#anywhere

"I think you're right. And sooner, the better. I wonder if she's teaching how to make this dish, or something completely different."

Olgar ponders "Let's find out" As they finish up he motions the hostess "My wife would love to thank the Chef. She's a big fan"

Did he just do that?

He did.

She blinks at him, startled, but...well, yes, it's the right move to make. She turns to the hostess. "If it's not too much trouble."

"Let me check" She says

And departs

Olgar smiles "there you go. Subtle methods are best right? But as you got me, blunt is happening"

"To be honest? I like your style," she says with a grin and a wink.

"One suspected" He says.

"Oh, one did, did one?" Amused.

"Well, numerous love making encounters and a marriage and it gives a guy a notion he's doing something right"

"Makes him modest, too, hm?"

"Admit it, if I hadn't strutted a bit winning you, you'd have been insulted" A smile "Just a little. Because you are worth strutting about"

Her eyes sparkle and she takes his hand. "You didn't get to see most of my strutting. I did it while you were on the Silver. Had to make sure your head didn't swell so much you couldn't get through a rath."

"Always looking out for me" He gives her hand a squeeze "yeah, I might have not had room on the silver for me and my ego then" but he stops talk of the silver as someone approaches

Chief Lisselle Vergarden is a remarkably unremarkable looking woman. It's not that she's ugly, or pretty. she's neither tall nor short. her hair is a brown that if asked to name it's hue, most would say 'brown brown?' , and yet there are signs that kerri can see... the strength in those fingers and forearms one gets from working dough. Those slight old burns that teach a lesson to even seasoned chefs. And most of all, that look that chefs , arrogant or humble, get when they've found thier place in the universe as a creator of that which sustains. This woman is a dreamer, and a powerful one. Kerri gets the feeling she could whisper three ingredients and muse the woman almost as quickly

Oh, the temptation to do just that is strong...but not here, not yet. "Oh, my. Chef, thank you so much for coming out to see us. The meal was absolutely wonderful. I was wondering, hoping...is there still room to study with you this week?"

"OH, you're an American too. Wonderful" Chef Lisselle smiles "As a matter of fact, yes there is. I'll be teaching that very dish among others, and how to personalize it"

"This is my lovely wife, Kerri. Call me Ollie" Olgar says "She's a big fan"

Liseelle nods to 'Ollie' then looks to Kerri "I'm flattered. Clearly you have an interest in the classes. Do you cook much either for a living or at home?"

"Oh, sorry," Kerri says with a polite blush on realizing that she'd skipped basic introductions. "And, yes, I'm the cook for a large household back in the states. And I enter a few local competitions each year."

A glance to Olgar. It's the easiest way to explain the job.

Ollie nods "You'd probably think I'm biased, but she's amazing. She isn't mentioning she wins those competitions. "

Rather than look offended at any comparison between what they do, Lisselle actually looks nostalgic "My aunt and I used to take her stuff to state fair contests in Louisiana. And I can tell you, when she won you'd have thought she licked the Kaiser. Which is silly... cooking is far more important than war" A wink to Kerri

Kerri smiles and nods. "Truer words," she agrees. "Does your aunt still cook?"

A sadder look "Afraid she passed," Lisselle shakes her head "But she really lived before then. Not all can say the same. Weren't for her I'd have never thought I'd have a chance at cullinary dreams. She always said to me 'you gotta eat, cheapest way to eat is to cook, if you're going to cook anyway and you love it, might as well find a way to get paid for it too. If you're gonna get paid, might as well get paid so folks are grateful and not just barking at you. So learn to cook really well and you can bark orders at others and they'll cheer you for it like those chefs on TV'" A chuckle "I may need to work on the barking part. Afraid I just don't do it like Ramsey does. "

KErri might have known this, of course, being a fan

"I think barking is overrated. If I need to bark, then the problem is probably in the way I gave instructions in the first place. Besides...a good strong look is generally more effective than a bark, in my experience."

"You two are parents " Liselle guesses instantly "if you're not, you should be"

A laugh. "We are! Yes, we have a daughter. She's in her first year of college," she adds proudly.

"It was touch and go mind you" Olgar says also proud "But yeah, she's great."

"I've got two myself. One is in college. Oh lord, I was not sure where to step with her for the longest time, but a look definitely goes further than a bark with raising them"

"I know what you mean, with the uncertainty of what to do. Children are their own creatures."

"And that's how it's meant to be. Just like being a chef where eventually, the soufle is as done as it is going to get in your hands and it will eithe rise or it won't, they will do the same. And it's for the best. Can't pat ourselves on the back too much for their victories. "

"I could, I'm shallow like that" Olgar states tongue in cheek

Lisselle looks amused, then glances at Kerri "Kerri, one thing I do in my classes is try to guage who is a begininer, and then who is intermediate, and or wahtever and depending i might take time for them for a different class. "

Kerri nods seriously. "Sort of a placement diagnostic? I'd love your opinion on where I am, skill-wise."

"Careful, you end up too good I'll put you to work on your vacation" She warns good naturedly

"Work with you?" Kerri lights up, pretty much the way Olgar probably figured she would.

"Of course, I get paid a lot of money here to cook and teach... be a fool not to designate if I can. too many chefs may spoil a meal, but just enough of them can work miracles" A smile "Pardon me, speaking of soufles, I need to go check on one"

"Oh, of course! Can you send me a message to let me know when and where I should show up?"

"Oh, the time is..." She says "And I'll make sure you get the message. They have your number" A smile and off she goes

Olgar has watched his wife light up, and takes her hand "You can float down to Earth now"

But he's clearly happy for her