Gemotions

“Utterly forgettable,” the critic had written of his signature dish, the slow-cooked short ribs. Chef Darius clenched his jaw. He reread the review, the words stinging, the phrases twisting. The world felt…off.

He didn't want to think about the restaurant, or the criticism. He had to go somewhere. He headed towards the local farmer's market. He wanted to look at the ingredients.

He spent hours walking around the market, touching the rough skin of the butternut squashes, breathing in the sweet scent of the ripe peaches. He was looking. He purchased what he wanted. He knew, by the end of the day, how to make the meal better.