Post by elainsie on Jan 20, 2009 1:27:17 GMT -5
“Table 8, Capellini Pomodoro and the Chicken & Gnocchi Veronese,” Bianca called out, pinning the order up above Mila, as she sprinkled parmesan over the ravioli. Then she lowered her voice conspiratorially, “I think he’s going to pop the question tonight, he gave the maitre de a small box and requested some champagne” and Bianca gave a wink. “Oh and he wants the gnocchi spicy,” she called over her shoulder as she grabbed the ravioloi dish and a few sorbets, pushing the door that led out to the dining area open with her hip.
Mila set the flame lower and got out a fry-pan, drizzling oil in the bottom before deftly dicing the already marinaded chicken breast fillets into thin strips, and throwing them into the pan. She understood the concealed message behind Bianca’s words; for such a special moment in someone’s life they no doubt deserved the finest meal she could prepare. As if she had not been feeling enough pressure; what with her head soup chef off sick and a well-renown food critic deciding to show up, now she had to make a magnificent meal that would somehow ensure the man’s girlfriend gave him the right answer. She knew she was good chef, but seriously did they expect her to be some miracle worker?
And yet she had to sympathize with the man, knowing the bitterness of rejection firsthand. Only a night before she had been sitting outside in the very dining room Bianca was serving and taking orders in now, waiting for Duncan to arrive. It was amazing how vividly she could recall that night.
Duncan had arrived late, as he almost always had in the three years they had dated. He had kissed her quickly, before sitting down in the chair, a wide smile on his face. “Sorry to have kept you waiting, you know what peak hour traffics like. But I’m so glad you managed to get the night off. I have something important to ask you.”
At those words she had felt her heart flutter in her chest…surely he did not mean…? And yet they had been together for sometime now, their friends constantly hinting that they thought it was high time the pair got married. It made sense, or so Mila had thought.
She had ordered the Braised Ribs, Duncan the Gnocchi, as he always did. “Don’t you want to try some other dish just this once?” she had teased him, and he had shook his head. “Why would I, when I know this one tastes so good. It’s not worth the risk.”
And that was Duncan all over. He lived a comfortable life but never extended himself, or did anything terribly out of the ordinary. He just did not see the point of changing things, not when he was so comfortable with the way things were. It was something she had loved about him, and yet it had infuriated her too. Perhaps he thought things were fine just the way they were between them? Maybe he would never get around to marrying her, and oh how much she wanted the whole white wedding, the celebration of their love with her family and friends.
However it seemed that that night Duncan was no longer content to keep things as they were. They had just finished the tiramisu and where taking some coffee when Duncan started, “I think we both know why I wanted you here tonight. I’ve done a lot of thinking but I seriously think this is the best. For both of us.” And he gave a tentative smile which Mila returned.
“I’m sure whatever it is you’ve decided upon, you’ll find I’m more than happy to go along with,” she had replied, naively. She had not even registered the raise of the eyebrow, or the look the crossed his face. A mixture of surprise and relief.
“Why I thought you’d be upset. In fact I was sure you’d hate the idea that we were going to break up. You just seemed so…attached. I wish I’d known earlier, perhaps we need not have strung on this on so long. But I’m glad, I take it we can still be friends of course?”
It was then the realization hit her, as if a bus had just ploughed into her, right where she had been sitting. She tried to form some sensible reply but the words would not come out. She could only manage to nod her head mutely, and Duncan stood up from the table, the first real smile for the night on his face. “Well I guess I’d better be off, and don’t worry I’ll pay for our meals.” And with that he had thrown a wad of cash on the table and strode off, into the dying light of the evening outside.
Well I’ll try my hardest to make sure that at least one couple make it down the aisle, she thought to herself, as she continued the preparation of the meals, taking even greater care than normal. And then when Bianca came back in she decided to sneak a peak at the couple who where the closest table to the door. The girl was turned away from her, but her eyes met the man’s and she gave him a small smile, before returning to her work, vowing again that this would be one meal he would never forget.
She cut up the peppers adding them and the onions and zucchini to the pan also, before draining the cooked gnocchi and adding it to the vegetables and chicken. Finally she placed it all artfully on a plate, and added a sprinkling of cheese on the top, as well was some crushed chilli, after all he had wanted the dish hot.
Mila then added the pasta of the Pomodoro to the sauce, before carefully arranging it to on a plate. “Number 8’s order is ready to be served,” she said as Biance hurried into the kitchens again.
“Oh that’s great,” and she smoothly picked up the plates, balancing one on each arm. As she exited Mila hurried to the door again, and peered around the slightly opened door, waiting eagerly to see the pair try the food she had prepared.
