{{ Secret ingredient reveals! }}
Calantha smiles at Bloodstone once the Coatl finishes speaking -- unable to resist spilling the beans now that her entry has been judged. "Food-safe dyes are a cookery subject many dragons ignore but I feel they are important given how much of our enjoyment of food depends on how it looks. The dark-blue fruit with the inedible exterior which I used today was Red Banana."
"I knew the sunfish surimi was a risk but I'm glad you at least enjoyed the rest of the seafood elements..." Calantha trails off as out of the corner of her eye she suddenly spots Syrah -- the judge from the penultimate day of the competition. "If you'll excuse me please Bloodstone" Calantha begins in her quiet raspy voice but it seems Bloodstone didn't hear her and has already moved on to judging another contestant's entry. Well she probably does have many still to judge considering how much earlier I was ready for judging today than usual the Wildclaw muses as she heads over towards where Syrah is standing facing away from her.
As she gets closer she realizes both that Syrah is in conversation with someone else and that that someone is Ursus who was the judge from day five. What luck! she thinks. Two harpies with one blow! Syrah seems to be trying to get a word in edgewise but failing as Ursus holds forth. Then the talkative Tundra notices Calantha standing off to the side and pauses long enough for Syrah to get out "I do see what you mean but--" before she too registers Calantha's presence and her mouth falls open silently.
Calantha takes advantage of the brief break in the two judges' conversation to say "Syrah I'm so sorry for not getting this to you sooner but here" -- the contestant draws a bundle of something from the herb pouch at her hip -- "I made you this nosegay to wear anytime you think you might encounter (ahem) allergens. It should protect you from their effects though not against contagious illnesses -- that's an old mate's tale. Also you did correctly guess that the fruity element in my Mock Pumpkin Pie was Potash Peach so congratulations!"
She then turns to Ursus. "And I'm pleased to say you correctly identified the secret ingredient in my paean to cuteness as well -- it was in fact Satin Violets!"
"Now if you two will excuse me I have one more judge to try to track down!" Calantha exclaims. She doesn't really have high hopes for finding Kakigori at this point four days after she passed judgment on Calantha's "finger foods" of crostini, kabobs and porridge; she's started to wonder whether the Skydancer has gone back to her work as a spice merchant and has been absent from the fairgrounds for that reason. Still she searches the area from one side to the other but without turning up any sign of Kakigori. She's about to try to find one of Kakigori's clanmate judges to ask if they might have any ideas when one occurs to her -- Kakigori might be at her clan's lair!
A short flight takes her to Wayfarer's Rest where she is confronted by an enormous and somewhat brusque Guardian who demands to know who she is and what her business is there. "Er -- I --" the always soft-voiced but usually less-tongue-tied Calantha stammers. "I was looking for Kakigori? The spice merchant?" she adds hoping that will mollify the forbidding dragon. She notices that the other female is wearing a Green Birdskull Necklace but does not know its significance within Kakigori's clan.
"Well in that case you would be welcome to stop by her quarters but I happen to know she is sleeping. If you want to leave a note I can give it to her later." The Guardian still does not introduce herself but waits with what seems limited patience while Calantha scrawls out a note:
"Thank you" Calantha says simply as she hands over the note to the Guardian who seems ever more eager for Calantha to be on her way. She thinks better of trying any further conversational sallies...
{{ I hope you don't mind my having put a few words in your dragons' mouths. Thanks yet again for a hugely fun experience! }}
Calantha smiles at Bloodstone once the Coatl finishes speaking -- unable to resist spilling the beans now that her entry has been judged. "Food-safe dyes are a cookery subject many dragons ignore but I feel they are important given how much of our enjoyment of food depends on how it looks. The dark-blue fruit with the inedible exterior which I used today was Red Banana."
"I knew the sunfish surimi was a risk but I'm glad you at least enjoyed the rest of the seafood elements..." Calantha trails off as out of the corner of her eye she suddenly spots Syrah -- the judge from the penultimate day of the competition. "If you'll excuse me please Bloodstone" Calantha begins in her quiet raspy voice but it seems Bloodstone didn't hear her and has already moved on to judging another contestant's entry. Well she probably does have many still to judge considering how much earlier I was ready for judging today than usual the Wildclaw muses as she heads over towards where Syrah is standing facing away from her.
As she gets closer she realizes both that Syrah is in conversation with someone else and that that someone is Ursus who was the judge from day five. What luck! she thinks. Two harpies with one blow! Syrah seems to be trying to get a word in edgewise but failing as Ursus holds forth. Then the talkative Tundra notices Calantha standing off to the side and pauses long enough for Syrah to get out "I do see what you mean but--" before she too registers Calantha's presence and her mouth falls open silently.
Calantha takes advantage of the brief break in the two judges' conversation to say "Syrah I'm so sorry for not getting this to you sooner but here" -- the contestant draws a bundle of something from the herb pouch at her hip -- "I made you this nosegay to wear anytime you think you might encounter (ahem) allergens. It should protect you from their effects though not against contagious illnesses -- that's an old mate's tale. Also you did correctly guess that the fruity element in my Mock Pumpkin Pie was Potash Peach so congratulations!"
She then turns to Ursus. "And I'm pleased to say you correctly identified the secret ingredient in my paean to cuteness as well -- it was in fact Satin Violets!"
"Now if you two will excuse me I have one more judge to try to track down!" Calantha exclaims. She doesn't really have high hopes for finding Kakigori at this point four days after she passed judgment on Calantha's "finger foods" of crostini, kabobs and porridge; she's started to wonder whether the Skydancer has gone back to her work as a spice merchant and has been absent from the fairgrounds for that reason. Still she searches the area from one side to the other but without turning up any sign of Kakigori. She's about to try to find one of Kakigori's clanmate judges to ask if they might have any ideas when one occurs to her -- Kakigori might be at her clan's lair!
A short flight takes her to Wayfarer's Rest where she is confronted by an enormous and somewhat brusque Guardian who demands to know who she is and what her business is there. "Er -- I --" the always soft-voiced but usually less-tongue-tied Calantha stammers. "I was looking for Kakigori? The spice merchant?" she adds hoping that will mollify the forbidding dragon. She notices that the other female is wearing a Green Birdskull Necklace but does not know its significance within Kakigori's clan.
"Well in that case you would be welcome to stop by her quarters but I happen to know she is sleeping. If you want to leave a note I can give it to her later." The Guardian still does not introduce herself but waits with what seems limited patience while Calantha scrawls out a note:
Quote:
Hello Kakigori and thank you for helping to make the Mistral Meals competition fun for all involved. I'm glad you enjoyed my entry. Unfortunately I must inform you that the flavor enhancer I used that day was Siltvine (not Salt which I consider an essential nutrient rather than an ingredient).
I have been wanting to speak with you further about your work as a spice merchant. While I gather most of the herbs and other ingredients I use in both my herbalist work and my cooking hobby myself there are always some rare ones I have difficulty sourcing. Please drop by my clan or post me a note if you would be interested in working with me in this regard.
I have been wanting to speak with you further about your work as a spice merchant. While I gather most of the herbs and other ingredients I use in both my herbalist work and my cooking hobby myself there are always some rare ones I have difficulty sourcing. Please drop by my clan or post me a note if you would be interested in working with me in this regard.
"Thank you" Calantha says simply as she hands over the note to the Guardian who seems ever more eager for Calantha to be on her way. She thinks better of trying any further conversational sallies...
{{ I hope you don't mind my having put a few words in your dragons' mouths. Thanks yet again for a hugely fun experience! }}
