Chapter 745 - 469: The Restaurant

Chapter 745: Chapter 469: The Restaurant

Outside the window, the bay’s surface was calm.

Fishing boats on their nightly runs weaved unhurriedly through the field of floating ice.

The blinking signal lights on their masts cut across the tranquil sea, kicking up layers of fine spray.

An occasional steam whistle would sound, its long, drawn-out cry carrying far into the silent night sky.

The floes of ice, stirred by the tides, bumped gently against one another with a crisp CRACK, composing a symphony of nature.

Jeff sat upright in his chair, reached for the menu on the table, and then raised his hand to signal a busy waiter.

The waiter wove nimbly between the crowded tables and chairs. Arriving at their table, he pulled out a small notepad and began his pitch, looking at Jeff with an expectant gaze.

"What can I get for you, folks? We have some great Emperor Crab dishes today, all top-quality from the River Beach’s latest catch. Our creamy Emperor Crab chowder is the house special, and since you have a reservation, we can make it fresh for you on the spot."

’Emperor Crab caught by the River Beach?’

Feng Shan hadn’t held out much hope for this dinner.

’What kind of good food could foreigners possibly make? Even Michelin is nothing special.’

However, hearing the waiter’s words, Feng Shan’s interest was suddenly piqued.

He knew that the entire catch quota for the crab caught by the River Beach was sold to Eldest Young Master Xu, who then distributed it throughout Asia.

Over there, crab from the River Beach was a hot commodity; a single one was hard to come by.

Logically, it should have been impossible for it to be available on the local market in Alaska.

"Friend, are you sure it’s Emperor Crab caught by the River Beach?" Feng Shan asked the waiter, his face full of curiosity.

Jeff instinctively looked up at Feng Shan, wondering to himself.

’Isn’t the River Beach Feng’s boat?’

’How could he not know the sales situation for the Emperor Crab caught by his own ship?’

The sailor-like waiter held his head high, his face filled with confidence. "Of course. Our boss is on great terms with the buyer for the River Beach. In all of Alaska, only our restaurant, Deckhand Dave’s Fish Tacos, has River Beach Emperor Crab."

’If that’s the case, then the claim that this Emperor Crab is from the River Beach is probably true.’

In a place like Alaska, personal connections could often decide many things.

After a moment of thought, Feng Shan nodded and said, "Alright, we’ll have three creamy Emperor Crab chowders. Besides that, do you have any other recommendations?"

The sailor-like waiter’s face immediately lit up with joy. His service became exceptionally enthusiastic as he quickly pointed to the corresponding dishes on the menu.

"Of course! Our restaurant also has excellent cod-filled Mexican burritos, smoked salmon, reindeer sausage, sticky rice balls, wild blueberry muffins, and Eskimo Ice Cream."

With each dish he introduced, his voice grew a little louder and his speech quickened slightly.

"We’ll have one of everything except the ice cream."

The moment Feng Shan heard the word "Eskimo," his stomach churned.

Images of all sorts of strange ingredients couldn’t help but flash through his mind.

’To dare give it a name like that, it’s probably another one of those culinary disasters.’

"Feng, you have to try the Akutak. It’s a traditional Indian delicacy." Just then, Jeff, who had been looking over the menu, suddenly put it down and suggested this with a serious expression.

’So that’s it!’

’No wonder it has such a strange name.’

Feng Shan had a sudden realization.

He knew that the Inuit people were extremely averse to the term "Eskimo"; they would never use it to name a food.

’These Indians are pretty petty.’

’It was bad enough they drove them into the Arctic Circle, but now they were mocking them with an ice cream too.’

After a moment’s thought, Feng Shan silently nodded. "Alright, let’s get one to try."

Hearing Feng Shan’s order, the waiter grinned from ear to ear.

"One of everything" didn’t mean a single serving, but one serving of each for all three of them.

It was a well-known fact that most of a waiter’s salary came from tips, generally 15% of the pre-tax bill. If the service was satisfactory, it could even be 20%.

Take the creamy Emperor Crab chowder, for example; the restaurant sold it for 210 US dollars a bowl.

Of course, only the River Beach Emperor Crab could fetch such a high price. Regular Emperor Crab was only about 70 US dollars.

By this calculation, the tip from this order alone would be at least 200 US dollars.

At this thought, the smile on the sailor-like waiter’s face grew even brighter, practically spilling off his face.

To make his customers even more satisfied, he proactively went to fetch some fruit and small desserts, placing them attentively on the table.

"Please, take your time. Here is some complimentary fruit. I hope you enjoy it."

During the wait for the food to arrive...

A relaxed atmosphere filled the restaurant, a mix of the surrounding diners’ conversations and the clatter of cutlery.

But Feng Shan’s mind was elsewhere. He looked at Jeff and asked with a serious expression.

"Buddy, why was the Elder Chief in such a hurry to call me to Juno? What’s going on?"

Jeff’s expression was hesitant and troubled, as if he were wrestling with an internal conflict. After a moment of indecision, he said in a low voice, "Feng, I promised the Chief. I really can’t say. But it’s absolutely not a bad thing for you or for the Crown Territory. In fact, it’s something good."

Sure enough, after he finished speaking, Jeff saw Feng Shan’s face darken slightly, revealing a hint of displeasure.

In the slightly awkward atmosphere, he had no choice but to reluctantly divulge some information to Feng Shan in secret.

He leaned closer to Feng Shan and whispered, "Feng, this trip to Juno is for a joint meeting called by the Alaska Native Dividend Fund, the Alaska Indigenous Alliance, and the Alaska Independence Party. The main purpose is to maintain the safety and stability of the Indigenous People. It might involve some adjustments and arrangements regarding law enforcement."

After speaking, he glanced around to make sure no one had overheard their conversation.