Pooben Narayanen's Blog - Posts Tagged "cooking"
Ételle in the cook off- Ételle takes part in the Mount Hope Junior Chef Competition
“Okay,” Ételle said. “I think I’m all set.”
“Yeah, I think so too,” her cousin Om said.
“I checked twice,” her friend Aditya said. “Chef Vinnie is about to speak.”
They all watched the stage of the Mount Hope Gymnasium, where a small man with a chef’s hat stood in front of the microphone.
“Hello,” Chef Vinnie said into the mike. “Uh, is this thing on?”
“Yes,” one of the technicians replied. “It’s on Chef.”
“Oh! Okay,” Chef Vinnie said. “Right. Welcome everyone to Mount Hope’s Junior Chef Tournament. Now we have twenty contestants in all. You have three plates to make a starter, main course and desert. You will be judged by our three chefs Chef Savita, Chef Jane and Chef Ismail.”
The three chefs joined him on stage, they weren’t wearing chef hats, but they had chef coats and scarves on.
“Okay,” Chef Vinnie continued. “Remember, first prize is a weekend for you, your parents and your siblings at Mount Hope Hotel, second prize is a tablet and third prize is a digital camera. Remember, stick to the rules. Right so we start in five minutes! Get ready!”
***
Ételle put the finishing touches on her dish. Om gave her a thumbs up from the stand, Aditya smiled at her nervously. Which made her even more nervous. The buzzer went off indicating that time was up. The judges were going by each table.
Chef Vinnie came to her table followed by the judges.
“Our youngest chef,” he said and smiled encouragingly. “This is Chef Ételle. What have you made for us dear?”
Ételle cleared her throat.
“It’s a very simple dish, made of chicken, sautéed with onions, chilli and lots of garlic. Which is served with toasted baguette.”
The four chefs had a bite.
“Very nice,” Chef Jane said and took another bite.
“Oops!” Chef Savita said. “I just got a bite of that chilli, it has a kick.”
“My dear,” Chef Ismail said. “The extra garlic is perfect. Well done.”
Chef Vinnie smiled at her, the judges made their notes and moved on to the next table.
Ételle waited, worried she had not made it to the next stage, as the chefs had done their rounds. She was joined by Om and Aditya. Both had a taste of her dish.
“That’s really good!” Om said.
“Yeah, wow,” Aditya said and grabbed another baguette.
“I hope the chefs liked it,” Ételle said.
“They’re announcing their decision,” Aditya said.
The three of them watched Chef Vinnie climb to the podium. He went down the list of those who had made it. Ételle’s neighbour was not as fortunate and he started to pack his things.
“Chef Ételle, has passed on to the next stage,” he said and continued to read down the list.
“Awesome!” Om and Aditya said together. They both high fived Ételle.
“I best get ready for the main dish,” she said.
“The final person to pass on to the next stage is Chef Navi.” They heard Chef Vinnie say. This caused all three of them to look around the gym.
“No way!” Aditya said.
“That idiot can cook?” Om added.
“Who would have thought that Mount Hope’s biggest bully can cook?” Ételle said.
Navi saw them and came over.
“You should stick to exploring, explorer girl,” Navi said as he put his hands on the edge of the table and leaned so his face was close to theirs. “This competition is mine.”
“It’s not over, Navi,” Ételle said.
“Yeah, man, there are two dishes to go,” Om said.
“And Ételle is going to beat you,” Aditya added.
“We’ll see,” Navi said as he pushed a cup and walked away.
“Cup’s empty!” Aditya called after him.
“Idiot,” Om said. “You got this, Ételle.”
“Yeah,” Aditya added.
“Yeah, I hope so,” Ételle said and smiled nervously.
“Yeah, I think so too,” her cousin Om said.
“I checked twice,” her friend Aditya said. “Chef Vinnie is about to speak.”
They all watched the stage of the Mount Hope Gymnasium, where a small man with a chef’s hat stood in front of the microphone.
“Hello,” Chef Vinnie said into the mike. “Uh, is this thing on?”
“Yes,” one of the technicians replied. “It’s on Chef.”
