Usually, Applejack would be busy over at Sweet Apple Acres during the morning hours, especially as they neared noon. However, today was different, as she watched Thunderlane stir the pot of vegetable stew on the stove top of the family kitchen.

They were both wearing chef hats and kitchen aprons, the kitchen around them was a little messy from all the work they'd done, leading up to this vegetable soup Thunderlane was working on. He stirred thrice counterclockwise, then twice clockwise, in repetition, making sure nothing stuck or clung to the bottom or the walls of the pot.

"Time's up, sugarcube," Applejack declared and waited for Thunderlane to put the wooden spoon aside as he stepped out of the way for Applejack. "Now, ya followed all mah instructions?"

"Yes, ma'am," Thunderlane nodded.

"Remembered our last few lessons?" Applejack brought up.

"I did."

"All mah tips an' such fer cookin'?"

"You got it," Thunderlane nodded with a confident smile.

"Are ya sure...?" Applejack raised a teasing brow.

"...Yes, I'm sure," Thunderlane hesitated for only a moment.

"O-kay, here Ah go..." Applejack took the wooden spoon and added a spoonful of the broth before slowly raising it to her lips while giving Thunderlane a shrewd look. He stayed still, but she could see his feathers ruffling.

Just before she was about to taste the stoup-

"Wait!" Thunderlane gently took the spoon from her and tasted it first. He smacked his lips while musing on the taste... before his golden eyes widened with realization and he hurried to the cupboard where Granny Smith kept the spices and seasonings, grabbed a couple of them, added a few generous shakes into the soup, gave it a good stir, and then gave the spoon back to Applejack.

She gave him a teasing look before she took a spoonful again and tasted the soup. Thunderlane began to lean forward in dreaded anticipation as he watched Applejack's face while she mused on the taste...

"YEH-HEE-HEE-HEEE!!!" Applejack reared up and declared, "Now that's what Ah call good homemade vegetable soup!"

Chuckling sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his head, Thunderlane said, "Aw, c'mon, AJ, you don't have to lay it on so thick."

"Ah'm not! Thunder-ation, Thunderlane, s'only yer fifth lesson an' yer gettin' t' be a mighty fine cook!" Applejack complimented.

"Well, I do have a mighty fine teacher," Thunderlane gave Applejack a sultry look, which made her giggle and feel suddenly warm.

"Oh mah, student gettin' naughty wit' his teacher?" Applejack gave Thunderlane a come-hither smile.

Though they'd been together for a while now, it had been during these cooking lessons Thunderlane had asked for from Applejack that their relationship had grown closer. It had come as a surprise to Applejack that Thunderlane actually enjoyed cooking but had wanted to get better at it, and remembering Applejack's culinary expertise had led him to ask her for lessons.

The first few had been a little messy, as Applejack had opted to start with one of her family's more complicated recipes, which ad been fine, as she wanted Thunderlane to experience failure to teach him that cooking can be as hard or as easy as one makes it, but it could still be enjoyable and delicious. She'd seen a different side to Thunderlane during their lessons that only emphasized on the qualities she saw in him that attracted her to this stallion.

Likewise Thunderlane had always admired Applejack's work ethic and integrity. Since they began their relationship, he'd been trying to figure out the best way to grow closer to his mare, when he remembered how much he loved her cooking. Well, if the best way to a stallion's heart was through his stomach, perhaps the best way to a mare's was through her kitchen.

The flirty-ness of the moment quickly gave way to something tender, as they gazed into each other's eyes, a slight blush appearing on both of their faces, as they leaned forward. They felt their lips drawing towards the other's, Thunderlane raising his wings in response to the rising heat he felt...

...only for the moment to be interrupted by a shuddery yet familiar sensation in his flanks and they both looked to see Thunderlane's cutie-mark was glowing.

"Aw, horseapples..." Thunderlane grumped.

At the Castle of Friendship, Thunderlane found that Rarity and Pinkie Pie had been called by the map as well, and their destination was…

“Canterlot! This is wonderful, I can check the boutique! Perhaps there will be some social events that we can attend! I'll have to pack extra outfits! What will I wear!!"

Rarity held her starstruck gaze upwards, failing to notice the looks given to her by Thunderlane, Pinkie Pie, Spike, Twilight, Midnight, Starlight, and Sunburst.

"You know..." all eyes turned to Pinkie Pie, "some ponies get excited about the silliest things."

