Dinner date
“Do you cook often?”, the woman asked
“I used to but with the recent job I am unable to find time for it”, the man in the white apron replied
“I can help if you want”
“No, let me cook for you, it’s the least I can do after what happened earlier”
“It’s not your fault, I was planning on shifting from that place anyway, if anything you did me a favor by standing up against the owner”
“I lost my temper, he was drunk and misbehaving.”
“Forget about it, what smells nice?”
“It’s the cinnamon, I am frying it”
The kitchen was filled with a earthy, warm aroma which immediately shifted her attention from her thoughts to the present
She noticed how skillfully her date chopped and tossed the veggies into the utensil. He had a knack for cooking.
They talked in length about their childhoods, she mentioned how as a kid she never liked the taste of garlic and still struggles to eat food with traces of it.
He shared about his favorite food joints growing up. The milkshake he still gets from a cafe near his school. The local bar which has the best brewed beer in town.
The dinner was almost prepared as he dressed the dish with several condiments in his spice cabinet.
He finally took some herbs in his palm and rubbed it and sprinkled it onto the dish, it enhanced the taste, he explained
She saw the spark in his eyes when he spoke about how he learned the recipe and how he has taught himself the culinary art by regularly watching and trying new cuisines
She could watch and listen to him for hours as he spoke about the origins of the dish he was making.
He repeated her name and asked again about her preference of her spice tolerance before putting some chillies.
The dining table was soon covered with strong, powerful smells as different delicacies were brought on it.
He poured Merlot into her glass and sat next to her. They ate in silence but glanced looks that penetrated beyond words.