“Oh! Okay,” Chef Vinnie said. “Right. Welcome everyone to Mount Hope’s Junior Chef Tournament. Now we have twenty contestants in all. You have three plates to make a starter, main course and desert. You will be judged by our three chefs Chef Savita, Chef Jane and Chef Ismail.”
The three chefs joined him on stage, they weren’t wearing chef hats, but they had chef coats and scarves on.
“Okay,” Chef Vinnie continued. “Remember, first prize is a weekend for you, your parents and your siblings at Mount Hope Hotel, second prize is a tablet and third prize is a digital camera. Remember, stick to the rules. Right so we start in five minutes! Get ready!”
***
Ételle put the finishing touches on her dish. Om gave her a thumbs up from the stand, Aditya smiled at her nervously. Which made her even more nervous. The buzzer went off indicating that time was up. The judges were going by each table.
Chef Vinnie came to her table followed by the judges.
“Our youngest chef,” he said and smiled encouragingly. “This is Chef Ételle. What have you made for us dear?”
Ételle cleared her throat.
“It’s a very simple dish, made of chicken, sautéed with onions, chilli and lots of garlic. Which is served with toasted baguette.”
The four chefs had a bite.
“Very nice,” Chef Jane said and took another bite.
“Oops!” Chef Savita said. “I just got a bite of that chilli, it has a kick.”
“My dear,” Chef Ismail said. “The extra garlic is perfect. Well done.”
Chef Vinnie smiled at her, the judges made their notes and moved on to the next table.
Ételle waited, worried she had not made it to the next stage, as the chefs had done their rounds. She was joined by Om and Aditya. Both had a taste of her dish.
“That’s really good!” Om said.
“Yeah, wow,” Aditya said and grabbed another baguette.
“I hope the chefs liked it,” Ételle said.
“They’re announcing their decision,” Aditya said.
The three of them watched Chef Vinnie climb to the podium. He went down the list of those who had made it. Ételle’s neighbour was not as fortunate and he started to pack his things.
“Chef Ételle, has passed on to the next stage,” he said and continued to read down the list.
“Awesome!” Om and Aditya said together. They both high fived Ételle.
“I best get ready for the main dish,” she said.
“The final person to pass on to the next stage is Chef Navi.” They heard Chef Vinnie say. This caused all three of them to look around the gym.
“No way!” Aditya said.
“That idiot can cook?” Om added.
“Who would have thought that Mount Hope’s biggest bully can cook?” Ételle said.
Navi saw them and came over.
“You should stick to exploring, explorer girl,” Navi said as he put his hands on the edge of the table and leaned so his face was close to theirs. “This competition is mine.”
“It’s not over, Navi,” Ételle said.
“Yeah, man, there are two dishes to go,” Om said.
“And Ételle is going to beat you,” Aditya added.
“We’ll see,” Navi said as he pushed a cup and walked away.
“Cup’s empty!” Aditya called after him.
“Idiot,” Om said. “You got this, Ételle.”
“Yeah,” Aditya added.
“Yeah, I hope so,” Ételle said and smiled nervously.
Mount Hope Mini-Chef Competition – Ételle has to put on her chef hat as one of the youngest participants in the competition…
“Okay,” Ételle said. “I think I’m all set.”
“Yeah, I think so too,” her cousin Om said.
“I checked twice,” her friend Aditya added. “The gym’s completely different.”
“I count twenty fully equipped cooking stations.” Om finished counting with his finger.
The cooking stations were lined up across from with one another. At the furthest end of the gym were the bleachers.
“Chef Vinnie is about to speak,” Ételle said.
They all turned to the stage of the Mount Hope Gymnasium, which was at the opposite end of the gym, where a small man with a chef’s hat stood in front of the microphone.
“Hello,” Chef Vinnie said into the mike. “Uh, is this thing on?”
“Yes,” one of the technicians replied. “It’s on Chef.”
“Oh! Okay,” Chef Vinnie said. “Right. Welcome everyone to Mount Hope’s Mini-Chef Tournament. Now we have twenty contestants in all. You have three plates to make a starter, main course and desert. You will be judged by our three chefs Chef Savita, Chef Jane and Chef Ismail.”
The three chefs joined him on stage, they weren’t wearing chef hats, but they had chef coats and scarves on. “Non-contestants please leave the cooking stations and go to the bleachers.”
