The next few weeks passed largely without incident at The Cider Kitchen. Gino, true to his word, had been efficient, creative and committed and word about his inventive use of flavour was beginning to spread. Caroline had employed Emma Leadbetter on an apprentice’s salary for Saturday nights, when she largely cooked to Gino’s specifications, but she was beginning to branch out with her own ideas. Once Emma graduated from catering college, Caroline was hoping to offer her a more permanent job if she could afford to. Gino grudgingly admired her dogged efficiency and her methodical nature which sat well with his own flair and desire to push boundaries and take risks.
‘Together, you two make the perfect chef,’ Caroline remarked one evening when they had come into work together. After the opening menu they were keen to adapt and change the dishes to showcase some more seasonal produce and so had arranged to meet Caroline before the evening service. Caroline had met Jonathan a few times and thankfully he’d accepted her apology for shouting at him on opening night. He was now lounging on one of the sofas at the back of the restaurant, tie artfully askew, the sleeves of his light blue shirt rolled up, having come straight from his office on the cider farm for this meeting. He had his phone out, his attention divided as always, but as Caroline approached she was gratified to see him slip it back into his pocket.
‘Thanks for the heads up on the new menu ideas, Caroline,’ Jonathan said after she and Gino had outlined their new plans. ‘I’ve also got an idea for a new theme for the autumn season.’ He glanced at Emma. ‘I wanted to include you, Emma, since you’ve proven yourself to be such a reliable asset to this place. And, Gino, despite some early issues, your menu choices have been inspired.’
Was Caroline imagining it or did Jonathan’s voice have a slight edge to it when addressing Gino? She assumed it was because he was still irritated by Caroline’s refusal to sack him after the opening night fiasco, or perhaps he felt embarrassed because he’d been the one who’d initially appointed Gino, but she decided to let it slide for now. ‘What have you got in mind?’ she asked.
‘I wonder if you’d consider some suggestions for a country pursuits’ based menu. As I’m sure you know, the grouse shooting season starts in August, and I’d like you two to think about how you might incorporate some game over the next few months. From October we’ll have ready access to as many pheasants as you can cook and it would be good to include some on the menu, along with rabbit.’
Gino nodded, obviously keen to keep in with Jonathan. ‘Of course. I’ve cooked some pheasant dishes before, and rabbit’s pretty adaptable.’
Caroline kept silent. She was a little unnerved by the way Jonathan assumed that a blood sports themed menu was just going to happen and she wasn’t entirely sure how she felt about having pheasant and grouse as options. The only time she’d tasted pheasant it had been so strong it had virtually crawled off the plate.
‘I’m happy to consider the options,’ she said as Gino finished outlining his ideas. ‘But I do feel we ought to be concentrating on more contemporary menu choices, too. There’s so much good local produce around here; do we need to hark back to field sport traditions that, frankly, would be better left in the past?’
Jonathan raised an eyebrow. ‘You do know you’re in the heart of Somerset, right? That tradition is basically part of the landscape? Head a mile in any direction and you’re into prime hunting, shooting and fishing country.’
‘I know that,’ Caroline said patiently. ‘But that doesn’t mean we have to steep ourselves in it the whole time. Contemporary producers are springing up all over the county – look at all the artisan cheesemakers in Cheddar these days that are opening up as a response to the super dairies, and only last week I had an email from a charcutier in Wrington who wants to collaborate on some ideas. Can’t we leave the hunting, shooting and fishing in the past?’
Jonathan looked thoughtful. ‘I hear what you’re saying, but I also know that there’s a fair proportion of the population who’d love a new spin on the old heritage, too. Can you allow your chefs to put their minds to a dish or two, just to humour me?’
There was a pause so long between them it verged into the uncomfortable. Gino and Emma suddenly looked very interested in the bottoms of their cups of coffee. Eventually, Caroline spoke. ‘I’ll let them think about it,’ she said guardedly.
Jonathan nodded. ‘Good. I think there’s definitely potential in the idea.’
Gino cleared his throat. ‘So, er, we’ll put our heads together and get back to you, shall we?’ He glanced at Emma. ‘Shall we head back to the kitchen and brainstorm?’
‘Sure,’ Emma replied. They stood up hurriedly.
Caroline looked at Jonathan, who was in turn regarding her with an expression of exasperation and amusement. ‘Do you think we scared them off?’
Jonathan shrugged. ‘They’re young. They don’t understand the importance of combative business discussion.’
Caroline bristled. ‘If you think that was me being combative, you ain’t seen nothing yet.’
‘Perhaps now isn’t the time to run the Halloween plans by you, then?’
Caroline sighed. ‘How about you put it in an email?’ She picked up her own coffee cup. ‘Seriously, Jonathan, when I took on this project it was mostly because I was promised autonomy in terms of the menu and the direction of the creative side of the business. That is why you hired me, after all. Is this field sports menu going to be the tip of the iceberg?’
‘Caroline,’ Jonathan said patiently, ‘I do understand, really, but there has to be a bit of give and take here. You’ve done a fabulous job getting this place up and running, but in order to keep people coming through the doors, we’ve got to keep things fresh. I know you’ve only been open a few weeks, but if there’s one thing growing up in the cider business has taught me, it’s that you’ve got to keep looking to the next season, the next event. In this economic climate you can’t afford to rest on your laurels. I don’t mean to teach my grandmother to suck eggs but you have to work with the land and its traditions a bit.’
Caroline bit her lip. ‘I do understand that. I just have some reservations about which traditions would be good for the business.’
Jonathan stood up. ‘Fair enough, and I’d love to discuss it further, but I’ve got to go. We’ll have to save it for another time.’ He pushed his rolled up sleeves further up to his elbows, revealing more of his suntanned forearms, and loosened his tie, undoing his top button at the same time. ‘Christ, it’s warm today. I miss the days when I didn’t have to wear a suit to work.’
Caroline shook her head as he left. What was it about Jonathan Carter that made her simultaneously want to scream and sing?