Page 13 of Win a Date with a Baker

“They are.”

“Good.”

She reaches for an apron hanging nearby and slips it over her head before I can hand it to her.

“I’d be disappointed otherwise.”

First test: Temper chocolate.

I don’t give her instructions.

I simply place the bowls, thermometer, and couverture in front of her.

She studies everything for maybe three seconds.

Then gets to work. No hesitation. No panic.

No Googling.

I lean against the prep table, pretending not to watch.

She melts. Stirs. Checks temperature. Seeds the chocolate. Checks it again.

Exactly how I would’ve done it.

Interesting.

Second test: Fill twelve brioche donuts.

I hand her the piping bag. She gives it an experimental squeeze.

“Vanilla bean pastry cream?”

I blink. “You smelled it.”

“I tasted it earlier.”

She starts piping. One. Two. Three. Each donut identical.

I pick one up, cut it open. The filling sits dead center. Exactly where it should.

I don’t say anything. I simply put it down.

She notices. And smirks.

Now, for the third test…

I slide a tray toward her. “Braid.”

She looks at the dough. Then at me.

“Three-strand?”

I shrug. “Dealer’s choice.”

Without another word, she divides the dough.

Rolls it Into six strands. And plaits.