“Good luck, cousin,” Om said and high-fived Ételle.
“You’ve got this!” Aditya also high-fived her.
“Thanks guys,” Ételle said.
Om and Aditya joined the rest of the spectators in the bleachers.
“Okay,” Chef Vinnie continued. “Remember, first prize is a weekend for you, your parents and siblings at Mount Hope Hotel, second prize is a tablet and third prize a digital camera. Remember, stick to the rules. You will be given your surprise ingredients.”
Ételle was given a plastic container. She didn’t touch it, although she was dying to see what was inside.
“Right. You have thirty minutes for the starter round. Get ready!” He raised a stop watch. “Start now!”
***
Ételle put the finishing touches on her dish. She had been given chicken breast, baguette, chillies, onions and garlic. It had been a no-brainer as far as what she had to make, but preparing the dish in thirty minutes was a challenge. Om gave her a thumbs up from the stand, Aditya smiled at her nervously. Which made her even more nervous.
“Time’s up chefs!” Chef Vinnie said.
The judges come down from the stage and went by each table tasting the dishes. There was complete silence.
Chef Vinnie came to her table followed by the judges.
“Our youngest chef,” he said and smiled encouragingly. “This is Chef Ételle. What have you made for us dear?”
Ételle cleared her throat.
“It’s a very simple dish, of chicken, sautéed with onions, chilli and lots of garlic. Which is served with toasted baguette.”
The four chefs had a bite.
“Very nice,” Chef Jane said and took another bite.
“Oops!” Chef Savita said. “I just got a bite of that chilli, it has a kick.”
“My dear,” Chef Ismail said. “The extra garlic is perfect. Well done.”
Chef Vinnie gave her a smile. The judges made their notes and moved on to the next table.
Ételle waited, worried she had not made it to the next stage, as the chefs had did their rounds. She was joined by Om and Aditya. Both had a taste of her dish.
“That’s really good!” Om said.
“Yeah, wow,” Aditya said and grabbed another baguette.
“I hope the chefs liked it,” Ételle said.
“They’re announcing their decision,” Aditya said.
The three of them watched Chef Vinnie climb to the podium. He went down the list of those who had made it. Ételle’s neighbour was not as fortunate and he started to pack his things.
“Chef Ételle, has passed on to the next stage,” he said and continued to read down the list.
“Awesome!” Om and Aditya said together. They both high fived Ételle.
“I best get ready for the main dish,” she said.
“The final person to pass on to the next stage is Chef Navi.” They heard Chef Vinnie say. This caused all three of them to look around the gym.
“No way!” Aditya said.
“That idiot can cook?” Om added.
“Who would have thought that Mount Hope’s biggest bully can cook?” Ételle said.
Navi saw them and came over.
“You should stick to exploring, explorer girl,” Navi said as he put his hands on the edge of the table and leaned so his face was close to theirs. “This competition is mine.”
“It’s not over, Navi,” Ételle said.
“Yeah, man, there are two dishes to go,” Om said.
“And Ételle is going to beat you,” Aditya added.
“We’ll see,” Navi said as he pushed a cup and walked away.
“Cup’s empty!” Aditya called after him.
“Idiot,” Om said. “You got this, Ételle.”
“Yeah,” Aditya added.
“Yeah, I hope so,” Ételle said and smiled nervously.
***
“First,” Chef Vinnie said. “I would like to say to those of you who have been eliminated, thank you for participating. Now, for those of you who’ve made it to the second round, things are about to get interesting. In a minute you will be given your ingredients, a different set for each of you. You will have 45 minutes to prepare your main dish.”
Ételle watched as they delivered her ingredients. She was not sure what she was getting.
“Don’t touch the Tupperware until I say so!” Chef Vinnie shouted, making Ételle jump. She backed her hand away from the Tupperware. Ételle looked towards where Om and Aditya were sitting, they smiled at her and she smiled back nervously.
“Right,” Chef Vinnie said. Ételle felt butterflies in her stomach. She breathed deeply to calm herself down.
Breathe and relax.
“Judges, are you ready?” Chef Vinnie asked.
Ételle watched as the judges nodded.
“Mini-chefs. Get ready.” Chef Vinnie raised his stop watch. “Start now! You have 45 minutes.”