"Hey Pinkie," Midnight gave the party pony a smirk, "The kettle called, he wants to know if you're also black."

The others had a small laugh at Pinkie's expense as she blushed a bit when Thunderlane said, "Well, it'll be nice to have a chance to actually visit Canterlot when some big emergency isn't going on. Even if we are going there to solve a friendship problem."

"I'll send word to Blueblood to get the Break of Dawn ready," Midnight offered, "By the time you get to the Ponyville airfield, the Dawn will be set to get you three to Canterlot."

"Sounds like a plan," Pinkie nodded.

"Then let's be off, darlings!" Rarity cheered, "Canterlot awaits!"

Taking Midnight's personal airship, The Break of Dawn, saved the three friends a lot of time and they arrived in Canterlot within an hour after disembarking. As they made their way to the main streets, Rarity said, "Now then, as far as finding a friendship problem, I suggest we start at the castle, and begin to question the proper-"

"Oh Rarity! You don't find a friendship problem," Pinkie Pie interrupted with her usual casual and care-free manner, "It finds you!"

"Besides, we always go to the castle every - single - time we come to Canterlot," Thunderlane added, "I say, we just... go with the flow, or something. We're meant to be here, so odds are, we'll come across the reason why."

"Thundy's right, Rarity," Pinkie agreed. "I betcha before we know it- KABLAM! We'll get friendship problem'd right between the eyes," she said while pressing her hoof to her forehead.

"Well, this is a team effort, so if the both of you feel we should go with the flow, then with the flow we shall go," Rarity obliged before asking, "...Where is the flow saying we should go?"

"You know Canterlot," Pinkie pointed out, "What do you think we should do?"

"Oh! Take your pick," Rarity suggested, "Culture, couture, cuisine!"

*Rrrrrmmm/Grrrrrble*

Pinkie Pie and Thunderlane both felt their stomachs complain, the former smiling a tad sheepish while the latter answered, "Well the beast is telling me the flow is pointing us towards some grub!"

"Ha! Say no more, darlings," Rarity assured, "I know just where to go."

Rarity led her friends towards a part of the city where there was evidently a number of eateries and such, which Rarity declared to be, "Restaurant Row! The absolute best place for fine dining in all of Equestria."

"Oh yeah," Thunderlane brought up as his eyes wandered, "Midnight and Twilight mentioned this part of Canterlot to me before. They said they used to come here a lot back when they were foals."

"Ooh! So many choices! Where should we go? This one? That one? Those ones?" Pinkie zipped about while pointing out different restaurants.

"Any establishments that have this!" Rarity pointed to a sign hanging next to the sign of a restaurant. It bore three hoof print symbols, which she explained to be, "The three-hoof rating."

"Uh, whose hooves?" Thunderlane asked.

"Why, Zesty Gourmand, the queen of cuisine," Rarity answered with absolute certainty, "When it comes to food, she is the ultimate authority in Canterlot and thus all Equestria! She judges a restaurant on cuisine, décor, and presentation. Without her approval, a restaurant simply cannot survive."

"Really? And what's so important about her approval?" Thunderlane asked skeptically.

"Zesty grew up around fine dining, and everypony hangs on her every word when it comes to cuisine," Rarity replied.

Thunderlane didn't like what he was hearing but Pinkie spoke up before he could say more.

"WOW! Then the food here must be AMAZING! Lead the way, partner!" Pinkie invited Rarity to enter first, and Thunderlane sighed as he brought up the rear.

inside the restaurant, they saw the décor was of pale colors, simple furnishings, and light classical music playing. It was subtle and nice, but it was rather... underwhelming. The host led them to a booth table, where Rarity asked for today's special, and it wasn't long after the waiter came with a cloche-covered dish and presented their food.

"Oh my! Such presentation!" Rarity swooned at the dish.

It consisted of what appeared to be more like hors d'oeuvres than a meal with a faint trickle of... Syrup? Cooking oil? Thunderlane wasn't sure what. It looked nice, but didn't look filling. He noticed Pinkie Pie seemed underwhelmed as well. They all gave it a try.

"Uh, yes....very nice," Rarity said although it sounded like she was just trying to be polite to hide the disappointment underlying her tone.
"Ugh!" Pinkie grimaced after gulping, "Maybe I'm not in the mood for whatever this... is."
"No kidding!" Thunderlane spat the food into a napkin, "This is... a let-down!"

