Quotessence
Home / Topics / Tiana Quotes

Tiana Quotes

Browse 37 quotes about Tiana.

Tiana Quotes

“As she waited for the soul-crushing grief to envelop her, an odd thing happened. The grief failed to materialize. Instead, she felt... joy. An overwhelming sense of peace weaved its way around her sadness. Tiana knew she would always miss her daddy, but the hole his passing had left in her heart wasn't as hollow this time around. It was filled with memories of the past year--- the laughs they'd shared, the meals they'd prepared together, and the all-encompassing love they'd experienced every single day. And a true goodbye. Tiana closed her eyes tight, holding onto those memories. They would be with her always. Just as her daddy would be with her. Always.”

JoyDaddyTianaAt PeaceAlways With YouRenewed
Book:Almost There
Create image

“She'd learned a lot about letting go that past year. About not holding on to the past and embracing what fate had in store. About taking pride in a hard day's work, but also taking time to rest and find peace in the quiet moments of the day. Most of all, she'd learned the importance of spending time with those she loved. She now understood just how precious time was, and that it wasn't promised.”

Loved OnesLetting Go Of The PastPrecious TimeTianaTake A Breather
Book:Almost There
Create image

“As people began to congregate around the door, Tiana made her way to the closest window. She gasped at the sight on the other side of the glass. The fog had thinned, but only in the area surrounding their house, and flower petals rained from the sky. They collected on the ground like a colorful snowfall. Tiana closed her eyes, a gentle smile touching her lips. She was at peace, because her daddy was now at peace.”

DaddyTianaAt Peace
Book:Almost There
Create image

“How's it looking out there, Mama?" "Like all the Mardi Gras revelers have converged on this place," Eudora said. "The line of people waiting for tables stretches all the way to the French Quarter. You'd better put on a second pot of gumbo, because you have a whole lot of hungry mouths to feed." "That's just the way I like it," Tiana said as she added a few dashes of Tabasco to the pot. Her daddy's dinged-up pot might not shine like the new copper and steel cookware in her gleaming kitchen, but Tiana refused to use anything else to cook her gumbo.”

Success In BusinessRestaurantTianaDream Come True
Book:Almost There
Create image

“She'd never lost hope that the place would one day be hers. She'd felt it in her bones. And now it was. She would have pinched herself, but she already knew this wasn't a dream. This was real life, and she was embracing it all. Tiana untied her apron from around her waist and went out into the grand dining room. It had taken a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to get it to this point, but with the help of her friends, her restaurant looked exactly as she had always imagined it would.”

Made ItHelping HandTianaDream Come True
Book:Almost There
Create image

“Tiana peered down in stunned delight at the sparkling white silk draping her body. The rhinestone- and pearl- studded gown she now wore was unlike anything she'd ever owned. When she lifted her head, she gasped at her surroundings. Tiana twirled around in a slow circle, mesmerized by the glitz and glamour of a place she had only seen in her nightly dreams. The old sugar mill she'd had her heart set on buying for years was no longer decrepit and falling apart. The floors gleamed underneath her feet, shining so bright they nearly blinded her. Brilliant crystal chandeliers hung high above her head, illuminating a massive dining room that was crowded with patrons. Men in suit jackets and women wearing their Sunday best sat at cloth-covered tables adorned with extravagant centerpieces and sparkling china. Everyone seemed to be having a grand time, enjoying rich, fragrant dishes that smelled like the food Tiana used to cook with her daddy.”

Interior DesignRestaurantTianaDreaming BigWhite Dress
Book:Almost There
Create image

“Tiana balanced a stack of flapjacks, two bowls of grits, and five orders of pillowy-soft beignets on a serving tray. She squeezed through the narrow paths between the tables, carefully dodging pointy elbows and protruding feet. The café was packed to the gills with hungry, bleary-eyed customers who'd spent the night either kicking up their heels in the taverns or working the overnight shift in one of the factories in the French Quarter.”

WaitressTianaFarrah RochonHardworker
Book:A Twisted Tale Anthology
Create image

“Do you need a rest, Mama?" Tiana said as she drizzled praline syrup on the order of beignets she'd just made. "No, baby. You know I stopped sewing to embrace the excitement of the restaurant business." "Well, that's not the only reason you're here," Tiana said with a laugh. She rounded the cooking station and enveloped her mother in a hug. "No, it isn't," Eudora said. She and Tiana stared up at the portrait of her daddy that hung on the wall, looking down over the entire kitchen. "I'm here because this is exactly where he would want me to be." "And it's exactly where I want you to be, too. What did that man from the paper call you? The queen of Tiana's Palace?" "Well, he's right," her mother replied with no small amount of sass. Then she and Tiana burst out laughing.”

