“Of course. The boys always enjoy something different.”
Kitty had learned to make a tart creole sauce for sandwich filling from their cook in New Orleans, so she prepared a bowlful. By the time the boys began to drift into the hall the air was fragrant with coffee and chocolate, and trays of sandwiches were ready.
Brad, knowing it was Kitty’s initiation night, was one of the first bluejackets to plant his elbows on the counter and demand a sandwich.
“And a cupa cawfee, too, wench, and be snappy about it!” he said with mock gruffness.
She made a face at him as she turned to get the coffee.
After one bite of the sandwich Brad’s eyes bulged. “Oh boy! This tastes like something from Toni’s swanky joint in New Orleans.”
Kitty laughed in delight. “Our old cook used to work at Toni’s. She gave me lots of his secrets.”
Jimmy Barnes sat beside Brad taking huge bites of a sandwich. He enthusiastically added his praise to Brad’s. “Boy, but this is really seasoned up like home cooking.”
“About the best seasoning they give us up at the hospital is the shrimp creole.”
“And they only have that about twice a month,” added Jimmy in disgust.