BooksBarbecue
Back Salt and Sugar
Chapters (56)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise
  3. About the Author
  4. Dedication
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. 18
  23. 19
  24. 20
  25. 21
  26. 22
  27. 23
  28. 24
  29. 25
  30. 26
  31. 27
  32. 28
  33. 29
  34. 30
  35. 31
  36. 32
  37. 33
  38. 34
  39. 35
  40. 36
  41. 37
  42. 38
  43. 39
  44. 40
  45. 41
  46. 42
  47. 43
  48. 44
  49. 45
  50. 46
  51. 47
  52. 48
  53. 49
  54. 50
  55. EPILOGUE
  56. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Ever since Chefs Rosa, Giselle, Augusto, and Lorêncio offered the contract, the Gastronomic Society has started a massive publicity campaign to help community bakeries, too. Salt and Sugar now join together to keep up with the catering orders coming in from all around the metropolitan area.

“We should go,” I mumble into Pedro’s shoulder.

“Just a little longer,” he says, squeezing me tight against his chest.

“Do I have to beg you fancy chefs?” Dona Eulalia shouts over the hustle and bustle of customers. We’re not members of the Gastronomic Society—yet—but it doesn’t stop Dona Eulalia from teasing us. We’re scheduled to take the entrance exams next month.

“Pedro!” Seu Romário’s voice booms in the back, and we turn around to step into Salt, just as Isabel comes out with a cake to deliver to a customer.

Pedro pulls me back at the last second, helping me dodge the collision. “Some things never change,” he says, smiling.

The Salt and Sugar bakers mill about Grandma’s wooden counter. Dona Eulalia, Seu Romário, and Dona Selma stand in the back, along with PC, Cintia, and Victor. It’s the first time Pedro and I are teaching a cooking class and we need all our loved ones here. I’m glad they came to support us, even though they’ve been super busy lately.

PC is a chef himself now, after he found his grandmother’s recipes and rekindled her old baking business. He’s already been invited to sell his pastries at an official booth during Caruaru’s big St. John’s festivities next year!

Cintia is the reigning regional mathematics champion! She was so nervous when she went to compete two weeks ago, but we were all there to support her. She’s been on the cover of our newspapers ever since, and she’s busy preparing for the state competition next.

Victor has started writing a food blog and he’s filming segments for his new YouTube channel. He’s gathering quite a following after he posted his first videos, where he sits down at family-owned businesses and talks about his favorite dishes.

There’s just one person missing.

Mom enters the room in a hurry. “I got my laptop,” she says, ready to type her notes.

Mom’s been helping me transition into full-time baking. Once a helicopter parent, always a helicopter parent. She’s constantly telling me to focus on studying for the Gastronomic Society’s entrance tests, while I help her with her vestibular prepping.

Mom’s going to apply for Federal University’s fashion design program next year. She’ll be the first Ramires to go to college! She’s taking adult classes that Pimentel teaches, and now it’s my turn to make sure Mom’s paying attention in class.