Ételle opened her container, there was a fish fillet, she wasn’t sure what species, but it didn’t matter, there were two eggplants, a chou-chou and two tomatoes.
She breathed in, thinking about what to cook.
Pan fried fish and steamed chou-chou!
***
Ételle prepared her marinade, she put some black pepper, ginger, garlic, into a mortar and added a bit of cilantro seeds for good measure. She pounded it all with a pestle. Once it was ground into a paste she put it into a bowl and added some olive oil and mixed it all together lightly with a spoon.
Ételle lay the fish onto a tray and marinated it, as she did so she stole a quick look at her neighbour and saw that the girl, who must have been around ten years old like her, was preparing something with tofu and noodles. A dish Ételle was all too familiar with.
I wish I had tofu.
She looked at Om and Aditya who smiled at her.
Ételle put the fish in the pan letting it simmer on low heat. As it was cooking she cut the chou-chou into four pieces and put it in the pressure cooker. Ételle picked up the two eggplants.
What do I do with you guys?
“You have 20-minutes left,” Chef Vinnie said.
Eggplant chutney!
Ételle sliced the eggplants into thin slices. She placed them into a pan and browned them, also turning the fish which was almost ready. The pressure cooker whistled, she felt panic rising inside of her. Things became blurry and the sounds of cooking sounded far, far way. Ételle grabbed the edge of the table.
Like with Bitey.
The image of the shark in the water surrounding the boat came into mind. The great white circling their boat in the lagoon. Panic.
Breath.
Ételle breathed in. The fish was sizzling and the pressure cooker whistled one more time. She sprung into action, turning off the pan and the pressure cooker.
“You have ten minutes,” Chef Vinnie called out.
Ételle turned the tomatoes into two large roses. She still had to get the eggplant ready. She cut some onions, garlic and the little bird eye chillies. She mashed up the eggplant with a fork after having removed the skin. She added some olive oil and mixed it up again.
Oh no! It’s runny!
“Five minutes,” Chef Vinnie said.
Ételle pulled out a plate and placed two pieces of the chou-chou sprinkling a bit of salt on each. She laid the fish in the middle of the plate and placed the two tomato roses at the top of the plate.
“Time’s up!” Chef Vinnie called out.
Ételle spread the sauce alongside the fish and looked at the plate. It was as good as it gets.
***
Chef Vinnie chewed slowly and pensively. “H’mmm, this is tasty,” he said mostly to himself.
“The baba ghanoush, is really good, Ételle,” Chef Jane said.
What’s baba ghanoush? I will have to look it up when I get home.
“Very good,” Chef Ismail said with his mouth full. “I’m going to have another piece.” And he took another piece of the fish.
“I like the chou-chou. Beautifully done, darling,” Chef Savita said.
“Thank you, chefs,” Ételle said.
“Right guys,” Chef Vinnie said. “To the next competitor.” They all moved on to the next table.
The chefs went through the other tables quickly. At Navi’s table, Ételle saw Chef Vinnie wag his finger at Navi, somewhat menacingly.
That Navi, is he trying to bully Chef Vinnie too? Once a bully always a bully.
The judges went to their table to deliberate. Ételle was joined by Om and Aditya.
“They stayed at your table the longest,” Aditya said.
“Yeah.” Om took a bite from the fish. “That’s why! You have to try this Aditya.” Om passed a fork to Aditya who took a bite.
“Wow, Ételle,” Aditya said. “You’re going to win this for sure.”
“Aren’t you going to eat any?” Om asked.
“No,” Ételle answered and wringed her hands. “I’m too nervous.”
“You should be.” Navi stood in front of the table.
“Shut-up, Navi,” Om said.
“Yeah,” Aditya added. “We saw you getting into trouble with the judge.”
“That Chef Vinnie, he better let me win,” Navi said. “My parents are one of the owners of Mount Hope Hotel.”
“So what?” Ételle narrowed her eyes at him.
“If I don’t win, they lose their jobs.”
“You can’t do that!”
“We’ll see.” Navi shoved the table and moved away towards his station.
***
“Again, I would like to thank those of you who made it this far and wish the remaining five chefs best of luck,” Chef Vinnie said to the audience.
