A Sprinkle of Sabotage by Fiona Leitch (bill gates book recommendations TXT) 📗

to be freshly prepared and served quickly, so he didn’t want it sitting around on a plate for too long.

First I prepared the seasoning for spicy karaage chicken. Zack grated garlic and ginger for me, which I mixed together with some of the sake rice wine and soy sauce, then plenty of freshly ground black pepper to give it a really good kick. I cut some boneless chicken thigh into bite-sized chunks, then tossed it in the marinade and left it to chill in the fridge for an hour; it wouldn’t take long to fry, so again we wanted to leave the cooking of it until Zack’s guests were assembled and ready to eat. I mixed up some more of the marinade for Kimi, this time leaving out the sake, and tossed in some chunks of tofu.

I peeled and chopped carrots into thin matchsticks, then did the same with a large purple sweet potato I found lurking in the cupboard. I sliced an aubergine and cut a head of broccoli into florets, then chopped the stalk (which is surprisingly flavoursome, but which everyone chucks out) into thin strips, like the carrot. I set them aside for frying in tempura batter.

I mixed the miso paste with sesame oil, then added more of the grated ginger, some runny honey, and a good squeeze of lime juice. I tossed a handful of cherry tomatoes into the dressing, then roasted them in the oven, using the leftover dressing to marinade some more tofu. As I shut the fridge door I sent up a prayer of thanks to the gods of YouTube, who had taught me everything I know about Japanese cooking. Of course, they hadn’t taught me everything they knew about Japanese cooking, so I was hoping I’d learnt enough.

Zack and I worked well together in the small space, and after the emotional ups and downs of Nathan (don’t say it) leaving (dammit!) and my sudden interest in Tony’s chest, it was something of a respite to be in close proximity to a handsome young man whom I had absolutely no interest in (sexually or emotionally) and who I knew felt exactly the same about me. I kind of wished I hadn’t witnessed Tony’s tight trousers or his Mr Darcy-esque dog rescue; it was confusing me. He was my friend, for God’s sake. Nathan— But there was no point thinking about Nathan, was there? Liverpool was too far away, and I wasn’t into long-distance relationships; they always petered out eventually…

‘Hello, Zack.’ Aiko had the same distinctive Japanese-American accent as her sister, but it was far less strident and demanding; it felt more Japanese, somehow, while her sister seemed firmly American. Zack looked up and smiled at her through the flap in the side of the food truck. I’d left it open, as the truck tended to get stuffy when cooking, plus we needed to see when the guests were ready.

‘All right, Aiko?’ he said, and bless him, he stuttered a little bit; he had it bad. ‘Is it that time already? I was going to set some lights up out there and everything.’

She smiled and shook her head. ‘I’m a little early. But I don’t think we can eat out here. It’s cold, and it’s just started to rain. Kimi doesn’t like the cold.’

‘Kimi can stay at home, then,’ he said gruffly, and she laughed.

‘But it’s her party.’

‘Not only hers.’

I had shuffled discreetly away from them, as far as I could, but the truck was too small. I didn’t want to listen to them but I could hardly help it. I cleared my throat.

‘Why don’t you eat in your trailer?’ I said. ‘We can carry all the food over. It’ll be more intimate…’

Zack blushed a little bit, making Aiko smile. Aww she likes him too! I thought, feeling all maternal for my sous-chef. My love life might be in tatters but it didn’t mean I didn’t want Zack to be happy.

‘Go on,’ I said. ‘Go and set everything up, then come back and do the fish when you’re ready. All this stuff needs cooking kind of at the last minute, so I’ll just get it ready and wait for you.’

‘Are you sure?’ said Zack, looking at me gratefully. I smiled.

‘Of course. This might be my kitchen – for the moment – but it’s your party. Go on.’ I gave him a little shove.

‘All right, all right, I’m going! Jeez…’ He grinned and slipped the apron off over his head. ‘I’ve got everything in my trailer anyway, so I won’t be long.’

‘Don’t forget your cakes!’ I nodded towards the cake box. He looked surprised.

‘What cakes?’

‘You mean you didn’t order them?’ I lifted the lid and he peered in.

‘Oh, wow, they are sick…’ From the expression on his face I assumed that meant ‘amazing’, although I wouldn’t have chosen that word to describe something I was about to eat. ‘One of the others must’ve ordered them. Niiice.’

He turned away from the counter so Aiko couldn’t see him, and tugged at his T-shirt, smartening himself up.

‘You look lovely,’ I said, and he smiled ruefully.

‘Is it obvious?’

‘That you fancy the pants off Aiko? Er yeah, just a bit. Go get her, Tiger!’

He laughed. ‘Thanks, Mum. I won’t be long.’

Left alone, I turned the radio down and the truck’s heater up; I was standing inside what was basically a big, poorly insulated tin can, and it was starting to get chilly, especially without the warmth of another body nearby. I cleared the serving counter and pulled it up, closing off the truck from the outside world. I turned on some more lights; it was dark outside now, and even during the day, with the counter flap shut, the one small window at the end of the room didn’t let in much natural light.

Outside, the rain was starting to get heavier. It beat against the roof of the truck. I turned the heater up full and put the kettle on to boil as I cleared away all the