"Thunderlane! It's fine if you don't like it, but the least you can do is be courteous about it," Rarity admonished him.

"Well, why don't we try someplace else, Rarity?" Pinkie suggested before things could escalate.

And that's just what they did, only for the next two restaurants they tried to be more of the same! The same boring décor, the same boring presentation, but worst of all the same awful and tasteless food! It was when they exited the third place they tried that Thunderlane looked back and noticed the chefs and restaurant staff looking miserable, and he began to suspect something was truly amiss.

"Maybe instead of trusting somepony else's hooves..." said Pinkie as they exited the latest restaurant they tried, "I should pick the next place?"

"Ugh, very well," Rarity acquiesced, and then Pinkie Pie began sniffing at the air. "Darling? Whatever are you doing?"

"Don't interrupt her, Rares," Thunderlane said as he gave a confident look to the pink party pony, "It's times like this, when in doubt, follow your nose!"

They watched as Pinkie Pie sniffed while hopping around, sniffing at nearby restaurants, quickly ignoring the ones with the three-hoof rating... when a rich aroma tickled her nostrils, causing her to gasp! She quickly followed the scent, Thunderlane and Rarity following the Pinkie, leading them down a narrow street where they found the source of the smell coming from a more elaborately decorated place, more vibrant in color and pattern, with the sign appearing as an elephant holding a spoon in its trunk.

"The Tasty Treat," Thunderlane read the sign, "I like the sound of that!"

"It's very... rustic," Rarity sounded doubtful, "It looks like it hasn't even been rated."

"Thank goodness!" Pinkie giggled as she hopped in, and Thunderlane did the same, Rarity being the one to bring up the reluctant rear this time.

The décor inside was even more elaborate and vibrant than the exterior. The tables were wooden with silk tablecloths, wooden chairs with cushioned seats or backs, comfy sofas with throw pillows lining the walls left and right, the ceiling covered with colorful tarps, paper lanterns hanging, and the soft music matched the décor in that it sounded like it came from the Far East.

Rarity joined Pinkie Pie and Thunderlane at a table, asking, "Are we sure they're open?"

Pinkie and Thunderlane both sniffed the air and mmm'd as Pinkie answered, "They smell open!"

They heard a clattering sound and looked towards the register and saw a mare step out of the doorway beside it. She was a unicorn with a soft orange coat and a voluminous mane of fuchsia, and her cutie-mark was a saffron flower. She wore a golden maneband, earrings, and a beaded tie around the dock of her tail, and a pale yellow long-sleeved shirt with an orange shawl around her neck. Seeing them, her magenta eyes brightened up, "Oh! Are you here for lunch?"

"Yes indeedy!" Pinkie nodded.

"I'm Saffron Masala," the mare introduced herself, talking with an eastern accent, "the chef here at the Tasty Treat, the most exotic cuisine in Canterlot! Would you like to hear about the specials?"

"Well actually, we're in a bit of a hur- Ow!" Rarity gave Thunderlane the stink eye for elbowing her, only to get a stink eye back.

"We'd love to! As long as the specials involve those great smells," Thunderlane replied to Saffron with a smile.

"We have a curried oatcake-" Saffron started.

"We'll take one!"

"And a grass sandwich that has been marinated overnight in a mustard Dijon dressing," Saffron added.

"Ooh, I wanna drool but I don't want to look rude!"

"A-and for you?" Saffron asked Rarity.

"Oh- Uh, me, I'm fine tha- Ow! Thunderlane!"

"She's just a little bashful," Thunderlane assured, "Surprise her!"

Saffron nodded and turned to head back into the kitchen, so she didn't hear Rarity whisper to her friends, "No... rating!"

Pinkie sighed while Thunderlane rolled his eyes, when they noticed an older unicorn stallion, quite on the heavy side with a sizeable rump, with an amber coat and his curly mane was a couple shades of dark raspberry. He wore an orange shirt with an olive-colored undershirt, a mustache, bushy eyes brows narrowed in discontent, and his cutie-mark was a bowl of cumin powder with cinnamon sticks and coriander seeds.

He ignored them, mumbling to himself as he began stacking chairs when Pinkie asked, "Hi! What's your name?"

"Coriander Cumin," he responded curtly.

"Are you a chef here, too?" asked Thunderlane

"My daughter cooks, I host," Coriander answered with the same curt tone and the same accent as Saffron.