Ételle sighed with relief. She was among the remaining five.
“Now this is the final round,” Chef Vinnie said. “You will be given your ingredients and when I say go that’s when you start. That goes for everyone.” Chef Vinnie and the other Chefs glared at Navi, who looked down at his station. “You will have 45 minutes.”
Ételle was given a Tupperware.
Chef Vinnie raised his stop watch. “Right. Start!”
Ételle opened the container, inside were mangoes, tapioca pearls, vanilla extract, and evaporated milk.
Ételle stared at it for a second.
I know cold tapioca pearls with mango puree!
***
As the tapioca pearls cooled in the bowl of ice Ételle prepared her mango puree.
“Fifteen minutes to go,” Chef Vinnie called out.
Ételle concentrated on what she had to do. She had shut out everything, she didn’t hear chef call out or see Om and Aditya wave to her. She was on a mission, make the best dessert she had ever made. Once she had pureed the mangoes she added it to the tapioca pearls and added the evaporated milk. She mixed everything together. Taking a small spoon she tasted it.
I’m missing something! The vanilla!
Ételle took the vanilla extract and added a few drops and mixed it all together. When she stopped she heard Chef Vinnie. “That’s it chefs, times up! Put your utensils down please!”
That’s it. I gave it the best I could.
***
The chefs each took a spoonful.
All four smiled with each bite and helped themselves to a few more bites.
“Okay, chefs,” Chef Vinnie said. “We have other plates to try!”
“You need to give us the recipe,” Chef Savita said as she moved to the next table.
“Will do chef,” Ételle said and watched as they moved to the next table.
The chefs were soon at their table deliberating.
Ételle was joined by her friends. But she hardly registered their presence. She was so nervous.
Om and Aditya didn’t say much and ate what was left of the dessert.
“Man, this is nerve-wracking,” Om said.
“You got that right,” Aditya said. “Okay Ételle?”
“Yeah,” Ételle answered absentmindedly.
“Chef Vinnie is climbing onto the stage.”
They watched as Chef Vinnie pulled out a list and cleared his throat.
“Right, so we have selected our winners for this year’s Mini-Chef. Everyone ready?” Chef Vinnie waited for an answer.
Chef Vinnie started reading starting with the last placed contestant. Ételle couldn’t hear him, she was so tense.
“Second place, Chef Ételle and first place Chef Navi, there you have it. Congratulations to you all.”
“What?” Aditya and Om said at the same time.
Ételle snapped out of it.
“How does he win?” Ételle said. “I don’t mind being second place but to Navi?”
“He must have threatened Chef Vinnie,” Aditya said.
“He did say his parents own the hotel,” Om added. “Let’s go see Chef Vinnie.”
***
“Threatened me?” Chef Vinnie said and then laughed. “Who that little squirt?”
Chefs Savita, Jane and Ismail all chuckled.
“He said his parents owned the hotel,” Ételle said.
“His parents don’t own the hotel,” Chef Vinnie said. “They come over every once in a while. So you think he threatened us into giving him first prize?”
“Yes,” the three kids answered.
Chef Vinnie laughed again and then looked at them.
“Oh, you guys are serious.” He wiped his tears. “Come with me.”
They followed Chef Vinnie to Navi’s station.
“What do you guys want?” Navi snarled.
“Keep quiet boy, before I take that prize away from you,” Chef Vinnie growled at him, which made Navi back down.
Chef Vinnie took some of his dessert and gave some to each of them.
“Try this flambé,” he said.
Ételle took a bite.
“Wow,” she said. “That’s amazing.”
“Do you need to try the other desserts?”
“No.”
“First prize, then?”
“Yes.” Ételle had another bite.
“Yeah, I think so too,” her cousin Om said.
“I checked twice,” her friend Aditya added. “The gym’s completely different.”
“I count twenty fully equipped cooking stations.” Om finished counting with his finger.
The cooking stations were lined up across from with one another. At the furthest end of the gym were the bleachers.
“Chef Vinnie is about to speak,” Ételle said.
They all turned to the stage of the Mount Hope Gymnasium, which was at the opposite end of the gym, where a small man with a chef’s hat stood in front of the microphone.
“Hello,” Chef Vinnie said into the mike. “Uh, is this thing on?”
