Chef Suri was ecstatic on being asked to organize a gala buffet for industrialist Mr. Kay’s seventy fifth birthday. The septuagenarian was a regular client of Chef Suri and was mesmerized by his culinary skills. Suri was equally fond of the old man and thought to surprise him with his favorite dishes on that special day.
The chef was lost in the kitchen which was a maze of stainless steel and heat. His mind was chalking out menus which he wanted to serve on Kay’s gala birthday dinner. The event was a big thing considering Mr. Kay’s reputation. It would catapult Suri into the top league of chefs in the country. The pressure was a physical weight, bearing down on him with a force of thousand Michelin stars. He was delirious with excitement. Chef Suri wanted to display his culinary skills by preparing popular dishes from every continent, a challenge he took upon himself. He wanted the guests to be spoilt with a plethora of choices from pizza to paratha and mutton stew to sushi and fish fries.
The D-day finally arrived. The theme of the party was jungle safari and a gala dinner was planned in the garden. Mr. Kay was fond of nature and he tried to find nature’s beauty in every aspect of his life. Suri donned chef’s hat that looked like a mushroom cloud and oversaw the entire arrangement with glee. It would be a party to remember, a rhapsody of taste. The chef worked intimately with his team to bring out the flavours and presentation of each dish. Suri was meticulously overseeing the preparation in the kitchen and the arrangements in the garden.
Suri was engrossed in the kitchen’s dessert corner, preparing his masterpiece, a lemon souffle. Suddenly, he noticed a shadow before him, a young sous chef named Tim with eyes mixed with fear and confusion told Suri in a trembling voice, “Chef, something is not right with the mutton stew.” Panic gripped Suri. “What do you mean? All the ingredients are mixed in proportion. What can go wrong?” exclaimed Suri, his voice low and dangerous. Tim replied softly, “It’s the meat. Something is not quite right with it. The texture and the taste are missing.”
A cold dread crept into Suri. Something was terribly wrong. He abandoned the souffle and stormed into the main kitchen, the heart of the chaos. The lamb was already plated, a golden crown on a creamy fragrant gravy. He took a forkful and the taste hit him like a physical blow. It was bland, lifeless, as if the soul had been extracted.
Panic began to set in. This was not an ordinary mistake but a sabotage, thought Suri. Someone wanted to ruin his reputation and destroy his career. Time was ticking by and guests would arrive soon. Suri rallied his team and they experimented frantically with several herbs, sauces and spices. Nothing worked and the taste remained bland. Suri was running out of time and he had to find a solution fast. Suddenly, he remembered his grandmother’s recipe which she kept as a family secret. He rushed to his cabin and opened his drawer and picked up a worn notebook. Rummaging through the pages he found out what he was looking for. His grandmother’s recipe was a complex mixture of rare herbs and spices which are proportionately measured and blended with something tangy.
With renewed hope Suri and his team recreated the spice blend and infused it into the lamb stew. It was a gamble, but as the first brush of spiced mixture kissed the lifeless lamb a miracle happened. The lamb came alive with taste, texture and juices. The stew transformed into a symphony of taste that exploded on the palate. It was a Eureka moment for all in the kitchen.
The garden was lit beautifully with twinkling fairy lights. Aroma diffusers were placed which gave out a mild soothing fragrance. Colorful bouquets adorned the round tables which were covered with spotless white damask tablecloths. The garden was divided into several sections as if one is traversing through a culinary maze. A colossal birthday cake designed like a forest was the center of attraction. It was adorned with green frosting that depicts the lush foliage. Dark chocolate took the shape of rocks and tree trunks. Colorful flowers and mushrooms made with sugar icing created an illusion of stepping into a miniature edible forest. This captivating centerpiece was undoubtedly the focal point of the event that would spark a sense of wonder among the guests.
