Also, Happy Halloween! In honor of the occasion, I have momentarily set aside my usual flash and I've written a Halloween story. I'm posting part one today, and I'll finish it tomorrow. Hope you enjoy it! This is especially for those people who, like me, enjoy watching the Food Network! See what my favorite chefs are up to! It might surprise you! Then see what the other Briefers have been doing. Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!
A GZ and Jeff Halloween: Part I
Although he’d been skeptical of the
idea at first, Geoffrey Zakarian—GZ to his friends and colleagues—had to admit
that Jeff Mauro had been right about which costumes they should wear to the
Food Network Halloween bash. They’d brought smiles to many faces as they’d made
the rounds of their fellow chefs, adoring fans, and network executives.
Of course, no one realized that the
Turkish Angora cat Jeff carried was actually the Iron Chef himself. Although Jeff referred to the cat as GZ,
everyone assumed he was making a joke in the absence of the chef. The fact that
GZ was a cat shifter was a secret he’d only shared with Jeff, who’d become his
best friend after they’d started working together on The Kitchen, back in 2014. Not even GZ’s wife or his children knew
that the aristocratic white cat who deigned to grace them with his presence on
occasion was their very own Geoffrey/Daddy.
“I like your costume, Mr.
Mauro!” Chef Alton Brown complimented
the Sandwich King. “But I’m not sure who you’re supposed to be. Care to
enlighten me?”
“Dr. Evil, of course,” Jeff replied.
He placed his little finger at the corner of his mouth, striking an
appropriate pose, then moved his hand down to stroke the white cat in his arms,
sinking his fingers into the luxurious fur, as if to make his point. The two chefs
stood next to one another in the buffet line, waiting their turn to pick from long
tables laden with an assortment of epicurean delights . Of course the whole night had been dedicated
to eating and drinking—that’s what they did. Only the best for these
well-trained palates.
“Ah,” Alton said. “I thought maybe
you were supposed to be Dr. No. He came first, you know.” He reached over and
chucked the cat under the chin, who purred compliantly. GZ was used to being
petted. His children loved to pet the white cat they’d nicknamed Prince. And
Jeff was prone to do so himself. Sometimes it was nice to curl up in Jeff’s
lap, in front of a roaring fire burning in one of his seven fireplaces, and
nap, something he had little time for as a chef. The life of an Iron
Chef/restaurateur was not easy, and he took his luxuries where he could.
“Yes, I know,” Jeff said, grinning widely. “James Bond is cool and all, but
Austin Powers… he’s totally hilarious. You gotta love comedy, right?”
“Oh, I wouldn’t know anything about
that.”
The cat lazily raised its head and
fixed wide eyes on Alton. GZ wondered how he could say that with a straight
face when everyone knew that Alton’s show, Good
Eats, contained equal parts information and humor. As did Alton’s stint as
moderator on Iron Chef America. The
man certainly had a poker face.
Jeff just laughed. When they reached
the head of the line, he made sure to acquire the finest of tidbits for his
feline companion, including but not limited to Beluga caviar and smoked salmon.
Jeff eyed all the delectable comestibles. “Looks like I’ll need both hands,” he
commented. GZ knew the drill. He climbed up Jeff and settled around his neck so
Jeff could fill two plates.
There was no central location for
eating. Guests were free to sit where they could find space. As Jeff looked
around for an open spot, GZ heard a familiar voice.
“There’s room over here, Jeff. Why
don’t you come and sit by me?”
GZ would have known that voice
anywhere. Chef Alex Guarnaschelli was one of his best friends, as well as his
fellow judge on Chopped, and at one
time she’d once been his sous chef on Iron
Chef America. When people asked if they were husband and wife, she liked to
joke that she and GZ had been married for all of ten minutes. She was strong
and tough and she was an amazing chef. GZ had a great admiration for her, in
and out of the kitchen.
“Well, since you asked so nicely, I
think I will.” Jeff plopped down into the wing chair beside Alex, setting one
plate on the small table between them so he could get settled. GZ clung tightly
to Jeff’s neck, lest he fall, momentarily forgetting his claws.
“Ouch!” Jeff reached up and pulled
the cat from his perch, settling him on one leg instead, one plate balanced on
his other thigh. “Naughty boy, watch out for those things, willya?”
GZ meowed contritely.
“Let me guess, you’re Dr. Evil,
right?” Alex said. “And that’s Mr. Bigglesworth? I thought he was bald?”
“The second one was, yeah,” Jeff
said. “But this isn’t him, this is GZ. He’s just playing Mr. Bigglesworth
tonight.”
Alex laughed. “Why am I not
surprised you named the cat after Geoffrey Zakarian? Does he find that as
amusing as I do?”
“Even more so, I think.” Jeff smiled.
“You want to hold him?”
Not waiting for a response, GZ rose
and leaped from Jeff’s lap to Alex’s, careful of Alex’s plate.
“Well, I guess he wants me to hold
him whether I want to or not. He’s a smart kitty, isn’t he?”
“You have no idea,” Jeff said
enigmatically.
Alex began to stroke along GZ’s
back. He relaxed at her touch, purring luxuriantly. “You are a soft fellow,
aren’t you? I think GZ has a cat like you. His kids told me about him. They
really love him, but he’s wild and he only shows up when he feels like it. You
gotta admire someone like that, you know?”
GZ purred again, the only response
he could make under the circumstances.
“Let me guess, that plate’s his?”
Alex motioned toward the food on the table.
“How could you tell? It’s the kitty
seafood special. He loves the stuff. Especially the caviar. Feel free to feed
him, if you like.”
to be continued
Now go see what's up with the other Briefers!
