The hot stuff

"Hot!" said Sachi that perked the attention of Ruwi and Shaz who had been busy trial testing the delicious pizzas at the opening of the 'Regina Margherita' outlet at Urban Kitchen.

"Who? The waitress who served you or the pizza?," inquired Shaz with a wink, serving herself a slice of a delicious pizza called 'Chef Luigi loves Sri Lanka'.

"Think whatever," said Sachi with a smirk. "Actually, Italian waitresses are hotter because they have the menus written on their bodies. In fact, I had a yearning to go there just because of that!"

"It's so like you to read waitresses' body language - what will you find?," asked Ruwi dipping her pizza slice into some spicy chilli oil before taking a bite.

"Well, they can tell many stories - that's for sure. I believe it's quite tough to be a waiter or a waitress as there is stereotypical thinking involved with it," said Sachi. While munching on his Pizza Margherita he went on: "In Sri Lanka, waiting on tables is a profession that many look down upon, as my parents wont allow me to do it but if I was living abroad, then it's a job just about anyone would do."

Taking a sip of her mocktail, Shaz said, "That's true, it can be unfortunate because many don't actually respect you. Unless, of course, you're a butler-like waiter who is known to regular and rich customers as they summon you to get them their 'usual' order."

"Exactly - however, in those countries with the economic recession, people have no choice but to take up waiter jobs," said Sachi who is now looking around to order something else from the pretty waitress. "In Sri Lanka, it is unfortunate to know that some waiters are still not able to converse in English properly. In fact, I speak in English to waiters but sometimes they respond in Sinhala so you can imagine the standards when it comes to recruitment."

Ruwi, enjoying her pizza delights said, "Yes, at these fast food outlets, the criteria for joining the team, of which they call a crew member is just English and an O/L qualification."

Shaz bit a piece of crispy pizza crust and added: "Well nowadays there are lots of restaurants in the city and you need more people, especially those who are willing to work long hours but the pay is good and so are the tips."

Chef Luigi came to the V3 table and asked, "Would V3 like to learn how to make delicious Italian pizza?," with an Italian-friendly smile.

"Yes!" chorused V3 who are now happy to experiment with any pizza from the clay-oven pizza-made kitchen and before anyone can say Bon Apetito are decked in their chefs' outfits.

"Oh! It's so good that they don't use any junk food ingredients to make pizzas at this place," said Shaz while asking her photographer cousin to take a photograph of V3 in their finery.

Ruwi, smiling and posing for the photo said: "I'd like to hang out with you guys and my friends chilling out with fast food but I preferably wont have it everyday." After the click of the camera, she continued, "But I know some of my friends who just depend on it because it is so convenient and 'fast' just like its title suggest."

Sachi made double-takes across the restaurant as some nice-looking journalist colleagues take the table. He took some pizza sauces and spices and muttered, "Yes, but I believe in 'if there is a will, there is a way'. Today, you can make healthy food quickly and they are nutritious too but it also depends on the cooking conditions."

"Salads and sandwiches aren't time-consuming to make," Ruwi told him, busily rolling the pizza dough that Sachi had kneaded. Putting on her chef's hat, Shaz said, "Exactly, you need to balance your lifestyle - many children want to have their birthday parties at fast food outlets but parents should always teach them healthy eating habits."

Suddenly, Ruwi's phone flashed and it was a message from Mr G. She read the text, "Hey, how's the pizza outlet opening?"

"Reply telling him that it's a great place to see lots of pretty waiters and customers, he's totally missing the action!," Sachi grinned.

Shaz and Ruwi giggled and their tummies go wiggle after all the pizza they have eaten. They were occupied trying to learn Chef Lugi's secret tricks of pizza dough flipping. "Oh! Sachi look out!" shrieked Ruwi and Shaz.

Too late - while flipping their pizza dough in the air, Shaz accidentally flicks it towards Sachi's direction and Plonk! It falls on Sachi's head. He exclaims, "Wow! We made V3 pizza!"

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