The salad counter was equally creative. Fruits and vegetables were cut and presented in the shape of peacocks and lions adding a playful and whimsical touch to the jungle theme. A live grill counter completed the buffet’s extravaganza. The dessert counter was a tantalizing display of sweet delights. Suri’s souffle was a Mount Everest of egg whites, a perilous climb for taste buds. While the puddings were a comforting valley of sweet indulgence. The chocolate fountain at the corner rotated like a mesmerizing waterfall inviting the guests to dip their fruits and marsh mellows into its velvety embrace.
Mr. Kay arrived, a regal figure in safari attire. He was greeted with the birthday song. The air was thick with excitement. The guests, a mix of industrialists, politicians, media barons and socialites were awestruck by the grandeur of the set up. As Mr. Kay cut the colossal masterpiece, a gasp reverberated in the air. It was a testament to Suri’s culinary artistry. The guests had to navigate through a maze of culinary wonder, an endless journey of gastronomical discovery.
Suddenly a scream echoed and time itself held its breath. The counter which had fish fries had become a wreck. The fries were eaten in bits and pieces. Crumbs lay scattered on the table, staining the white clean tablecloth. Suri ran towards the counter and froze on seeing the condition. “Who is his enemy,” he thought. First the mutton stew and now fish fries, two misadventures in one day is not a good sign. The evening is turning into a nightmare. Suri was determined to uncover the truth. He told Tim to keep a watchful eye on the counter. He rushed to inspect other food stations and found everything normal. Only the fish counter was a mess and the carefully prepared delicacies were now ruined.
He heard a guffaw and turned back to see Mr. Kay near the fish counter. He rushed towards him and saw Tim and few of his colleagues laughing heartily. “Hi Chef, we found the culprit,” they laughed. On the table sat majestically Mr. Kay’s pet cat Biscuit. He was named so because of his golden silky coat. Biscuit always accompanied the old man in this pet friendly hotel and relished the fish fries with his master. Suri was astonished on seeing the feline thief. He quickly assessed the remaining fish and realized that there was enough to prepare a new batch of fries. Relief spread over Suri as he realized that no one was trying to sabotage his reputation but fate was challenging his spirits. With renewed determination he ordered his team to get back into action. “We need to recreate the fish fries. Everyone get back to action,” he instructed sternly. The team sprang into action, their movements in synchronization with Suri’s urgency.
Suri, a whirlwind of activity moved from counter to counter to ensure everything ran smoothly. His eyes scanned the crowd searching for signs of approval. The sight of the guests savoring his creations filled him with a sense of accomplishment. As the night wore on, the party reached its crescendo. People danced, joked, laughed loudly and enjoyed the camaraderie.
When the last guest left, Suri stood alone in the garden, his adrenaline fading. He was delirious with exhaustion. The once vibrant place now bathed in moonlight. The chocolate fountain, now a sticky mess stood as a silent witness to the evening’s revelry. The party had been a resounding success and the chef had not only met Mr. Kay’s expectations, but surpassed them. It was a night he would never forget. Suri was filled with gratitude towards Tim, who helped him emerge victorious by overcoming adversity. He knew that the night had been more than just a culinary victory. It had been a battle, a fight for survival in a world of cut throat competition.
The next morning, as the rays of the sun touched the earth Suri was flooded with accolades and congratulatory messages. Newspapers and television channels were filled with praises for his culinary genius. Large bouquet with a thank you note welcomed him next morning in his kitchen chamber. Mr. Kay was always very generous with his compliments. He offered to sponsor Chef Suri and his team for a quick getaway to any destination of their choice. The entire kitchen staff was ecstatic with this unexpected offer. Suri realized that things would not be as normal as before. The event was a turning point not only in his career, but life, marking a new chapter with opportunities and challenges. He remembered his grandmother’s words, cooking is not only about creating flavours and gastronomical delights, but a passion, an emotional connection. He had not only catapulted himself to the top league of chefs, but had also carved a place in the hearts of all food lovers everywhere.
Glossary :
Damask : Type of heavy cloth that has a pattern woven into it that is the same color as the cloth