MamaQueenTianaMemories Of Daddy
Book:Almost There
Create image

“Mama Odie had been willing to help both Tiana and Naveen the year before. Hopefully, she would be willing to do so again. Please. Please. Please. The strangeness of having to rely on someone else for help struck Tiana anew. She knew she was independent to a fault. She had lost count of how many times she had wasted hours---sometimes even days---toiling away at some task or another, refusing to ask for help.”

TianaIndependent WomanRelying On Others
Book:Almost There
Create image

“Tiana thought about the money stored in coffee cans in her chifforobe. Years of tips she'd collected while waiting tables at Duke's Cafe and working the night shift at Cal's Restaurant. As of now, she had enough for a down payment, but she would need more than that to buy kitchen equipment, tableware, provisions, etc., not to mention start making rent.”

Saving MoneyTianaFarrah RochonWork For What You Want
Book:A Twisted Tale Anthology
Create image

“Why must you make things so difficult?" "Because I don't trust you," she said. "I'm never going to just do something simply because you asked, Doctor Facilier." He grabbed her wrist and turned her hand palm up. He slapped the vial into the center of her palm. "Every single dish, Tiana." She threw the vial directly at his face. He snatched it as if he had been expecting her to do just that. "I don't have to do anything," Tiana said. "I've held up my end of our bargain. You hold up yours.”

Sassy HeroineTiana
Book:Almost There
Create image

“Naveen turned back to her, his penetrating eyes pleading with her to accept his help. "You don't have to do this all on your own. We're here for you. I'm here for you." Tiana hesitated as a blend of uncertainty and gratitude converged. This was her mess. She'd pulled them all into this; she shouldn't expect her friends to get her out of it. But Naveen was right: she didn't have to do this alone. She couldn't. "Okay," Tiana answered. The shame she thought she would feel didn't materialize. All she felt was overwhelming relief at knowing she didn't have to rely solely on herself.”

Not AloneTianaRelying On OthersNaveenTiana And Naveen
Book:Almost There
Create image

“The promise of a hearty breakfast of buttery grits, fluffy eggs, and thick, crispy bacon beckoned, but she remained tucked underneath her covers with her eyes closed. She basked in the feel of the warm sun caressing her face as it shone bright through her windows. The jaybirds flittering about outside chirped songs of cheer, a happy soundtrack for what was sure to be a stellar day. "Tiana, baby. Come to breakfast." Tiana's eyes popped opened and a smile as wide as the Mississippi River stretched across her face. "I'm on my way, Daddy," she called.”

BreakfastDaddyWaking Up In The MorningTiana
Book:Almost There
Create image

“She pulled out her green-and-white polka-dot dress with the satin ribbon that tied at the waist, and the matching satin trim that ran along the hem of its ruffled skirt. She would normally only wear a dress like this to a wedding, or on Easter Sunday, but if she was going on this outing with Lottie to Maison Blanche, she had to look the part of someone who belonged there. Because she did belong there. She was just as good as anybody else who set foot in that establishment, and she was going to make sure everyone who was there knew it. Tiana pulled the dress over her head and pinned the barrette Ms. Rose had given her as a gift behind her ear. It had tiny gardenias attached to it, adding an elegant touch to her ensemble. She swished around from left to right in the mirror, admiring the way her dress twirled about her legs.”

TianaDress UpGardenia
Book:Almost There
Create image

“Now that this latest order of beignets was done, Tiana turned her attention back to the pot of gumbo gurgling on the stovetop. She took in the dents and pings along the walls of her daddy's big gumbo pot. Every imperfection was perfect in her eyes. "How's that gumbo coming along, baby girl?" "It's almost there," Tiana called. Her father came over and pulled her into a side hug. "Smells good." "And it tastes even better." She scooped up a big spoonful of the gumbo and blew lightly across it. Then she held the spoon up to him and grinned as he sipped a bit of the dark brown liquid. "Just like your daddy taught you to make it," he said.”

