On the day after we met Kagali, we went out to lunch with Tida. We were currently on our way to a restaurant she had recommended that served traditional dwarf cuisine.
“What are some of the most popular dishes among dwarves?” I asked.
“The first one that comes to mind is dwarven stir-fry! It’s a hearty dish with all sorts of ingredients cooked on a huge iron plate at the same time! At the restaurant we’re going to, the chefs even make it right in front of the customers!”
“That sounds interesting!” Misha exclaimed.
“I’ve never heard of that dish in the capital,” Lunoa said.
“It’s a bit of a casual dish, not the sort that would be popular in the capital,” Tida replied.
In the midst of our culinary discussion, we arrived at the restaurant. The layout inside the stone building was quite unusual—a lengthy counter connected to a large, continuous iron plate. Several dwarf chefs stood behind the counter, and one of them greeted us energetically as we entered.
“Welcome! Sit wherever you’d like!”
We found some empty seats and the chefs asked us what we wanted to eat. Since most of us had never experienced dwarven stir-fry, we let Tida order for everyone.
“We’ll have spicy great boa, sweet-and-salty mushrooms and vegetables...and whatever else you recommend at the moment, chef! Oh, and I’ll have some dwarf liquor too! Do you want anything to drink, Miss Ellie?”
It was barely midday, yet Tida was already about to start imbibing. In the capital, most establishments did not serve alcohol at lunchtime, but this was the city of the dwarves. Alcohol was practically water as far as the dwarves were concerned, and you could buy it absolutely anywhere. There were even street vendors selling ale on the main thoroughfares. Since I was in the dwarves’ land, I figured I should have a taste of their culture.
“I’ll have a glass of dwarf liquor too,” I said. “Could you please cut it with soda?”
“You got it,” the chef replied.
“Miss Ellie, what is soda?” Lunoa asked.
“It’s carbonated water. Usually, alchemists make it, but you can gather natural soda in this area.”
“It turns into regular water after some time, so you can’t really find it in the capital,” Tida added.
“I see,” said Lunoa. “In that case, could I please have mead cut with soda?”
“I’ll have the same thing as Miss Lunoa,” Misha said.
“I want the same too!” Alice chirped.
I shook my head. “You can have fruit juice with soda, Alice.”
The little girl pouted. There was no legal minimum age to consume alcohol, but it wasn’t recommended for young children. I, like the children of other eminent nobles, had been trained from childhood to withstand alcohol—as well as poison—but I’d never given Alice a single drop of either.
Merchants also typically built some resistance to alcohol to avoid being tricked into signing unfavorable deals after drinks with potential business partners. That was why I’d been encouraging Lunoa and Misha to slowly get used to imbibing ever since they’d started working for me. I’d been surprised to discover that Lunoa was great at holding her liquor; she had the perfect constitution for a merchant. Misha was average.
“A glass of wine for me, please,” Mireille told the chef. She usually grimaced at anyone drinking in the middle of the day, but the atmosphere must have gotten to her too.
One of the chefs started cooking hearty great boa steaks with herbs and spices right in front of us. He grilled both sides, and when the aroma of the seasonings started wafting through the air, he poured some strong dwarf liquor on it and set it ablaze with his magic. Once the alcohol burned off and the flames disappeared, the chef cut the great boa meat into bite-sized pieces. In the meantime, another cook was busy sautéing an array of mushrooms and vegetables in an appetizing sauce.
The chefs prepared plates of meat and vegetables for each of us to try. While this was indeed a somewhat casual dish, the dwarves were so skilled and their movements so impressive that I had a feeling the nobles of the imperial capital could very well enjoy this.
I tasted the fare. The flavors delighted my tongue but packed a punch nonetheless. From the way the dwarves seasoned their dishes, it was clear that they intended them to be most enjoyable when paired with a glass of liquor.
“This is delicious,” Lunoa said.
“I agree,” Misha said. “The meat is so tender.”
“Mama, the mushrooms are yummy!” Alice exclaimed.
“They are,” I agreed.
After that, we got to try out a smorgasbord of delicious dishes, including steel-plate-toasted bread coated in garlic paste and patties made from minced wild rabbit. For dessert, we had fruits soaked in liquor, except for Alice, who got a regular fruit dish.
“I’m going to head back to my room,” Tida said as we exited the restaurant. “Let’s go out for a meal again when we get the chance.”
“Sure,” I replied.
Since Tida was staying at different lodgings from us, we went our separate ways.
“The inn she’s staying at isn’t that way, is it?” Lunoa asked, watching Tida walk away.
“That direction leads to the bar and tavern district,” Misha replied. “They’re open from the early hours of the morning here.”
It seemed like the two of them had already gotten used to Tida and her habits.