"But then why are you stacking your chairs?" asked Thunderlane, bewildered.

"Without customers, I have nopony to host for," Coriander answered as if it were obvious. Which it was, given they were the only customers present. "So, I stack."

"Father! Stop it!"

All eyes turned to see Saffron had returned, levitating a few dishes while giving her father an annoyed look, "Don't close up the restaurant around our guests!"

"What does it matter?! When they leave, nopony else will be coming in!" Coriander grumbled.

"Well, your attitude isn't going to bring anyone in," Saffron snapped while she served the three friends their food. "Can't you at least pretend to be positive?"

Pinkie Pie was no longer paying attention as she stuffed her face, "Sooooooo gooooood!!!!"

Thunderlane was eating too, and though he was mmmm'ing in culinary content, he was paying attention to the conflict between daughter and father, much as Rarity was.

"You are doing enough pretending for the both of us," Coriander huffed, "Nopony here wants to try anything new. I know when to throw in the towel!"

"Um, darlings? Perhaps we should excuse ourselves," Rarity was uncomfortable witnessing a family spat.

But Thunderlane was already having his suspicions so he took one of the foods and said, "Yeah, yeah, sure, but first you gotta try this!"

He held the food to Rarity's mouth, who absentmindedly took a little bite, "Ooooh!"

Gotcha, Thunderlane smirked to see the intrigue on Rarity's face as she now eyed the food with sincere interest. However, Saffron and Coriander continued to argue.

"Maybe if you would listen to my ideas, for once-" Saffron tried to say, only for her father to cut her off.

"Oh, yes! I did not move halfway across Equestria for my daughter whom I never listen to!" Coriander rebuked.

Pinkie finally realized what was happening as she spat out an olive pit and Thunderlane chuckled, "You guys thinking what I'm thinking?"

"That that friendship problem we're here to solve just KABLAM'd us between the eyes?" Pinkie replied with an excited smile.

"You mean... these two? Oh, I don't know, darlings," Rarity was hesitant, "The food is excellent, but I'm not sure there's much the three of us could do to help them."

They heard Coriander purse his lips, "What would you have me do? We can't even get Zesty Gourmand to come to our restaurant. She took one look at how empty it was and said it wasn't even worth rating!"

"THAT'S IT!!"

All eyes turned to Rarity, and Pinkie Pie added, "YES!

"...uh, what's it?"

"Please don't tell me you want to get Zesty Gourmand to come here to give this place her approval," Thunderlane sighed, knowing that was exactly what Rarity had in mind.

"Wha- Of course we want to get Zesty Gourmand to come here and give this place her approval," Rarity harrumph'd. "Once the Tasty Treat undergoes a little tweaking here and there, I'll cajole Zesty to give it another chance, she'll be so impressed that she'll gladly give the Tasty Treat the three-hooves!"

"Rarity, did you already forget the places we tried that had the three-hooves rating?!" Thunderlane gaped at Rarity as though she'd lost her mind.
"Each and every one of them! The same soulless décor, the same miserable service, and the same awful and tasteless food!"

"Thunderlane, I'm sure that-" Rarity tried to speak, but Thunderlane wasn't done.

"And the first place we try that doesn't have the three-hooves rating? The atmosphere is new and interesting and the food is bursting with flavor!" Thunderlane pointed out.
"You didn't even want to come in here because the Tasty Treat doesn't have the three-hooves rating, but then you sampled the food and now you want to help it. But your idea of help is misplaced!"

"With Zesty Gourmand's approval, the Tasty Treat will get the recognition and patronage it deserves!" Rarity insisted.

"But at what cost?" asked Thunderlane. "By conforming to be just like all the other 'approved' restaurants in Restaurant Row? Having the same dull look, the same blah service, and the same lousy food?!"

Pinkie Pie, Saffron, and Coriander were watching the... debate like a ping-pong match and it seemed to be heating up.

"Well, I for one think you are hardly qualified to argue the professional opinion of the likes of Zesty Gourmand, Thunderlane," Rarity huffed in a rather snobbish way.
"A few lessons in the kitchen with Applejack does not a master chef make, much less a judge of good taste."

Thunderlane gritted his teeth in building outrage as he raised his wings and glared at Rarity, "Well I don't need the opinion of some hack when I can taste new things and decide for myself what I like and don't like, like somepony with an actual brain!!"

