Gemotions

Chef Antoine stared, mouth agape, at the glowing screen. The critic, that viperous Penelope Sterling, had eviscerated his latest menu. He reread the scathing descriptions of his signature dish, the Coquilles Saint-Jacques. “Lacked the delicate touch of a seasoned hand… a culinary catastrophe… reminiscent of something dredged from a swamp.” Antoine felt a flush creep up his neck. He, Antoine Dubois, who had trained in Lyon, whose bouillabaisse had once brought tears to Julia Child’s eyes, was being called… swamp-like? He fumbled for his phone, intending to call his sous chef, but his fingers were clumsy.