Ron stirs the bubbly mixture, savoring the scents of coffee and chocolate. He grins, imagining the joy on her face. Suzie the pharmacist has told him many times about the mocha balls served at her long-ago wedding. Ron always heard longing and loneliness in her voice, so he experiments until he has the concoction just right.

He’ll let the mixture cool down, form it into balls, wrap each in foil, put them in a lovely blue box, leave it in the drugstore repository. When Suzie comes by to check prescriptions, she’ll find it. She’ll smile, remembering the shy, bumbling accountant who used to come in to get his allergy medicine. Now Ron’s a different person, as symbolized by his calling card, the Little Blue Chef.

The idea of cooking other people’s dreams and memories all started when Ron saw Mrs. Novak next door weeping. She was scared of the virus, she told him through the wooden fence slats. “Gramma could keep it away,” she said, and described the miraculous healing powers of her grandmother’s bone broth soup. Within a few days, there were several big jars of dark liquid on her doorstep, along with Ron’s unique blue card. Mrs. Novak soon felt so much better that she baked him her special cottage cheese bread, handed down from an old Czech recipe, and secretly slipped it onto his front porch, along with her own personalized calling card.

Soon everyone in their neighborhood was exchanging food, sharing their specialties and long-forgotten family favorites, and creating appealing hand-made cards. The idea of cooking to share had inspired them to previously untapped heights of culinary creativity.

Ron loves his life, in spite of lockdown. His parents pushed him to become an accountant, but he always wanted to be a chef. He’s finally following his life’s passion.  When the pandemic is over, he may even open his own restaurant!  He hums as he places the last mocha ball in the box and grabs a card from his stack. He can almost see the Little Blue Chef winking at him.

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Linda Rock
Linda Rock(@linda-rock)
2 years ago

Oh I love this Fuji. How I would like a little blue chef leaving his calling card on my doorstep with a favourite delicacy of years gone by. A story full of community spirit. Just what we need in these times.

Susan Dawson
Susan Dawson(@susan-dawson)
2 years ago

Well takeaway food seems to have been a permanent feature of lockdown life, so I suppose this method adds an extra layer – kindness.

Susan Dawson
Susan Dawson(@susan-dawson)
Reply to  Fuji
2 years ago

It brings to mind Panas Gurkha restaurant in London , which has just given away its 100,000th free meal to health workers.

Carrie OLeary
Carrie OLeary(@carrie-oleary)
2 years ago

This is lovely Fuji. I love these stories of selflessness and acts of kindness. This last year has certainly shown a few. Great story, nicely done.

Eric Radcliffe
Eric Radcliffe(@eric-radcliffe)
2 years ago

Hello Fuji, what a lovely story of kindness in this time of stress, and who would not like their own Little Blue Chef, a nice feel good factor.

Christer Norrlof
Christer Norrlof(@christer-norrlof)
2 years ago

This is what inspiration is all about: loving and caring acts of kindness that spread like ripples on water. You have given the idea a lot of life with your wonderful description. Very inspirational!

Sandra James
Sandra James(@sandra-james)
2 years ago

Thankfully, despite all the terrible consequences of the covid pandemic, there have been some silver linings. Many people have discovered hidden talents and even more have rediscovered kindness and compassion. The thought of Ron making the little mocha balls made me smile (and lick my lips!) and I think you chose the perfect picture to accompany the story – it’s just how I imaged the little blue chef 🙂

Santina Forlenza
Santina Forlenza(@santina-forlenza)
2 years ago

Cooking to share and culinary creativity. I love it, Fuji. Little Blue Chef is just lovely.

Lotchie Carmelo
Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
2 years ago

Cooking food to share on this pandemic is a great work of selflessness and kindness. Indeed, a very inspirational story. You do it great, nice story.

Lotchie Carmelo
Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
Reply to  Fuji
2 years ago

You’re welcome, Fuji.

Dipayan Chakrabarti
Dipayan Chakrabarti(@dipayan-chakrabarti)
2 years ago

A note of hope reverberates through the lines ensuring post-pandemic bliss.

Katy Bizi
Katy Bizi(@katy-bizi)
2 years ago

What a true inspiration! Cooking for others, not because you want money, but due to love, is a one-of-a-kind gift. Nicely written, Fuji.

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