Chapter 1639

[ 625 words ]

“Thank you, Dr. Terrance. I don’t have any dietary restrictions.”

Claire was the first to reply.

Lawler wasn’t a fan of organ meats, but since someone else was treating and ordering, he wasn’t about to complain.

Besides, it wasn’t like the entire menu was made of offal.

“Neither do I.” Lawler and Dr. Terrance had met before, so the atmosphere was relaxed.

The ducks were already perfectly roasted, and the moment they were brought into the room, the mouthwatering aroma had everyone’s stomachs growling.

“Their wood-fired roasted duck is legendary. The skin is impossibly crispy, and the meat melts in your mouth.”

“Even their vegetables are incredible. They grow everything in their own private garden out back.”

“Try this the cucumber is incredibly crisp and refreshing.”

When it came to food, Dr. Terrance was an absolute chatterbox.

Claire rolled a piece of duck into a pancake and took a bite. It was exactly as

phenomenal as Dr. Terrance had hyped it up to be.

The crispy skin added a burst of rich, savory flavor.

Between the grueling afternoon of medical panels and the tantalizing food, the group tore into the meal like they hadn’t eaten in days.

With Dr. Terrance’s two students joining Barry’s group, two ducks disappeared in a flash.

But Dr. Terrance waved off the idea of ordering more. “Pace yourselves. The duck is just the appetizer. Don’t fill up before the heavy hitters arrive.”

One of his students laughed. “Don’t worry, Professor. We always have room.”

“I’ve been to Cabinda a few times, but I’ve never had duck this good.”

It easily blew the famous luxury chains out of the water.

Dr. Terrance gave his student a withering look. “You think you can just walk in off the street and order this?”

“If I didn’t have a personal history with the owner and reserve these days in advance, you’d be eating standard menu items right now!”

Not to mention, most tables ordered half a duck, maybe a whole one. They had casually demanded two straight out of the gate.

When the rest of the courses finally arrived, everyone understood exactly why Dr. Terrance had hyped the place up.

“Well? How does it compare to Jennifer’s Hearth & Kettle?”

Dr. Terrance directed the question specifically at Claire and her group.

Others might not have the palate to judge, but Claire was closely connected to

Jennifer and frequented her restaurant more than anyone.

Claire nodded approvingly. “The flavor profiles are completely different, but they’re both absolute masterpieces.”

It was a historic Cabinda establishment for a reason; the food was objectively brilliant.

Being from Apex, Claire naturally leaned slightly toward Hearth & Kettle’s familiar comforts.

But this spot had perfected northern cuisine, specializing in elaborate, historically significant dishes.

Their Consommé with Cabbage and the Shredded Tofu Soup were both legendary signatures.

Every bite left a lingering, complex aftertaste.

“This is wine from the owner’s private vineyard. Abe asked me to bring it over for Dr. Terrance to try.”

Abe and Dr. Terrance had actually met on a flight.

Abe’s father had suffered a sudden, severe medical emergency mid-air, and the

flight crew was paralyzed with panic.

Dr. Terrance had stepped up,

stabilized the old man, and then

Conover

personally recommended, as

specialist once they landed,

ultimately saving his life.

Abe was forever indebted to him. The two men hit it off and had been close friends ever since.

Since Dr. Terrance lived in another city, his visits to Cabinda were rare.

As a proper host, Abe wanted to

come drink with them, but his kitchen was in the middle of a massive dinner rush, makingat impossible to slip away.

So, he sent up some of his private stash as an apology.

“The boss noticed there was a young lady at the table, so he sent up some sweet wine as well. And this one is an osmanthus brew. He said you know your limits, Drive, Terrance so drink at your own discretion.”

Dr. Terrance chuckled. As surgeons, they generally avoided alcohol entirely.

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