“Yes,” one of the technicians replied. “It’s on Chef.”
“Oh! Okay,” Chef Vinnie said. “Right. Welcome everyone to Mount Hope’s Mini-Chef Tournament. Now we have twenty contestants in all. You have three plates to make a starter, main course and desert. You will be judged by our three chefs Chef Savita, Chef Jane and Chef Ismail.”
The three chefs joined him on stage, they weren’t wearing chef hats, but they had chef coats and scarves on. “Non-contestants please leave the cooking stations and go to the bleachers.”
“Good luck, cousin,” Om said and high-fived Ételle.
“You’ve got this!” Aditya also high-fived her.
“Thanks guys,” Ételle said.
Om and Aditya joined the rest of the spectators in the bleachers.
“Okay,” Chef Vinnie continued. “Remember, first prize is a weekend for you, your parents and siblings at Mount Hope Hotel, second prize is a tablet and third prize a digital camera. Remember, stick to the rules. You will be given your surprise ingredients.”
Ételle was given a plastic container. She didn’t touch it, although she was dying to see what was inside.
“Right. You have thirty minutes for the starter round. Get ready!” He raised a stop watch. “Start now!”
***
Ételle put the finishing touches on her dish. She had been given chicken breast, baguette, chillies, onions and garlic. It had been a no-brainer as far as what she had to make, but preparing the dish in thirty minutes was a challenge. Om gave her a thumbs up from the stand, Aditya smiled at her nervously. Which made her even more nervous.
“Time’s up chefs!” Chef Vinnie said.
The judges come down from the stage and went by each table tasting the dishes. There was complete silence.
Chef Vinnie came to her table followed by the judges.
“Our youngest chef,” he said and smiled encouragingly. “This is Chef Ételle. What have you made for us dear?”
Ételle cleared her throat.
“It’s a very simple dish, of chicken, sautéed with onions, chilli and lots of garlic. Which is served with toasted baguette.”
The four chefs had a bite.
“Very nice,” Chef Jane said and took another bite.
“Oops!” Chef Savita said. “I just got a bite of that chilli, it has a kick.”
“My dear,” Chef Ismail said. “The extra garlic is perfect. Well done.”
Chef Vinnie gave her a smile. The judges made their notes and moved on to the next table.
Ételle waited, worried she had not made it to the next stage, as the chefs had did their rounds. She was joined by Om and Aditya. Both had a taste of her dish.
“That’s really good!” Om said.
“Yeah, wow,” Aditya said and grabbed another baguette.
“I hope the chefs liked it,” Ételle said.
“They’re announcing their decision,” Aditya said.
The three of them watched Chef Vinnie climb to the podium. He went down the list of those who had made it. Ételle’s neighbour was not as fortunate and he started to pack his things.
“Chef Ételle, has passed on to the next stage,” he said and continued to read down the list.
“Awesome!” Om and Aditya said together. They both high fived Ételle.
“I best get ready for the main dish,” she said.
“The final person to pass on to the next stage is Chef Navi.” They heard Chef Vinnie say. This caused all three of them to look around the gym.
“No way!” Aditya said.
“That idiot can cook?” Om added.
“Who would have thought that Mount Hope’s biggest bully can cook?” Ételle said.
Navi saw them and came over.
“You should stick to exploring, explorer girl,” Navi said as he put his hands on the edge of the table and leaned so his face was close to theirs. “This competition is mine.”
“It’s not over, Navi,” Ételle said.
“Yeah, man, there are two dishes to go,” Om said.
“And Ételle is going to beat you,” Aditya added.
“We’ll see,” Navi said as he pushed a cup and walked away.
“Cup’s empty!” Aditya called after him.
“Idiot,” Om said. “You got this, Ételle.”
“Yeah,” Aditya added.
“Yeah, I hope so,” Ételle said and smiled nervously.
***
“First,” Chef Vinnie said. “I would like to say to those of you who have been eliminated, thank you for participating. Now, for those of you who’ve made it to the second round, things are about to get interesting. In a minute you will be given your ingredients, a different set for each of you. You will have 45 minutes to prepare your main dish.”
Ételle watched as they delivered her ingredients. She was not sure what she was getting.
