SWNOVELS Chapter She Outshines 161
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Chapter 161
At Luma's table, they were discussing movies while eating, so naterally, they ate more slowly. However, they were clearly enjoying every bite.
By the time they finished eating, the other guests had long gone, leaving behind only a pile of empty plates and bowls.
Athena didn't rush to clear the dishes. Instead, she picked up the questionnaire on the table to see which dish had received the highest ratings from the diners.
With great satisfaction, she saw that her favorite dish, foie gras with gingerbread toast, or rather, the kind of cashew cheese, topped the list. She couldn't help but think to herself, They have good taste and excellent judgment, and this cashew cheese, handmade with care, deserves all the praise!"
It was not that she was bragging, but anyone who saw how her family's cashew cheese was made would definitely fall in love
with them..
First, they selected the freshest, highest-quality cashews, carefully sorting out the bad and small ones, keeping only the good.
Second, they soaked the cashews in water overnight to hydrate and soften them.
Then, they boil the soaked cashews for a few minutes, after which they cool them in cold water and gently rub them to remove the cashew skins.
The fourth step was to hand-grind the peeled cashews.
Their family used a traditional method, ensuring everything was prepared with great care.
In the courtyard of the Donovan family restaurant, Arthur held onto the stone mill's handle with one hand, turning it rhythmically in circles. With the other hand, he placed the beans into the hole at the top of the mill, adding a bit of water to help the cashew milk flow out smoothly.
As he ground the beans, a steady stream of white, fragrant cashew milk flowed from the bottom of the stone mill, trickling along the groove to the spout and into the pot below, making it look so appetizing that it made one want to enjoy.
The next steps were to filter, cook the cashew milk, add a thickening agent, and then let it set into shape.
The entire production process used mountain spring water or high-quality bottled mineral water, which was all-natural, pollution-free, clean, and hygienic.
Just watching it was a pleasure in itself.
The cashew cheese made this way was white and tender, with no beany taste, just the rich aroma of cashews. It was best served fresh, making it incredibly delicious.
Notably, the one making cashew cheese alongside Arthur was a clean, experienced, and beautiful girl. From then on, she was designated to specifically grind and make the cashew cheese, earning the nickname "Cashew Goddess' from the diners.
As for the price of the cashew cheese dishes, it varied depending on the different preparation methods and portion sizes. The foie gras with gingerbread toast made today was priced at 32 dollars for a plate of 10 pieces.
As for Athena's other favorite dish, the sautéed vegetables, it was only available in the evening because it required a long simmering time for the sauce.
The most substantial dish at her family restaurant was the seafood chowder, but this dish was also confplicated to prepare and took a lot of time, so it could only be made in the evening.
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Following the foie gras with gingerbread toast, the dishes that gained the highest score were ratatouille, strained yogurt, mashed sweet potatoes, and handmade pasta, all of which were vegetarian. Only after that came the meat dishes, like chicken alfredo, grilled chicken breast, barbecue ribs, and smoked sausage with sauerkraut
It was clear that rich people, having become tired of fancy meals or dealing with health problems from their diets, suddenly felt refreshed and hungry when they ate simple, natural organic vegetables.
Many diners said they experienced the "taste of their childhood
Athena was surprised that the grilled chicken breast ranked so high.
The preparation of this dish was quite unique. The chicken breast was marinated to enhance its flavor and then cooked on a grill until it was perfectly charred and juicy. It was often served with a special sauce on the side, making it incredibly tender and flavorful without any fishy smell. In short, the main focus of her family's restaurant was fresh, organic, healthy, and all-natural food.
Diners praised it highly.
Before leaving a guest said, "I'll definitely come back often, but I wonder if there will be a seat available next time."
A customer joked. "I can't recommend this place to anyone, or else there won't be a seat for me when I come!"
While Athena was compiling the score sheet, Luna's manager, Horace, was seated in a comer of the public dining area, discussing matters with Jaden.
In his forties, Horace styled his hair in a slicked-back manner, with a touch of gray. He sported a well-groomed, stylish mustache and dressed formally, giving off an air of sophistication and shrewdness,
He poured a cup of coffee for Jaden and said sincerely, "Mr. Donovan, you've been in contact with Luna for a while, so you should be able to tell that she is quite picky about her food. She usually has a small appetite and often skips breakfast or dinner." Jaden nodded. "I can tell."
Actually, when Luna ate at his restaurant, she ate relatively normally, but apart from that, he hadn't seen her eat snacks or anything else.
Moreover, Luna was very thin which made him think for a while that she was over-dieting for a role.
Horace said, "Her career hasn't been going well in the past few years. Rumors about her have been spreading like wildfire putting a lot of pressure on her
At this point, he hesitated for a few seconds. "Especially when extremely competitive newcomers appeared in the industry. The scripts and teams she was interested in were taken by them, and everyone says that one of them is her successor, surpassing her. All of this has intensified her pressure. However, her pride and ambition are quite strong. She refuses to take on projects she doesn't like, which has left her without any roles for over a year."
Jaden remained silent, simply listening intently.
As someone who wasn't a huge movie fan,)
still knew a bit about a top actress like Luna.
In the past few years, Luna starred in four films, including an art film, a comedy, a commercial adventure movie, and a Hollywood monster movie, but both their box office performance and reviews were average.
In her proudly held awards, she had gone four years without winning anything, with her best achievement being nomination for a rather low-profile Best Actress Award, which she ultimately did not wit
Coupled with the fact that she had not released a new movie for more than a year and that she had lost a lot of weight, there
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Chapter 161
were many speculation among the public.
Some people said she was using drugs
Some people said she was dieting excessively.
Some people said that she was seriously ill.
Some people said she had run out of talent.
Others claimed she had faces exploitation and had been taken advantage of by men, losing a significant amount of money, which led to her drastic weight loss and self-harm, among other things. Horace's eyes were filled with worry. "She suffered from depression two years ago. At her worst, she even thought of committing suicide.
Jaden looked up with surprise in his eyes.
He could tell that Luna had something on her mind and felt lonely, but her attitude seemed very positive, so he really didn't realize that she was suffering from severe depression.
Horace noticed his emotions and quickly explained. "But she has been actively seeking treatment, working hard to fight against her depression, and her symptoms have improved. She really enjoys this play and has poured all her energy into her work since she got the role. This has made her feel fulfilled, and her symptoms have improved as a result."
Jaden looked puzzled. He wondered if Horace was suggesting that he should take care of Lunia.
He did not think he had the ability to do that