Page 59 of All Mine
Rosie: Or have you already?
Isabella: Not yet. Need to book a wax!
Chapter Thirty-One
Isabella
Staff training was in full swing. Amber, now free from the rowing club, had turned all her attention to Tutto Mio and their first waiting masterclass. Returning after a visit to a supplier, Isabella found Amber demonstrating how to carry three plates at a time as she strolled up and down the dining floor. It looked easy when she did it, but Isabella was glad to see they were practising with plastic plates when Sinead, Paul and Harry had their first go. Sinead sped up the closer she got to the table, until she was almost at a run. Paul inched along focusing on his hands as if he was doing an egg and spoon race. Harry sang to herself with every step she took. More plates hit the ground than made the table. And the ones that made the table only did so by sheer luck.
‘Don’t worry, you’ll get it,’ said Amber, picking up the plates and stacking them again. ‘Look, let’s do it together again.’ Everyone gathered around. Paul pulled out a notebook and licked a pencil.
‘You lay the first plate on your middle three fingers, like this.’ Amber demonstrated. ‘Then you hold it in place with your thumb and pinky.’ Paul wrote it down.
‘Now, you lay the second plate on the same hand,’ Amber said, laying it flat on the underside of her wrist and balancing it on the fleshy bit of her thumb. Paul sighed and scribbled. Denzil nodded.
‘Then you carry the third in your other hand.’ Amber expertly lifted the final plate and repeated her saunter across the dining floor, where she carefully unloaded onto the table.
‘Fair dinkum,’ said Australian Angie in awe.
‘Who’s next?’ Amber asked and the team all looked at each other hopefully until Sinead stepped forward again, followed cautiously by Naomi and Harry. They loaded up the plates as Amber had directed and made their way to the table at the other end. Sinead only ran the last few steps and managed to get all three plates down, although in a real-life scenario one of the diners would be wearing their dinner. Naomi managed two of the three and Harry got all three down but still sounded like a backing singer on her way across the floor.
‘Better!’ Amber cried and beckoned the four awaiting their turn. Paul tucked his pencil behind his ear and picked up his plates, looking calm and comfortable. Meryl, Angie and Denzil followed his lead and soon they were all at the other end, slapping each other on the back, all plates down safely.
‘Whoop, whoop, looking good!’ Amber called and then she noticed Isabella in the doorway, watching.
‘What do you think then, Boss?’ she asked and everyone turned to her. ‘Not bad for a first session?’
‘Fantastic.’
‘Not all of us, though,’ Naomi said, sighing. ‘I dropped one of mine.’ The group moved in around her and Sinead put her arm around the younger girl. The team dynamic was strong.
‘There’s loads of time to practise,’ said Paul.
‘You’ve only had one go,’ said Denzil.
‘You’ll get it next time,’ said Amber.
Naomi looked downcast.
‘It’s not only this, though, is it? Serving the food is only one part of it. I’ve got to learn so many other things as well. Types of drinks, how to make cocktails, working the card machine!’ She was working herself up now, hands flapping by her side.
‘We’ll take them one step at a time, Naomi,’ Amber said. ‘Try not to worry.’
‘And that’s before we even get to the menu,’ Naomi whispered. ‘How am I going to cope with the menu? Recommending different things, remembering what’s on the specials? Bringing the right sauces for the various meats?’ Isabella could see the rising panic and thought it was time to step in.
‘That’s where I can help, Naomi,’ Isabella said. ‘Because yes, you’ll have to learn drinks and how to work the card machine and serve tables, but I guarantee you the menu at Tutto Mio will be the easiest part of your job.’
Isabella motioned for everyone to pull up a chair and a circle was swiftly formed. She checked the builders had the door shut to the kitchen and began.
‘This is highly confidential. Nobody else is to know what we will be serving at Tutto Mio until we launch. I don’t want any other local restaurants to find out.’
She was met with nods from a wide-eyed team.
‘I’ve told you before that the food here will be Italian. But not “vaguely” Italian. The food cooked here will be to an old family recipe of mine that has been passed down the generations. It has never been outside my family.’
Paul pulled out his pencil and pad and then thought better of it. He winked at Isabella and tapped the side of his nose.
‘The menu will be extremely easy to remember because there will only be one thing on it.’ Australian Angie raised her eyebrows. Isabella again checked behind her.
