#bunny chow usually takes indian curry (large Indian immigrant community in Durban) but Renji has put a J curry twist on it

[bleachbleachbleach]

The Happy Birthday Chappy Cafe!

Set A: Curry Rice with pickles and wakame cucumber salad (498 kan)

Set B: Bunny Chow with pickles and wakame cucumber salad (448 kan)

Happy birthday, Rukia! Some post-series January, Rukia mentions that she really misses getting food at dives in the Living World. She’d have Ichigo take her places, and since Ichigo has the disposable income of a 15-year old, they were always dives, and she loved them. So for her birthday--leaning on talents gained while living with/working for the Urahara Shouten--Renji decides to recreate the experience in Soul Society. After interrogating Ichigo, he lands on curry rice. Chappy curry rice.

Here’s everyone he gets to help:

Hinamori writes the logo for Renji’s birthday menu, even though she’s still mildly traumatized by Hisagi’s Birthday SC. (She agrees to logo only, so Renji just handwrites the rest.)

Having also consulted with Chad while he was “on an intel-gathering mission” in the Living Realm, Renji adds a B-side to his menu. Chad had just returned from an overseas bout in South Africa, where a local dish from Durban is called “bunny chow.” Curry in a bread loaf. Inspired!

Byakuya suggests a side of wakame salad, for balance of flavor and  plating. Renji adds cucumber, because they’re Rukia’s favorite. 

Ichigo agrees to taste-test Renji’s prepwork for this. This is a bigger favor that it sounds. (Bonus: Tutorials from Yuzu.)

When I when Renji forgets to add the potatoes, Orihime saves the day by telling him she does that all the time, and that she always just adds MASHED potatoes instead! Renji takes this to mean “cut them smaller.” It works.

Hisagi points out a concern he has: Renji’s two menu items are... basically the same thing, aren’t they? But Renji says, “Trust me, that’s exactly what Rukia wants out of a menu--a second course that’s simply ‘more.’”

Yes, there are prices listed on this menu, but birthday girls eat free. The prices are for all these other assholes flocking around who gotta pony up if they want a bite. (For Renji did not cook a serving or two of curry, noooooo. There is a vat.) 

I considered making rabbit curry! After all, rabbits are currently in season and there are a few Meat Stores around here, so I was like... maybe? But ultimately that got too involved so I just gave up. My neighbor is more of a squirrel/deer guy. (I refuse to call Meat Stores butchershops when the sign from the road just says MEAT, lol. MEAT STORE.) 

In any case, that Rukia would happily eat a rabbit as wild game is a headcanon I will take to my grave. She sees a distinction between rabbits that can be pets/mascots and rabbits that can be eaten, and loves them both!