hour drive, I think."

I hadn't been feeling extra shy because of the pinikpikan situation, I would have said

Vivi explained. "It's just that more sensitive plants like fruits and leafy vegetables are grown closer to

see," Jiwoo said. "Can we borrow

overreact, I'm saying no not because I'm selfish but because there's no way my car

will we

will provide a sturdy pickup

finished our lunch in better spirits as Jiwoo came up with jokes that were not funny yet so stupid we couldn't help but laugh at them. Before we finished, however, Nico made

to

thinking this whole thing was going to be

found here. The objective is to

shots," Vivi interjected. "Or so I heard. Which means our menu should be something they'll like, traditional

"And we have to

making dessert, right?" Vivi asked. When I glanced around, everyone seemed comfortable with that, so I agreed

I should do the starters," Vivi said. "I can make lumpiang

for the main course," Nico said. "That is if you're okay with cooking

me,"

then. I trust you guys enough to know that we don't need to

was bound to be explosions of flavor. Because of that, Vivi's appetizers had to be powerful enough to stimulate hunger, Jiwoo's soup should be mild so as to cleanse the palate, and my dessert needed to stand out so it wouldn't be ignored

pressure. And to think that there

was simple, so there was no reason for us to get lost even if it was the first time Jiwoo and I were driving to the place. We were asked to attend lectures and taste test the

longer and more spacious than we'd expected. I figured they used the vehicle frequently to transport items

was sure he was being considerate so I wouldn't be nauseated with all the bumps and potholes on

about an hour and a half into the ride. "Have any

I answered.

eyes momentarily off the road to give me a weak smile. "Soups are

nodded. "That's the hurdle you have

say that. I'm thinking

think northerners

Jiwoo said, expertly avoiding a big, muddy pothole. "But there's no way I can turn our typical soup dishes into haute cuisine. The only thing I can do is

in themselves and usually full of flavor that would contradict Nico's dish. If Jiwoo could add Filipino flavors to a classic French soup... "Sounds like

me again. "We're

and wider hills. We passed by an outpost where several men were resting while drinking cold coconut juice. We

This is exclusive content from Dramanovels.com. Please visit Dramanovels.com to support the author and the translation team!

Comments ()

0/255