Chapter One
"Our last order for today: Table number 4- One Salmon Carpaccio, two Vongole, one Fillet Mignon. Table number 28- One Acquacotta, one Pollo Alla Cacciatora, two of today's specials,"
"Yes Chef!" was the resounding answer. Chef Lodi lifted his gaze from the last two order slips to take a look at his kitchen. Right at the back of the kitchen, busily running around with ingredients was the kitchen assistant. Alex was a good natured boy and worked very hard. Chef Lodi's only regret was that he would not be there when the boy becomes a fry cook one day.
Smiling to himself, Chef Lodi turned to look at the main line on his right where Andy, Zeke, Miria and Shirley were stationed. Everyone seemed to be doing things right. The fillet mignon, cacciatore and carpaccio were being made carefully and with precision. On his left, the pasta line- his pride and joy. The one thing that Restaurant Mangiamo was famous for was its pasta. At the head of the pasta line was his Sous Chef, followed by Damien, Ruby and Leo. As for Sage, the Sous Chef, some would describe her as being cold and boring but she was the best student that he had ever taught. She had studied under him back in Italy many years ago and had been exceptional that he had invited her to New York to work as his Sous Chef.
"I am very proud of all of you," said Chef Lodi a while later when the last orders were sent out. He beamed at every one of his line cooks inside the kitchen. "As you all know, today is my last day. Let's have a farewell drink before we leave tonight."
***
Winter was her favourite season. Sage loved the cold that pinched her cheeks and nose each time she was outside. It was not snowing yet but the weather was cold enough to warrant turning up the heater in her car. She had only taken a sip of the wine poured out earlier on; she didn't feel that celebratory. A part of her knew it was time for her teacher to retire but another part of her didn't want change. She had only been a Sous chef for a year. Chef Lodi had always said that the step from being a Sous Chef to Head Chef was the biggest. Was she good enough to take the step forward?
Hitting the gas pedal, she revved the car and headed home.
When she reached her apartment floor, she saw the apartment door next to hers wide open. The lights were on, music was playing but no one seemed to be there. That apartment had been empty for the past few months. However, Sage wasn't planning on playing the friendly neighbor welcoming someone new to the block. She simply keyed in her code on her locks and headed to bed.
***
The next morning, after making sure all the ingredients for the day's menu were available and prepped, she headed to the briefing room for their restaurants routine daily briefing. The room was always filled with chatter which died down almost immediately when the restaurant President walked in.
"Good morning everyone. Today we have 15 reservations. As the Christmas season is approaching, we should expect more families and also corporate dinners. It will be a busy period so I hope everyone will do their best," he paused, then continued, "Also, I have something to announce- as you all know, Chef Lodi has retired. So I would like to introduce all of you to our new Head Chef..."
Mr Caleb Howard, the President, smiled at Sage then turned his head to his right as another man walked in.
"This is Chef Phillip James everyone. He has come especially from Italy to take over the kitchen staff. So I hope everyone will give him their best cooperation and be nice to him. Okay?"
"Yes Mr Howard," said everyone.
Sage stared at the man standing in front of her. It was ridiculous! Shouldn't she be the one taking the Head Chef's position? Just look at him! An arrogant prick! She knew that he was sizing them all up the way his eyes flicked from one person to another.
When everyone had dispersed, Sage went up to the President and pulled him aside.
"Sir, I don't think it's right for you to do this. With Chef Lodi gone, I am in charge! Why didn't you discuss with me first about hiring someone to take his place?" said Sage. Although she was burning up on the inside, she tried her best not to show it.
"Ah... Sous Chef... I suppose you were expecting a promotion? I was expecting one too... but Chef Lodi personally recommended Chef James to be his replacement. I am sure Chef Lodi knows what's best for this restaurant."
"But Sir..."
"Sage... don't make things hard for me... I know how you feel... but why don't you take this opportunity to learn something from Chef James? He might be better than you think," he replied kindly.
Sage didn't say a word to his reply but simply stormed off towards the kitchen. How could Chef Lodi do this to her? Hadn't she been an excellent student of his? Hadn't he personally invited her to New York to work with him? And now he decided to ask someone else to replace him after he has carefully groomed her the past one year?
When she entered the kitchen, everyone was already at their place, waiting for the briefing by the Head Chef. In the kitchen, the Head Chef was like a god. Everyone either revered him or feared him.
"Ah... Sous Chef... would you care to join us?" said Chef James. He had caught the fire in her eyes and simply wanted to fuel it. "Isn't it a bad example to be later than your other junior chefs to report at the stove?"
"I was having a talk with the President, Chef."
"A talk you could not do after working hours, Sous Chef?"
Sage simply glared at him and kept quiet.
"Answer me!" he shouted.
"Yes Chef!" she said.
"Good. Okay now, here's our first order of the day... Table number 7- One Fettuccine Alfredo, one Seafood Marinara, one grilled scallops and one chef's recommendation" he shouted.
