Personal chef Peter sending his boss flirting messages written on napkins just to see the older man smile. That's all he thought it would be until he got and envelope back one day with a note inside giving him the day and time for a date.
@starkerfestivals Summer Bingo: Personal Chef
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I cured the brisket for a week then seared it off in tallow before braising it for 8 hours at 200 using the same recipe and aromatics as my grandmother and mother.
Plus a bunch of Yukon Gold potatoes because I happen to love potatoes. So nutritious. I’m not sure how they got to fall out of fashion with the micronutrients that they deliver.
8 hours at 200F.
Then I separated the fat from the pan drippings and made a sauce with pomegranate juice for the client to use for reheating the frozen brisket.
No, you read that right. 8 hours. I braised it for 8 hours at 200F. Not 325F. 200F. For eight hours. E-i-g-h-t (And I plan to smoke half of the rest of the ⅔ of the slab leftover, next summer).
Pretend that this has a garnish of flat leaf parsley and pomegranate seeds, yeah?
Oh it’s just so good to have brisket again. Even though the recipe leaves room for improvement.
I want to try it my way with fresh herbs and red wine, next time.
Warnings: Uninvited guests, threats, being held at gun point, kidnapping I guess?? 😅, mentions of future life, love at first sight (kinda) 😶
Bucky was casually flipping through the newspaper, completely nonchalantly as the meeting was continuing. Loki has been trying to sell him some bullshit about the latest missing shipment, even though there was more than enough evidence against him - Bucky just wanted to make him sweat and see how far the Trickster was willing to go.
Bucky stopped flipping the paper and clicked on the computer before him and pushed it towards the defendant standing on the opposite side of the room.
"So, that's not you on the video, stealing my dough?" Bucky asked and crossed his hands over his chest as he leaned back in his chair, observing Loki freeze when the video zoomed in on his face.
"I can explain-"
"Take him away. I don't want to see or hear him for a while." The mob boss interrupted and as Loki was taken away yelling, Bucky pointed hard on a particular page in the paper.
"What I wouldn’t give to have a personal chef right now at the house. I’m starving." He smirked at Steve and grabbed his phone from his breast pocket, dialing up a number.
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You were busy preparing the tonights’ menu when your coordinator, Amanda, rushed into the kitchen covering the phone.
"Chef! Mr. Barnes would like a table for tonight." Her voice shook gently, but you didn't notice, too occupied with cooking. You also missed the fact that your whole staff stopped in their tracks and were exchanging worried glances.
"Does Mr. Barnes have a reservation?" You asked.
"N-No. But he would still like a table." Amanda carefully continued, hoping you will read the room.
"Well, I would like a Michelin star, but just like that's not happening, Mr. Barnes is also not getting a table tonight."
"C-Chef...it's Mr. Barnes..."
"I don't care if he is Ghandi. If he didn't make a prior reservation, he's not getting a table." You pressed harder.
"But it's THE Mr. Barnes." Amanda insisted, her tone changing.
"You keep saying his name like I'm supposed to know who Mr. Fucking Barnes is." You finally glared at your coordinator and were suddenly aware of the silent and motionless room.
"He's the head or the Buchanan crime family." Your sous-chef, Tom whispered. You paused for a moment.
"He can be the head of the fucking universe for all I care. Our policy is either you reserve a table or you stay out. No exceptions. Please relay that message to Mr. Barnes." You turned your attention back to your dish and snapped your fingers to signal to the rest of your chefs to get back to work. Amanda quickly left the kitchen, already talking on the phone.
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Bucky put his phone away and Steve observed him, his fingers looped in his black jeans belt loops.
"What was that?" He asked. Bucky was staring at the newspaper, specifically at your picture.
"She said no."
"Does she know who called?"
"I don't think she was too bothered by it." Bucky met his right hand mans' eyes.
"I'll get the car ready." Steve nodded.
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Tonight's special was a simple risotto with truffles and broccoli. The idea behind your restaurant was normal everyday food with a twist and a normal price. At first the restaurant wasn't successful, until your ice-cream with soy sauce made it to a food blog. A completely different market of customers opened up, the ones looking for different flavours and combinations of foods that shouldn't go together, yet somehow do. Your friend Amanda was hired after a nasty altercation with a would-be guest turned into a police raid. She handled all the waiting lists and interviews to help you focus on developing your experimental kitchen.