"How dare you!!" shrieked Rarity, her face reddening with fury.

"Thundy, Rarity, stop!" Pinkie stepped in between her friends, looking a little upset. "Please remember why we're here! The stuff you're fighting about- It's not what matters."

"What?!" Rarity was confused.
"What're you talking about, Pinks?" Thunderlane gave Pinkie Pie a bewildered look.

Pinkie turned to look to the father and daughter and asked, "Saffron, Coriander. Why did you open the Tasty Treat in the first place?"

Saffron and Coriander both opened their mouths... yet found themselves speechless. They then looked at each other, but this time they really looked at each other as they searched the other's face for answers as much as they searched inside themselves. Finally, after a long pregnant pause...

"I....I wanted...." Saffron took a deep breath. "Since the time I was a filly, I loved cooking, and I always loved it when you taught me, Father."

Coriander's eyes widened as he saw the nostalgia spur a smile upon his daughter's face as she continued. "Every time you showed me a new recipe, I hung on every word and paid close attention, because I wanted to get it right when I made it so that I could make you happy with the food you taught me how to make!"

"I remember..." Coriander began to smile too, before he gave Saffron a cheeky look. "Like all those times you used to hide the ingredients you didn't like," and those particular memories spurred some warm laughter between them before they gave each other a nuzzle as Coriander admitted, "It's been so long since we cooked together..."

"And that's what I wanted, Father," Saffron confirmed, "To make all the wonderful recipes of our family and share them with the ponies of Canterlot!"

"And I wanted to support your dream," Coriander nodded, "It's why I came with you here, to open the Tasty Treat. But I suppose we... lost sight of all that."

"Yes, we became so anxious and frustrated because of that three-hooves rating," Saffron agreed, "that we became more concerned about the restaurant's business than what the restaurant meant to us."

"Oh, Saffron... I'm so sorry," Coriander sighed woefully, only for Saffron to hug her father tightly.

"I'm sorry too, Father," she said softly. "I just wish the ponies of Canterlot would give our food a chance..."

Thunderlane, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie were all touched by what they'd just seen, and as Rarity and Thunderlane shared a look, they too were sorry as Thunderlane said, "Sorry, Rares. I went too far."

"I did as well," Rarity replied apologetically. "Because you're right, Thunderlane. We don't really know what we like or don't like until we give it a chance. A recommendation is all well and good, but not to the point where just because you don't have one doesn't mean you should be immediately dismissed and ignored for it.

"...I suppose I have placed too much trust in Zesty Gourmand's approval."

"And the ponies of Canterlot are much the same," Saffron spoke up, "Every day, I've gone out and tried to encourage visitors in Restaurant Row to give the Tasty Treat a chance. But the moment they find out our restaurant doesn't have the three-hooves rating, they refuse."

"Well, if you can't get the ponies to come to the Tasty Treat to try your food..." Pinkie suggested, "then maybe you just gotta bring the food of the Tasy Treat to the ponies!"

"What're you saying, Pinks?" Thunderlane asked though he already had a good idea of what it was.

"FREE SAMPLES!!" Pinkie exclaimed excitedly, "We offer the ponies in Restaurant Row samples of the food served here at the Tasty Treat, and once they taste how good it is, they'll wanna know where they can get more!"

"And even after the hear about the Tasty Treat not having Zesty's rating," Rarity realized with a look of eureka, "they'll have already found themselves intrigued by the taste of the samples! That will encourage them to give the Tasty Treat the chance it deserves! Pinkie Pie, you are a genius!"

"No I'm not, I'm a party pony," Pinkie responded in her usual blissfully ignorant manner and smile.

"Free samples..." Coriander gave it a thought, "It just might work."

"Then let's get cooking!" Thunderlane suggested. "Saffron, Coriander, I'm still learning but I'd love to help you guys in the kitchen! As for you girls, you two should be the ones to go out with the free samples to share with everypony and recommend the Tasty Treat.

"After all, Rares. You may not be Zesty Gourmand, but you are a recognized name in Canterlot's fashion circuit, so ponies just might be more open to trying out the Tasty Treat if you're giving it your stamp of approval!"

"An excellent suggestion, Thunderlane," Rarity approved, "Pinkie Pie? Let's be off! We're going to bring crowd! And you darlings" - Rarity gestured to Saffron, Coriander, and Thundelrane - "Get cooking and make as much of your food as you can!"

