Although the Red Hair Pirates had ordered many dishes, they were all home-style preparations, especially the braised dishes and cold plates, which were restaurant staples. With Tom's assistance, the food was served quite quickly.
Let's set aside the meat dishes for now and focus on how to prepare pumpkin flowers and roses. Cooking with flowers was relatively rare, whether in Gustave's original world or in the One Piece world, and most people had never eaten dishes made with flowers.
The only truly special aspect of these two flower-based dishes lay in their ingredients. The preparation methods themselves were simple, relying on familiar, homestyle techniques rather than complex culinary flair.
The edible part of the pumpkin flowers was their soft petals. During cleaning, Gustave carefully removed the stamens and separated each flower by hand to ensure they remained intact and delicate.
The method for making pumpkin flower egg soup was nearly identical to a traditional seaweed egg drop soup—only the seaweed was replaced with pumpkin flowers. First, Gustave heated the pot and added a spoonful of lard. Though modest, the lard gave the soup a richer, more fragrant base that set it apart from lighter broths.
Once the oil was hot, he poured in water and brought it to a rolling boil. The pumpkin flowers were added next, their golden petals curling gently in the heat. After they softened and released their subtle aroma, he poured in the beaten egg mixture.
To achieve an elegant, feathered texture, Gustave waited until the broth boiled again before slowly drizzling the egg into the pot in smooth circular motions. Thin ribbons of egg bloomed instantly, swirling into the golden soup like delicate threads.
Finally, he adjusted the seasoning to taste. A touch of salt, a pinch of white pepper, and the result was a steaming bowl of fragrant, golden-yellow soup—simple, but refined in its execution.
As for the fried roses, their preparation was just as straightforward, though far more striking in appearance.
Today, Gustave chose to deep-fry the roses whole, rather than pulling them apart like the pumpkin flowers. This preserved their dramatic shape and ensured a beautiful presentation. He began by mixing flour with egg and a bit of water, creating a smooth golden batter with just the right consistency to cling to the petals without overwhelming them.
Each rose was gently dipped into the batter and carefully placed into hot oil. Timing was critical—he waited until the oil reached the ideal temperature, then fried them quickly at high heat. The roses emerged golden at the edges, with their vibrant red centers still visible, crisp and lightly puffed like tempura.
When served, they could be dusted with salt and pepper, or for those with a sweeter tooth, a pinch of sugar. For the more adventurous diners, Gustave even offered a sprinkle of chili powder, giving the elegant dish an unexpected, fiery twist.
While Gustave and Tom worked busily in the kitchen, Luffy had already become acquainted with the Red Hair Pirates members. The group chatted and laughed together like old friends reuniting after years apart.
Compared to Luffy, Ace remained somewhat wary of the Red Hair Pirates. He consistently kept his distance from them, and Shanks had noticed this behavior.
"Ace, Luffy, one of you come help Tom and me wash vegetables!" Gustave's voice called from the kitchen.
Upon hearing this, Ace immediately responded:
"Uncle Gustave, I'll help you!"
After that, Ace headed toward the kitchen.
At this moment, Shanks found an opportunity and asked Luffy:
"Luffy, why do I feel like Ace is always keeping his distance from us? Is there something we did wrong?"
Hearing this, Luffy replied without hesitation:
"That's because Ace listened to his grandfather and decided to join the Marine, and you guys are pirates, so he acts like that."
"But you don't need to worry about him. When Ace and I first met, he didn't want to talk to me either. That's just how he is."
Shanks became intrigued after hearing this and continued asking:
"So Luffy, who is your and Ace's grandfather?"
"Oh, that! Our grandpa is Garp!" Luffy replied casually.
After hearing this, Shanks felt like he'd stumbled into Garp's entire family nest. Po was Garp's apprentice, and Ace and Luffy were Garp's grandsons. He was now surrounded by Garp's relatives.
"Then Luffy, since you and Ace are brothers, do you want to join the Marine in the future?" Uta suddenly asked.
"I don't want to be a Marine! I want to be a great hero!"
Hearing Uta's question, Luffy found a small stool from somewhere, then grabbed what appeared to be either a bedsheet or curtain and draped it over his back. He put one foot on the stool, struck what he considered a very handsome pose, and proclaimed his ambitions to everyone in the Red Hair Pirates!
Everyone in the Red Hair Pirates burst into laughter seeing this scene. This kid Luffy definitely had a talent for comedy.
"So Luffy, what exactly is a 'great hero'?" The only person in the Red Hair Pirates who didn't laugh was Uta. Perhaps because they were both children, Uta could better understand Luffy's dramatic behavior. After all, Uta constantly talked about becoming a musician among the Red Hair Pirates.
Moreover, Uta had never heard the term "hero" used this way before, so she asked this question.
Hearing that Uta was interested in his ambition, Luffy enthusiastically began his explanation:
"A great hero is someone who sees injustice and draws their sword to help, aids those in need, helps the weak, punishes evil, and promotes good!"
Hearing this, the Red Hair Pirates, especially Shanks, stopped laughing and began looking at Luffy with admiration. They hadn't expected him to harbor such lofty ambitions at such a young age.
You see, in the One Piece world where social classes were clearly defined and nobles held superior status, it wouldn't be easy for Luffy to realize this ambition.
"Luffy, if you truly want to become what you describe, are you prepared to face the difficulties? Achieving such a noble ambition in this world won't be easy!"
Shanks looked at Luffy seriously and asked. In Shanks' opinion, Luffy's ambition to become a great hero was no easier than becoming the Pirate King.
"Uncle Gustave once told me that becoming a great hero is difficult, but no matter what happens or what difficulties I encounter, I will definitely become a great hero!"
Luffy answered loudly and firmly.
When Gustave had previously told Luffy stories about those heroes, he'd also explained their hardships.
In one of the story, he told Gustave remembered when he'd told Luffy about Roland's death defending the city, he'd asked Luffy: if the price of becoming a hero was death, would Luffy still be willing to become a hero?
Luffy had given the same answer when he'd heard that question:
No matter what difficulties he encountered, Monkey D. Luffy would definitely become the greatest hero!
"Luffy, you have remarkable ambitions. I believe you'll become a great hero in the future!" Looking at Luffy's determined eyes, Shanks placed his hand on the boy's shoulder encouragingly.
Uta also extended her hand at this moment and said to Luffy:
"Luffy, I believe in you too. You'll realize your dream in the future!"
The three of them looked at each other and burst into laughter, with the rest of the Red Hair Pirates joining in.
At this moment in the kitchen, Gustave looked at Ace and asked:
"Ace, did you hear Luffy's determination?"
Ace maintained his usual proud demeanor, but still replied:
"Even though Luffy is stupid, dense, foolish, and brainless, once he chooses a goal, he'll stick to it no matter what!"