Turning tables

Turning tables

Didier’s film clip causes a number of diners to behave inappropriately. Soof is continuously ridiculed and even harassed by a fan who’s stalking her. This has to stop, that much is clear. Hansje feels that Soof needs to stand up for herself and confront Didier, as well as Kasper, who’s acting like he’s moved back in now that he’s renovating the attic, leaving his dirty underwear in the laundry basket and raiding the fridge. She has a point.

A lunch is being prepared at the CookSoof for a party of people with food allergies, which requires careful planning, or people might die. Soof tells Gerrit to be extra careful not to confuse the various dishes, but he keeps losing track, so she writes it all down for him. She herself needs to be off to get some things sorted.

Sacha is out of sorts. But every time she tries to talk to her parents, they’re far too caught up in their own affairs. Kasper is busy with his DIY project, playing loud music, and her mum is completely taken up with the CookSoof. And with Didier. She’s planning to give him an earful. And to put things in order with Kasper.

Gerrit’s note catches fire on a candle. Joy and Gerrit have to hope that they are serving up the right dishes to the right people. What is keeping Soof? Didier has overwhelmed her with his strong language, free spirit and pure, honest food. Together, they pluck a goose, taste his porcini mushrooms.

She fails to tell him what she came to say and loses all track of time. Until her phone rings and she realises that she should have been back at CookSoof’s ages ago. She rushes back, only to find an ambulance at the gate. Gerrit and Joy managed to serve lunch without a glitch. To celebrate, they served a glass of liqueur on the house, failing to realise that this contains nuts. One of the guests suffers a reaction and Soof primarily blames herself. She ought to have been present. Instead, she allowed herself to be distracted, just like on opening night. This is exactly what Didier said to her: she is a ‘chef de cuisine’ and must always retain her focus.

Meanwhile, Dies and Bing have flopped down on the sofa, exhausted. They had to walk home, because Kasper forgot to pick them up from school. When Soof attempts to discuss this with Kasper, he sprains his back. Soof gives him a massage, and this is how Sacha finds her parents, together on the sofa. Clearly, old patterns are hard to break. But at least Kasper can move again, and goes back to his renovation project with renewed energy. Again, Soof fails to say what she wanted to say. And once again, Soof and Kasper completely fail to notice Sasha,

Kasper, dancing around to his music, throws his back out again and falls to the floor. He cannot move a muscle, but no one hears his calls for help with his radio turned up to the max. Hansje continues to patronise Joy, who expresses her discontent. Again, Soof fails to act, but instead defends her mother. When Joy asks her how Didier responded when she went to see him, Soof’s reaction is hesitant. Joy is no fool. If Soof cannot act decisively, she can. She will go and give Didier what for. This is a wake-up call for Soof. Joy is right. She has to do this herself. Determined, she cycles back to the food blogger’s house and blurts out what is on her mind. And jumps him. She comes back a new woman. Back at the restaurant, she calls for the diners’ attention and publicly puts an end to all the ridiculing jokes. Soof has acquired new insights and feels stronger than ever.

Well after closing time, Josien stops by. Soof ushers her in, pours them both a glass of wine and serves her up some food. They get tipsy, they hit it off really well together. Sasha has been getting increasingly annoyed with the constant loud music booming from upstairs. She asks her mother to call her ex-husband to order. Josien and Soof find Kasper prostrate on the ground. He’s been lying there for hours. They can’t stop laughing, but help him up.

The next day, Soof decides to do things differently. She has found her ‘destiny’, she says. Everyone looks on as she starts a vegetable plot. Back to basics, to pure and honest food. Didier arrives, kisses Soof as his girlfriend looks on, and presents her with a goose to fatten up and butcher herself. Back to basics. When Hansje, Joy and Sasha express their opinion about Soof’s choices, she lashes out: she alone will decide what’s good for her. Kasper also gets an earful: as long as he lives in her house, he will do his own laundry. And as far as the kids are concerned, they will care for them on alternate weeks. Problems solved.