"LET'S DO THIS!!" cheered Pinkie Pie before they got to work.

For the next few hours, Thunderlane got a crash course in cooking some exotic recipes he'd never even heard of. Though he felt like a third wheel, Saffron and Coriander both assured him he was being a big help. The kitchen smelled of all sorts of foreign and exotic tastes Thunderlane could only guess at. First they concentrated on making the free samples Rarity and Pinkie would need to advertise the Tasty Treat.

Once that was done and the two mares left, the chefs made soups, stews, salads, sandwiches, with sauces and seasonings, as well as teas, special blends of juices, and a very delicious soda that Saffron and Coriander insisted was a secret recipe.

It was shortly before six that Rarity and Pinkie Pie returned, pleased with themselves and empty-hooved of all the sampels they'd taken with them. They were happy to announce that they'd swayed perhaps dozens of ponies and even restaurant owners and their employees to come by this evening to check out the Tasty Treat. They admitted that several ponies had declined after hearing the Tasty Treat lacked the three-hooves rating, but the samplers had been so impressed by what they'd tried that they'd decided they wanted to see what other unique deliciousness awaited them.

So while Saffron, Coriander, and Thunderlane continued to cook, Rarity and Pinkie Pie cleaned up the restaurant and made sure everything was in place. Before long, evening fell and once she made sure the last table setting was in place, Rarity turned to everyone, "It's almost time! Is everypony ready for the grand re-opening of the Tasty Treat?"

"Before we open," Saffron spoke up, "my father and I just wanted to say, thank you for all of your help. We've both been so stressed about the restaurant succeeding that we forgot what it was we loved about it in the first place."
"Cooking is something we used to love to do together," agreed Coriander as he and his daughter shared a warm nuzzle, "No matter what happens next, thank you for reminding us of that."
"Oh you guys..." Pinkie's voice wavered as she felt the love and called, "GROUP HUG!!"

The five ponies all gladly came together as they laughed, feeling the good cheer and feeling good about what may come this night, as Pinkie Pie declared, "Now c'mon! We've got a party to throw!"

She zipped over to the door, noticing ponies already gathering outside, and opened it. The ponies who entered could help but marvel at the foreign décor but it was the smells of what was cooking in the kitchen that truly drew them in as the tables very quickly began to fill as everypony took their seats.

"Welcome to the Tasty Treat!" Coriander happily declared as he served some mares bowls of his daughter's spicy flat noodle soup, "Make yourselves comfortable."

"Here, try these with this seasoning!" Thunderlane offered some delicious buns fresh from the oven along with a delicious seasoning Saffron had shown him earlier.

"Ooh, here darling," Rarity tied a napkin around a stallion's neck, "wouldn't want to get custard stains on your lovely shirt."

"Please, feel free to sample our appetizers," Saffron offered to a table of mares as she levitated over bowls of soup.

"What's this?!"

All eyes turned to the doorway where stood a tall and rather gaunt-looking unicorn mare with a pale pinkish-gray mane with light raspberry-gray highlights, a light magenta-gray coat, garbed in a dark overcoat, and a rather unpleasant and displeased look on her face as she gazed all at the restaurant-goers.

"What is everypony doing here?!" she huffed in bewildered disapproval. "This place has no hooves! It is not in keeping with the level of cuisine that I have set for Canterlot.

"Nopony told you this place was acceptable!"

"Uh, Rarity and her friends said it was good?" spoke up a younger unicorn mare sitting at her table. "They told us."

"Oh? And who is this Rarity and her friends to tell you anything?" Zesty snubbed. "They couldn't possibly have my culinary knowledge and restaurant etiquette to determine what food you can eat or establishments to visit."

"I take it you are Zesty Gourmand..." Thunderlane stepped forward, with Rarity and Pinkie Pie at his sides.
"Tis true, Miss Gourmand," Rarity acknowledged, "we may not be experts in the food industry, but that doesn't mean you have any more right to tell everypony what or where they can eat. Nopony has any right to tell anypony what to even think!"
"Listen here, Zesty, you have... a certain-" Thunderlane hesitated, trying to find the right words.
"And very weird!" interjected Pinkie
"Yeah! And very weird taste in food and in décor," Thunderlane agreed before continuing, "and you're entitled to your personal opinion."
"But just because you like your food a certain way," added Rarity, "there is no reason to tell these ponies that they need to do the same."

