Welcome to Gaia! ::

The chef waited a bit to see if his paytron would be more specific about which vegitables -many were- then shrugged only his face. "Yes. Good. Good." Settling Naruto's ingredients in their own spot the chef grabbed his utensils & pushed the beef onto the metal surface after squirting something from a bottle that sizzled on contact.

He pulled off a tray of sauces, spices & other seasonings off of the cart. He slightly tipped his head & the girl Ming was suddenly there, taking the cart back to the kitchen. Rikku was watching the cooking but she managed to flash a smile at the frightened looking girl.

Then her attention was called back to their dinner. Well, Naruto's so far. The man was flavoring the beef & the scent of seasoning & cooking meat was already starting to mingle enticingly in the air. It was the chopping that really got her excited. The chef's hands moved fast, but the thief easily followed the dance-like movements of hands & blade. She squeezed Naruto's hand in hers tightly.

Rikku leans over to quickly give her ninja a peck on the cheek & playfully tugs on their now wrapped tails. Sliding the now chopped up beef to the side to continue cooking, the chef added the chicken, already slightly marrinated to keep in the tenderness. As its scent was released by cooking it became clear that the marinade was likey only a simple wine, leaving the true flavoring for the cooking table.

He chopped the chicken as he had the beef, again pushing it to the side once finished. Then he made two piles of vegitables -one for each of his diners- starting with the longer cooking ones like brocoli & carrots, adding the leeks in last. More than the meats, the vegitables were doused with sauce liberally where chicken & beef had been sprinkled more with spices & other seasonings. He chopped veggies down too, eventually mixing Naruto's in with the rest. Only then did he put Rikku's fish on the cooktop, on the far side of her veggies.

Then he started to play with the eggs. Rikku's eyes widened in surprised wonder as the chef rolled first one egg then the other down his great knife & flipped them from the tip into to slight nest of his tall white hat without either breaking. "Oh! Booyah!" Rikku exclaimed with pleasure at the display. The chef left them there a moment as he shifted the food already cooking on the table. With a quick, calculated flick of his head the man popped an egg out of its resting place & into his waiting hand, cracking & emptying its contents with one hand next to Rikku's vegitables. He did the same with the other after tossing the first's shells in the garbage. Rikku "Oooo!"ed each time with rapt attention

Leaving the eggs to firm, he shifted the rest of the meals expertly. Seperating a small thourally cooked bite of chicken out from the rest the chef balanced it on his blade. With a grin of impudence the chef lifted a brow at Naruto, the look in his eyes clearly saying 'open your mouth & catch.'

Giggling, Rikku twists to get a better view. Her eyes sparkle as the impudent look in the chef's eyes flickers with playful mischief. Then his face gets slightly more focused as he seems to calculate the trajectory before effortlessly flicking the bite with sure aim at the audio male's open mouth.

Clapping enthusiastically for both toss & catch, Rikku momentarily forgets her hard to keep up act of propensity. With a more characteristic display for the perky Al Bhed, as soon as Naruto has swallowed & his hands are no longer giving the thumbs up she throws her arms around the shinobi's neck & kisses him soundly on the lips. "This place is great!" Rikku exclaims with a smile.

Glad the trick worked, the chef is calmly basking in the signalled job well done when Rikku's sudden display nearly catches him off guard. The cutlery in his hand slips from his grip but a moment before he catches it once again. But not before metal strikes metal with a undisguisable 'ping'.

Rikku blushes & sits back in her place where she attempts to collect herself. Now over his surprise the chef smiles. It was nice to see someone really enjoying themselves for a change. It reminded him why he started.

With a smile of 'all is well' the chef oiled & sauced the noodles beside Naruto's portion, switched to chopping the eggs & mixing them into Rikku's veggies as well as adding the pre-cooked pieces of other randonm sea-creatures, switched back to stirr all of Naruto's meal together, checked on Rikku's fish & flaked it into her pile, stirred both back & forth before finally grabbing two dishes & filling each with the couple's meals.

Giving a slight flourish the chef presented the bowls with a smile. "Enjoy."

Rikku clapped & smiled. "Oh, thank you! That was wonderful!" The man's eyes crinkled pleasantly. "Much welcome. My pleasure."

She blinked then, seeing a bowl of rice and some smaller bowls with different sauces in them on the table in front of Naruto & her where there had been nothing of the sort before. Seeing her surprise the chef actually laughed. "Misha is swift. Silent. Would you like me to tell you of the sauces?"

Rikku glanced at Naruto while nodding. "Yes please."

Nodding the man smiled at having so rapt and enthusiastic an audience. "This one, this is best with the seafoods. Especially the lobster." He winked at Naruto, warming up to the pair. "You ask her for a bite, yes? Must try." Rikku giggled at that, making a face that said maybe she could be persuaded to share. Remembering now to turn off the table he then pointed to the second. "Next is also seafood, better with fish." The only white sauce was next, creamier than the others. "This goes with all, but best with vegitables. Meat too, mostly beef." He grinned. "You will ask for more of this one, I know." He continued on momentarily. "This one chicken. The next also chicken but bold; spicy. Taste drop first. Trust me." The man's dark eyes were solomn on that point. He went on. "This, for beef. Sweet, but very good. The next also for beef, but different. Very little taste by self, but brings out good flavors when used."

"Wow! That's a lot of sauces!" She felt a little overwhelmed looking at them all. Suddenly Misha was beside them again, holding a teapot & offering teacups. "If you forget what Che has told you ask, & I will refresh." She smiled falteringly, but the cheered Che smiled kindly at her & the delicate girl's own smile strengthened.

Rikku also accepted tea with a smile. The whisp of a girl was momentarily overwhelmed by the kindness & Rikku wondered what kind of people usually frequented the establishment that simple kindness was taken as a rare thing. Not that she had much interest beyond their booth & table. Then remembering the rest of her manners Rikku said, "Thank you Che. Thank you Ming."

Catching Naruto watching & waiting for her she fought down the urge to make a silly face & comment about being made the guinea pig. She knew he was only being sweet & polite. Picking up her chopsticks Rikku pondered what to try first. Catching a small piece of brocoli she dipped it into the creamy sauce & plopped it into her mouth. Her eyes slipped close in contentment. "mmmm." She chewed & swallowed carefully before opening her eyes. "Wow... I think we will be asking for more of that."

"I will get some more right away." Rikku blinked in surprise seeing that the chef & serving girl were still at the table. Ming dipped her head & left to attend the procurement of a second cream sauce just before Che collected his things & bowed out as well.

Rikku took her time eating & enjoying their meal. The sauce for fish was very good in its own way. Finding a small piece of lobster she tried the lobster sauce with a pleasant "mmm!"

Digging around with her chopsticks she found another lobster bite & dipped it in the sauce. But she did not eat it. Instead she held it out to the ninja. "Ruto, you've got to try this!"

Keeping an eye on Naruto for his reaction the Al Bhed returns to enjoying her own meal. She could hurry if she wished, but Rikku found little need. The food was too good in her opinion to rush through it. She almost missed when the whispy Ming stopped by their table with another dish of the white cream sauce but nodded & smiled her thanks over her full mouth. The shy creature seemed grateful though still timid. Rikku cocked her head at her dinner partner. "Well? What'd'ya think?"