Chef's Like it Hot! (4 page)

To Kevin’s dismay Elena had broken up with him, so as he looked at Kevin’s pitiful face, Colin couldn’t help laughing.

It’s pretty much what he got!

“Are you fricken ready?” Kevin moaned, and Colin sighed. “It’s gonna take the fricken 45minutes to get there in L.A traffic.”

Colin looked at himself one last time, sighed, then walked out of his bedroom.

“Yea, ass, I’m ready.” he said as he picked up his wallet, phone and watch.

“Then get the hell out, I’m starving.” Kevin whined, and Colin shoved him out the front door.

Wilshire…

“So Missa and I are on our way. I figured you’d want us there first, oh and Sandy and Victor are coming as well. Mario said he couldn’t make it, but he and Melvin would totally be there for the next one.” Kendra laughed, and I groaned.

“
OMG
Kenny, I don’t think I made enough food!” I screeched, and she suddenly put me on speaker.

“Gurl please, you is yo mama’s child. When has Vickie ever made food for set people? If you don’t have enough, which I highly doubt, then theys assed out.” Missanna said, and I screamed into the phone.

“ Missa! I haven’t seen you in ages.”

“I know, and I’m bringing the fixings fo some
Coquitos…
hay!” She cried, and I started laughing.

Coquitos will fuck you up!

The last time we did them, I was dancing on a table top, kissed Colin in a closet, and I had no desire to do that again.

Well, at least the table part.

Basically, you take Cinnamon sticks, 2 to 3, 2 cups of water, 1 14oz sweetened condensed milk. Evaporated milk, Crème de coco (like Coco Lopez), 1 can, Rum -- 1 to 2 cups (depending on how strong you want it, which is why Missanna will
NOT
be making them), and ground cinnamon for garnish.

Place the cinnamon sticks and water in a saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer 5-10 minutes to infuse the water with the flavor of cinnamon. Remove the cinnamon sticks and set the flavored water aside to cool. Whisk the cooled cinnamon water, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk and crème de coco together.

Then chill well.

To serve, stir in the amount of rum desired, pour into glasses and garnish each serving with a pinch of cinnamon. You can also do
Ponche Crema
, which is from Venezuela, and a richer, thicker drink.

You’ll need to beat 4 egg yolks together with the sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk. Heat in a double boiler, stirring constantly, to 165°F. Remove from heat and stir in the cinnamon water and 3/4 cup milk.

Then just do the same, chill well and add rum as desired. For a lighter, less sweet version, you can substitute 2 cups of coconut milk for the crème de coco.

“Alright fine, but you are so not making them.” I said, and she laughed.

“
Eso es lo que piensas
!” That’s what you think, she laughed, and I laughed too.

Never get a room full of Dominicans, Puerto Ricans and Cubans in one place!

“Fine, just hurry up. And where is Mannford Kenny?”

“He decided to take his own car. The guys are meeting at his house first. We’re almost to you. We’re stopping at the
Liquor Barn
first.”

“Okay, see you in a bit.” I said and hung up.

I went into the kitchen and began removing the food from the oven.

I couldn’t decide if I should do it buffet or sit down at first; then decided on sit down.

As I walked into the dining room I added the extra leaf to the table.

I hadn’t had a sit down with all my friends in ages, and I realized that I seriously missed them!

The last six years of my life had pretty much been to myself.

I really only communicated with Kendra, with a text every now and then to Missanna, or Mario. It was hard for me to fathom that as I stood there staring at the table.

The chef thing had taken up so much of my life, that when I decided to leave it, it was almost as if I didn’t have one after that. I had basically let it consume me, and once I was done with it, it seemed as if my friends had gotten thrown under the bus as well!

Well, beginning tonight, I would rectify that.

I would never be that drawn in, insecure person again!

I thought smiling as I moved towards the table again.

Once I added the leaf, it sat ten people, and I sighed hoping that was enough. I’d invited two people, now it was like I was in an episode of
“House Party.”

I set the table, took out the wine glasses, beer mugs, then napkins.

I thought,
I
should probably wait until they got here for the food.

I realized then, I didn’t make any appetizers.

Oh well, there was lots of food. I just hoped I’d made enough.

I head the doorbell and walked to the living room.

“What up gurl!” Missanna said as she embraced me.

“Hey, it has been so long. What have you been doing?” I asked as I moved back to let them in.

“Not much still in marketing, but I did get a boss ass promotion, so I’m riding high.” She laughed as she pulled the gallon bottle of rum from the bag, and I laughed rolling my eyes as I heard the doorbell again.

“Hey!” I cried as Sandy and Victor stood there smiling. I embraced them, then ushered them in as I heard Missanna start the blender.

“So what are you actually making?” I asked as I was about to take a seat on the bar stool and the doorbell rang again.

I laughed as Garey and Amanda embraced me. I sighed, then decided to kick off my fricken heels if I was going to be running back and forth to the front door.

I pointed them towards the kitchen laughing as I was about to close the door, then gasped.

“Omg! Mando! Kenny did not tell me you were coming!” I cried as I embraced Armando, then his girlfriend Rebecca ushering them in towards the dining room.

“What the hell Kenny, you didn’t tell me Mando and Becca were coming!” I cried, and she laughed pointing to Missanna.