"Rarity is right!" spoke up a big and burly unicorn by the name of Offal Good, better known as Pops. He had a pale brown coat and amaranth mane and mustache, five o'clock shadow, glasses over his emerald green eyes, he wore a chef's shirt under a light red apron, and his cutie-mark was a spatula.
"I for one think the food here is delicious. I own the Smoked Oat here on Restaurant Row, and I hate the food we've been making to keep the three-hooves rating! Prince Midnight and Princess Twilight were two of my faovrite customers from back when they were foals, and I'd feel ashamed if they ate at my restaurant as it is right now. So from now on, it's back to smoked, basted and grilled!"

"The food here is an inspiration!" agreed a plump earth pony mare. She had a grayish violet coat, a long messy mane in two shades of light amaranth, brilliant raspberry eyes, she wore a shirt and apron, and her cutie-mark was a bundt cake.
"My name is Fun Cake and I own the Bake Stop. I'm going to bake my mother's Bundt cake the way she made it! Full of flavor!"

The patrons in the Tasty Treat all cheered and called out words of encouragement to the restaurant owners and chefs, as Zesty narrowed her eyes in offense and growing outrage. But the icing on that cake was Rarity stepping forward and saying, "Are you sure you wouldn't like to try the food, Zesty? I would think experiencing a fresh and unique establishment such as this would reflect well on your reputation."

"...I think not!" shrieked Zesty in petulant fury, not caring that everypony was now staring at her. "Anypony can throw ingredients together and create an obvious taste that uncultured ponies like this rabble can register! But it takes a true culinary artist to create a subtle taste. The barest hint of a sensation. That's what I brought to Canterlot: True - Culinary - Art!"

"Art?! Huh! If I want art, I'll go to an art museum," Thunderlane stepped forward, "but when I go to a restaurant, I want to taste something expressive and unique. Especially when I go to a different restaurant and so experience a different expressive and unique taste. Barest hint of a sensation? A subtle taste? There's a word for that kind of taste, Zesty Gourmand, and it's bland.

"Not to mention the miniscule portions and the boring décor of every restaurant I visited here that had your so-called approval. As well as the miseries and stunted chefs and cooks who had to make their food to your standards instead of enjoying their work and making something delicious that makes their customers happy!"

Zesty rolled her eyes and was about to respond but Thunderlane wasn't done.

"And most of all, you call yourself a restaurant critic," Thunderlane scoffed, "but instead of doing your job fairly and with an open mind, you allowed your personal bias and your pride to cloud your judgement and impose your personal tastes and likings upon Restaurant Row, depriving restaurants of their variety, identity, and unique tastes and expression. As a critic, you're supposed to offer your opinions and at the most, your suggestions on how a restaurant can improve based on their own merit and their own style of cooking and décor.

"What's more, by imposing your own personal likings upon Restaurant Row, you've actually hurt these businesses and their employees! I've seen the tourists around Restaurant Row only entering the restaurants you approved of the first time around but then avoid the restaurants with your three-hooves rating. They didn't like what they experienced and refused to try those restaurants again, and this has led to Restaurant Row losing its tourist industry and decreasing the amount of profits made, threatening the successes of these restaurants and the livlihoods of their employees!"

Zesty finally noticed the condemning looks around her and began to grow nervous, when Thunderlane said, "So then, Ms. Gourmand, I invite you to pull up a chair, try something new, and to critique a new flavor and experience based on its own merit and its own unique taste."

All eyes waited expectantly on Zesty, who looked to her left and then to her right, momentarily hestant, before she took back her nerve and harrumph'd. She took what dignity she had left and exited the Tasty Treat without a word.

...

...

...

And everypony erupted into cheers of joy and relief, as Thunderlane, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity high-hooved when they noticed Saffron and Coriander approach them.

"Thank you all so much!" Saffron smiled.
"You are all truly amazing," Coriander complimented.

Then, the three friends felt a fmailiar shudder on their flanks and were satisfied to see their cutie-marks aglow, signifying their work here was done.

"Nothing can stop the terrific team of Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Thunderlane!" Pinkie declared as she pulled her two friends into a congratulatory hug, as the patrons all continued to happily chat and enjoy their meals in the Tasty Treat.

Next Chapter: 354. Annoying Little Bummer Estimated time remaining: 23 Hours, 45 Minutes