InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "SCHMOKIN"!"

sam_mm (sam_mm) wrote in morningstar_mnr,
@ 2010-09-27 07:45:00

Entry tags:

gregori, ota

Chocolaterie Rushenko, Vine Square, All Day, Gregori, OTA/MW
Gregori had been working flat out for over a week, ever since the Chocolaterie was declared fit to be opened. He’d interviewed over two dozen people who wanted to work in the shop, and six for the kitchens, that had been disappointing, but, he’d found a prize! One of the young men who’d tried out for a shift had natural talent when it came to chocolate, and didn’t lick his fingers either, so he’d been hired on a trial basis to help Gregori get the stock ready for opening. Also, he’d hired two teens to work in the shop at the front, and he’d been training them when they were available. The girls grumbled about hair nets and gloves, but he was insistent, and both would have to get hygiene certificates in addition to the level ones they’d both shown him at interview. That test could be done online for heaven’s sakes, it was very basic and not really up to Gregori’s standards.

Now, at seven in the morning, he was opening the doors, and letting himself in, seeing the display counters all laid out with trays, and the stacks of leaflets and “menus” that were ready for customers to help themselves to. He went out back to check on the coolers, and was pleased to see that everything was in order, as it should be, he’d only gone home at one this morning because he couldn’t see straight. He’d locked up and set the alarms, and everything was just as he’d left it. He fired up the boiler and settled himself on a stool, for one second, unable to believe he was actually doing this. He was actually opening his shop, to sell chocolates he’d made by hand himself, to the public. It was a little scary.

He made himself stand up and start going through inventory, while the water heated. The chocolates for display were at the front of the chillers, keeping cool but not cold, he didn’t want any blooms to spoil his creations after all, while the colder fridges held the ingredients and fillings that were set prior to being covered in chocolate. The chocolate itself was stored in another chiller, again so it wouldn’t bloom, and separated into white, milk and dark by the canisters and containers it was stored in. He’d kept it simple, the white canisters held white chocolate, the black ones the dark chocolate, and the pale blue ones held milk chocolate. It worked, so he didn’t argue with it.

By eight he had the display counters filled with chocolates, the till set up and the bags and boxes set out as he wanted them. Tongs and spatulas were set in the trays, and he had time now to relax a bit, maybe get some breakfast. As if on cue, his stomach rumbled and he chuckled, then headed over to the Auberge for a very nice breakfast of still warm rolls with butter, cheese and ham, and a large coffee. After that, he headed back to the shop, leaving the door open as he went in, and turning on the lights. Chocolaterie Rushenko was officially open.

(Post a new comment)

	essayel 2010-09-27 08:53 pm UTC (link)
	On his way to the gallery, Allan stopped and looked in through the window and grinned. Then he pushed the door open and stepped inside. It smelled fantastic. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	sam_mm 2010-09-27 09:08 pm UTC (link)
	Gregori straightened up from behind the counter, where he'd been stacking more boxes and bags in the little cupboards underneath, "Good morning, how can I help you?" He had to smile, even if the guy wasn't here to buy, it was good to have someone actually in the shop! (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	essayel 2010-09-27 09:48 pm UTC (link)
	"Hey," Allan said, peering through the glass front of the counter. He glanced up at Gregori and grinned. "Seen you in the Manor! Th"ese look nice. Thought I'd get some for the girls in the gallery. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	sam_mm 2010-09-27 09:51 pm UTC (link)
	Gregori blinked, "Yes, I think I've seen you about, although I don't believe we've spoken, well, not more than a few words anyway?" He grinned, "Welcome to Chocolaterie Rushenko, and what do the girls in the gallery like, or would you just like a selection?" Yes! Paying customer number one! (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	essayel 2010-09-27 09:58 pm UTC (link)
	"A selection," Allan said, fishing his usual rather tatty roll of bill out of his pocket and snapping the elastic band that held them together. "Say - about twenty - or two dozen? That way there might be enough for the afternoon." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

sam_mm
2010-09-27 10:03 pm UTC (link)

"We can do that, any nut allergies? Or shall I just put together our medium selection box for you?" Gregori indicated the three boxes in a display on the wall, small ones contained a dozen, medium two dozen, and the large ones held three dozen chocolates. Gregori was working on some new ideas too, baskets and such, but to begin with what was simplest was best. "I have some ready made up that would probably suit? A mix of dark, milk and light chocolates, with assorted fillings?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	essayel 2010-09-28 05:29 pm UTC (link)
	"Tha's the bunny," Allan said. "No one ever mentioned nuts - well Leena does but," he snickered, "she's not allergic to 'em. Yeah medium'll be fine, thanks. The little dears are scared to come themselves in case the calories can jump - or somethin'." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

sam_mm
2010-10-02 07:22 pm UTC (link)

Gregori laughed, "I have heard that one, you look through the window and gain weight just by looking right?"

He picked up a box and began filling it with an assortment of chocolates, none with nuts in, just in case. "Here you go, two dozen no nuts, mixed chocolates, and if they have any favourites, make sure they tell you what they were so you can pick them out next time." He grinned, "Then you can buy them a smaller box each instead?"

