Chapter 50

Chapter 50

Shadow Alley

Windsor Castle had various kitchens as much as its size.

The main kitchen that prepares the royal court's major banquets and events, the kitchen in charge of the daily meals of royals and attendants, up to the kitchen specializing in desserts and confectionery, there were several spaces subdivided according to use.

I first looked for the confectionery kitchen. Because I had to obtain the ingredients absolutely needed to make a hamburger.

Just in time I discovered the leftovers used for yesterday's afternoon tea. I showed that to the countess.

"That's brioche, right? Is it okay as bread for meals?"

"You'll know if you watch."

The round bread that catches the shape of the hamburger, and inserts the meat patty and vegetable toppings is called a bun.

In fact buns were the dessert bread commonly eaten next to scones in Britain so they were already prepared in the kitchen. But I chose brioche instead of buns.

The reason was simple. Because old British buns were hard to the point they absolutely couldn't be used as hamburger bread.

Modern-style hamburger buns were made by putting a lot of milk and butter so they're soft and good to eat, but the buns of 1901 were for dessert so the crust was thick and tough, the density was dense and had unnecessary sweetness.

Such bread doesn't suit hamburgers.

Instead, French-style bread brioche that uses a lot of eggs and butter for soft texture was rather close to modern-style hamburger buns. So I chose brioche.

It wasn't for hamburger bun use so the shape wasn't pretty, but I roughly trimmed the shape with a kitchen knife and made it plausible.

"Well, prepare two brioches of the same shape like this. Cut one side flat. Will you try once?"

"Like this?"

"Yes, you did well."

Next I headed to the meal preparation kitchen.

"For now I'm going to make the sauce, please prepare the ingredients I wrote. They're all simple things so they'll already be in the kitchen."

Mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, sugar, ketchup, onion, garlic.

Here adding even the secret that will add unique flavor.

Cucumber pickle, and dill one of the edible herbs.

Herbs like basil or parsley, thyme, rosemary are familiar even in Korea but dill is a bit unfamiliar. But dill was also a spice loved from ancient times in European cooking.

The identity of the refreshing and subtle aroma wafting from Big Mac or Whopper sauce, the slightly citrus-like sweetness is exactly this dill.

Usually when implementing Big Mac sauce at home one uses cucumber pickle with dill in it. But unlike Northern Europe dill pickle wasn't common in Britain, so I ground cucumber pickle and dill separately and put them in.

Sniff sniff.

Hmm, with this level of ratio it's okay?

"Oh my, wasn't dill a herb only used for cod or trout dishes?"

"It's used a lot in fish dishes. But it also goes well with beef. If one appropriately uses herbs one can catch the oiliness of the meat, and add a refreshing aroma to the cooking."

"I didn't know! Sir Durand really has a lot of cooking knowledge!"

"Try one bite. What kind of flavor there is."

"Oh my!"

"Complex, right? Soft, savory, refreshing taste."

"Right! How does such a taste come out just by mixing ingredients?!"

As much as Big Mac became a worldwide steady seller, attempts to similarly reproduce the sauce continued endlessly.

So even with only such simple combination methods on the market one sufficiently catches up to 90% of the sauce taste.

The memory of making it once for YouTube helps like this.

"The sauce is done, now let's prepare the toppings."

The topping difference between Big Mac and Whopper. Big Mac has lettuce, onion, pickle and Whopper adds tomato there.

Personally I think tomato is essential in hamburgers.

The passionate red color that stimulates appetite, rich in the antioxidant lycopene and vitamin C, above all the acidity of tomato greatly neutralizes the greasy taste of the meat.

So I added tomato Whopper-style.

Lastly...

"Cheddar cheese? Is that also needed?"

"Yes, to make this cooking more delicious it absolutely has to go in. Please prepare by finely crushing."

In 1901 there was no sliced cheese yet, but just crushing and putting in was enough. Anyway it will naturally melt on the hot patty.

Cheddar cheese is the representative British cheese produced in Somerset Britain.

The salty and rich savoriness perfectly harmonizes with the freshness of lettuce, the spiciness of onion, the sourness of pickle and tomato.

"Now I'm going to make the special meat that will go into this cooking. It's not difficult so please remember well. First mince the beef well."

The patty is Whopper-style. After seasoning minced beef mixed with about 20% fat with salt and pepper as base, just grilling on the grill with direct fire is the end. The cooking method of the patty is a difference of preference, but I chose Whopper's method.

The advantage of this method? Exactly the strong fire aroma. While tremendously stimulating appetite the juices also ooze out. Just smelling it seems delicious already, right?

Gulp.

The sound of the countess swallowing saliva was heard beside.