Almost immediately the kitchen burst with action. Pans began to sizzle, ingredients were being tossed and food was being presented beautifully on plates.
Chef James walked around to inspect the cooking. He was quiet and didn't say much but simply smiled and nodded to himself.
Later that night after closing hours, the locker room was buzzing with chatter and speculations. The three female junior chefs were huddled together, crooning about how handsome the new Head Chef was. Sage listened and rolled her eyes. Sure, he was good looking but she hated him to the core for taking the position she was meant for.
"Sous Chef, Sous Chef! Oh... isn't he such a gem?" said Ruby. "Oh... here he comes!" they whispered and giggled to each other. Sage simply slammed her locker door shut when he came beside her to put away his things. She used to always stay and wait for Chef Lodi to come so they could discuss today's mistakes and the next day's menu. But today she didn't feel like speaking to the new Head Chef.
Turning her back, she headed off to the carpark and went home.
The next day, Sage made sure that she was early when reporting at the stove after briefing. When she came earlier to do her routine stock check, she found Chef James already inside the freezer room doing his own checks.
In contrast to her sour mood, the others seemed rather excited about having Chef James around. The girls were putting extra effort to dress up and doll up. Sage smiled at the thought of how silly they looked. She really wished she was like them- simple minded and perhaps not as ambitious.
"Okay... are you all ready for today's first orders?" asked Chef James.
"Yes Chef!" they all replied. The three other girls were giggling sheepishly as they took their frying pans from the top rack. Chef James simply smiled. A while later when they were filled with more orders, he started walking around inspecting their cooking again, like yesterday.
When the first orders were placed on his table for inspection, he took a look and sighed.
"Who's in charge of this salad?"
"Me, Chef!" replied Miria happily as she walked beside him.
"Who are you trying to impress?" he asked.
"Eh? I'm sorry?"
"Why the hell is your salad piled so high? By the time it gets to the table, half of it would have fallen off!" he yelled at her and then threw the plate on the floor. At that moment everyone stopped working, shocked.
Miria retreated sulkily to her work station. Sage looked at Chef James but kept quiet.
He simply took the next order, read it and waited for a response but everyone was too shocked to say anything.
"No answer?" he asked.
"Yes Chef!"
The atmosphere from then on was like walking on eggshells. When Ruby stepped towards the Chef table to place her pasta for inspection, she was sweating from fear. Chef James gave her a sharp look, snatched the plate from her and took a strand of spaghetti and tasted it only to spit it out as soon as it got into his mouth.
"What is this thing that makes me so sick?" he yelled.
"Uh... it's aglio olio, Chef."
"I know what it is. What did you put in it?"
"Pasta and olive oil, Chef"
"How much oil did you put huh?" he yelled and pressed the plate with the pasta onto Ruby's shirt. Another gasp echoed through the room. "Sous Chef? Is this the type of cooking you teach your juniors? Where the hell did you learn your culinary skills from?" he continued.
Sage flashed him an insulted look but continued with her work. He came beside her and placed his hand forcefully on her wrists to stop her from cooking.
"Answer me!" he shouted.
"Palma, Chef," she replied.
"Oh?" he said, sounding surprised. An Italian trained chef? "Then why have you not been teaching your juniors well?" he asked.
"No Chef... Sous Chef is a wonderful teacher but it is I who keeps making mistakes..." stammered Ruby.
"Then she's not that wonderful a teacher if she can't correct your mistakes isn't she?" he demanded. When Ruby kept quiet, he yelled for an answer.
"No, Chef..."
"That's right... she's not a wonderful teacher. And she doesn't deserve to be a Sous Chef for that," he said simply.
With fire burning in her eyes, Sage glared back and him. Slamming her frying pan on the stove she backed away and stormed out of the kitchen.
Later that evening during kitchen debriefing, Chef James made everyone gather to assess their suitability in the kitchen.
"Every Chef desires to make the kitchen personally his and I must do what is necessary to weed all the unwanted growth inside mine." Walking towards Miria first, he criticized her lack of presentation and purpose in the kitchen.
"I don't want you in my kitchen. Get out. You're fired." He did the same thing with Ruby and Shirley too. Finally he walked in front of Sage and pressed a finger to her uniform.
"You. A Chef never leaves the kitchen, leaving all his staff stranded. You don't deserve to be in my kitchen. You, you're fired!" he yelled.
"Chef!" gasped everyone. But Chef James wouldn't hear any of their words for he had already walked out; an arrogant smile plastered on his face.
Later when she saw him at the carpark, she confronted him. He was about to enter his car but she slapped his car door shut so he couldn't enter.
"What can I do for you, Sage?"
"Who the hell do you think you are? You're barely here a week and you start firing people who've been working here for so long?"
"What, you mean you don't deserve it?"
"Why you son of a... you planned to fire all the women right from the start didn't you? Huh?" she yelled at him.
He gave her an arrogant laugh then gave her a considering look.
"When was the last time you dated a man?" he asked.
