A gentle, milky, and slightly toasted aroma filled the air, like a warm breeze on a winter morning in the Italian hills. It was comforting, nostalgic. The murmurs around grew louder as people turned toward Damian's stall.
Erina blinked, surprised by the involuntary memory the scent awakened in her.
"What kind of dish is this? Simple... but so comforting…"
Damian, calm as ever, took a ladle and carefully served two steaming bowls. The liquid was white, with small golden specks of melted butter and rustic, lightly toasted bread cubes floating on the surface. With a final touch, he grated some Parmigiano-Reggiano on top and placed the bowls before Erina and Hisako.
"As you said earlier, this is Zuppa di Latte," he said simply.
"It's a classic Italian dish. It's made of milk, bread, butter, salt. The basics... elevated to the essential."
"So he made an Italian breakfast?" she murmured.
Erina looked at the bowl, hesitant.
"I've never had this dish before… It's just milk and bread…?"
"Taste it," Damian replied, crossing his arms with a faint smile.
Steaming milk surrounded pieces of toasted bread, while a golden stream of melted butter danced atop. The aroma was simple, homemade — and surprisingly inviting.
The rustic bread melted gently, contrasting with the warm creaminess of the milk. The butter added a soft richness, and the light touch of Parmesan brought a breath of comfort.
As she took the first spoonful, Erina froze.
The flavor was unexpectedly deep. The warm milk blended with the richness of the butter, wrapping the softened bread like a hug. The Parmigiano brought a refined saltiness, and beneath it all, the heat from the pot left a subtle toasted note — as if the milk had remembered the fire.
"It's like... waking up in my grandmother's house, wrapped in a wool blanket…"
She blushed without realizing.
"Pure comfort. The kindest expression of a dish."
Hisako discreetly wiped her eyes.
"I can feel the simplicity of the land… the effort of someone who wakes up early to work…"
Damian said nothing. He was already preparing the next dish.
This time, a different texture began to form in the pot. He stirred a thick, pale cream with slow, circular movements. A soft, sweet cloud began to drift through the air.
The scent of vanilla… and milk. Smooth as silk.
He poured the creamy mixture into two small bowls, decorating them with fine lemon zest and a pinch of brown sugar.
"Crema di Latte. A sweet porridge, almost a light pudding. Perfect to start the day gently."
Erina took a spoonful, and her expression softened even more.
The texture was velvety, almost ethereal. Lightly sweet, perfumed with the essence of vanilla and a citrus touch that refreshed the palate. It was like tasting a whisper.
"This sweetness... doesn't overwhelm. It lingers. It soothes the heart…"
Hisako closed her eyes, smiling.
"It's like listening to a lullaby."
Then Damian removed a heavy-bottomed pot from the fire. Inside, a creamy yellow polenta bubbled lazily. Instead of water, it had been cooked in milk and finished with butter and melted cheese. Its surface glistened.
He served it with a thick spoon, letting a stream of honey drizzle on top before handing the bowls to the judges.
"Polenta di Latte. A mountain breakfast. To nourish the body... and the soul."
Erina dipped her spoon and brought it to her mouth.
The creaminess of the polenta, merged with the warmth of the milk and the subtle saltiness of the cheese, was enveloping. The touch of honey added contrast, an unexpected brightness within the rustic flavor.
She let out a quiet moan of delight.
"This… makes me feel strong. Like I could survive an entire winter with just this bowl."
Hisako, cheeks flushed, nodded.
"Comfort, energy, nourishment… It's all here. An alchemy of simple things."
And then, Damian brought out his final creations from the fridge.
Small transparent glasses, each holding a white, translucent panna cotta that wobbled at the slightest movement. On top, a light berry sauce dripped like ink on porcelain.
"Panna Cotta al Latte," he said reverently. "The gentle farewell of a breakfast. Cold, subtle… like a goodbye kiss."
Erina lifted the spoon carefully, as if afraid to break something precious. When she tasted it, her whole body shivered.
Cold, yet comforting. Sweet, but not excessive. The texture between solid and liquid melted in the mouth like snow. The tartness of the berries awakened her palate and ended the experience with elegance.
Erina closed her eyes.
"It's like ending a symphony with a perfect chord."
Hisako slowly set down her spoon.
"He took us on a complete journey… with milk."
Damian remained silent, cleaning the counter. But in the depths of his eyes, there was a calm fire. He had said everything he needed to — through his dishes.
She looked at Damian.
"You turned milk into a story. Each dish had a beginning, a middle, and an end. A narrative told with respect for the ingredients and... for the emotions."
Damian simply flicked her forehead.
Poc!
"Hey!" Erina flinched. "Why'd you do that?"
"You were spacing out," he replied with a relaxed smile.
Erina blinked, stunned. Beside her, Hisako discreetly rubbed her own forehead.
"You too?" Erina murmured to her assistant.
Hisako nodded with a sigh.
"He's quick… and direct."
Damian crossed his arms and said with a calm tone:
"You got lost in the flavor. That was the effect I was aiming for."
Erina didn't respond right away. She just stared at the empty dishes for a few seconds.
Then, with a soft sigh, she admitted:
"These weren't extravagant dishes. Not impactful in the usual sense. But they moved me… deeply. And, in a way, that's even more frightening."
"It's like milk — this simple, basic ingredient — revealed secrets I didn't even know I wanted to hear."
Damian simply smiled.
End of Chapter.
Give me some power stones there you go~😉
Finally, I am back and with good news, after spending the whole weekend overwhelmed with things to do, I finally finished everything and now I am on vacation. The glorious 'paid vacation'. I believe that now I will be able to write everything without delay, unfortunately Saturday and Sunday are still out of the question due to other responsibilities I have on those days.