"Well, now just stacking the prepared ingredients in order is fine."

"Wow, really pretty! It's like a sandwich!"

Ta-da! Homemade hamburger complete!

The ingredients that went in are also only a few, and the making process is simple, but above all the taste is also the best!

No need for deco either. Because the ingredients stack layer by layer and naturally form a contrast of colors, it itself was perfect decoration.

"Simple, right? You'll be able to follow, right? I wrote all the needed recipes."

"Th-thank you! How did such a delicious-looking cooking come out in that short time?!"

That's why it's fast food. But befitting a homemade burger made directly, the apparent quality is above commercial burgers.

If there were crispy chips and cola here it would be literally a scam combination, but then it becomes far from health food.

It would have been good if there was carbonated water, but unfortunately all the carbonated water equipped at Windsor Castle was said to be out. If too perfect it's no fun again?

I put the completed hamburger on the serving cart, and headed to the reception room where Princess Alice was waiting.

The moment I arrived immediately cloche open!

When the round cloche opened, the thick aroma of the hamburger filled and spread the reception room.

The princess's movement who smelled that aroma momentarily stopped. She tightly closed her eyes then slowly opened them again.

[ Victoria Alice Elizabeth Julia Marie: Hungry! Want to eat! / Emotion: Happiness / Satisfaction: - ]

It seemed I properly sniped the princess's taste.

But the one who really couldn't endure was the countess who watched the entire cooking process from beginning to end.

She hurriedly approached the table and picked up the fork and knife.

"Wait, this cooking you absolutely have to eat the vegetables and meat, and bread together. Only then the real taste comes alive. Try comparing once. Whether my words are correct."

Everyone took a bite at the same time. At that moment short exclamations burst out in succession forgetting face.

Brrrr.

"Really! If eaten without vegetables this taste doesn't come out! With this His Majesty also...!"

"Delicious! Really delicious!"

Of course it has to be delicious! A modern-style hamburger in 1901, a tremendous luxury!

Like that one hamburger quickly disappeared. But knowing it would be like this�

"I prepared more here. Eat one more each."

"Wow!"

The eating speed slowed compared to the first, but the two people somehow put even the second hamburger into their stomachs.

The strong satisfaction that comes after a meal and the belated regret felt after overeating.

As a chef seeing the appearance of those two expressions crossing is always enjoyable.

【 Acquired 20 Cooking Points. 】

【 History change degree: 9.53% 】

Why is the change degree rising again?! Is the ending really His Majesty eating the hamburger and becoming healthy? Anyway�

"When giving this to His Majesty also serve carbonated water together. The carbonated water will wash the oiliness in the mouth and cleanly give the aftertaste."

The countess nodded for a moment, but soon her expression slightly darkened.

"Sir Durand, I'm a bit worried."

"Why is that? By any chance did the cooking not suit your heart?"

"No! The cooking is really perfect. It will suit His Majesty perfectly too! But..."

The countess stroked her stomach. With a frowning face.

"This is so delicious, what if His Majesty absolutely can't be satisfied with one plate?!"

The countess's worry was the words that even if a lot of healthy vegetables are put in if overeating it's useless!

That's... right?

"Of course you have to serve only one plate. If worried make the size a bit bigger, about 20% to 30%? And also take this recipe. It will clearly help."

I scribbled the content on paper on the spot.

"What is this...?"

"It's a secret of cooking the side vegetables more deliciously through the sauce. Tell the head chefs to decorate with this."

"Ah!"

The representative side of hamburgers chips. I handed a health food side that can replace that.

The countess continuously expressed thanks. Saying if it works well she'll definitely reward in some way.

Anyway since I handed a recipe with potential, the next depends on how the countess uses it. If His Majesty is really crazy about meat and takes out all the vegetables and eats... Up to there what can I take responsibility for? My role ends here!

After that I continued the treasure hunt going around near Windsor Castle together with the princess.

Only after three hours passed did I barely find one of the remaining two wooden boxes. The location was that cabin where I first met her. In the end the princess had gone the proper way.

Why on earth hide the relics in such a remote place?! But finding out it was a place Prince Albert built by hand as a hobby. It wasn't a meaningless place to the Queen.

Inside the wooden box there was a letter. The corner of the princess's eyes who hurriedly unfolded it trembled.

I quickly stepped back at that moment.

"Sir Durand...?"

"I won't look. Don't show me!"

Such things it's best not to approach! Look, it seems tears will burst but she's barely holding back!

I wasn't curious about the content at all. Because it was clear it would be a matter related to family affairs.

It was as expected. That was the last letter Queen Victoria left in this world to her deceased husband Prince Albert. Oh.

