Chapter 36
Perusing the menu, Slate said, “Not really, I haven’t eaten here for a while and it appears they’ve changed the menu. Hmmm…they don’t offer a sampler so how about we pick out several main entrées along with some desserts? That way we can make up our own sampler.”
Dakota’s eyes danced with delight at his mate’s idea. “I love it. But holy cow, look at all these dishes! Some I’ve heard of, but many are new to me.”
“So let’s pick from the ones you don’t know.”
“Okay…let’s see… Grilled Dragonturtle…that sounds interesting, what do you think?”
“I like anything grilled, well almost anything…so let’s order that…hmmm, this sounds interesting…Deep Fried Moon Falcon and it’s served with a side order of Lunar Beets.”
“Where did you find that...oh I see it…wow! Lunar Beets...do you know how rare they are?” asked Dakota.
“No, mainly because I never heard of them,” Slate said.
“Lunar Beets only grow in the Arctic Circle. They have to be planted exactly one month before the sun is at its highest and are harvested sixty days later…making them very rare. We have to order that,” Dakota said.
“Definitely a must try…so we have two, let’s get one more…you pick it.”
“Well,” Dakota said, running his finger down the menu items, “what about the Basted Cave Grouse…it comes with a Timeless Mushroom & Rosemary Roll…mmm, mushrooms and rosemary…never tried that combination but it does sound interesting.”
“Cave Grouse…I heard of it but haven’t tried it. Sounds good to me…have you looked at the desserts?” asked Slate.
“Do you want to order them right away,” asked Dakota, “or wait until we’re finished?”
“Let’s order everything at once…I see one I’ve always wanted to try,” said Slate. “It’s Bear Bug Ice Cream. My secretary raves about it but I’ve never had it.”
“I’ve never heard of it so, yes to that…and I want to try Fire Honey & Thyme Pastry. I read about Fire Honey but never could find it.”
“What’s fire honey?” Slate asked.
“Fire honey is made by bees when they use the nectar from the Milk Fever Weed. The plant is poisonous but the nectar isn’t…it is hot, though, like cayenne pepper hot. So you end up with a very hot honey, hence the name Fire Honey.”
“So the pastry is going to be spicy…how unusual…okay, one more.”
“Then let’s have a classic…the Dragon Molten Cake,” said Dakota.
“Wow!” Slate said, reading the description, “I can’t wait to taste that…are you ready to order?”
“We better, or I’ll end up changing my mind the longer I look at this menu.”
Slate caught the eye of the waiter who nodded in response. “Our waiter will be over in a minute…last chance…any changes?”
“Nope,” Dakota said, closing his menu and setting it at the edge of the table.
Arriving with a basket of thick slices of bread and a pot of jam, their waiter pulled out his pad and pencil and paused, waiting.
As Slate gave him their order, Dakota picked up a slice of the bread and lathered jam on it. Taking a bite, he moaned, then tore off a piece and held it in front of Slate’s mouth, “Babe, you gotta taste this.”
Leaning forward, Slate opened his mouth for Dakota to pop it in. “Oh my gods, that’s fantastic,” he said after he ate it. “What is it?” he asked their waiter.
“It’s our specialty…Unicorn Bread and Dark Egg & Beans Jam.”
“Can I get the recipe for both?” asked Dakota.
“I don’t know, I’ll have to ask the cook,” answered the waiter.
“I’d appreciate it,” said Dakota.