A lot changed since you first opened the restaurant, but one thing remained - your rule of first come, first served, absolutely no special treatment. And in the 2 years since your restaurant was put on the map Amanda turned down several celebrities, Instagram models and business owners. They had to wait in line, just like everyone else.
"Chef, you need to come out." Your waiter Dominic burst in the kitchen.
"Kind of busy at the moment, Dominic." You replied as you carefully attached freeze-dried petunias on the desert before you. You liked the served food to be as perfect as it could be.
"Mr. Barnes is here and he wants to speak with you." The petunia fell from your tweezers and you looked at the man.
"Until you hear otherwise, you're dismissed. Get as far away from here as you can." You took in a breath and wiped your suddenly sweaty hands in your apron, before walking out of the kitchen. Usually filled restaurant was now completely empty, safe for Amanda, your other waiters Trina, Riley and Carson and three men, sitting at one of the tables.
"Ah, the Chef finally decided to join us. Please have a seat." One of the men spoke and pointed to the seat across from him. You straightened up, walked calmly to the chair and sat down. You leaned back on the chair and crossed your arms, observing the man who you assumed was Mr. Barnes.
"I'm here. What do you want?"
"Watch your tone." The man on his right barked.
"Steve, it's okay. I can imagine how the lady must be feeling, after all we did interrupt her evening." Bucky raised his hand to stop Steve from lashing out. "My name is James Buchanan Barnes, but please call me Bucky." He extended his hand and you reluctantly took it, introducing yourself as well.
"Well, Bucky...now that the pleasantries are done, might telling me why you scared away all my guests?"
"You were quite clear on the phone - there was no room tonight and I was really hungry." He smirked.
"There are hundreds of restaurants on the way. If you were that hungry, why didn't you just stop at one of them?"
"Because none of them have their pretty face in the paper." He leaned forward, leaning on his forearms and stared into your narrowing eyes. "I've been looking for a personal chef for a few months now and when I saw the picture and the story in the newspaper, I just knew I had to meet you."
"I'm not looking for a job, but thanks." Your reply was dipped in poison.
"I can make it worth your while."
"You could never afford me."
"Try me." Bucky smirked. His teeth were too white.
"No." His smirk vanished.
"Steve."
Steve grabbed Amanda, pulling out his gun and pressing it to her temple. A scream left her mouth and your chair fell on the floor with a loud bang when you abruptly stood up. The waiters still present in the room stilled, Trina covered her mouth to prevent herself from screaming, while the other two glared daggers at the three mobsters in the room. Bucky smugly leaned back in his chair.
"You really should listen to your staff, Dollface. I'm not someone you can fuck around with. If you refuse my more than generous deal, I'll show you how bad I can actually be."
"You're crazy." You finally met his eyes, glaring at him again.
"I know what I want. Just say yes and Amanda will get away scot-free." The mobster said nonchalantly, as if the whole situation wasn't a big deal. The whole room turned their eyes to you, waiting for the response. But there really was no alternative, you weren't going to call bluff on a man like that.
"I accept your offer."
Bucky slapped the table with a smile.
"Good choice. Steve, let the nice lady go. And you, Chef, are coming with me." He stood up, buttoning his black jacket, grabbing your elbow and dragging you with him. Steve shoved Amanda away and followed his boss.
"No, wait, you can't take her away!" Amanda finally found her voice.
"Amanda, it's fine. Tom is more than capable of taking over in my absence."
You were shoved in the car unceremoniously, Bucky climbing in right after.
"Don't worry, Dollface, I'll take good care of you." He smiled at you.
"You have never even tried my food, why are you doing this?"
"I like beautiful things and when I find something that pleases me, there's nothing in this world that would stop me from having it."
"Beauty is fading."
"By then we'll have build a life together." He grabbed your hand and kissed the back of it.
Thank you for reading! 😊💙
The GIF doesn't belong to me, belongs to the amazing creator! 😊🙏
Yeah.. I'm in the mob mood 😅 and also I started watching this french series (which is fun because I barely understand the language) about cooking and I am so in love with it 🥰 And after a bit of an absence and time off I'm a bit more fit to write again, so fingers crossed I guess 😁🤞
