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Authors: Kathy Clark
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his joke.
“Are you done?” I tried to act indignant , but it was nice going someplace where someone knew who I was. It was sort of the Cheers thing…you know, where everybody knows your name. After the relative anonymity of Vegas, this was a comfortable feeling.
“I think so. We’re glad you decided to join us tonight. Are you celebrating something special?”
I glanced over at J enny who looked a little uneasy. “No, just finishing up a case,” I told him and saw her relax. She wasn’t any more ready to classify our relationship than I was. “Paul, this is Jenny.”
Paul smiled and took her hand. Instead of shaking it, he lifted it to his lips and planted a courtly kiss on the back of it. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Jenny.”
His gentlemanly manner melted her nerves, and she returned his smile. “Thank you. I’m excited to be here. I’ve always wanted to try it.”
“ Paul is one of the reasons why Earl’s is the finest steakhouse in Austin,” I told her. I didn’t elaborate on the fact that it was the only steakhouse I’d eaten at in Austin.
“Flattery will get you the best table in the house,” Paul responded with a twinkle. He checked with the seating chart at the podium, then said, “Please follow me.”
As we threaded our way through the restaurant toward a cozy booth in the corner, he leaned toward me and added, “I was shocked to hear about what happened to you kids last Saturday night. I tried to make it to the wake, but I couldn’t get away. That’s the restaurant business on a weekend.”
“ Probably better you didn’t.”
“ I couldn’t believe Terry killed Roger. My God, he was playing that night you kids were in here! Is everyone okay?”
“ Just an overnight in the hospital,” I told him, “and a splitting headache the next day. But we’re all okay now.”
“ You kids are in for a treat tonight. Antonio has a special seared salmon dressed with a honey chipotle glaze, a fresh lump of crab Pico de Gallo served with pepper jack polenta and creamy succotash. Or if you prefer to hoof it, he has prepared an aged Angus filet mignon dusted in Cajun spices, topped with gorgonzola gratin, and set in a rich Buerre rouge with pepper jack polenta and asparagus. The kitchen will be glad to cut your meat to order.” He barely paused to take breath before adding, “Amber will be your server, and she can answer any questions you have about the menu.” He handed me a wine list. “Here are tonight’s wine selections. The seasonal wines are on the right and on the left are the best of the last three year’s Texas wines…foreign brands are on the next two pages.” Paul smiled and walked away.
Jenny looked a little dazed.
I was afraid she was feeling uncomfortable and leaned toward her. “What?”
“That’s about the longest greeting at a restaurant I’ ve ever seen. My experience has mostly consisted of Do you want fries with that? ”
I laughed. “They’re really nice here.”
“ Have you known Paul long?”
“I met him just a couple weeks ago when my brothers and sisters and I came here for dinner. Apparently, Roger…my dad…,” I hesitated…it felt really weird to call him that, “and Paul were old friends. I think I heard something about how Roger helped put this place on the map, and he got all his fellow musicians to sing here for free.”
“So, that Terry guy was one of your dad’s friends?”
I nodded. “They were bandmates and best friends for years. But apparently, song rights, a Grammy and a shitload of cash trumps friendship.”
Someone approached our table, and I looked up to see a very attractive redhead that I recognized from our last visit here. She was definitely my type. My gaze swept up her body, pausing briefly on her breasts that threatened to fall out the top of her deceptively modest uniform. All the staff wore man-cut suits, but the women
“Are you done?” I tried to act indignant , but it was nice going someplace where someone knew who I was. It was sort of the Cheers thing…you know, where everybody knows your name. After the relative anonymity of Vegas, this was a comfortable feeling.
“I think so. We’re glad you decided to join us tonight. Are you celebrating something special?”
I glanced over at J enny who looked a little uneasy. “No, just finishing up a case,” I told him and saw her relax. She wasn’t any more ready to classify our relationship than I was. “Paul, this is Jenny.”
Paul smiled and took her hand. Instead of shaking it, he lifted it to his lips and planted a courtly kiss on the back of it. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Jenny.”
His gentlemanly manner melted her nerves, and she returned his smile. “Thank you. I’m excited to be here. I’ve always wanted to try it.”
“ Paul is one of the reasons why Earl’s is the finest steakhouse in Austin,” I told her. I didn’t elaborate on the fact that it was the only steakhouse I’d eaten at in Austin.
“Flattery will get you the best table in the house,” Paul responded with a twinkle. He checked with the seating chart at the podium, then said, “Please follow me.”
As we threaded our way through the restaurant toward a cozy booth in the corner, he leaned toward me and added, “I was shocked to hear about what happened to you kids last Saturday night. I tried to make it to the wake, but I couldn’t get away. That’s the restaurant business on a weekend.”
“ Probably better you didn’t.”
“ I couldn’t believe Terry killed Roger. My God, he was playing that night you kids were in here! Is everyone okay?”
“ Just an overnight in the hospital,” I told him, “and a splitting headache the next day. But we’re all okay now.”
“ You kids are in for a treat tonight. Antonio has a special seared salmon dressed with a honey chipotle glaze, a fresh lump of crab Pico de Gallo served with pepper jack polenta and creamy succotash. Or if you prefer to hoof it, he has prepared an aged Angus filet mignon dusted in Cajun spices, topped with gorgonzola gratin, and set in a rich Buerre rouge with pepper jack polenta and asparagus. The kitchen will be glad to cut your meat to order.” He barely paused to take breath before adding, “Amber will be your server, and she can answer any questions you have about the menu.” He handed me a wine list. “Here are tonight’s wine selections. The seasonal wines are on the right and on the left are the best of the last three year’s Texas wines…foreign brands are on the next two pages.” Paul smiled and walked away.
Jenny looked a little dazed.
I was afraid she was feeling uncomfortable and leaned toward her. “What?”
“That’s about the longest greeting at a restaurant I’ ve ever seen. My experience has mostly consisted of Do you want fries with that? ”
I laughed. “They’re really nice here.”
“ Have you known Paul long?”
“I met him just a couple weeks ago when my brothers and sisters and I came here for dinner. Apparently, Roger…my dad…,” I hesitated…it felt really weird to call him that, “and Paul were old friends. I think I heard something about how Roger helped put this place on the map, and he got all his fellow musicians to sing here for free.”
“So, that Terry guy was one of your dad’s friends?”
I nodded. “They were bandmates and best friends for years. But apparently, song rights, a Grammy and a shitload of cash trumps friendship.”
Someone approached our table, and I looked up to see a very attractive redhead that I recognized from our last visit here. She was definitely my type. My gaze swept up her body, pausing briefly on her breasts that threatened to fall out the top of her deceptively modest uniform. All the staff wore man-cut suits, but the women
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