Since there was a brief lull with no new orders coming in, he decided it was the perfect time to properly teach the team.
"Alright, while it's quiet, let me show you both how to make these properly," he said, gathering SpongeBob and Colette around the counter.
He started with Bacon Pancakes.
"Dry ingredients first," Kevin explained as he measured flour, sugar, baking powder, and a pinch of salt into a bowl, whisking them together. "Then wet, eggs, milk, and a splash of vanilla. Stir gently, don't overmix. That's what keeps them fluffy."
He folded in a generous amount of crispy bacon bits he had prepared earlier. The savory aroma already filled the kitchen.
"On the griddle with a little butter," he continued, ladling the batter into perfect circles. "Watch for the bubbles. When the edges turn golden, flip once. Stack them high, drizzle with warm maple syrup, and finish with extra bacon bits on top."
SpongeBob watched with sparkling eyes, taking mental notes. Colette observed carefully, nodding at the technique.
Next, Kevin moved on to Spinach Puffs.
"Start by sautéing fresh spinach with garlic and a touch of olive oil," he said, demonstrating in a pan. "Drain it well so the filling isn't watery. Mix with three cheeses, sharp cheddar, ricotta, and Parmesan, plus chopped herbs, a pinch of nutmeg, salt, and pepper."
He rolled out the puff pastry, cut it into neat squares, spooned the savory filling into the center, folded them into triangles, and crimped the edges with a fork. After brushing them with egg wash and sprinkling extra Parmesan on top, he slid the tray into the oven.
"The key is a hot oven and not overfilling them," Kevin explained. "They should rise beautifully and turn golden-brown. Serve with a side of marinara for dipping."
Both SpongeBob and Colette looked impressed.
"These will be great additions," Colette said, her French accent warm with approval. "The balance is excellent."
SpongeBob gave two enthusiastic thumbs up. "I can't wait to make them, boss!"
Satisfied with the lesson, Kevin smiled. "Good. We'll introduce them to the menu tomorrow. For now, keep handling the regular orders."
He left the kitchen and headed toward his office to finish designing flyers and posters for the new items.
But the moment he stepped into the dining area, he noticed the unusual silence. Almost every customer was staring at the newly installed TV on the wall. The volume was turned up, and the entire room had gone still.
On screen, a news reporter was reporting live from a helicopter, her voice urgent.
"This is April O'Neil reporting live from Metroville! A massive, round robot with four mechanical tentacles is currently wreaking havoc downtown! Buildings are being torn apart, and civilians are fleeing!"
The camera showed the giant robot smashing through structures. Then it panned to several costumed figures fighting back.
"Despite the Superhero Registration Act prohibiting public superhero activity, several heroes have engaged the threat! We can confirm Frozone, Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, and Stripperella! There are also two young individuals with powers assisting!"
Kevin's eyes widened in shock. He immediately recognized the scene, it was the events of The Incredibles.
The camera suddenly zoomed in as another figure appeared: Syndrome.
The tall, lanky man with wild red hair, a dramatic black-and-white suit, and a long cape was flying around with rocket boots, clearly trying to steal the spotlight and interfering with the heroes rather than helping.
Then the camera caught a horrifying moment, Syndrome grabbed a baby and flung the infant high into the air with a mocking laugh.
The crowd in the restaurant gasped.
Syndrome attempted to escape by boarding his high-tech plane. But as he climbed aboard, his long cape got caught in the turbine. The engine roared, sucking the fabric in.
A sickening rrrrrip!! sound echoed through the broadcast before the feed briefly cut.
When the camera returned, Syndrome was gone, violently shredded by the spinning blades.
Kevin muttered under his breath, "The cameraman is quite capable to even record that live…"
Several customers belched or groaned in disgust. One toon even covered his eyes.
Fortunately, the baby was saved. Frozone created a slide of ice and caught the baby safely just before he hit the ground.
April O'Neil's voice continued, "We have confirmation that the infant has been safely recovered. The situation is still developing…"
Kevin stood there for a moment, processing the live crossover event unfolding on TV. The Incredibles universe was bleeding into this world in real time.
He shook his head slightly and continued to his office. He quickly finished the flyers and posters for the new recipes, deciding they would be officially introduced tomorrow. For now, he set them aside.
Since the day was winding down, Kevin decided to head back to his new house. He still had the box of jellyfish eggs to deal with and wanted to start figuring out how to raise them.
He said goodbye to the team, got into his black 1968 Dodge Charger, and drove home, the events of the news broadcast still fresh in his mind.