(Reply to this) (Parent)

	mm_maru 2010-09-27 09:50 pm UTC (link)
	Urquhart came by in the late morning. He didn't hold with getting up too early unless he was in the acute phase of a job, when he stopped sleeping altogether. Now, finally, he would reap his reward! (Reply to this) (Thread)

	sam_mm 2010-09-27 09:53 pm UTC (link)
	"Hello! I'm glad you came by, you see we have it all sorted now and we are open, and business has been steady this morning!" Gregori grinned, "I'm not sure I would have managed it all without your timely intervention though, so, you have come to sample the wares?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	mm_maru 2010-09-27 09:56 pm UTC (link)
	"Yes," Urquhart said, looking around, and taking a deep breath. "You might want to get your girls ready to rope me and kick me out if I sample too much." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

sam_mm
2010-09-27 10:00 pm UTC (link)

"I'm sure you won't do that much damage, especially since I have a special tray set aside, in case you came in?" He'd put two of each of his chocolates, all thirty different kinds, onto a single tray, it was a little crowded, but hey. "Let me get it for you, I'll be right back."

He ducked into the back of the shop and checked on Paul, he was doing ok, making a batch of rum truffles, so Gregori grabbed the large tray and carried it back out. "Here you go, two of everything, and they are all yours. I'd appreciate your comments though, I, well, my assistant and I, made all of these by hand, so," he shrugged, "I'm proud of them, and him, he's a natural, but it's the customers thoughts that matter, right?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	mm_maru 2010-09-27 10:07 pm UTC (link)
	Urquhart leaned on a counter and just looked at them all for a while. "Interesting variety," he said. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	sam_mm 2010-09-27 10:15 pm UTC (link)
	"Of course, variety is good when it comes to chocolate." He chuckled a little, "The full menu is what you have in front of you, and of course, if you would prefer this filling in that colour chocolate, we can do that too, so effectively you have one third of the menu, but, I figured you wouldn't want to gain too much weight on taste testing for me?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	mm_maru 2010-09-27 10:24 pm UTC (link)
	"There's no danger of that," Urquhart said. "The chocolates are small, I am big. But I guess these are enough for me to get an impression." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

sam_mm
2010-09-27 10:36 pm UTC (link)

They ought to be, and Gregori had worked hard on his 'menu' to try and make sure there was a good mix of fillings. The chocolate was high quality, and although there were alcoholic ones, fruit ones, nut ones, and toffee or caramel ones, there were also old favourites, like the triple layered brick of dark chocolate, with milk and white on top of it, the turkish delight, plain batons of each chocolate, and of course, fudge!

"Well, I can get you a glass of water if you want one? But I reckon I should box those up and let you take them home to try them? I will of course include our Menu with a sampler score sheet or several? Paul suggested doing taster sessions, maybe getting people to try out new chocolates before we sell them to the public? Sort of like, a connoisseurs club?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	mm_maru 2010-09-27 10:37 pm UTC (link)
	"All of this sounds very good to me," Urquhart said. "It's good to see it all coming along so nicely." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

sam_mm
2010-09-27 10:41 pm UTC (link)

"I'm certainly very pleased with it, but we only opened this morning, so I'm hoping as word spreads we will get busier." He grinned, "I got a couple of college girls to help out afternoons and weekends, and Paul is a talent, I'm lucky he applied, because he is going to make the kitchen run so much better, he just needs a few pointers here and there and he just absorb knowledge like he was a sponge!"

Gregori nodded, "Yes, we will be doing fine soon no doubt, and if you have any new ideas, please, let me know! I am all fired up with enthusiasm right now, but new ideas will always make me happy."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	mm_maru 2010-09-27 10:45 pm UTC (link)
	"Good thing there's gravity, or you'd just bounce about," Urquhart said, grinning. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

sam_mm
2010-09-27 10:53 pm UTC (link)

"That and little sleep last night, would you believe I was nervous?" Gregori shook his head a little, "But it has all gone well so far, and I am hopeful that my little shop will be good for the square and for me and my employees."

"So, anyway, box them up or will you start on them here?" Gregori grinned, "Won't take a moment to box them, and you'd be good to go?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	mm_maru 2010-09-27 10:55 pm UTC (link)
	Urquhart took one dark chocolate and ate it. It had some sort of coffee filling. "Delicious!" he said. "Can you box up the rest?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

sam_mm
2010-09-27 11:02 pm UTC (link)

"Of course," and Gregori proceeded to do so, "So how have you been since I saw you last? Still tinkering with the bike, I've seen you working on one, but, never rode one myself, I got a car and stuck with that."

He was fast, able to layer the chocolates into the boxes and tape them up from all the practising he'd done recently. "There you go, on the house as agreed, and if you want some more, or anything in particular, don't hesitate to ask, although next time? I charge you." Gregori laughed, "That was the deal yes?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	mm_maru 2010-09-28 08:24 am UTC (link)
	"It was," Urquhart says. "And yes, I'm still tinkering with that bike. Bike like that needs constant attention, like a woman. On which note, I found myself a girlfriend, too. Even though she's no more a girl than I am a boy." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

sam_mm
2010-10-02 07:31 pm UTC (link)

"Well you seem happy on it so why worry about that whole age and labelling thing? So far as I can tell," He grinned, "if you're happy it doesn't matter, and if you're not," he shrugged, "nothing can make you that way, whatever labels you use?"

He thought for a second, "Do you want a special little box just for her? Just in case? I mean, most women love chocolates, and we have a remarkably large range of those here as you might have noticed?"

(Reply to this) (Parent)