[NR] Ordering Crêpes - Chapter 590 (Patreon)

Jason and his mom, Jenny, get out of their cab and enter a rustic-looking storefront. In previous times, this look might have represented either a cheap facade or some old shop. However, as this was within an arcology, it instead represented some of the highest quality craftsmanship.

The brick front represented someone who had spent decades in NeoRealm, learning the craft of not only laying the bricks, but handcrafting them. Rounded corners and curves created with the utmost attention to detail as not just anyone is allowed to put up such potential dangers. Construction of such a display requires not only a massive upfront cost both to reserve the craftsman’s time, but also to purchase the license to do so.

Though most importantly, you can’t just throw money at the situation to make it work. Only real constructions are allowed in the arcology, no false facades of styrofoam styled to look like bricks. And to even be allowed to apply for the license to put up such a display, you need to already have been recognized as one of the top in your field.

Whether it was a lawyer’s office, the brick craftsperson, or a chef’s restaurant. Very few places gain the right to have a personalized front to their business. Because while the arcology is a modern wonder, they still have to be careful about how weight is distributed across the entire structure.

Though the bit about not allowing false facades is definitely a status thing. After all, personal apartments can put up such things. Someone just decided when the rules were being made, that businesses should be held to a higher standard or some such. Plus, this only counts for the front of the business. You can customize the interior all you want. It is honestly quite strange if you stop and think about it.

Jason has in the past, but at this point it represents some of the best food he has ever had. Even in his last life where animals and plants that could process world energy tasted literally divine, he had not tasted better. That likely has to do with his low status, nevertheless, pretty impressive when some of the cooks in his sect had likely been at it for hundreds of years. Though then again, with NeoRealm’s time differential, so could some of the more elderly chefs in this world as well.

Not this chef, though. The place Jenny had reserved a breakfast from was run by a famous chef in their early thirties, which meant only about three quarters of a century of experience. Still a lot compared to earlier times.

Either way, Autumn SuGrep made some of the best pancakes. Their particular specialty being crêpes. However, they did it, their crêpes were so thin that they were practically crispy all the way through and yet still flexible enough to be rolled right around whatever filling you might desire.

So after mother and son were seated in one of the private rooms, they went through the process of ordering their three course crêpe meal. First an appetizer, a single fruit based crêpe. Jason went with a raspberry filling topped with soft, peaked whipped cream. While Jenny went a little less traditional and got a more savory apple chutney filling topped with a red wine reduction.

The main course was made of three larger crêpes with a much wider selection of fillings. For this course, both for the same thing. One with a ham filling and honey molasses topping. Another with a strip of fried chicken and topped with syrup. Then finally, deeply caramelized and jammy onion filling with a melted cheese topping.

And of course there was the dessert course, which would be most familiar to people when they think of pancakes and crêpes. Jenny went for a vanilla bean ice cream filling with freshly made caramel topping. While Jason, remembering their talk about cultivation and the local origins of the concept, went with an anko filling and a matcha ice cream topping.

After that, despite how quickly crêpes could be ready, they had to wait a good thirty or so minutes. However, they both certainly thought it was worth it. After all, besides a few ingredients that had to be ready ahead of time, Autumn cooked the various fillings and toppings fresh for each crêpe. Was this an effective use of time? No, but that’s not the point. This was about getting the height of what food could be.

Plus, the time spent waiting was perfect for people to chat while sipping on whatever drinks they might have ordered. Jason went for some plain black coffee, while Jenny decided to have a glass of mimosa, followed by regular orange juice.

Jenny finished her mimosa before speaking up. “I’m not going to ask if you have anything to do with what went on just recently in our arcology and was mysteriously centered on our apartment. Though I will mention that it affected a large section of the arcology and has a bunch of eggheads in a tizzy.

“What I will ask about is why a certain high society lady just moved in. Yes, she did move into the upper floors as most in their circles tend to. However, they’re directly above our living space, or at least as much as that is possible. Also, I’ve gotten more than a few inquiries about you which aren’t related to the previously mentioned incident.”

Jason shrugs, “I am in a party with someone that would probably match that description. Though I don’t know anything about them moving.”

Jenny raises an eyebrow, “Are you trying to marry into money?”

Jason almost sputters into his coffee. “What the hell?! Where’d that come from? If anything, I’m more afraid of her running off with my rabbit in game than anything else.”

Jenny laughs, “Your expression! While I couldn’t rule out you maybe getting romantically involved with her until I asked. It certainly wasn’t my first thought. Rather, I just found it odd since someone from a family like that is more likely to move someone to their arcology instead of the other way around.”