Food of love (closed)

[Asa]

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She was a phenomenal cook to hear her friends and family talk. She never really thought much about it. Cooking seemed almost instinct to her. Never following a recipe never measuring she simply cooked. Her sister had entered her in a contest whether she liked it or not and she won. All expense paid cruise with a world renowned chef to all the great known and little known food heavens. She detested all the TV chefs and the pompous restaurants with plates of food that couldn't keep a gnat alive and charging nearly hundreds of dollars for a simple meal. She promised her sister she would go. Maybe she could get what she expected was going to be an arrogant prick of a man to understand the real joy of food and cooking being family friends and love.

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Phoebe danced around quite pleased with herself. Not only had she talked her big sister Lorelei into accepting her entering her in a cooking show but the fact that she had won to grand prize.

I knew you would win....

Don't say Phoebe...

Lorelei growled.

I told you so.

Phoebe said it anyway then quickly got out of reach. Lorelei was the best cook she knew. It was like it all came to her by sheer instinct and she wanted the world to know. Lorelei however detested cooking shows flooded with pretentious blowhards who have more ego than real talent. And now thanks to her pesky little sister Lorelei was on a world tour with a TV chef to try all of the little know food heavens around the world. Lorelei felt certain that whoever this mystery chef was she was going to hate this trip.

When I get back Phoebe... Your dead little sis.

Lorelei grumbled as the limo pulled up to the house to pick her up. First leg of the trip was by chartered yacht then private jet with road trips in between. Lorelei was dreading this when the driver opened the limo door for her and he stepped out...

 

[Mav Unlimited]

Luke was looking forward to meeting this most talked about contestant who had come out of nowhere and cruised her way to the grand prize, not to mention this cruise itself which would give him a chance to visit some of the places and people he most enjoyed meeting. He seldom got a chance nowadays to travel for leisure due to his hectic schedule. This was the perfect excuse to get away from the routine that he sometimes felt he got stuck into being an executive chef and a television personality, which he was never crazy about to begin with. You get used to it after a while though. It wasn't going to be a picnic, however. He still had responsibilites, he was still going to garner attention, but he was pretty sure he would enjoy the journey and get to teach some real cooking along the way. Luke always enjoyed teaching. He believed that the best gift you could give anyone was to teach them to cook for themselves.

Luke never attended any culinary institutions when he was learning to cook. He learnt his way up toiling in actual kitchens of both large and small restaurants all over the country with people who had varied skills and tastes along with a real passion for cooking. Whenever he came across anyone who did it for anything other than a genuine love for food and the profession, he would keep his distance. Of course, there were exceptions when one had to cook just in order to make a living. He had been there and understood what it took to survive. Hard work, long hours and personal sacrifice. It was true for any profession if you wanted to get to the top. Although his reasons for getting to the top were different than most.

His father had once asked him, "Why are you doing this?" And he had replied simply saying, "Because I want to bring change in the way people eat, perceive, and prepare food." He never understood why and wanted him to become a lawyer following in the footsteps of his old man.

"Hi, I'm Luke." He stepped out of the limo and stood in front of her. "You must be Lorelei. Nice to finally meet you in person. I hope you didn't have to wait long. The traffic was exceptionally bad today I think." He extended his hand towards her and smiled warmly into her eyes. Her overall body language and demeanor was not what he had expected at all. She was about to go on a world tour and didn't seem that excited about it. "Thankfully, we shouldn't have that problem on the tour. I hope you're ready for the ride." Saying that, he signaled the driver, stepped out of the way to her side and grabbed the door with one hand, his other hand leaving hers and very lightly placed against her back, allowing her to slide in to the vehicle.

 

[Asa]

Lorelei shook his hand and nodded. She was a little surprised at how good he looked but that surprise changed nothing about her disdain for pompous and TV and high priced chefs. Phoebe however was bouncy and talkative.

You will have to forgive my surly sister. She is not big on professional chef and how did you put it Lore... Overpriced servings that couldn't keep a gnat from starving. Have fun sis.

Phoebe waved and walked off once her sister was in the limo. Lorelei sighed once in the limo she really didn't know what to expect since the Mystery chef was young and attractive.

So where to first?

 

[Mav Unlimited]

Luke was only half-paying attention to the other lady who was accompanying Lorelei until she blurted out how her sister precisely felt about professional chefs and overpriced servings. It made him chuckle inwardly. It was not very often that he came across someone like that. He was amused and pleased at the same time to know that she felt this way. It took him back in time for a moment when he was not a celebrity.

