The room fell into stunned silence. Ethan's calm request to borrow the kitchen seemed almost absurd. The chef stood frozen, his mouth slightly open, while Elias, Marie, and Celia exchanged bewildered glances.
"Borrow the kitchen?" Marie finally broke the silence, her tone a mix of disbelief and amusement. "What for?"
Celia, ever skeptical, arched an eyebrow. "Are you going to show the chef how to cook or something?"
Ethan turned to Celia, his face composed and calm. "Not 'show,'" he clarified gently. "I want to exchange ideas. I think there are ways these dishes could be served that might bring out the best in the ingredients, especially given what's available in a place like this."
The chef narrowed his eyes, clearly hesitant. "You want to… improve my dishes? In my kitchen?"