Dish of the day – 1 – Chicken salad pita sandwich

**Dish of the day is the story of Joana Lane, a chef and the owner of a small restaurant inherited from her mother, who writes in a very spirited way about her love affairs and sexual adventures in a cookery book/diary.

Date: Oct 10th 2007

Dish of the day: Chicken salad pita sandwich

Reminder of the day: Big changes start from small opportunities

Dear cookery book,

Today a customer asked to see me right after she finished her meal and my legs wouldn’t stop trembling. Had I possibly disappointed on of my mother’s customers?! How could that have happened?

When I reached her table (the one on the left to the entrance), I couldn’t look her in the eyes.  She is around 35 I guess, she has hazel eyes and short chocolate-brown hair. There was something ‘royal’ in the way she was sitting. Gosh, she is beautiful. A lot more than Melissa, or Lisa or Chris. And I’d get an earful for flirting with “customers I wish where lesbian” again  if mom were still alive…

She was talking to someone on the phone and she hipnotized me right there. I found myself wishing she could see me in that fabulous dress I had bought as a gift to myself the previous week. I’d get a manicure, get my nails clean and trimmed – she would be impressed, but reality was that I had that stupid uniform on. Damn it!

As soon as her eyes met mine, she said goodbye to the person on the other end opening up a smile that almost melted me down. I was still trying to find a way to stand in front of her when she started:

“You’re way too young to be such a terrific chef! What College have you gone to?” – I admit I had stopped eating Pierre’s lemon trifles to avoid putting on more weight, and I had also started running through the neighborhood park for an hour and a half every single morning to lose each pound I’d gained since my mother’s funeral and I was pretty happy with the result of 28 non-drinking-or-smoking years, going to bed as early as possible, eating healthy and putting magical face creams on, so I replied:

“It’s very kind of you ma’am. I’m not so young as I look, and I’ve learned everything I know with my mother, ma’am…”

“Ah, please, let’s forget about formalities;” – She interrupted me.  ” Just call me Helena. Can I see your hands? I’m crazy about chef’s hands.” – For God’s sake, why didn’t she say feet, ankle, elbow, knee, tummy??? My hands have always been hideous! I hated them since I was a teenager! I’ve always felt as if they didn’t really belong to me. It was impossible to control them, I would drop things whenever I was nervous or anxious, besides burning myself in the kitchen all the time. But her hands fast grabbed mine, and she touched them as if they were something really precious.

“Simply beautiful.” – She said. I collected my hands and couldn’t think of anything else to say. In addition to that, I had forgotten her name.

“What’s your name again?” – I asked sounding extremely stupid.

“It’s Helena. Helena Stephens. And you’re Joana, isn’t it?”

“Joana Lane. Were you friends with my mother?  This restaurant belonged to her. She passed away 2 years ago.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, dear. I didn’t know her, but she must have been an impressive woman, judging by this charming restaurant… not to mention the chef.” – I felt my cheeks burn and she went on:

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to embarrass you, Jo.” – She could totally read me. I was pretty happy with the signs she was a lesbian, though. Plus, she was comfortable enough to call me by a nickname.

“I’ll be back, if you don’t mind.” – she said.

“Our customers are always invited to return. It’ll be a pleasure to have you back.”

“You bet it will. Thanks for your attention, Joana Lane.” –  She said with a grin.

“ Don’t mention it, ma’dam.” – I finished, turning back to the kitchen, sure I couldn’t feel my legs and under the impression she was following me with the eyes. I had to resist the temptation of giving a last  look at her – dumb decision. I didn’t stop thinking of her. I tried hard putting her image at the back of my mind and managed to get to end of the day with nothing but a few small cuts and a burnt apron.

Chicken salad pita sandwich

Ingredients

4 c cooked chicken
8 pita pockets
1/2 c nonfat vanilla yogurt
1/2 c lowfat mayonnaise
1/4 c green onion, chopped
1/2 c carrot, shredded
6 oz crushed pineapple
1/4 c raisins
1/2 t cumin
1/2 t curry powder
1/4 t cayenne powder
*salt and pepper to taste
1 clove garlic (optional)

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Season to taste; add more or less of yogurt/mayonnaise according to taste. Stuff into the pockets of the pita bread. Garnish with grapes. Serve with nonfat or lowfat milk or your favorite fruit juice. Serves 8.

Calories: 436. Carbohydrate: 45g. Cholesterol: 101mg. Sodum: 457mg. Dietary Fiber: 1g. Protein: 37g. Fat: 9g. [%Calories from Protein-34, Carb-47, Fat-19]

Lezzie is half-closeted Brazilian Philosophy High School teacher writing on everything she has the opportunity to read, listen to and see (as a good Gemini).You can find out more about here by checking her profile at http://lezgetreal.ning.com/profile/Boudecca.