Percy never did like being on the receiving end of one of his mother's new creations at the table, for the simple fact that he just wasn't a demonstrative person. His quiet enjoyment of a meal was a disappointment to someone used to bellows and cheers and screams of approval.
He didn't worry about that so much with Penny, but he still felt a bit self-conscious as he ate the first bites. He didn't appreciate food the way she did. Tastes, flavours, textures, it was all a bit beyond him. A bit too artistic, perhaps, for his studious mind.
But he did eat, and he did enjoy it. When he heard her sigh he glanced her way, and saw the same hopeful look his mum used to watch him with, back when she cooked for him and he was the only child patient enough to sit through the experiments.
He smiled, sincere. "This is quite good. To be quite honest, I'm not very fond of carrots, but I hardly notice the taste here."