Starring Samantha Episode 1 - Samantha Drowns Her Sorrows in a Vodka Gimlet

Welcome dear readers to my brand new Saturday Web Series: “Starring Samantha” – the story of a newly divorced 30 something chef turned caterer turned reluctant reality TV star.

Join me every Saturday for a featured cocktail, a recipe (or two) and a rip roaring good time as Samantha discovers there really is life, love, and laughter after divorce!

And now, onto Part 1…

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Samantha was onto her third vodka gimlet when her best friend Katy walked into Fitzpatrick’s. The wood paneled bar acted as refuge from the huge storm that had become her personal life, and with the last of the divorce settlement signed she felt an overwhelming sense of loss. She hadn’t just ended an 8 year marriage, she was also saying goodbye to the catering business she had built from the ground up. A business that, in many ways, had taken the place of the children her now ex husband had never wanted to have.

But there was relief too. For the last few years she felt she was fighting against a tidal wave trying to keep her marriage and her business alive and when she discovered Alan in bed with his wealthy client, Mitzi Clairborne, the tidal wave became a tsunami that Sam could no longer fight.

The fact that her divorce attorney husband chose their marital bed for his dalliance rubbed further salt in the wound. Especially since at some point during their afternoon romp they had cracked open a bottle of champagne and devoured an entire package of Samantha’s trademark herb and cheese shortbread rounds.

As plates (and savory shortbread) went flying around the room her husband had the nerve to threaten to call the police.

 Even then she’d tried to forgive him, begging that they enter couples counseling – but the lure of a younger, thinner, richer Mitzi was more than any kind of couples counseling could repair, and as Samantha sat in her catering whites stained with lemon aioli, hot sauce, and merlot, she watched her husband pack his Luis Viutton Damier bag and walk out the door of their Manhattan apartment.

Shortly afterward her business went under.

The only saving grace was that Alan had left her the apartment and a relatively generous settlement. It was obvious he wanted to end things as quickly and cleanly as possible so he could carry on in his new life with Mitzi.

With a deep sigh, she waved Katy over.

“You look like hell,” Katy said as she slid into the booth seat across from Samantha, “Have you stopped wearing makeup altogether or is this supposed to be the natural look?”

Sam ran a hand through her unruly mane of reddish brown hair wishing she had taken the time to smooth and straighten it; not to mention put on some eye makeup. But she’d been crying so much, all the waterproof mascara in the world wasn’t going to take away her puffy eyes. Or the fact her world had just completely fallen apart.

“Order me another drink,” said Samantha, “And help me celebrate my divorce.”

Katy looked across the table, squeezed Sam’s hand, and motioned to the waitress for another round.

God! It was hard to see her friend like this. Best friends since high school Samantha had always been the strong one, the person everyone wanted to be with and be like. She had one of those effervescent personalities that made her stand out in any room she entered, and when she wasn’t half cut on vodka gimlets in a state of perennial grief, she was a beautiful woman.

But not tonight, and not for awhile.

In the 8 years she’d been with Alan, Katy watched as the man sucked the sparkle right out of her best friend – and there was nothing she could do about it; not that she hadn’t tried. Before they got married Katy begged her to reconsider, but Samantha was completely blinded by love.

She dreamed of a home in the suburbs, children, a dog – using all of the skills she learned in  culinary school to nurture the family she was certain she’d have. Bake sales, and birthdays, dinner parties for her husband’s executive contacts – the PTA – Samantha planned to do it all. But despite the promises Alan made to her before the wedding, when the honeymoon was over, it was truly over.

Without consulting her he purchased the Manhattan apartment as a surprise – with the caveat that she would need to work for a few years to supplement the mortgage – just until he made partner, which he assured her would only be a matter of time.

Samantha had a little inheritance money socked away from her grandmother and though she had planned to use it to decorate her new house, she opted to invest in her catering business. This was the first bone of contention in their marriage and one that lasted the entire 8 years. Alan had felt strongly that Samantha should have gone to work at one of the many high end restaurants in their neighborhood. With her culinary school background and experiences working as a stage in Paris after graduation she wouldn’t have had any problem finding a steady job.

But Sam knew what the world inside a kitchen was all about and didn’t want that kind of life for herself. Her idea, instead, was to open a small catering company that would do dinner parties, birthdays, small weddings, and bar mitvahs – all the kinds of things she would eventually do for her family.

Katy had watched as Sam went from being an excited new business owner with hope for the future to an exhausted, stressed out, basket case who spent her down time watching The Real Housewives and drinking wine – most evenings on her own as Alan was home later and later on his quest to become partner.

It was then that the pounds began to creep on, and though Samantha could hardly be considered fat, her once toned and trim size 6 body had gone to a flabbier size 12 – a fact Alan made sure to point out every chance he got.

Slamming back her final vodka gimlet, Samantha thanked her friend for being there and then claiming exhaustion, stumbled the two blocks home where she opened another bottle of wine and a big bag of Doritos. Blurry eyed, and not really paying attention, she made her way over to the couch, turned on the Cooking Network and there, on the screen, was one of her idols. Tall, cocky, and handsome Chef Steve Mason looked out from the screen and straight at her “Have you experienced a disaster in the food industry? Been fired because you forgot a guest was lactose intolerant – or worse – vegan? If years of hard work have amounted to peanuts, the Cooking Network wants to hear from you!”

In her gimlet and wine addled state, Samantha got tears in her eyes. The Cooking Network wanted her! Didn’t Steve Mason just say it? And all she had to do was record a tape of herself, download it, and send it in.

She rummaged around the apartment for Alan’s video camera, set it up on a tripod, turned the kitchen lights up high, and with Dorito crumbs still around her mouth looked into the camera. “My life is a disaster,” she said and with a large glug of wine, went on to recount her entire sad story – including her weight gain and Mitzi’s love of her herb and cheese shortbread rounds.

That done, Samantha uploaded the video, filled out an online application, pressed “send” and passed out.

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Now it’s time for readers to join the fun!

What do you think the first words out of Samantha’s mouth will be in the morning when she wakes up and remembers? My favourite response will be included in next week’s episode.

Cheers everyone! How about a nice Vodka Gimlet?

1.5 oz – premium vodka
1 oz – Rose’s Sweetened Lime Juice
Lime slice
Ice

Mix first two ingredients in a shaker with ice. Strain the vodka and lime mixture into a cocktail glass filled with more ice. Garnish with a slice of lime. Enjoy!

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Author:

Lyndsay Wells is a professional trainer, writer, and program developer with a passion for food and cooking. She is an award winning recipe developer, and a website ambassador for Kraft Foods Canada. Lyndsay believes cooking should be approachable and easy and has great tips and ideas for putting together sophisticated looking dishes that cooks of all levels can accomplish.

Visit her daily on her blog, The Kitchen Witch or on her YouTube Channel, CHARMED With The Kitchen Witch.