“Don’t touch the Tupperware until I say so!” Chef Vinnie shouted, making Ételle jump. She backed her hand away from the Tupperware. Ételle looked towards where Om and Aditya were sitting, they smiled at her and she smiled back nervously.
“Right,” Chef Vinnie said. Ételle felt butterflies in her stomach. She breathed deeply to calm herself down.
Breathe and relax.
“Judges, are you ready?” Chef Vinnie asked.
Ételle watched as the judges nodded.
“Mini-chefs. Get ready.” Chef Vinnie raised his stop watch. “Start now! You have 45 minutes.”
Ételle opened her container, there was a fish fillet, she wasn’t sure what species, but it didn’t matter, there were two eggplants, a chou-chou and two tomatoes.
She breathed in, thinking about what to cook.
Pan fried fish and steamed chou-chou!
***
Ételle prepared her marinade, she put some black pepper, ginger, garlic, into a mortar and added a bit of cilantro seeds for good measure. She pounded it all with a pestle. Once it was ground into a paste she put it into a bowl and added some olive oil and mixed it all together lightly with a spoon.
Ételle lay the fish onto a tray and marinated it, as she did so she stole a quick look at her neighbour and saw that the girl, who must have been around ten years old like her, was preparing something with tofu and noodles. A dish Ételle was all too familiar with.
I wish I had tofu.
She looked at Om and Aditya who smiled at her.
Ételle put the fish in the pan letting it simmer on low heat. As it was cooking she cut the chou-chou into four pieces and put it in the pressure cooker. Ételle picked up the two eggplants.
What do I do with you guys?
“You have 20-minutes left,” Chef Vinnie said.
Eggplant chutney!
Ételle sliced the eggplants into thin slices. She placed them into a pan and browned them, also turning the fish which was almost ready. The pressure cooker whistled, she felt panic rising inside of her. Things became blurry and the sounds of cooking sounded far, far way. Ételle grabbed the edge of the table.
Like with Bitey.
The image of the shark in the water surrounding the boat came into mind. The great white circling their boat in the lagoon. Panic.
Breath.
Ételle breathed in. The fish was sizzling and the pressure cooker whistled one more time. She sprung into action, turning off the pan and the pressure cooker.
“You have ten minutes,” Chef Vinnie called out.
Ételle turned the tomatoes into two large roses. She still had to get the eggplant ready. She cut some onions, garlic and the little bird eye chillies. She mashed up the eggplant with a fork after having removed the skin. She added some olive oil and mixed it up again.
Oh no! It’s runny!
“Five minutes,” Chef Vinnie said.
Ételle pulled out a plate and placed two pieces of the chou-chou sprinkling a bit of salt on each. She laid the fish in the middle of the plate and placed the two tomato roses at the top of the plate.
“Time’s up!” Chef Vinnie called out.
Ételle spread the sauce alongside the fish and looked at the plate. It was as good as it gets.
***
Chef Vinnie chewed slowly and pensively. “H’mmm, this is tasty,” he said mostly to himself.
“The baba ghanoush, is really good, Ételle,” Chef Jane said.
What’s baba ghanoush? I will have to look it up when I get home.
“Very good,” Chef Ismail said with his mouth full. “I’m going to have another piece.” And he took another piece of the fish.
“I like the chou-chou. Beautifully done, darling,” Chef Savita said.
“Thank you, chefs,” Ételle said.
“Right guys,” Chef Vinnie said. “To the next competitor.” They all moved on to the next table.
The chefs went through the other tables quickly. At Navi’s table, Ételle saw Chef Vinnie wag his finger at Navi, somewhat menacingly.
That Navi, is he trying to bully Chef Vinnie too? Once a bully always a bully.
The judges went to their table to deliberate. Ételle was joined by Om and Aditya.
“They stayed at your table the longest,” Aditya said.
“Yeah.” Om took a bite from the fish. “That’s why! You have to try this Aditya.” Om passed a fork to Aditya who took a bite.
“Wow, Ételle,” Aditya said. “You’re going to win this for sure.”
“Aren’t you going to eat any?” Om asked.
“No,” Ételle answered and wringed her hands. “I’m too nervous.”
“You should be.” Navi stood in front of the table.
