Gourmet Emperor: Master Of Culinary World 1 A Trip To The Mountain

"Good morning Ikki, time to wake up", I hear a gentle and soft voice of my mom.

"Morning mom, what time is it now?" I lazily replied her greeting

"It's already past seven. Get up and take a bath, your dad, grandpa and little sister already wake up an hour ago"

"It's not my fault mom. Dad asked me to help him in the workshop until late at night, and I still feel tired"

"No, No, no excuse. Your dad also sleeps late but he can wake up early. Get up young man, don't you want to go to find the ingredient in the mountain? If you get there late, there's nothing to find there"

"Gosh! I almost forget that. Thanks, mom, I'll take a bath now"

My mom only chuckled at seeing me run to the bathroom, fortunately, no one occupies the bathroom so I can use it freely. After taking a bath and changing clothes, I go to the dining room, my family already there having breakfast.

"Good morning grandpa, dad, Miyu"

My grandpa, Hiroshi Isaku, already past the sixties but he still looks fresh and energic. He works as a farmer in here. From him, I learn about farming and plantation. It's quite useful for an apprentice chef like me because I can see the quality of vegetables, which one that still fresh and have good quality and which one is bad. My dad, Kenji Isaku, is a blacksmith. He actually wants me to inherit his workshop and work as a blacksmith like him, but I already have a dream to be a famous chef, so I had to refuse his intention. Fortunately, he's not against my dream to become a chef, so when he asked me to help him at the workshop like last night, I don't have the heart to refuse it.

My little sister Miyu, she's eight-year younger than me and studies in elementary school. She's cute and likes sweets. That's also my motivation to become a chef, to make delicious sweets for my little sister.

"Morning Ikki, take a seat and have breakfast" my grandpa ordering me.

I sit on my chair and start takes my breakfast portion. Although I can make delicious dishes, my mother cooking stills the best in my mind. We don't speak during breakfast, my grandpa teaches us this habit to honor the food we eat. After finishing his breakfast, grandpa leaves the house to his farmland. It's almost harvest time and he must make sure his crops in top quality before selling it to market. My sister Miyu, also already finishing her meal and help my mother to wash the dishes.

That's left me and dad at the dining table, we both already finished our meal and when I about to leave, my dad said something to me.

"Sit down Ikki, I have something for you" and he grabs a box from under the table and gives it to me.

"What is this dad?" I'm a little surprised by this sudden gift because my dad rarely gives a gift.

"Open it and see yourself" my dad reply with a smile on his face.

I open the box and look at its content. What I see is a complete kitchen knife set. I pull one of it and see my name engraved on its blade.

"Wow, my own kitchen knives! Thank you dad"

"Do you like it?"

"Very much dad"

"Hahaha …. You also take part on those knives Ikki. That is what we working on last night"

"Really? My friends at school definitely will envy when they see this knife set"

"Ikki, I make those knives not for you to show off but to help you achieve your dream" my dad look at me with frowned brows.

"Sorry dad, I don't mean to show off but if my friend want this kind of knives I'll promote your workshop certainly"

"Hahaha … you still have that sweet talking skill. Alright if your friends want the same knives set, they can come to me"

"Can I get some commission from that?"

"Tsk this kid … I give you commission if you help me at the workshop. How ?"

"Sure dad, but only if I'm on vacation"

"Alright alright … aren't you having your own plan today? If you cancel your plan I will drag you to the workshop"

"Noooo … Who said I'm canceling it. I just want to prepare before going"

"Be careful on the mountain, and I want a delicious dinner tonight"

"Okay, dad" after reply that I run to my room to preparing my things.

In my room, I'm looking at the things that I will bring to the mountain. A portable stove, my knives set, some energy snacks, some drinking water, lighter, some plastic bags, some spices like salt, pepper, cinnamon, sugar, soy sauces, tomato sauces etc. Well, because I'm planning to spend the day on the mountain, of course, I'll have my lunch there. I also brought my phone because I save many recipes there, although there's maybe no signal on the mountain.

After putting them all in my backpack I bid farewell to my mother and go to the mountain.