Arsenic and Adobo

After her dentist appointment, Lila takes a nap and then meets Adeena for lunch at Stan’s Diner. The diner’s owners, Stan and Martha, were on Auntie June’s list of suspects. The health inspector and Derek had the diner shut down, just like Yuki’s restaurant. Lila and Adeena sit at the counter by the grill where Stan is working. He recommends the meatloaf, and Lila orders it. Adeena, a vegetarian, gets waffles. Lila thinks about her “desert island food” (108): crepes.

Stan shares that Derek visited the diner repeatedly and wrote negative reviews, and the health inspector showed up just when the freezer broke. Lila admits to working at Tita Rosie’s Kitchen, and Stan calls his wife, Martha, over to talk to them as well. Martha had already recognized Lila and tells her more about Derek never liking any of the food they made. The waitress mentions Derek was a terrible tipper.

Martha explains that Derek did less harm to their diner than to other restaurants because Derek started rumors about them before he gained a following. Then, Martha reveals that the health inspector is friends with Mr. Long. Stan thinks Derek tipped the inspector off when he saw the freezer was broken. A new restaurant, El Gato Negro, wasn’t as lucky. Derek’s poor reviews caused the original owners to leave town after only being in business for a year. Some family members bought the restaurant. Adeena and Lila order dessert and compliment it. Stan offers to be a source of gossip in the future because he thinks highly of Rosie. This makes Lila emotional, and she runs out to the car and cries. Adeena takes care of the check and comes out to the car as well.

Back at her family’s house, Marcus and Lila’s godmothers are visiting. Lila is happy to learn that Marcus loves Lila’s ube cookies, which Derek insulted. The cookies convince him to share details about Lila’s case: Derek had narcotics and arsenic in his system, and Lila needs to prove the drugs in her locker were not hers. Lila tells the Calendar Crew about her visit to Stan’s Diner. Ninang June notes that Derek died too quickly while eating for arsenic to be the culprit.

As they talk about the specific dishes that tested positive for arsenic, Lila realizes that the rice that the police took as evidence is not used in desserts, so it wouldn’t have been on the plates with poison on them. The person framing them planted the arsenic in the wrong bag of rice. Lila calls Amir, asking him to request more tests from the police. He does, and Lila talks to Tita Rosie about Lola Flor not being around to make food for church. Amir calls back with the news that more tests will be run.

Then, Marcus shares that Yuki was in jail because someone called the police on Yuki and her husband, who were screaming at each other outside their restaurant. Lila guesses that the couple was fighting about Derek and plans to visit their restaurant the following day. When everyone hears that Lila is having dinner at El Gato Negro, the Calendar Crew suggests Marcus go with her.

As she gets ready for dinner, Lila thinks about how she briefly dated Derek after her fiancé, Sam, cheated on her. When Lila’s family found out and told her about Derek’s reviews, she stopped seeing him. Lila never told Adeena about reconnecting with Derek. Lila looks at her necklace, which she inherited from her late parents. Janet calls Lila and they arrange to meet the following day at Sushi-ya. Lila picks up Adeena, who shares that her parents think Lila is her girlfriend. Adeena affirms that she is happy being friends, not lovers, with Lila.

Dr. Jae is already at El Gato Negro when Lila and Adeena arrive. Marcus texts Lila saying he can’t make it. During dinner, they discuss Jae’s parents, who are white and Korean, and his brother—Detective Park. Lila nearly spits her drink out when she discovers the dentist and the detective are related. Dr. Jae assures her he doesn’t think she is a criminal. Adeena flirts with the waitress, Elena. Adeena and Lila learn that Jae doesn’t have many friends in the area since moving back due to his father’s health issues, and the three debate how to handle issues with family members.

During dessert, Lila mentions that Marcus says hello to Elena. Elena admits he has been coming by to make sure Derek stays out of the restaurant. Elena shares information about Derek running her uncle and aunt out of Shady Palms. Adeena gets Elena’s phone number and invites her to come to Java Jo’s. When Elena helps another table, Jae asks why Lila is interrogating Elena. Adeena and Lila have a silent conversation with body language about Lila’s crush on Jae and Adeena’s crush on Elena. Jae says he envies their bond and pays their check. He asks if they can get together again soon, and Lila invites him to dinner the following night. Adeena says she has a family commitment and can’t make it, but Jae agrees to meet Lila for perogies.

On Sunday, Lila and her family go to church, where people stare and whisper. Lila tries to talk to Father Santiago after the service but is blocked by members of the Parent-Teacher Association. People snub Tita Rosie’s food until the Calendar Crew starts exclaiming how good it is. Eventually, Father Santiago tells Lila that Tita Rosie came to him for help after Lila was arrested. When her godmothers press her for information about the suspect list, Father Santiago cautions Lila against doing her investigation.

After church, Lila drives Lola Flor to various errands. Then, Lila goes to meet Janet for lunch but is stood up. Lila subtly mentions Derek’s negative review and orders Chef Akio’s choice. Akio watches her eat his food and says she understands food, unlike Derek. However, Akio refuses to share what lies Derek spread about them. As Yuki serves Lila drinks, she mentions that Akio beat up Derek. Yuki also says she convinced Derek to not press charges. Then, Yuki disappears into the back of Sushi-ya. As Lila enjoys the food and the low prices, she decides to visit Janet in her office in the hospital.

When Lila gets to the hospital, the front desk calls Janet, but Janet doesn’t answer her phone. Janet’s assistant arrives in the lobby and says Janet was planning on going to lunch at Sushi-ya. When they get to Janet’s office, Janet is seriously injured and lying behind her desk. Her assistant screams, and medical personnel come in to help. Janet is taken away on a stretcher. When the cops arrive, Detective Park is with them. He asks Lila how her aunt is doing, and Lila doesn’t believe his concern is genuine. Then, the detective tells Lila he knows about her criminal record in Chicago.

Lila thinks about how her ex got her involved in illegally procuring restaurant supplies without her knowledge. Even after she took the blame for Sam’s crimes, she stayed with him until she caught him cheating. Lila attempts to visit Janet in the hospital but is told only family can visit, so she goes to Java Jo’s. There is a huge crowd due to Adeena’s specials and the baked goods Lila made. Adeena asks Lila to make more cookies since they sold out of the last batch. Lila agrees, excited to use the ovens in Java Jo’s for a change. She stops at home for her ingredients, then goes by the dentist’s office to drop off the paperwork Kevin signed. Jae says he will stop by Java Jo’s when he gets a break.

Lila’s new batch of baked goods sells out as well. After they close, Adeena again tries to talk to Lila about opening a cafe together. Lila changes the subject and compliments Adeena’s specials. As they are closing, Jae comes by, explaining that he got caught up helping family friends on his usual day off. Lila gives him some cookies she saved for him, which he loves. Amir calls and tells Lila that Detective Park is going to charge her with assaulting Janet, so she needs to come to the house right away.