New restaurant in town - Ahmad's Grill
Ahmad's Grill has taken the town by storm. Its signature dish? Grilled male meat, kebabs, and skewers, all expertly prepared with a Middle Eastern flair. The aroma of spices fills the nostrils of every passer-by.
I visited the restaurant today for the first time and I was impressed with the affordable prices and the quality of each dish. I couldn't help but notice the display case filled with various cuts of male meat, including kebabs and whole legs, arms, torsos and heads on skewers. Intrigued, I ordered the restaurant's specialty, a meat variety platter, which includes a selection of kebabs and two skewered legs and feet of a man. I had heard that it's their most popular dish and the meat is said to have a unique, rich flavor that pairs perfectly with their homemade sauces and dips. My waiter, a well-dressed gentleman with a warm smile, took my order and returned a few minutes later with a freshly grilled platter of succulent meat.
As I snapped a photo of my meal, I couldn't help but marvel at the intricate presentation and the smoky aroma that filled the air. A laminated photo of a man in his late 20s was placed between the legs on the platter. I asked the waiter more about the man I was about to eat.
The waiter, looking slightly uncomfortable but still polite, told me the story as he knows it. The man, whose name was Jason, had come to the city for a fresh start. He was a struggling artist, trying to make a living off of his paintings. He'd heard about the new restaurant opening up and had been hoping to maybe sell some of his work there. He'd met the owner, a charming man named Ahmad, who had promised him not only a place to display his art, but also a job serving drinks and helping out in the kitchen.
As the waiter continued, his voice lowered and he glanced around cautiously, clearly uncomfortable with the subject matter but determined to share what he knew. He revealed to me that Jason had no idea what the owner's true intentions were when he took the job. It wasn't until after he'd signed some papers that he realized Ahmad had trapped him in a situation with no easy way out. The owner had taken advantage of Jason's desperation, manipulating him into thinking that this was his best chance at success when in reality, it was a trap.
My eagerness for more information was palpable, and the waiter, despite his initial hesitation, seemed to be warming up to the subject. He leaned in closer, lowering his voice even further as he continued. "Well, the way Ahmad did it was real sneaky. He made Jason sign some papers that basically made him a partner in the restaurant. But there was a catch. Those papers also gave Ahmad the right to do whatever he wanted with Jason's body. And I mean whatever. It was all legal and above board, because Jason had signed it away. But of course, he had no idea what that really meant... Long story short, Jason didn't find out about the real nature of those papers until it was too late. By then, he was already deep in debt to Ahmad, and there was no way out. Ahmad had him by the balls, so to speak. So, Jason did what he had to do to pay off his debts and keep himself alive. He worked in the restaurant, served drinks, and even helped out in the kitchen. But the worst part was when Ahmad started talking to all of us, including Jason, about using his body for the restaurant's signature dishes. At first, Jason refused, but Ahmad just threatened to get his brother and other men of his family served at the restaurant if he didn't comply. Jason had nowhere else to go, so he eventually gave in."
Apparently Ahmad was very meticulous about the process of capturing and preparing Jason for the menu. He waited outside his house two weeks ago, with a few employees of his. And once Jason exited his door, they captured him. First, they made sure that Jason was drugged and unconscious before bringing him back to the restaurant, this time simply as meat. Once there, he was carefully cleaned and inspected by the chef, who selected the parts that would be served to customers. The rest of Jason's body would be preserved using special techniques, ensuring that his meat would remain fresh and tender for future meals and trophies.
As I glanced around the restaurant, I noticed that the walls are adorned with a dozen of handsome heads. Each head was carefully mounted on a wooden plaque, featuring a date and the name of the individual who was served as last week's special. My gaze landed on one particular head, which looked strikingly similar to Jason's. The waiter noticed my interest and stepped forward, gesturing toward the trophy. "Yes, that's Jason's head," he said softly, "it was on display as the top trophy for two whole weeks before Ahmad decided it was time to move on to someone new. You see, each week, Ahmad would choose a new person from the kitchen staff to feature as our 'Trophy of the Week.' It's sort of a morbid reward system, I guess. The more loyal and hardworking you were, the longer your head stays up there." the waiter said.
I was certainly shocked by the waiter's words. It kind of makes me want to open my own restaurant one day. I wonder if I'd be able to use Ahmad's tactics if I was in his position.
To sum up, the food at Ahmad's was absolutely incredible. It's a shame what happened to Jason, but even he would admit that the dishes made from his flesh were unlike anything else you could find anywhere else.
