Posted by Lieutenant Séan Iven (Counselor) in What is an eggplant anyway?

Posted by Civilian Jezem (Upstanding Citizen) in What is an eggplant anyway?

Posted by Lieutenant Séan Iven (Counselor) in What is an eggplant anyway?
Posted by… suppressed (22) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Séan was in his quarters tidying things up. Clothes were going through the laundry, plates and silverware getting recycled in the replicator, and various knick knacks went back into their neatly arranged places. He was normally a very tidy person but the sheer stress and workload of working as a counselor on Oed was mind boggling. How the staff, Mika especially, kept things afloat before he arrived to share the load was beyond him. Not that he swooped in to save the day or anything, but he’d done a rotation at Starfleet Medical and even it wasn’t this busy. He sighed to himself as he placed the picture of his mom and dad by the terminal on his desk.

Counselor Iven

Jezem arrived outside the counselor’s home dressed casually in the human style. A lose t-shirt and shorts with sandals to cover his feet and a sun visor. He carried a large square bag with several smaller bags folded inside. Jezem pressed the chime, announcing his presence, 10 minutes early because they had a lot to get done before the promised cooking lesson.

Jezem

The door slid open to reveal Séan standing there in khaki pants and an olive green tank top while barefoot. He looked Jezem over and noted the attire and large bag before he stepped aside and gestured in greeting. “Welcome and please come in.”

Counselor Iven

Jezem took in the casually dressed counselor and bare feet before smirking and stepping in at the counselor’s request, “Where’s the kitchen? I want to know what I’m working with.” If he’s lucky there will be some kind of stovetop or oven. Though he’d take one of those standalone appliances if that was all the counselor had. Jezem studied the living space around him with a keen eye. Noting the type and value of the objects that occupied it and anything that seemed to have a sentimental attachment rather than pure aesthetics.

Jezem

“Kitchen?” Séan asked with confusion before looking around the single bedroom place he’d been assigned. “Uh, I only have the dining area, a sink, and a replicator. They didn’t furnish this place with a kitchen.”

Counselor Iven

Jezem slowly blinked. He craned his neck around, searching the meager space for the kitchen because surely this was some kind of joke. What living space would come without basic cooking necessities? It was unimaginable. The Federation with all their resources and preaching about meeting everyone’s basic needs would. . . never. Jezem spun on his heel to face the counselor “What do you eat when the replicator is broken? Or the power goes out?”

Jezem

“Well if the absolute worst happens I’d head up to the Centurion and use their replicators.” Séan grinned at Jezem and enjoyed the outrage on the Orion’s face. “In the not worst case, I’d go over to the plaza and avail myself of the food trucks or various nearby restaurants. There are plenty of things in our modern society that enables someone to not need to know how to cook.”

Counselor Iven

Jezem shook his head, “You should still know how to do something. What if there are no replicators or cities? Sisters, you Federation types are spoiled.” Cooking was one of the very first skills he learned, even before he was sold into slavery. Everyone old enough to help out at the orphanage were given simple tasks. Six year olds could be trusted to clean and peel vegetables. “This, this is why you need a cooking lesson.”

Jezem Upstanding Citizen

Séan continued grinning as Jezem went on with disdain for the softness of Starfleet officers. “I’m not exactly a botanist so any situation that leaves me away from civilization will likely have me eyeing weird roots and herbs, but alright don’t get your knickers in a twist. Let’s do this cooking lesson but first… where exactly are we going to be doing this?”

Counselor Iven

Jezem pinched the bridge of his nose before even going into the whole forging for food thing. That was something that required more training than any simple cooking lesson. “Yes, lesson first. We’ll get ingredients and we’ll get you a simple portable cooking station.” The stations were small and compact and could be used at home or carried along for trips outdoors or even for use on starships or stations. “Let’s get you to the point where you can master the basics.” Jezem hitched his bags higher up his shoulder and waved for the counselor to follow him, “The market down the road will have all that we need.”

Jezem Upstanding Citizen

Séan motioned for Jezem to lead the way then locked up and followed him to the market. He made conversation along the way. “I’m not against learning a new skillset or being able to cook. I guess it’s just that there has always been something else to learn, job tasks or activities to do, and my own sanity to maintain. Trying to pick up a skill from scratch and solo never fit in to the myriad of commitments on my plate.”

Counselor Iven

Jezem turned his face up towards the sun as they walked, soaking in the warmth of the sunlight and the energetic sensation that came with being outside. No sun lamp could replicate the feeling, “I know what it’s like, I used to live on starships. Everyone had a role and if that role did not include cooking then you didn’t cook. I bought the ingredients but it was never my job to do anything with them.”

“I grew up on a freighter and there was rarely the luxury of having fresh food aboard. Whatever was on stations or planets we visited to trade would be the only time we ate something cooked.”

Jezem laughed, “The perk of flying around in outdated ships. You only had the luxury of food replicators if you had a good ship and energy to spare. For most purchasing fresh or dried foods was more cost effective. Cooked food was better for ship morale.”

The markets were predictably busy. Jezem guided them through the stalls, casting his critical eye over the offered wares. This was his domain, hunting for the best deals, balancing quality for price and haggling prices down. “To make good food you need good ingredients,” Jezem explained as they went, “Pay attention to the look of the food and the smell. If it looks off and smells off then don’t buy.” Basic but important.

Jezem, Upstanding Citizen

“That seems obvious, but how can you tell when something looks good or bad? I imagine there are some ingredients that look strange to the uninitiated.” Séan posed a question.

