It started with a taste of TORTELLNI

For as long as she could remember, a touch, a smell, a feel, a sound, the senses always brought her back to her roots and transported her to another world, a world she felt happiest and at her best.

Angelica never thought she would feel this way just from a simple look of HIM, a simple taste was all she needed to feel happiness thriving through her veins, it was truly an amazing feeling and she needed it, she wanted it.

Like any other day, Angelica went to work and did what she does best TEACH. Loving what she does, lunch time came along and that’s when the messages came flooding through, dinner had been planned at their usual spot”, they had been coming to this place for years, it always felt like home.

But tonight, was just a little different, you see there was so much more about tonight that she needed to find the answers to all her questions, which were yet to be answered.

She arrived at “Luigi’s” feeling herself as she wore her favourite dark blue jeans, a flowy floral top and leather jacket, letting her blonde hair fall down her back. As she walked in and she told the waiter, she was meeting her friend here, she then saw her friend gesture for her to come to the table.

“Hello Sunshine, it’s been far too long” the beautiful blue eyed red head Isabelle said, smiling ever so angelically.

“Tell me about it, life is so hectic and crazy right now, let’s order some drinks” she said gleefully.

“Hell yeah” she giggled.

They both picked up the menu, and scanned through what they could possibly order, knowing they would order the same thing they always did. But this time something on the menu caught Angelica’s eye, a new special and yes it was her favourite “Tortellini” in a red sauce, the way she liked it; She knew that was what she wanted to eat.

“Hello, my name is Nora, and I will be your waiter for the evening, are you ready to order?” a cheerful, brunette midsized, shorter woman said.

“Yes, I think so; we will start with drinks, two Pina coda’s; come back in 5 minutes for the food orders, thank you.” Angelica responded as she looked at Isabelle giggling with delight, the bond they have never seizes to disappoint as the connection is stronger than ever every time, they see each other.

The waiter had then returned and both ladies ordered their meals, as they waited the aroma filled the room, the sweet smells of fresh Italian herbs and sauces, the music filled the air transporting them to the village of ITALY; this is what dreams are made of.

“A chicken Parma?” the waiter said, as Isabelle gestured for the waiter to bring it over to her, then Angelica knew hers was on its way, the smell touched her very nose and she knew, the TORTELLINI had arrived.

“That smells incredible” Isabelle said as she tried to get a fork full of Angelica’s Tortellini.

“Nope, I don’t think so, it’s all mine” Angelica laughed as she placed the first fork full of Tortellini into her mouth, it was hard to describe but with every mouthful the taste became better and better, she had never experienced such a beautiful dish that brought back so many heartfelt memories; just from the taste, the smell and the feeling. She knew she had to meet the chef behind the cooking, but the chef was far from reach, and it was getting late; she had to return to her home, work was beckoning her for tomorrow.

“I need to know who the chef was” Angelica said to Isabelle as they were leaving the restaurant

“Why, I don’t get what the big deal is?”

“You don’t understand, it’s important to me, I felt things I haven’t felt in a long time, and it brought so many fond memories and more, I haven’t had a dish like that in forever, the TORTELLINI was just the perfect blend of everything that I hold dear to me”

“Gee you got all that from a bowl of TORTELLINI?”

“You have no idea” Angelica smiled, this wasn’t the end, she was going to get to the bottom of finding the chef, no matter what.

Time was going by so slowly, even though work was Angelica’s passion she couldn’t help but think about the mystery chef who served the most amazing dish of TORTELLINI.

How would she find this chef, he was too modest to show himself when requested by the customers, and he was hidden away even if she tried to investigate the kitchen, she needed a way to see him; and that’s when her clever plan or so she thought was put into action.

“Are you insane? We can’t do that; you really have lost the plot”

“I think my plan is brilliant and its just what we need to add some excitement to our Saturday night, don’t you think” Angelica giggled over the phone to Isabelle,

“So, I will see you at 7pm outside of LUIGI’s, don’t be late” Angelica had told Isabelle.

“Okay, your mad but I love you so I will do this for you, because I know it means a lot to you” Isabelle said just before she hung up.

Hours later Angelica and Isabelle met in front of LUIGI’S, dressed as waiters themselves.

“Oh, this could go terribly wrong, not a very good plan, I don’t think we should continue” Isabelle said nervously biting her nails.

“Don’t be silly, what’s the worst that could happen, we get kicked out” Angelica said laughing.

They both entered the restaurant and walked over to the kitchen, as they told the colleagues they were ready to start their shift, they explained they were new, Bob the other waiter didn’t think anything of it and handed the girls apron’s and note pads, ready to start their shift.

“Wow, that was easy, I told you we can do this” Angelica said giggling as she made her way to the kitchen to gather meals for the tables and to see a glimpse of the mystery chef.

“Did you see anything?” Isabelle asked Angelica as she returned to the bench area

“No, I didn’t. It’s strange how we have been here for a good hour, and we have not seen him. Is he even working tonight, or does he even exist? Maybe he isn’t even he, it could be she” Angelica seemed quite confused and deflated, maybe it was time to go home and call it a night.

“Let’s head home, it’s getting late and your quest to find this mystery chef is getting lost in translation, sorry dear. Better luck next time” Isabelle said giving Angelica a big hug and promising she would stay the night and make her famous hot mint chocolate.

Angelica couldn’t help but think maybe her mystery chef just wasn’t meant to be found, the experience she had from the taste of the TORTELLINI would forever be embedded in her memory, but she needed to move on from the situation, as it was consuming her every move and every thought, she needed an escape but how and where?

She decided to take herself on a solo date, she started her day off getting an oat latte and then headed for a walk to the creek, sat at the creek for a bit and took in all that nature had to give her. She then stopped for some lunch and headed off to watch a movie, her all time favourite genre Romantic comedy, she laughed, she cried, and she really enjoyed herself. She then decided to head home and have a quite night in gathering her thoughts and went to sleep.

“One, Two, Three, all eyes on me” Angelica said to her children in the class, it was that time of the day where she did her best teaching, during her group time sessions. She loved reading stories and having group discussions with her class.

“Ms Angelica, what is your favourite food?” one of the children said

“TORTELLINI” and just like that her mind went back to the mystery chef.

After that she knew, it wasn’t over. She needed to see him, there had to be a reason why she kept going back to that moment in time where the one dish she ate had transported her in more ways than one could possibly imagine.

“How has work been for you?” Angelica asked Isabelle

“Well, you know, being a receptionist for me has always been temporary until I finish my studies and then I would be where I want to be, my true passion, but my real question is, have you really given up on Mystery Chef?” Isabelle said through the phone

“I have decided to move on, it is what it is” and that was that.

Later that night Angelica decided to grab some dinner at “LUIGI’S”, and she ordered the TORTELLINI, usually Nora the waiter brings the dish but instead a tall, brunette, blued eyed man approached the table with the tortellini in hand, placed it on the table in front of Angelica and sat down.

“I heard someone has been looking for me” he smiled

“You have no idea” she smiles shyly

“What can I say, it started with a taste of TORTELLINI” he said as he leaned over and gave her a kiss that transported her with a touch, a smell, a feel, a sound, all the senses that always brought her back to her roots and this was where she was meant to be.