Book TitleTianaAlmost ThereGumboIn The KitchenDaddys Girl
Book:Almost There
Create image

“She mentally ran through the new dishes for that evening, including the new jambalaya, which would be daringly made with pasta instead of the traditional rice. It was a risk to make such a drastic change to one of New Orleans's most beloved dishes, but if she managed to pull this off, T&J's would be the talk of the town! She wouldn't be surprised if people came in from as far as Biloxi, or even Jackson, Mississippi, to try her new recipe.”

PastaTianaFood CombiningJambalayaAll Walks Of Life
Book:Almost There
Create image

“Back at the stove, she used a spatula to dunk the puffed-up pastries into the hot oil, making sure the edges were a warm golden brown before she scooped them out of the fryer. That was the key to making sure her beignets were crispy on the outside and pillow-soft on the inside. She plated them on one of T&J's Supper Club's signature emerald-green plates and sprinkled just the right amount of powdery confectioners' sugar on the top. Perfect.”

BakingTianaBeignetsSignature Dish
Book:Almost There
Create image

“Not too long before, she would have maintained that no matter how well things were going, she would never be truly happy again, because her father was no longer with her. But he was here. She felt him every time she walked into the kitchen at this restaurant. She felt him whenever she walked into her mother's house in the Ninth Ward, or when she was in the house she and Naveen shared uptown. She felt him everywhere. And because she knew his spirit would always be with her, no matter how far she traveled or how long they were apart, Tiana now knew true happiness.”

DaddyTianaAlways With You
Book:Almost There
Create image

“Your restaurant never would have survived in that area. Where it is now, over there in Tremé, is much more suited for your type of establishment." She straightened her shoulders. "Forgive me for being so bold, Mr. Fenner, but I happen to disagree. I think my restaurant would thrive no matter where it's located. And I haven't given up on the riverfront. Me and my daddy are gonna eventually open an even bigger restaurant one day. In fact, we plan to open several." She gave him a sweet smile as she hefted her basket of vegetables up higher on her forearm. "Now, if you would excuse me, I have a very big night ahead. If you would like some good food and good jazz music, might I suggest you come over to Tremé and give T&J's Supper Club a try? The doors are always open to anyone.”

TianaStanding Up For Yourself
Book:Almost There
Create image

“It would be rude to revel in his obvious discomfort. But, then again, Buford had taken every opportunity to make fun of her dream back when she worked at Duke's. "Oh, Buford," Tiana called. "Why don't you bring that trophy you got for winning the Kentucky Derby next time?" His forehead creased in confusion, making Tiana wonder if he remembered the time he'd told her that he had a better chance of winning the horse race than she had of opening a restaurant. But then understanding dawned in his eyes. "I guess I deserved that," Buford said.”

RevengeTiana
Book:Almost There
Create image

“A small smile tipped up one corner of her mouth as she remembered that first night, and how ridiculously out of his element Naveen had been. She glanced over at him now, taking in his strong and handsome profile. He'd changed so much in the year since she'd first met him. He was no longer the spoiled little rich boy who thought he could get by on his looks and charm. Though he'd surely won her over with that charm in the end.”

CharmingPrinceReminiscingTianaNaveen
Book:Almost There
Create image

“She backed away from the boat. She started to flail in the mud, but before she could tumble backward, a set of strong arms braced around her. "I have you," Naveen said. He was so close she could feel his warm breath against her ear. Tiana did her best to ignore the goose bumps pebbling up and down her skin, but she would have had a better chance of ignoring a fireworks display taking place on her front porch.”

Physical AttractionTianaTiana And Naveen
Book:Almost There
Create image

“Are you ready, Tiana? One last deal." His willingness to sacrifice some innocent person's soul alleviated the last prickle of conscience she felt over what she was about to do. This snake in the grass deserved everything that was coming to him. "Okay," Tiana said. "I'll sign it." She followed him to a wooden desk that held a lamp, and grabbed hold of the fountain pen he held out to her. Tiana bent over the contract, turning her back slightly as she scribbled across the bottom of the scroll. "Okay, it's done," she said. She turned and held the vial out to him. "Now, you drink half, and I'll drink half." His eyes were bright with triumph as he snatched the vial from her free hand, wrenched the cork out of it, and gulped down the entire contents. He threw his head back and let out a peal of laughter. But his laughter quickly died as he clutched at his throat and staggered several steps back. Tiana held out the contract to him, the words Goodbye, Shadow Man scrawled on the signature line.”

HeroineCraftyTianaVillains And Heroes
Book:Almost There
Create image