Counselor Iven

“Simple,” Jezem smirked and motioned Séan closer as they approached the next stall, “If the foods look uniform in shape and color then chances are they’re all ripe and of good quality. Different sizes, shapes or color means laxer quality controls during growing but they’re just as good and often sell for less than the more uniform products. When selling anything that spoils you put the oldest product at the front and newest product at the back.” He picked up a vegetable and pointed out where it felt softer then compared it to a vegetable pulled from the back. “The sellers on Oed are disgustingly friendly and if you ask them they’ll outright tell you which of their stock is freshest. Take advantage of their kindness when you’re not sure yourself.”

Jezem, Upstanding Citizen

“No unscrupulous produce merchants on Oed?” Séan asked as he paid attention to the demonstration. “How can you tell when something is off from the standard but still good for consumption?”

Counselor Iven

“None that you’d cross paths with,” Jezem cryptically said before reaching for another piece of fruit, “By feel. Most ripe plants fit for consumption are firm or spongy to the touch. And they should feel like that all around, if there are smaller soft spots then it’s starting to turn bad. Now, if it is a weird plant that follows none of the guides I told you then compare it to the others around it. In short. Use your brain and your senses.” He shrugged and went to pay for their produce.

He shoved the full bag off onto Séan, “If you really want to know more then read up on the local produce. The farmers and other growers publish journals nearly every day with updates on their latest harvests or accomplishments.” The Oed V Digital Public Resources Center contained everything any citizen of the colony could ever want. Updates on market trends, latest research and developments. All in one handy place that he didn’t have to hack into.

Jezem, Upstanding Citizen

Séan took the bag with a smirk. “All very informative information. I’ll try to keep my produce purchases to the standard fruits and vegetables that fit the standards.” He looked at Jezem to see what they’d do next.

Counselor Iven

Jezem’s laugh was sharp, “That would be best for someone as clueless as you. Now come on, fruits and vegetables alone don’t make a meal.” He moved with confidence through the crowd, taking only a second to scan a stall, take note of the contents then moving on. “Here we are,” He brought Séan to a table supporting impressively tall wooden shelves filled with various bottles, “The most critical component of any meal. The spices and seasonings. This is what elevates ingredients into a meal. For today we should focus on the basics.” Jezem plucked several bottles from the shelves and held each out for Séan to sniff, “These should be familiar to your terran upbringing. Note the strength of the scent and the color of the seasonings.”

Jezem Upstanding Citizen

Séan recognized from the scent maybe three or four of the several bottles Jezem grabbed. “Salt, pepper, coriander… maybe, and quite possibly fennel? I did definitely know the salt and pepper though.”

Counselor Iven

“And paprika, allspice, mace, ginger and some herb mixes.” Jezem paid for the seasonings and added them to the bags. “Seasonings should be used liberarlly and frequently. Certain mixes are favoured depending upon the type of cuisine but don’t feel limited to that. Go by nose and taste. If it smells and tastes good then that’s all that matters. Orions have a saying. . .” He paused for a long moment, face scrunched in thought, “Sisters, I don’t know how well this will translate but here goes ‘a meal without flavor will leave you with friends without favors’.” Jezem once again motioned for the counselor to follow, “Last two things we need is a starch to be base and a protein to round it out. Since you are a such a beginner I think rice will be simple enough for you.”

Jezem Upstanding Citizen

Séan dutifully followed Jezem again. “I certainly don’t want friends without favors. Is it favors though or benefits? I’m a bit confused on that.”

Counselor Iven

Jezem sighed, “Of course it didn’t translate properly,” He pursed his lips in thought, considering the best way to describe the saying without going into hyperspecific detail, “In Orion culture you treasure your friends and family. You give them the best you can provide for, you’re generous. If you serve them a bland meal then you’re being stingy. It’s saying you don’t consider them friends or family. So they would feel the same in return. You don’t care for someone who doesn’t care about you.”

He pulled the counselor over to the grains stall, explaining the differences between the rice before selecting an Earth long-grain cultivar for their meal, “When you cook for someone you’ve sacrificed for them. Giving up time and wealth so they can reap the benefits. Do you understand now?”

Jezem the Upstanding Citizen

“Actions speak louder than words and the amount of effort or resources you put into a social gathering reflects, whether accurately or not, the level of respect and/or friendship towards someone.” Séan rephrased to try and show his understanding.

“Ah, now rice I actually know something about.” He smiled happily. “I have a mentor who insisted that rice had to be cooked by hand on the stove and tea likewise. I could show you a tea ceremony sometime if you’re interested.”

Counselor Iven

Jezem nodded, a pleased smile on his face, “Now you get it. Orions take these things very seriously. To outsiders it seems like we’re obsessed with displays of wealth but that wealth is given generously. We’re not the Ferengi who hoard it and make everything into a transaction.”

“So you’re not completely hopeless,” Jezem smirked but selected a bag of rice to be added to the bags. He paused at the offer. It was friendly, and not entirely unexpected given how they’d shared dinner already, “That would be nice. What type of meat or protein do you prefer?”

Jezem the Upstanding Citizen

Séan thought about for a moment before his eyes sparkled. “If we could source some real beef that would be fantastic.”

Counselor Iven

Jezem smirked, “You want real beef, we’ll get you real beef. Follow me,” He set off in a sure direction, leading the counselor through the markets. Along the way he stopped ata stall to haggle over a glass container of seasoning. The war wagged on but Jezem came out victorious with an excellent deal. Container in hand he motioned for the counselor to follow once again until they arrived at their destination. Jezem and the butcher greeted each other by name, “Bertrand, my friend here is looking for quality beef and I want a quality deal on it.”

Bertrand, a large guy with a serious face looked to Séan, and curtly asked “What cut?”

Jezem the Upstanding Citizen