A Taste of Love (16 page)

“Can I help?” he asked grinning at her.

He really was rather nice, she thought, nodding and handing the plates through to him. Settled back at the table Sarah asked everyone to open the packs and explained the sensory forms with columns and sections for scores and comments relating to appearance, aroma, texture, and flavour. 

Cutting each tart into six pieces she said, “And, if I could just ask that you don’t talk and discuss anything while completing the forms that would be great. We can discuss it all later at the end. I often find that discussions influence separate opinions because everyone has their own taste and it’s what you all think individually that counts.”

The smell of cooked pastry and cheese filled the room. “Now, just a few pointers with these quiche tarts,” she said. “Pay particular attention to the pastry. Is it crisp? Or is it soggy and wet on the bottom of the tart? Oh, and also note the flavours of the fillings. Is there too much ham overpowering the cheese or vice versa, or is the combination just in the right amounts?”

Everyone nodded in understanding and she asked them to start sampling in no particular order and recording their scores.

After she’d helped Margaret with a couple of questions she pretended to read through her paperwork but secretly she was watching Mark. He must have been devastated to lose his wife so young, she thought, and wondered whether he was content now on his own or was he lonely and willing to accept Sally’s obvious flirtations to be easily seduced. They would make a lovely couple being both attractive and professional, and seemed to have their pasts well and truly behind them.

Whereas, she couldn’t claim that her turbulent break-up from Paul was completely behind her. It was only six months since he’d announced, after nine happy years of living together, that he’d fallen in love with an Italian model and was moving to Milan. And, that he’d hoped they could handle the end of their relationship in a mature and sensible manner.  It was at this stage she’d snapped and hurled a saucepan at him while he ran from their apartment and she’d never seen him since. Earlier, when Sally had mentioned Italy she’d felt her insides twist with painful association but had managed to distract herself and keep going.

Mark must have realised she was staring at him because he suddenly looked up and grinned reassuringly with a slight nod of his head - it was clear he was enjoying himself. 

When everyone had finished Sarah collected the forms and did a quick calculation declaring which sample was the winning tart and read aloud some of the comments and then announced the panel’s worst tart sample and the reasons why. Everyone chattered excitedly agreeing with each other and Sarah further explained that this panel had good decisive results because all six panellists were in agreement but there may be some products where the variances might be debatable and not so clear cut, therefore, harder to reach a conclusive result.

“So, thanks to you all and I hope you’ve enjoyed the first session?” she asked placing the six vouchers on the table. “Hopefully I’ll see you all next week at the same time?”

Sarah noticed Olga was the first to snap up her voucher from the table and that the others followed at a more leisurely pace.

“Yes, I’ll definitely be here,” Mark said smiling, “I’ve really enjoyed it.”

Choruses of agreement from everyone resounded around the room and chairs were scraped back and jackets and coats put on.  They certainly looked a different mix of characters, Sarah thought as they filed out of the room. Her Tuesday session was made up of all middle-aged housewives but these Thursday sessions were certainly going to be different – and very interesting, if nothing else.