He was glad when the door to the limo closed and the woman disappeared. He had a feeling her sister's actions had made Lorelei slightly uncomfortable. Not that she was all that comfortable to begin with when she entered the limo. He shifted into his seat after her as the door closed, rolled the half-open window up and turned to look at her. She seemed neither as talkative nor as excited as her sister was, at least not yet. But he was hoping that would change soon, especially now that he knew how she felt about chefs in general.

"First we stop at my favorite place in town to grab some breakfast. It is only a few miles from here. I hope you are hungry, because I haven't eaten since last night. Then we have some time before the driver can take us to board the yacht."

 

[Asa]

Sure where would that be?

She was expecting him to rattle off one of the high end places like Leconte or something like that. She doubted that a celebrity chef would even know about little mom and pop joints like Kay's or anywhere like that. Private planes and yachts it was all too over the top to her like image was more important than to cook with love family and friends in mind. It also didn't set well with her that he was good looking. One month with his man visually at least would not be all bad.

 

[Mav Unlimited]

"I believe it is only a few more blocks now." He glanced out through the window and then back at her. "I used to work there a long time ago. It is where I discovered what a hearty breakfast is like. I am sure you will like it."

Lorelei seemed young and very attractive. He caught himself looking at her more often than he had imagined. His hectic schedule and long hours hardly ever offered any time for female companionship. He couldn't remember the last time he had been on a date with a girl. Although this wasn't a date, it was going to be the two of them spending a significant amount of time together. The last thing he wanted to do was to make her feel any more uncomfortable. Maybe he would just have to exert better control and not think of her in that way. He had a lot of other things to think of,

The limo came to a halt and the driver opened the door. Once he was out of the limo, Luke offered her his hand as she stepped out onto the sidewalk in front of the little eatery on Grand Avenue.

 

[Asa]

She looked to the place in front of them.

You worked in Kay's?

She was a little surprised as she watched him for a moment. She had been her so many times and did not recall ever seeing him.

 

[Mav Unlimited]

She seemed a little surprised. He wasn't exactly sure why. Was it because he had worked at a place like Kay's or because he still came here to eat. Either way, it appeared that she probably knew the place already. He would have been surprised if she hadn't at least heard of it, since it was in the same town she lived in.

"I did." He said as his glance shifted from her face to gaze upon the sign that lit the entrance of the place they were standing in front of. "It was several summers ago." He went into flashback mode for a moment before turning his attention to her. "I don't get a chance to visit much anymore though. Have you been here previously?" He asked as the limo door closed and they started walking.

 

[Asa]

We are here quite a bit. Have been for a very long time.

She actually smiled a little bit from her own memories as she turned to head for the door.

 

[Mav Unlimited]

Just as they headed towards the door, he could swear he noticed a smile on her face for the first time since he had met her. That was progress he thought.

They were greeted and after some small talk were seated at a booth by the hostess who happened to recognize both Luke and Lorelei. She had mentioned about being here quite a bit. He wondered who she came with. Was it a boyfriend? Or a fiance? Or someone else? It was a question that could wait.

"So, what would you like to eat?" He knew what he wanted. He was well versed with the menu and didn't need to look at it.

 

[Asa]

Oh this early in the day we know Lorelei's order.

The waitress smiled as she walked over.

However this is new. No bubbly Phoebe or your sweet old dad. This is new Lorelei with a TV chef? Hey Jack make sure hell hasn't frozen over. So southern lunch slam wilted salad with fried okra catfish collard greens sweet tea and a slice of bourbon pecan pie. What about you Luke?

Lorelei sighed at the fuss being made but nodded agreement to the order.

 

[Mav Unlimited]

Luke stared at Lorelei in amusement the entire time her order was being broadcast, watching her expressions, only to glance at the waitress in between a couple of times. Her question directed towards him finally brought his to his senses as he stopped staring and looked away towards the waitress with just slight embarrassment, hoping that Lorelei didn't notice.

"Tell Jack that I'll have my usual, please. Thank you." He smiled at the waitress and handed her the menus that were on the table.

Luke turned his attention back to his contestant. "So, you come here often with your family?"

As they sat there talking, their food arrived. Luke could hardly wait to get his hands on the fried chicken accompanying the waffles and eggs, along with the fried tomatoes and a small serving of his favorite shrimp and grits.

 

[Asa]

Lorelei sighed and just smiled to the waitress.

Yeah we love this place. Been coming here all my life.

She started with the wilted salad and smiled loving the flavors. No place else she knew of served his old southern salad.