"Consider my interest piqued."
Some things just come as natural talents for some people, such as being able to sing, write, be an athlete, and be academically accomplished. For Violet Emberson, it was cooking. Chef Vi was a force to be tested in the kitchen. Passing her culinary written exam and practical with the highest marks, her life was and will always be being a chef. She earned status as executive chef of Régal, which, in her position, she doesn't have to cook; Vi does solely because it gives her purpose and passion for the job she loves and revolves her whole life around.
In her line of work, she prepared menus, conducted food evaluations, tested and approved preparation dishes that could be served that day, and oversaw all kitchen culinary operations. The kitchens were separated into the prep kitchen and the “front lines,” the central kitchen that cooked all the prepared items on the daily menu.
The weekly food shipments were always heated discussions between Vi and the restaurant owner Jericho, who could care less about what Vi prepares as long as it brings affluent customers and another Pristine Star Award for Vi's outstanding service and culinary excellence.
“Look, kid, I know that you have these big food ideas in that marvelous mind of yours, but you have abided within our food budget for the week.”
“Jericho, you have to give me a better budget for some of the items I'm requesting; I can't keep serving the same foods over and over, and that's why people have lost interest in food establishments. You, of all people, should know what a Pristine Star does for a restaurant.”
“I put you into this position so that you wouldn't have to sweat the small issues of this restaurant, but you're making things hard for me, chef.”
“Firstly, you didn't put me in this position. I did. I put myself through Piltover’s exclusive culinary academy as an outsider from Zaun. I passed at the top of my class with flying colors, and you don't get to tell me what makes things hard. You're not in the kitchen, I am. So either you fix my budget, or I walk away.”
“As if, I gave you a chance to prove yourself and now you're bluffing to leave the only job that you know, I call bullshit, Violet.”
“Raise my budget by the end of the night. For the record, if I don't see a receipt list of all the items I requested, my resignation will be on your desk by dawn. Call bullshit.”
“Fine.”
“Good talk, see you next week, Sir.”
“Right.”
Vi sighed and unbuttoned her shirt as she stepped outside to the loading area behind the restaurant. She looked down at her watch, seeing that her break was almost up after spending 20 minutes arguing with her boss, Jericho. It felt exhausting walking back inside. After all, she had to mask her emotions for the sake of her team. Everyone depends on her voice, her thoughts, actions, and words. She commands the attention and respect of her cooks.
“Never a dull moment at Règal.”
Vi had been offered the position of Executive Chef of Regal as soon as she graduated from Piltover’s esteemed culinary academy, Piltover’s Institute of Culinary Education. Unlike most of her classmates, she had been attempting a grant to the institute because she wasn’t a resident of piltover. Her roots go back to Zaun, where Vi was a line cook at local seafood restaurants. She would save her checks to help pay for an admission test.
While the culinary institute was reluctant to give her a chance to prove herself, they provided her with two entry exams, a written one that covered kitchen etiquette and terminology and her first practical in knife skills, prep, and sanitation. Before she did, she only had one hour to do her written exam and two days for her practical. Vi prepared meticulously merely for entry exams because she wanted to prove to the admission council that she was more than just some line cook from Zaun with an unattainable dream. She aced her written exam and was given a 98/100 on her knife skills, a 99/100 for her preparation skills, and a perfect 100/100 for her sanitation skills. The admissions council was astonished by Violet’s talents. Vi’s impeccable attention to detail, ability to adapt, ingenuity, and confidence in the kitchen. She was going to be a prodigy in culinary, and the admissions council saw her potential. Within a week of taking her entry exams, she was accepted to Piltover’s Institute of Culinary Education.
Her father, Vander, cried when she read her acceptance letter out loud to her brothers and little sister. Seeing the look of genuine shock and excitement in Vi made him feel like the proudest dad in the world. As a send-off gift, Vander gifted Vi an apartment as close as possible to Piltover’s Progress Bridges so Vi wouldn’t have to worry about transit to and from the cities.
Within the next month, Vi moved into her new apartment. She received a letter from her dad with the instructions: “Don’t open this until I leave.”
“Dear Vi,
You’ve always been a fighter, not just a protector for your sister and brothers but also for yourself and your right to be seen and heard. Even when nobody wanted to listen to you, you did it anyway. Hell, you’re putting yourself through culinary school because you wanted it. You always work so hard to prove that you have a place in this world. Who would’ve thought this teenager from Zaun with no formal cooking experience outside of being a line cook at Jericho's seafood shack would be the next culinary prodigy at Piltover’s top culinary school? I did not doubt that you couldn’t do it. I just didn’t know how good you would be. You got a full-ride grant to that school. You should be proud of yourself, your hardships, accomplishments, and your new beginnings.
