Crabe Araignée

 

12 months ago crabs were the new hotness, science fiction and fantasy were undergoing carcinisation. Even my Patreon was becoming more crab-like. Now the fashion has moved on and non-subscribers can don their no longer with it shells and claws and enjoy...

Crabe Araignée

Aurica used a tiny spoon to dip into the jug and tasted. Exquisite. She nodded and the saucier poured it on.

“When I was just a tiny child my parents took me to France on holiday. Distracted and not totally fluent in the language they looked down a menu for something I might eat and read the words Crabe Araignée. Arranged crab, they thought.”

“Yes chef,” said the loyal sous-chef holding up cress. Aurica added some to the next plate.

“This is a false friend, a word that looks like a familiar one. Araignée from Ariadne. A spider crab.”

The sous-chef held out the smoked salt, eyes flicking across the counter towards where the guests sat waiting.

“What might we learn from this?”

The sous-chef did not look this time. “That we should learn the language. And never serve crab.”

Aurica looked out to see a claw-man delicately cutting apart a steak, a crab-headed feeding chunks into their mouth as the useless legs wiggled, tiny crab centaurs surrounding a roast chicken. She smiled and approved the next dish without alteration. “That came a little later. No, what we have learned is that a menu might conceal truth, and magic too.”

She paused at the next dish frowning. “I know they say this is fine. On balance though, best not to tempt confusion. Take it away.”

“Yes chef,” said the sous-chef, gathering it up. “Waste not though, the staff supper tonight will be lobster.”