-Little Madame & Flaubert The Cook-
Original Fiction — Part 2
Doctor Vincent had asked Little Madame to avoid eating anything that involved vigorous chewing. This rule was to hold sway for a fortnight, at the least. With an unusual swiftness, the whole food cupboard transformed to better suit Madame’s new needs. She demanded only the best from her kitchen staff and a recovering mandible was hardly going to be a reason to go easy on them. The kitchens were summarily instructed to devise liquid wonders of every kind. Soups, juices, broths simmered everyday in the Lavoisier household and soon the entire street was perfumed with the delicious steam. The head cook, Flaubert was a man of astonishing culinary talent. In the past, he had executed banquets famous for their startling breadth of offering, he had travelled the world to learn the secrets of all major culinary traditions, he had risked his life several times to obtain rare ingredients. And now, all this man was allowed to make was soup. Soup! He despaired, he fought against it bitterly. How dare they? He threatened to leave their service. But, in time, the same talent that had bred his egotism, kicked in again to show the proof for his greatness. He concentrated all of his symphonic ability on preparing the humble soup and this had surprising consequences. Everyday he would prepare soup dishes of increasing complexity. After using up every vegetable imaginable, he started hounding the markets for new ingredients. He started incorporating flowers and seafood. Hot and cold, broths and gazpachos, spicy and sweet, steaming bowls of spices, meats and oils bursting with flavour. Soon, he presented a dish so flavourful, that a man would easily forego food for an year if he could just get a taste. Little Madame was satisfied. Although, she missed her meats and gravies, her toothsome breads and cheeses, hard nuggets of chocolate and almond crusted cakes, Flaubert’s soups kept her happily sipping. One day, Doctor Vincent dropped in on the Lavoisier’s to check on Madame. She had followed his instructions and was healing well. After a hard day at work, the good doctor was feeling peckish. But, they had no food they could offer him. Far from feeling dissatisfied, Doctor Vincent left the house trembling, his cheeks stained with astonished tears. In the paltry soup they served him, he had momentarily communed with the gods themselves. Oye Ve!
