It provides some reasons for discussion and mild conflict between the protagonist and the cook, who is a grotesque (formerly of Notre Dame) that was accidentally brought to life a few centuries ago and wants to renew the potion, as it is wearing off. There is some overlap between cooking and alchemy. Also, the chef has found shelter in the past by working for blind people. The protagonist is an alchemist from only a few hundred years back; she accidentally found immortality, hence the title, [longevity only; violence can kill her] but has had to work on her studies alone since then. She can make gold when she needs cash but it's harder to get away with selling it lately, and I think she's vegan because the way food animals are raised makes the meat taste wrong and she's worried that the chemicals will affect how her herbal remedies work.