Chef's Special by Susan X. Meagher

Author:Susan X. Meagher [Meagher, Susan X.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Brisk Press
Published: 2016-12-10T16:00:00+00:00

***

Emily had only seen Blake put on her charming act a couple of times when she was trying to impress guests or the owners. Each time she’d seemed pretty much like herself, but with extra personality. Tonight, around fellow chefs, most of whom she knew to some extent, she showed a different side. A side Emily found not only compelling, but adorable. Blake glided around the reception, tasting food from every station she could get to, chatting up the proud, mostly young chefs who provided it. Then she’d take whatever she’d wrangled, and share it with Emily before dragging her to the next open spot.

It was a crazy way to feed people, more like a food fare than a dinner, but it let dozens of cooks get a little notice while allowing the foundation to squeeze a lot of paying guests in.

Once Blake’s hunger had been partially slaked, she relaxed and found her friends. She had a lot of them. Many more than Emily would have thought. But when she considered she herself had run into six people she’d worked with during her years in the city, she realized that only made sense. Chefs composed a relatively small band, at least chefs at Blake’s level. They went to the same schools, apprenticed at the same top restaurants, and made their bones in the same kitchens. Those bonds, however fleeting, lasted. It reminded her of former pro athletes. When they got together, they knew something of the struggles the other guys had gone through, even if they hadn’t been on the same team.

They’d been chatting with a woman who Emily saw on the food channel every time she turned it on, finding her just as engaging and entertaining as you’d expect a TV celebrity to be. As they turned to leave, she heard Blake say, “Bonsoir, Laurent. Ça va?”

Stunned in place, Emily made herself smile. She hadn’t considered the big boss would be there, but he was a very prominent chef. Of course he’d go to the Barstow Awards.

“Blake,” he said, enveloping her in a hug. “I was just talking to Jean-Michel about you.”

Her head swiveled. “Is he here? I haven’t seen him.”

“Oh, yes. He was saying you should have won last year. He thinks Jason Greene’s food is a bad joke.”

She laughed, then put her hand on Laurent’s shoulder. “I can’t say I agree with him, but…” Her voice lowered. “I agree with him.”

“You should! You, my friend, will win best New York chef one day. I have no doubts.”

“Laurent, do you ever actually cook at your restaurant?”

“In New York?”

“Yeah. In New York.”

“I don’t have the chance. Why?”

“I was wondering why you didn’t recognize your new poissonnier,” she said, making Emily almost choke. Blake’s arm slid around her bare shoulders. “Emily Desjardins. Stop by and see her next time you’re around. She’s going to make her mark, Laurent. I bet she’ll win best New York chef before I do.”

He looked a little embarrassed, but put on a very debonair smile and took Emily’s hand, then kissed the back of it.

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