The silver forks poised she saw the man take a large mouthful of the gnocchi, and then watched as he started to wave frantically at his mouth, draining the glass of white wine that was to have accompanied the meal. Again Mila’s eyes met his, and she could not help but laugh at his distress, his girlfriend’s fretting as his face grew redder. She knew it was such a petty thing to do, even if he had been apparently cheating on her while they had been together, but she hoped the burning sensation in Duncan’s chest now surpassed that of the one she had been feeling the night before. And to think she had almost helped him to propose to another woman!
Mila set the flame lower and got out a fry-pan, drizzling oil in the bottom before deftly dicing the already marinaded chicken breast fillets into thin strips, and throwing them into the pan. She understood the concealed message behind Bianca’s words; for such a special moment in someone’s life they no doubt deserved the finest meal she could prepare. As if she had not been feeling enough pressure; what with her head soup chef off sick and a well-renown food critic deciding to show up, now she had to make a magnificent meal that would somehow ensure the man’s girlfriend gave him the right answer. She knew she was good chef, but seriously did they expect her to be some miracle worker?
And yet she had to sympathize with the man, knowing the bitterness of rejection firsthand. Only a night before she had been sitting outside in the very dining room Bianca was serving and taking orders in now, waiting for Duncan to arrive. It was amazing how vividly she could recall that night.
Duncan had arrived late, as he almost always had in the three years they had dated. He had kissed her quickly, before sitting down in the chair, a wide smile on his face. “Sorry to have kept you waiting, you know what peak hour traffics like. But I’m so glad you managed to get the night off. I have something important to ask you.”
At those words she had felt her heart flutter in her chest…surely he did not mean…? And yet they had been together for sometime now, their friends constantly hinting that they thought it was high time the pair got married. It made sense, or so Mila had thought.
She had ordered the Braised Ribs, Duncan the Gnocchi, as he always did. “Don’t you want to try some other dish just this once?” she had teased him, and he had shook his head. “Why would I, when I know this one tastes so good. It’s not worth the risk.”
And that was Duncan all over. He lived a comfortable life but never extended himself, or did anything terribly out of the ordinary. He just did not see the point of changing things, not when he was so comfortable with the way things were. It was something she had loved about him, and yet it had infuriated her too. Perhaps he thought things were fine just the way they were between them? Maybe he would never get around to marrying her, and oh how much she wanted the whole white wedding, the celebration of their love with her family and friends.
However it seemed that that night Duncan was no longer content to keep things as they were. They had just finished the tiramisu and where taking some coffee when Duncan started, “I think we both know why I wanted you here tonight. I’ve done a lot of thinking but I seriously think this is the best. For both of us.” And he gave a tentative smile which Mila returned.
“I’m sure whatever it is you’ve decided upon, you’ll find I’m more than happy to go along with,” she had replied, naively. She had not even registered the raise of the eyebrow, or the look the crossed his face. A mixture of surprise and relief.
“Why I thought you’d be upset. In fact I was sure you’d hate the idea that we were going to break up. You just seemed so…attached. I wish I’d known earlier, perhaps we need not have strung on this on so long. But I’m glad, I take it we can still be friends of course?”
It was then the realization hit her, as if a bus had just ploughed into her, right where she had been sitting. She tried to form some sensible reply but the words would not come out. She could only manage to nod her head mutely, and Duncan stood up from the table, the first real smile for the night on his face. “Well I guess I’d better be off, and don’t worry I’ll pay for our meals.” And with that he had thrown a wad of cash on the table and strode off, into the dying light of the evening outside.
Well I’ll try my hardest to make sure that at least one couple make it down the aisle, she thought to herself, as she continued the preparation of the meals, taking even greater care than normal. And then when Bianca came back in she decided to sneak a peak at the couple who where the closest table to the door. The girl was turned away from her, but her eyes met the man’s and she gave him a small smile, before returning to her work, vowing again that this would be one meal he would never forget.
She cut up the peppers adding them and the onions and zucchini to the pan also, before draining the cooked gnocchi and adding it to the vegetables and chicken. Finally she placed it all artfully on a plate, and added a sprinkling of cheese on the top, as well was some crushed chilli, after all he had wanted the dish hot.
Mila then added the pasta of the Pomodoro to the sauce, before carefully arranging it to on a plate. “Number 8’s order is ready to be served,” she said as Biance hurried into the kitchens again.
“Oh that’s great,” and she smoothly picked up the plates, balancing one on each arm. As she exited Mila hurried to the door again, and peered around the slightly opened door, waiting eagerly to see the pair try the food she had prepared.
The silver forks poised she saw the man take a large mouthful of the gnocchi, and then watched as he started to wave frantically at his mouth, draining the glass of white wine that was to have accompanied the meal. Again Mila’s eyes met his, and she could not help but laugh at his distress, his girlfriend’s fretting as his face grew redder. She knew it was such a petty thing to do, even if he had been apparently cheating on her while they had been together, but she hoped the burning sensation in Duncan’s chest now surpassed that of the one she had been feeling the night before. And to think she had almost helped him to propose to another woman!
