I n Parisâ Latin Quarter, Chef Marcel owns a fancy bistro called Le Bistrot des Sept Frères , or The Bistro of the Seven Brothers.
Le Bistrot des Sept Frères has the very best in mouse cuisine. Anyone who is anyone eats there. It is the hippest place in Paris!
Chef Marcel is known throughout France for his wonderfully delicious soupe au fromage , cheese soup.
The cheese soup is made with a very special, secret ingredient known only to Chef Marcel. Every year, the bistro wins the big award for the best cheese soup in all of France. The bistro is always busy, but Chef Marcel has plenty of help in the kitchen from his seven sons.
This is Jean-Pierre. He loves boating.
The twins, Jean-Paul and Jean-Henri, adore skiing in alpine races.
Jean-Philippe plays a mean bass in a blues band.
Jean-Michel is truly fond of relaxing by the sea.
Jean-Marc writes sensitive poetry.
Jean-Alexandre kicks a cool soccer ball.
And last but not least, there is Chef Marcelâs youngest child, his only daughter, Petite Michelle, who loves the ballet. She helps out here and there.
Each morning, Chef Marcel calls his sons together and says, âTell me the recipe for our wonderful cheese soup.â
And the sons recite: âButter, cheese, stock, cream, onion, pepper, thyme, and the secret ingredient.â
And Chef Marcel says, âTrès bien!â , which means: very good.
One day, a telegram arrives at the bistro.
âOh no!â cries Chef Marcel. âThat is one hour from now, and I am out of the secret ingredient!â His cry makes Jean-Marc and Jean-Alexandre run to the kitchen,
where they bump into Jean-Michel,
which makes Jean-Michel drop a bottle of cider,
which makes Jean-Paul and Jean-Henri upset a bowl of cream,
which makes Jean-Philippe drop the bread,
which makes Jean-Pierre toss the onions into the air!
Calmly, Petite Michelle puts hard-boiled eggsâ les oeufs durs âin a basket on the corner of the bar.
âI have to go to the market to get the secret ingredient. While I am gone, everyone must help to make the soup,â instructs Chef Marcel.
Jean-Pierre melts the cheese âle fromage .
Jean-Alexandre makes the stockâ le bouillon .
Jean-Philippe chops the onionsâ les oignons.
Jean-Paul and Jean-Henri add the creamâ la crème.
Jean-Marc cuts fresh thymeâ le thym.
Jean-Michel adds the pepperâ le poivre.
And Petite Michelle folds the napkinsâ les serviettes de table âjust so.
At five minutes to one, Chef Marcel has not yet returned.
âWhat will we do?â cries Jean-Pierre.
His cry makes Jean-Marc and Jean-Alexandre run
into the kitchen, where they bump into Jean-Paul,
which makes Jean-Paul toss peas and carrots into the air,
which makes Jean-Henri upset a bowl of broccoli,
which makes Jean-Philippe slip and drop a cake,
which makes Jean-Michel lose his grip on a tray
of cafès express !
Without a word, Petite Michelle walks over to the stoveâ la cuisinière .
and six drops of hot pepper sauceâ sauce piquante aux poivrons .
She adds dash of salt . . . a bit of rosemary . . .
voilà ! The soup is ready!
At the stroke of one, Alfred Le Whisk arrives at the bistro. âBonjour, monsieur,â says Petite Michelle.
Jean-Pierre pours the soup into a bowl.
Jean-Paul carries the pot.
Jean-Henri adds the garnish.
Jean-Philippe puts the bread in a basket.
Jean-Marc and Jean-Alexandre lay out the napkins.
Jean-Michel pours the cider.
Casually, over in the corner, Petite Michelle arranges some flowersâ des fleurs âin a vase.
Alfred Le Whiskâs stomach growls. He lifts a spoonful of soup to his mouth. Everyone holds their breath. Just then, Chef Marcel arrives, completely out of breath. It is too late. Monsieur Le Whisk has swallowed.
âJudge Le Whisk! Sâilvous plaît, please, let me explainââ
But the judge interrupts him.
âChef Marcel, before