“I figured we’d do the old gang thing, since it’s been so long since we’ve actually hung out. Now, we’re just missing Colin, DaVon, JaVon, Amanda B., Ricardo, and Kerry.” She laughed, and I did too then as I took a seat on one of the barstools.

“Well, I saw Ms. Kerry today, we’re having drinks on Thursday, so I’m sure he would love for you guys to join.” I said as the doorbell rang again.

I sighed, then got up.

As I opened the door I saw Manny’s grinning tanned face, and laughed.

“Hey Manny, how the hell are you? You better come correct this time!” I growled at him and he laughed.

“I did.” he said, then moved to the side.

We both gasped, wide-eyed and open mouthed.

“Hey Sarie…” Missanna started, then saw Colin standing there. “Oh My God! Colin!” She screamed, then ran to him and threw herself into his arms laughing, and he laughed too.

“How the fuck are you? I haven’t seen you in five years ass!” She laughed embracing him again, as Kenny, Sandy and Victor came from the kitchen.

They each embraced, and I suddenly felt as if my face was three shades of red, as he smiled at me.

It was like culinary school all over again. I had no clue Mannford knew Colin, but I guess the culinary field was, a small world.

“Well, it’s this way.” I said and rushed off towards the kitchen.

Colin looked at Kendra, and she laughed, but sent him a wink.

That confused him, but Kevin shoved him out of the way and made a b-line towards the dining room, so he didn’t have time to contemplate it.

                                                                                  ***

They began to take their seats, and as I removed the remainder of the food from the oven, Colin took off his jacket, hung it on his chair, then came into the kitchen.

“Hey, need some help?” he asked, startled me, and I burned my finger on the Paella pan.

“Shit.” I hissed, he came forward with the extra mitts, then took the Paella and put it on one of the burners.

“Here, let me see.” he said, took my hand, then brought it up.

He looked at it for several moments, traced his finger over the red portion, then turned my hand so it was palm side up.

He then brought it to his lips and kissed the inside of my palm.

I gasped deeply before I could catch it, then looked up at him wide-eyed, and he smiled.

“It’s not that bad.” He smiled, and I nodded, still staring up at him with wide eyes.

“Sar?” Missanna called and snapped me out of his trance.

I took my hand back, and he took the Paella to the table.

I seized the glass of
Sangria
I had left on the counter, killed it, then poured another.

He was an orgasm waiting to happen!

I thought as he came back into the kitchen, then took the rest of the food from the oven smiling.

I wasn’t sure if I could move anyway.

“I got this if you wanna go back in.” he smiled, I nodded, then hurried from the kitchen, since it seemed he wasn’t taking no for an answer on helping.

I took a seat at the table; Kendra gave me a look, then looked towards the kitchen.

She suddenly laughed as Colin winked at her, then mouthed
O
to me.

I gave her the finger wrinkling my nose.

“Here gurl, you look like you need this instead.” Missanna said as she snatched the wine glass from me and placed a
Coquito
in front of me.

“And that is?” Colin asked, and Missanna burst into laughter.

“
Coquitos
!” She cried, and he began laughing as he looked at me.

Obviously, he remembered my table episode as well, and if my face could get any redder it did.

“Really, then I think I’ll have one.” he said winking at me, and I rolled my eyes.

“C’mon, let’s eat!” His friend Kevin commanded, and everyone laughed.

                                                                         ***

An hour later, I was having the best time of my life.

I realized as I sat looking at my friends that this was what my life was seriously missing, and I would deny it no more.

“So Mando, what have you been up to lately?” Colin asked, and he smiled as he took Rebecca’s hand.

We’re expecting.” he stated grinning, and the women began gushing.

“Omg, we so have to do a shower!” Kendra cried, and Rebecca laughed.

“And well, I got the
Head Chef’s
gig at the
Bellagio
.” he said, I looked at him sharply, and I could have sworn Rebecca kicked him under the table.

“I am so over that now Mando, I am completely happy for you.” I said smiling, and it was as if his entire body relaxed, and Rebecca’s did too.

“And you?” Armando countered, and Colin laughed.

“Just doing me.” he returned, and I thought it strange that he looked at me.

They spent the next 30minutes reminiscing on the last ten years, jobs, parties, companies we all worked for; and what it was like to be
23
fresh out of culinary school, marketing, advertising and the lives we led.

“You remember that time when Sar and Col got locked in Ricardo’s closet half naked? Colin swears that nothing happened, but Rico said otherwise; cuz some lips were involved!” Missanna asked, I chocked on my drink, and Colin started laughing.

“No!” I whizzed shaking my head as everyone in the room laughed.

It was a lie, but I would be damned if I would admit it in front of all these people.

It was the most astounding kiss I had ever had, had thought on it often, but I sure as hell wasn’t about to say that.

Years after, I still wondered what would have happen between us because of it.

“Yes, how can you not remember?” Missanna laughed, and I felt my face turn red again.

“I have no recollection of that. And knowing Rico, he was probably lying.” I said, and Kendra laughed.

“I do, fucken Ricardo did it on purpose. We always thought there were sparks between you two, but then after like five years, we realized you were just friends, then Kellen came into the picture.” Kendra returned, and I noticed the frown on Colin’s face.

“How is Rico anyway?” Colin asked, and God was I thankful for that.

“Good, he and Richard are living the dream. They just brought a house on
Mulholland Drive
, so I’m guessing really well.” Kendra said, and everyone nodded.