Chapter 123
Restaurant Rothschild, which I visited 3 hours before opening, was incredibly busy.
However, perhaps because Baron Conte had provided thorough consultation and training, there was no sign of chaos or noise.
All the staff were quietly focused on their work, and even footsteps were barely audible.
"How on earth did he train them?"
As I was wondering, Baron Conte approached me.
"I decided to do it thoroughly since we're doing it. I educated the employees that the reason this place pays several times more daily wages than other shops is as a reward for loyalty and diligence, and taught them strictly."
In Confucianism, loyalty is something subjects must unconditionally give to the monarch.
The so-called crime of high treason isn't really planning 'rebellion' and exterminating three generations of family, but labeling someone as lacking loyalty and calling it high treason.
But in the Albania continent, loyalty is given as repayment for money, honor, territory and such bestowed by one's lord.
'As an etiquette expert, he really educated them in a noble-like way.'
"I educated them like teaching servants in noble families. That's how they can treat visitors here like 'nobles', isn't it?"
Baron Conte puffed out his chest and continued speaking.
"I also paid a lot of attention to the interior of the shop. The floor is wood soaked in oil, and the walls are painted white to give an elegant feel. I've also hung landscape paintings by artists here and there."
The floor doesn't attract much attention, so it doesn't matter much as long as it's not a cheap dirt floor.
On the other hand, the walls attract a lot of attention, so hanging landscape paintings and painting them white gives a sufficiently noble atmosphere.
"The tables are black painted wooden tables, and the chairs are brown painted wooden chairs with red cushions. The tableware is made of steel plated with silver."
There's no porcelain here, so all expensive tableware is metal products.
That's why pure gold tableware is all over the imperial palace.
I heard even if a few silver tableware pieces go missing, managers including servants don't even think of looking for them...
Anyway, let's stop unnecessary thoughts here.
"To perfectly recreate a noble's banquet hall, there should originally be a space in the center for dancing. But considering the status and education of those visiting, there won't be anyone who can dance. So I boldly omitted that. Instead, I placed musicians in the center so the performance can be seen from any seat."
In the center were musicians holding instruments like a small piano, cello, violin, viola, flute.
"I'll also teach very simple etiquette to those coming in. I plan to have them maintain maximum silence inside the shop."
Like me, nobles don't talk while eating.
Talking while eating is said to be blasphemy against God who provided these delicious ingredients.
If they follow simple etiquette on top of that, they can feel like nobles.
"By following manners they don't usually keep and eating food nobles eat, they'll feel like they've become nobles."
"That's how it will be."
Then Baron Conte looked at me and cleared his throat.
"Ahem, ahem."
There must be many expenses like his grandson's wedding.
"Don't worry about wedding costs and spend generously. The Rothschild Trading Company will sponsor you."
A smile characteristic of someone who received financial treatment appeared on Baron Conte's face.
In that state, he tapped his chest with his fist and straightened his shoulders.
"I'll crush anyone who nitpicks about etiquette or loss of dignity without exception. It's not imperial etiquette to begin with, so what's wrong with commoners eating food like what nobles eat at banquets?"
As expected, with enough money, you can change a person's ideology.
"Baron, shall we slowly head out together? Antonio will take care of the rest anyway."
"Haha, shall we?"
"I'll open a bottle of wine I imported from the Kingdom of Lyon. It's something His Excellency Count Farnese struggled to obtain too."
**
Lucas, a senior craftsman of the Florence Carpentry Guild, visited Restaurant Rothschild with his family.
It happened to be his wife's birthday, and he wanted to let his children taste noble food at least once.
Moreover, as a senior craftsman of the guild and owner of a workshop, this wasn't such a burdensome luxury for him.
'Continuously employing a chef is burdensome, but eating out once is fine.'
"The food isn't cheap at all, but there's an incredible crowd..."
But waiting wasn't particularly difficult.
Because instead of standing in line to wait, they could comfortably wait while drinking 'free' drinks at a nearby cafe.
However, his children were getting restless, probably bored of waiting.
"Dad, when can we go in? I'm hungry."
"Let's wait a bit more. It'll be our turn soon."
He said that, but he thought the wait would be quite long.
Because people in the same situation as him filled the cafe.
He fully understood their feelings.
You can occasionally eat dishes nobles usually eat, but when would you eat the high-class food served at banquet halls?
Unless you're lucky enough to be called to a noble's banquet, never in your life.
As they kept waiting, someone called Lucas.
"Mr. Lucas, a table has opened up inside. Please come in."
Lucas's family followed as if their souls had left their bodies hearing those words.
They were so amazed to receive such treatment.
'I paid money, but is this really okay?'
Then the employee cautioned:
"Nobles don't say anything while eating. Please be careful not to make any sound except for the absolute minimum necessary words."
"I understand."
"Once inside, an employee will briefly explain etiquette to you."
Lucas also cautioned his children to be quiet.
Though they might not listen since they're young children.
And as soon as they entered, Lucas and his family felt an ecstasy like their eyes would roll back.
In the center was a band playing a very beautiful piece of music, though they didn't know what it was, and a heavy, deep fragrance wafted from all around.
The space harmonizing white walls and black furniture was beautiful enough to believe it was a noble's banquet hall.
"Please be seated."
As soon as they sat down, an employee briefly explained etiquette.
"When eating bread, pick it up with your left hand, and use a knife and fork for everything else. Please hold the knife with your right hand and the fork with your left hand. At other times, you can use the fork and spoon with your right hand."
It was very simple but etiquette every noble follows.
On the other hand, craftsmen and middle to upper class people do things like holding bowls to eat soup dishes or eating with spoons...
Just pointing this out and changing it makes their behavior somewhat presentable as nobles.
"Here is Latina mountain wine as an aperitif. It's not a very strong alcohol, and we're only serving a minimum amount, so young masters can try it too. Please enjoy the aroma and taste slowly."
Hearing those words, Lucas immediately drank the wine very slowly.
A rich grape aroma with a very slight bitterness and quite strong acidity.
The children only frowned for a moment, but it was a taste they could drink without complaint.
"From the next course, grape juice will be provided for the young masters. Then please enjoy your meal."
And all sorts of gorgeous dishes were served to Lucas' family.
A thickly simmered stew, a fire-breathing dragon served to please the eyes, fish dishes, etc.
But because it focused on 'color' and 'luxury' rather than taste, it wasn't actually very good to eat.
"This is beef sirloin generously seasoned with pepper, thyme, and saffron. Please eat it with the provided bread and soup."
To maintain the standard of noble cuisine, chunks weighing over 500g per person were served.
Everyone expected good taste but... perhaps because there were too many spices.
'It's not as tasty as I thought. It's just pretty, what is this?'
The spices were so strong that you couldn't taste the beef at all.
Even though they weakened the seasoning in consideration of those coming here, it was still terribly tasteless.
But since nobles are said to enjoy such dishes, they reluctantly ate it all.
After finishing, dessert was served.
"This is strawberry cream shortcake."
The children, and even Lucas, hurriedly ate the cake to wash away the heavy taste.
After getting up and going outside, he said:
"The feeling of becoming a noble is really nice, but..."
Honestly, if asked to come again, he'd probably come.
But it's definitely not because the food tastes good.
From craftsmen and merchants to ordinary people, though not as much as nobles, the Tuscan Empire is a society of 'face', so to show that I can enjoy this level of luxury.
"Nobles really eat such gorgeous but tasteless things at banquets. Why on earth do they spend money like that?"
The beef would have been delicious even with light seasoning.
The other dishes were similar.
And the same consensus formed among all those who visited the restaurant today, and this sound reached the ears of nobles.