“Shut-up, Navi,” Om said.
“Yeah,” Aditya added. “We saw you getting into trouble with the judge.”
“That Chef Vinnie, he better let me win,” Navi said. “My parents are one of the owners of Mount Hope Hotel.”
“So what?” Ételle narrowed her eyes at him.
“If I don’t win, they lose their jobs.”
“You can’t do that!”
“We’ll see.” Navi shoved the table and moved away towards his station.
***
“Again, I would like to thank those of you who made it this far and wish the remaining five chefs best of luck,” Chef Vinnie said to the audience.
Ételle sighed with relief. She was among the remaining five.
“Now this is the final round,” Chef Vinnie said. “You will be given your ingredients and when I say go that’s when you start. That goes for everyone.” Chef Vinnie and the other Chefs glared at Navi, who looked down at his station. “You will have 45 minutes.”
Ételle was given a Tupperware.
Chef Vinnie raised his stop watch. “Right. Start!”
Ételle opened the container, inside were mangoes, tapioca pearls, vanilla extract, and evaporated milk.
Ételle stared at it for a second.
I know cold tapioca pearls with mango puree!
***
As the tapioca pearls cooled in the bowl of ice Ételle prepared her mango puree.
“Fifteen minutes to go,” Chef Vinnie called out.
Ételle concentrated on what she had to do. She had shut out everything, she didn’t hear chef call out or see Om and Aditya wave to her. She was on a mission, make the best dessert she had ever made. Once she had pureed the mangoes she added it to the tapioca pearls and added the evaporated milk. She mixed everything together. Taking a small spoon she tasted it.
I’m missing something! The vanilla!
Ételle took the vanilla extract and added a few drops and mixed it all together. When she stopped she heard Chef Vinnie. “That’s it chefs, times up! Put your utensils down please!”
That’s it. I gave it the best I could.
***
The chefs each took a spoonful.
All four smiled with each bite and helped themselves to a few more bites.
“Okay, chefs,” Chef Vinnie said. “We have other plates to try!”
“You need to give us the recipe,” Chef Savita said as she moved to the next table.
“Will do chef,” Ételle said and watched as they moved to the next table.
The chefs were soon at their table deliberating.
Ételle was joined by her friends. But she hardly registered their presence. She was so nervous.
Om and Aditya didn’t say much and ate what was left of the dessert.
“Man, this is nerve-wracking,” Om said.
“You got that right,” Aditya said. “Okay Ételle?”
“Yeah,” Ételle answered absentmindedly.
“Chef Vinnie is climbing onto the stage.”
They watched as Chef Vinnie pulled out a list and cleared his throat.
“Right, so we have selected our winners for this year’s Mini-Chef. Everyone ready?” Chef Vinnie waited for an answer.
Chef Vinnie started reading starting with the last placed contestant. Ételle couldn’t hear him, she was so tense.
“Second place, Chef Ételle and first place Chef Navi, there you have it. Congratulations to you all.”
“What?” Aditya and Om said at the same time.
Ételle snapped out of it.
“How does he win?” Ételle said. “I don’t mind being second place but to Navi?”
“He must have threatened Chef Vinnie,” Aditya said.
“He did say his parents own the hotel,” Om added. “Let’s go see Chef Vinnie.”
***
“Threatened me?” Chef Vinnie said and then laughed. “Who that little squirt?”
Chefs Savita, Jane and Ismail all chuckled.
“He said his parents owned the hotel,” Ételle said.
“His parents don’t own the hotel,” Chef Vinnie said. “They come over every once in a while. So you think he threatened us into giving him first prize?”
“Yes,” the three kids answered.
Chef Vinnie laughed again and then looked at them.
“Oh, you guys are serious.” He wiped his tears. “Come with me.”
They followed Chef Vinnie to Navi’s station.
“What do you guys want?” Navi snarled.
“Keep quiet boy, before I take that prize away from you,” Chef Vinnie growled at him, which made Navi back down.
Chef Vinnie took some of his dessert and gave some to each of them.
“Try this flambé,” he said.
Ételle took a bite.
“Wow,” she said. “That’s amazing.”
“Do you need to try the other desserts?”
“No.”
“First prize, then?”
“Yes.” Ételle had another bite.
