“Oh I see! You already have yourself a man. And what’s the lucky guys name? I’ll have to make the two of you love birds a fresh batch sometime.” Tiana grinned at the girl, leaning to the side and resting a hand on her hip. Jane sure was cute when she was blushing. This guy must be real special.Jane clasped her hands together with surprising calmness - anything to try to calm the way her stomach swooped and her spirits soared whenever she thought of him. ”His name,” she told Tiana proudly, “is Tarzan. I’d love for the two of you to meet sometime.”
“Tarzan! What a unique name. I love it. And I would absolutely love to meet him some time. I insist you two come eat at my restaurant sometime on the house!” She had only known Jane for a few moments but could already tell they would be great friends. Her knowledge and her charm made her an easy friend to have.
Tiana rushed around the dining room. It had been a busy night and though she was the owner of the restaurant, she always insisted on waiting on all the tables she could. Tiana smiled brightly as even more customers came in that night and were excited to eat her food. It was their excitement and satisfaction in the food that fueled her energy through out the night, making it easy for her to flit around the room from table to table effortlessly fulfilling orders and completing requests. Nothing made Tiana happier than a happy, full customer.Taking a quick breather and attending to the hostess stand, she was organizing the menu’s when the bell on the door sounded and a man stepped inside. He was dressed a bit strangely and Tiana could tell he was not from New Orleans, so she smiled wide. The eclectic customers were always her favorite. “Hey there sugar! Welcome to Tiana’s Palace. I’m Tiana and I’ll be helping you today. You gonna need a table for one?”
“Just one tonight,” he confirmed. This place was strange to him, but it was exciting. There was a lot of people he noticed and despite not wanting to be noticed, the smell of the food here was too much to ignore.
“Alright right this way hon.” Taking a menu, she led the man to a small table near the edge of the dining room. “So where are you from? I am willing to bet anything you’re not from here in New Orleans. I would remember you if you were.” She leaned to the side placing a hand on her hip.
Jane blushed. “Well - no - that is, I suppose you’d say he’s already been ‘caught,’” she chuckled bashfully. “Though I’m sure he’d love to try a beignet anyway - as would I, if they’re so tasty they can win a man’s heart!”“Oh! Well you’re in New Orleans, Louisiana! Only the best city in all of the US!” Tiana beamed as she talked about her hometown. It was one of her greatest passions after all. “But I can’t believe I…
“Oh I see! You already have yourself a man. And what’s the lucky guys name? I’ll have to make the two of you love birds a fresh batch sometime.” Tiana grinned at the girl, leaning to the side and resting a hand on her hip. Jane sure was cute when she was blushing. This guy must be real special.
Captain Hook hadn’t meant to land in the New World, but the crew was tired and needed time off to be on land before they returned to Europe or Neverland, whichever it was that they agreed on later. Their tour of the Caribbean had been successful, and they had been greatly rewarded for their actions.
But now they were docked in New Orleans, and the crew had dressed in their finest in order not to be recognized as pirates, despite their highly respected predecessors, and entered the city. Hook’s footsteps barely echoed off the pavement as he made his way into the town, knowing that the ship was secure. He would return before the night was out to check on it once again.
There was an odd sound and Hook paused, his good hand touching his waist as he realized he should pause and perhaps get something to eat first before doing anything else.
He looked about and entered a lively little restaurant titled “Tiana’s Palace”.
Captain James Hook was uncertain what he would find in this place, but he was certain that he would leave happy based on the smell of cooking food, and well composed music.
Tiana rushed around the dining room. It had been a busy night and though she was the owner of the restaurant, she always insisted on waiting on all the tables she could. Tiana smiled brightly as even more customers came in that night and were excited to eat her food. It was their excitement and satisfaction in the food that fueled her energy through out the night, making it easy for her to flit around the room from table to table effortlessly fulfilling orders and completing requests. Nothing made Tiana happier than a happy, full customer.
Taking a quick breather and attending to the hostess stand, she was organizing the menu’s when the bell on the door sounded and a man stepped inside. He was dressed a bit strangely and Tiana could tell he was not from New Orleans, so she smiled wide. The eclectic customers were always her favorite. “Hey there sugar! Welcome to Tiana’s Palace. I’m Tiana and I’ll be helping you today. You gonna need a table for one?”
It was a great deal of information to take in, but Jane nodded along attentively. She knew all too well what it was like never to have left one’s birthplace: Still, at least London had not been a dull place to grow up. And from what Tiana was saying, New Orleans was also very interesting. Culture, music - “What’s a beignet?” asked Jane curiously. “Is that one of the dishes you mentioned? It sounds French; is it?”“Oh! Well you’re in New Orleans, Louisiana! Only the best city in all of the US!” Tiana beamed as she talked about her hometown. It was one of her greatest passions after all. “But I can’t believe I haven’t introduced myself! Where have…
“You’ve never had a beignet?! Well I’ll say you are not living sugar! You must try one of mine. People come from all over New Orlean’s to try my beignets.” Tiana grinned wide, proud of her signature dish. “And yes you’re right. They are french. A type of pastry. My friend Lottie calls them my man catching beignets So if you ever want to catch the eye of a special man, let me know. I’ll be more than willing to help you!”
