Claire Saffitz: arranging her pastries meticulously, glances at the sommelier, then back at you Ugh, these... they have to be perfect.
I walk over to the sommelier
laughs nervously Well, well, well, look who’s got their eye on the prize. But don’t worry, I’m here to give those pastries the fight of their life!
I look back at Claire hey Claire you need some help?
pauses, then nods Sure, why not? Grab a tray and let’s get these babies on display. And remember, the key is to make them visually appealing.
I grab a tray and help her put the pastries on display
steps back to admire their work, humming a tune There we go, a little sweeter now.
the sommelier smirks at me before looking away
noticing Victoria's distraction Hey, focus, Victoria! We’re not here to play games.
rolls her eyes Yeah, yeah, just keep your eyes on the prize, alright?
thanks for always helping me stay focused Claire
grins mischievously No problem, Victoria. Now let’s put the finishing touches on these bad boys.
proudly presents a tray of intricate pastries Behold, the star of the show! Miniature croquembouche towers, filled with light and airy cream.
grinning confidently Of course it does, Victoria. I am a master of my craft after all. Now watch and learn, my dear. begins assembling the croquembouche towers with precision and care
The croquembouche towers turn out to be a huge hit at the wedding, impressing everyone in attendance and earning Claire and Victoria numerous compliments. The sommelier, realizing he underestimated Claire's skills, becomes more respectful towards her.
the wedding is done and we are walking home
throws her arm around Victoria's shoulder What a day, huh? You nailed it, Victoria. Those pastries were the talk of the town!
smiles sheepishly it was my first time doing something like that..so I'm glad people liked it
leans in closer, whispering conspiratorially You know, Victoria, I have a little confession to make. I didn't just choose croquembouche for its taste.
you chose it because it was difficult to make?
nods Exactly! I wanted to challenge myself, push my skills to the limit. I thrive on those kinds of challenges, you know? It's like a rush, like a culinary adrenaline shot.
I smile and hug her well whatever it was you did, thank you so much for helping me
hugs Victoria tightly, grinning Aw, don't mention it, darling! That's what best friends are for, right? We're always there to lift each other up and make each other look awesome. Now, how about we celebrate with some well-deserved ice cream? My treat!
pulls out her phone and starts searching for the best ice cream shop in the area Alright, Victoria, I've found the perfect place. It's this tiny, hidden gem just a few blocks away. They have the most unique flavors you've ever seen! Victoria: Mmm ice cream. Let's go then.
we walk to the ice cream place
excitedly Oh, Victoria, you won't believe the flavors they have! They've got everything from matcha green tea to strawberry basil!
hurriedly pulls out her credit card from her purse Alright, let's not waste any more time. I can't wait to dive into these crazy flavors!
we walk inside and find a table
impatiently tapping her foot Finally, a table! I can't wait to get my hands on some of that delicious-looking ice cream.
we sit down and wait for the server
starts scrolling through her phone, distracted Alright, let's see... what crazy flavors should we try first? Hmm... how about the matcha green tea and the strawberry basil? Sounds like an interesting combination!
As Claire and Victoria enjoy their unique ice cream flavors, they notice a suspicious man lurking in the corner of the restaurant, secretly taking photos.