You know, kid, I was hoping one day that I could give you a chance to prove yourself, but you already built that path for yourself. You put yourself through endless hours of cooking jobs and odd jobs just to save up for this school, this dream that you’ve so rightfully captured. I couldn’t be more proud of my daughter. I know your biologicals are here to see the greatness their daughter is growing into, but I know they would be so proud of you.
From your pops,
-V”
Vi’s eyes welled up with tears at the realization that she was going to make her dream of being a professional chef come true. She was going to be somebody.
On her graduation day, she was given top merit for her efforts and grades at the institution. She was the face of her class, which started with over 100 aspiring cooks and now only has 70 graduates. Each graduate had the opportunity to design their chef’s jacket; the issue was Vi was never accustomed to a chef’s jacket; however, when it was her turn, she created a black chef’s shirt with silver buttons on it, and she wore it with pride.
Months after her graduation, she was scouted for an upcoming restaurant owned by no other than Jericho himself, but in piltover, which came as a shock to Vi. The restaurant's name was Regal, a luxury-level seafood experience only the affluent cook indulged in. During the first few months of Regal's opening, there was a lot of criticism surrounding Vi, an executive chef with Zaunite roots. How could Zaunites have their hands in Piltover’s food industry? It was a shot worth taking for Vi—representation for her people, a symbol of creative and culinary genius. Within a year of Regal’s opening, the restaurant received a Pristine Star Award for its exemplary service, culinary diversity, and the executive chef’s ingenuity. The award was personally given to Vi, reading, “Piltover’s newest luxury restaurant, Regal is presented with the Pristine Star Award for its high quality service, diversity, and creative adaptation. Operations are oversaw by Executive Chef Violet Emberson.” The framed plaque was hung over the kitchen entrance, along with several other smaller awards and certifications varying from sanitation to “Best new restaurant.”
Vi’s watch ticked as her break was soon to end. She sighed, unbuttoning her shirt and adjusting her appearance before walking back into the kitchen. A clamor of applause and upbeat voices coming from the kitchen threw Vi for a loop as she stepped inside, seeing a crowd of her cooks surrounding someone.
“Aye? What's with the crowd? Get back to your stations!”
“Yes, chef.” They exclaim in unison and return to their respective stations.
As the crowd dissipated, she stood before a woman that she didn't recognize. The taller woman stood there, flustered from the attention and excitement of Vi’s cooks. She had sapphire blue eyes and navy blue hair; even though she wore a black turtleneck and beige trousers, you could see her slender, lean form. Vi tilted her head in curiosity and began to approach the stranger standing in her kitchen.
“Oh, are you Violet Emberson?” The woman spoke nervously and with a kind smile.
“That would be me. What brings you to my kitchen?”
“Oh, uh, I’ve heard so many astonishing things about you, and I just wanted to ask if you're still looking for new hires. I–”
“Look, I'm gonna stop you there. If you want to be a part of my kitchen, you're going to have to talk to Jericho.”
“I did.”
“And?”
“He said talk to Vi. he's quite dismissive, you know.”
“Trust me I know.”
“What is your name, cupcake?”
“Cupcake.. oh, um, it's Caitlyn.”
“As in Caitlyn Kiramman?”
“Well, yes, but you see, I'm not affiliated with my family at the moment. I want to do what inspires me.”
“Which is culinary arts?”
“Yes. I graduated from the culinary institute a few years ago.”
“Oh really? You do seem familiar, cupcake.”
Caitlyn’s blush was extremely obvious; the most respected chef in piltover was standing in front of her, holding a casual conversation.
“Are you looking for a specific position or are you flexible?”
“I’m flexible, I’m not one to brag but I excel in pastries!”
“Sure. If you're so confident, what's one dessert that’s considered hard to make, but very rewarding?”
“Macaroons,” Caitlyn answered confidently.
“Intriguing.”
Vi grinned and started to walk past Caitlyn, then stopped at her ear, “Here's a note you should keep in mind: we start prepping at 5:30 am.” Vi continued her walk through her kitchen, doing the final cleanliness checks before leaving the back door.
“5:30 am… Well, that’s one way to start this investigation.” Caitlyn sighed softly, walking towards the front of the restaurant, taking mental notes of the furniture quality of the main dining room and the pictures of Chef Emberson, portraits of Zaun’s fishing pier, and the Piltover Progress bridges. Caitlyn finally exited the restaurant, looking back at the exterior. Only she knew the real intention of why she would be working at this establishment. There's a story to be told here, not one that even Chef Emberson may know to be true.