Eliana arrived at the Ontario local kitchen with so much joy resuming at her new job as a waiter. All her life, she had been a village girl growing up under the tutelage of her grandmother. Mama had soon become too weak to work and bring food to the table. It dawned on Eliana to take charge and provide their daily bread, the reason she searched for a job around the region. Luckily, she got a job as a waiter at Ontario's local kitchen.
Ontario was the most popular restaurant in Marina. They have expert chefs who prepare various local cuisines and have a lot of customers who travel through the highway that connects to other parts of the country. Since there was no other restaurant that posed a threat to their existence, the owner of the restaurant made a lot of profit from local meals.
One of the favourite meals of their customers was Nkwobi. A delicacy made from cow foot and tail with some local herbs called Utazi.
Eliana, take Mr Aodu's order.
Ojukwu, the restaurant owner, beckoned Eliana to take her first order on the job.
Good morning, sir. What would you like to be served?
Mr Aodu smiled and started at Eliana and then said:
Seems you are new here.
Eliana, with a dint of smile, responded:
Yes, it's my first day on the job.
Alright, welcome. Please, get me a dish of pounded yam with white soup.
Eliana vanished into the kitchen and within a moment she returned with a dish of pounded yam and white soup assorted meat. Mr. Aodu munched away almost immediately while Eliana brought water and a cup of freshly squeezed pineapple juice to his table. Eliana got a tip from Mr. Aodu after the meal because she was just a perfect waiter, always wearing a smile
After a year on the job, another restaurant was established adjacent to Ontario Local Kitchen. The new restaurant, GLS restaurant had some very delicious recipe, especially the Nsala soup. They made an advert on a billboard, listing their best dish, especially the Nsala soup.
Soon, some customers who were so used to Ontario local restaurants started shifting base to GLS. It was an intense competition between the two restaurants on who keeps their customer base thriving.
Since Ontario was losing some of her best customers to GLS, the need for an expert on Nsala soup became important, Eliana decided to shock the local chefs.
One morning, she entered the kitchen without any permission and began to prepare a pot of Nsala soup from the remaining ingredients used the previous day. Her intention was to serve her boss, Ojukwu and other restaurant workers.
Who made this soup?
Ojukwu queried on tasting the Nsala soup made by Eliana.
It was made by Eliana. That lady is good with local recipes, boss.
One of the kitchen staff said to Ojukwu.
Bring her over!
Ojukwu exclaimed.
Eliana was summoned and brought to the presence of Ojukwu where she was interrogated and made to assume the office of a chef.
Immediately, Ojukwu ordered that a weekend special treat be placed on their billboard. Eliana resumed in the kitchen immediately and made a lot of mouth-watering dishes. The news of her quality meals soon spread across all the offices in the Marina axis. Some workers who haven't been eating out during lunch started to request for office delivery which brought more to Ontario local restaurants.
Her new apron looked good on her. But what she did best was to lighten up everywhere with her dint of smile.
Having tasted her meals, most customers looked forward to the special treat weekend.
Saturday evening soon arrived. The whole arena was filled to the brim with customers and travellers who were already taking their order. Some customers who had sought allegiance with GLS restaurant came to try out what all the noise that Ontario local kitchen was making in their billboard.
Mr. Aodu was the first to try out the Nsala soup and he swore that he had never tasted it better than this. The soup had adequate chilli and was spiced with crayfish that gave it a superb taste.
He had prepared to eat just one dish but that changed his mind when he saw that it was more than what he bargained for in taste.
After that weekend, Eliana succeeded in luring most customers to Ontario local cuisine, a feat that overwhelmed Ojukwu. Eliana's background gave her all the experience she needed to prove herself. Ladies who grew up with their grandmothers make better cooks after all.