If a real treasure came out it would have been more interesting, but it can't be helped. The play with the princess also ended there.

Two days later, I safely returned to London together with the Earl of Derby.

Ten days at the Windsor Castle manor.

It was a trip of only ten days, but at the time I absolutely couldn't even think how dynamically the relationships formed during this time would change my life.

And how Princess Louise who refused the meeting would appear again.

The aftermath of the trip occurred immediately as soon as I arrived in London.

###

If it was modern there would have been no matter of communication being cut with SNS or mobile phones, but the early 20th century was an era where even moving the place a little a severe information gap occurred.

From the start the long-distance information transmission means were only telephone, letter, telegram, newspaper and even those were all cut due to the downpour.

So I first called the street newspaper sellers and updated the information. Information was priority over everything else.

Then among them a few spilled shocking words.

"What? While I was briefly absent, there were guys who went around digging my background? Who are they?"

"I don't know well. According to the alley kids the impression was very fierce... They said they were guys seen for the first time. The speech was also clumsy."

"Who? By any chance East End origin?"

"No, I roughly know those faces. Rather they seemed drifters who crawled in from outside. But since they loitered in the East End they might be hiding somewhere there. Boss, be careful."

"Yes, thanks. If you find out something again come running."

I threw a few 1 shilling silver coins to the guys. The guys returned grinning.

East End. The most dangerous crime-prone area in London of this period.

Among London's winding maze-like alleys this was the most complex. Immigrants and beggars live tangled, and because the residents' faces change frequently once hidden tracking is almost impossible.

Even London Metropolitan Police had given up on the area.

The most famous unsolved case in Britain, the 'Jack the Ripper murder case' also happened right here.

"What, by any chance those guys?"

The guys who would hold a grudge against me and have delinquents dig the background only one place came to mind.

Exactly the Tile company that produces Golden Syrup.

A few weeks ago, James Tile who in the end even had the knighthood revoked due to the aftermath of the defective manufacturing incident.

After the management owner of the Wright company that produced treacle was arrested on charges of manufacturing defective food, our peanut butter alliance easily swallowed that factory that fell into management difficulties might have been the decisive trigger.

The explosive popularity of peanut butter, the slander that happened in the London underground, the media's endless attacks, and the aggressive acquisition through Barclays Bank. The guy might have finally found out the real mastermind.

Acquiring the treacle factory was an unavoidable choice. To make Nutella a large amount of sugar was needed, but these sugar cartel guys showed signs of colluding. So I slightly leaked information to Mr. Henry. Saying they're trying to interfere with the peanut butter business. Then Mr. Henry, got angry and did a counteroperation.

In fact I wanted to collapse the Tile company too, but this side the defense was solid more than expected. Because the owner is an old gentry class the connections were firm. Who would have thought he'd hide behind a House of Lords member.

But I took my hands off the peanut butter management? Why did they track me? Shall I throw myself as bait once and find out?

The rumor that I appeared in London again seemed to have spread much faster than expected.

While trying to go out for a walk taking Joe as usual, suddenly a presence surrounding the surroundings was felt.

The number wasn't many. Four shabby guys. Scruffy appearance.

"Hey you, there young guy! Stand for a moment. By any chance are you Jean-Paul Durand?"

Exactly here it was decided. In a situation where my name is spreading to every corner of London back alleys because of samgyeopsal they don't recognize me?

These guys, not London origin.

The moment I tried to let out a hollow laugh, they suddenly tried to snatch my arm.

But I've already experienced this twice! If hit a third time I'm a fool!

I decided to borrow the method the great detective Holmes uses when escaping crisis.

Click.

"Hands up! If you come closer I'll shoot right away! Want to die, or run away? For reference in this distance even if my hand shakes it's 100 hits out of 100!"

"Hi-hiiik! Run! That guy, has a gun!"

The pistol quickly taken out from the bosom. The moment I aimed that at the guys they fled in panic!

Hahat, fool idiots! This is just a lighter, right? But in appearance it's impossible to distinguish from a real gun!

And the most stupid guy among them in the end couldn't even run and was caught in Joe's hand and beaten to a pulp!

The newspaper sellers who were watching the situation from afar came running surprised, but in fact even one Joe was enough.

Thanks to eating chicken like a mountain during the growth period, to squire Joe of Sir Durand whose build became burly a few ordinary delinquents couldn't be opponents.

We dragged the guy to the alley to interrogate.

But I had no intention of dirtying my hands more. With twenty questions I can only read fragmentary minds, and it's no use for digging real information. I'm just an ordinary chef.

Of course for this kind of matter one has to invite a real expert.

East End. The most dangerous crime zone in London.

It was the turn to taste the skill of real interrogation experts.