Jess & Yoyo

September 3, 2024 • Stonington, CT

Jess & Yoyo

September 3, 2024 • Stonington, CT

Cooking pasta is probably one of the easiest things to do. You don't have to be a master, you just need boiling water and to follow the pasta maker's instructions. And the same thing happens with sauce; sometimes you just need to open a can of sauce and dinner is ready.


But! Another very different thing is when the pasta is well made! And of course, to make pasta from scratch you need patience and time. Knead, cut, portion, and cook it al dente so that it finishes cooking with the sauce. A true sauce is when the protein is seared, the vegetables are properly cooked, a liquid base is added, and obviously a good cheese. Now that's pasta. Unctuous, decadent, and comfortable. Cooking an excellent pasta is maybe not so easy.


It was the end of February 2022 and there were many changes happening in the restaurant. It was one of those important moments because soon we would open a new space. There would be new vacancies so we needed new cooks. At the time, I was working the pasta station. After a few months of proudly shaking noodles, I had earned the fame of “pasta Papi.” However, I would soon be transferred to the new restaurant and someone had to take over my place.


Chef: “Yoyo we have a new stage and maybe she could take over the pasta station. Her name is Jessica and she starts next week.”


So my job was to make sure that Jess could take over my station. For this, I was committed to being super kind and patient!


“She's cute,” I thought when I saw her.


After a few hours of cooking, I had already lost my patience and had accidentally burned Jess's tongue by making her try a very hot sauce.


Yoyo: “the amount of sauce and the consistency is very important. A very dry or very liquid sauce is difficult to plate so you will have to fix it by adding more liquid or cheese.”


But when the sauce is well made, and the pasta is cooked al dente, everything is easier. Doing the right thing is always the easiest!


Chef: “do you think she can take over the station?”

Yoyo: “I don't know chef, it's still too early. But it seems like she has a lot of determination.”


Obviously I knew this because I had burned her tongue and she never complained.


Yoyo: “Also, She is quite long. That may be useful.”


Chef and I agreed with a smile.


If you know Jess, you will know that she has great determination and love for cheese. After a few days, Jess was running the station without any problems. And then, after a while, she started taking care of all the desserts for both restaurants.


It wasn’t until a few months later when we started dancing at the Port of Call after a drag show. And in one of those dances the chemistry just happened. The next day we had our first date, and our first kiss, and from then on we were always together.


It was all so easy. It was all so natural. When it's the right person, everything is easier. In the end, doing the right thing was the easiest thing.


Together we live adventures and laughter. Maybe some other small problems, but we solve everything easily with love and cheese.


Now we have to cook together again. I can't wait to cook at your side and this time it will be forever. Yo te amo más!!