“Oh! Well you’re in New Orleans, Louisiana! Only the best city in all of the US!” Tiana beamed as she talked about her hometown. It was one of her greatest passions after all. “But I can’t believe I haven’t introduced myself! Where have all my manners gone. I’m Tiana. I’m pleased as punch to meet you Miss….Oh I don’t think I know your name yet..”“Porter,” Jane said helpfully. ”My name is Jane Porter.” She took another look ‘round, more keenly interested in her surroundings than before. ”The U.S…A., do you mean? Why, how did I end up in America?” But her curiosity about the city soon won out. Jane did another full turn. ”I’ve heard of New Orleans, though I’m afraid I don’t know much about it! Not nearly enough to know whether or not I ought to be happy to find myself here,” Jane teased. ”But I’ve always longed to travel at all.” She looked back at the young woman - she couldn’t be much older than Jane herself - in excitement. ”You say this is the best American city of all - how so, Miss Tiana?”
“You don’t know how you got here? How very strange! And of course you should be happy to be here! It is a wonderful city. So much culture and the music is amazing, I can promise you that.” Tiana winked at the girl, noting her excitement. “The cuisine alone is enough to make this the best city! We have the best southern dishes and some of the most amazing flavors. You haven’t lived til you’ve tried one of my beignets!” Her smile widened as she thought about the famous recipe that made customers flock to her restaurant. It was always a crowd pleaser. “People come here from all over just to eat the amazing food. In fact it’s one of the main reasons I’ve never left.”
sketchbookpinchedbyababoon started following you
Tiana smiled at the girl. She looked a bit lost and Tiana was always willing to help out someone in need, especially if it meant meeting a new friend. In fact what is the use of cooking so much if you didn’t have lots of friends to cook for? “Hi there sugar. You looking for someone? Is there anything I can help you with?”
“I - er - well, yes, actually,” Jane confessed sheepishly. She’d been about to decline the woman’s help politely - but if Jane was being quite honest with herself, she rather needed the help. ”I haven’t the slightest idea where I am! It…well.” Jane laughed, ruefully. ”It doesn’t look at all like this where I live.” The narrow, somewhat grimy streets of the city she’d found herself in looked nothing like London (which was, however, also grimy and full of narrow streets), let alone Africa!
“Oh! Well you’re in New Orleans, Louisiana! Only the best city in all of the US!” Tiana beamed as she talked about her hometown. It was one of her greatest passions after all. “But I can’t believe I haven’t introduced myself! Where have all my manners gone. I’m Tiana. I’m pleased as punch to meet you Miss….Oh I don’t think I know your name yet..”
As he moved closer and reached out for her skirt, Tiana frowned. What does he think he’s doing? Then he reached out and touched the edge of her skirt. Swatting at his hand, she jumped back. “Excuse me! I do not even know your name! You will not be touching my skirt!”
He grunted at her backing away and swatting his hand. Why would it do that? I just want to inspect the thing! Tarzan grunted again as he moved to her; pulling a leg out from under the cover as he inspected and prodded its covered leg.
The man cowered at her swat but then he moved forward and picked up her leg. “Oh!!! Stoppit! I will not having you touching my skirt and picking up my leg!” She swatted at his head and tried to do all she could to get him to let go of her. She sensed he wasn’t a danger but she did not enjoy being poked and prodded.
“Oh!” Tiana was shocked as he crawled closer to her. “You do not know a lick of english do you sugar?” She sighed. This should be interesting. What do I do with a person that doesn’t speak english? She smiled nervously “What language do you know?” Come on Tia stop talking in english to him he doesn’t understand you!
His eyebrows knit together in its constant babbling. Whether it was trying to speak to him, or not; he couldn’t tell. He stopped at the figure’s feet, and reached out to the protection it was wearing. He fiddled with the end of the coverings; feeling and playing with it between his fingers out of curiosity. This is not suitable for protection. Not at all.
As he moved closer and reached out for her skirt, Tiana frowned. What does he think he’s doing? Then he reached out and touched the edge of her skirt. Swatting at his hand, she jumped back. “Excuse me! I do not even know your name! You will not be touching my skirt!”
As the man began to circle her, she frowned slightly. “You speak english hon?” She wasn’t so sure he did anymore. He really must not be from around here. There were some weird people who lived out in the bayou. But they never acted quite like this. Quite so animal.
It babbled something as he began to halt his circling. But for the life of him, he could not understand. What is this strange language they speak? It is no form of primate I have ever heard. Perhaps they made up their own language. He crawled closer now to the figure; staring up at its expression.
“Oh!” Tiana was shocked as he crawled closer to her. “You do not know a lick of english do you sugar?” She sighed. This should be interesting. What do I do with a person that doesn’t speak english? She smiled nervously “What language do you know?” Come on Tia stop talking in english to him he doesn’t understand you!
Hey there, I'm Tiana! Cooking is my passion and I'm living out my dream as owner and head chef here at Tiana's Palace in beautiful New Orleans. My charming love Naveen fills the dining room with swinging jazz along side his pal Louis. There's never a dull moment here at the restaurant. So I invite you to come on in, pull up a seat, and take a menu!
