Cesare's mind turns into a small and narrow mountain road, the kind that's overcrowded with two mules trying to pass each other. He looks at Xel for a second, eyes soft, lips slightly parted, and then successfully channels whatever he may or may not have been thinking towards...
"Capon Inzucarati," he says. "Umm. Yes, that would be meraviglioso." His eyes almost close while he recites,
"Sugared Capon. Get two big fat capons; two days dead; when they are cleaned well, boil them, but not to the point that they are overcooked; take them out of the pot to drain; then get enough fine sugar for the size of the capons you wish to sugar, and break up the sugar, and break up the sugar and dissolve it in rosewater and boil it a little; then pour the dissolved sugar over the capons so they are completely covered, along with good cinnamon; they are eaten almost immediately."
He coughs politely. "Together with a white almond sauce, perhaps, and spinach fried in olive oil? I realise it's far from a proper succession of dishes, but-"