Lights, Camera, Cook!

by Charise Mericle Harper

  I won the plating challenge! I can’ believe it. My best plate was definitely the lamb chops. I stacked them crisscross on a bed of wrapped asparagus next to a trio of mini potatoes, onions, and carrots. I framed the whole thing with a swirl of brown and yellow sauce radiating out from the center of the plate. It’s not my fault that someone forgot to add his carrots. This is a competition. It could have been me, but it wasn’t.

  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅

  Everyone walked back to the lodge, except Tate—he ran. After lunch there were going to be private interviews in a special room.

  Caroline complained and scratched her hand. “Why do we have to be interviewed all alone, by ourselves? What do you think they’ll ask us?”

  Rae had some ideas. “Maybe it’s about special skills or secret recipes.”

  Oliver stepped between them and grumbled, “It won’t be that.”

  He lowered his voice. “They’re going to ask us our true feelings. What we really think of each other.”

  Chapter 13

  aroline was the first person interviewed. She went into the room nervous and jittery but came out smiling. She walked straight to Rae.

  “It wasn’t so bad. Mostly they wanted to know if I was intimidated by anyone’s skills, and who I thought was the most talented person here.”

  Rae sighed. “Oh, good, so Oliver was wrong. Do you think he said all that on purpose, just to get me worried, because I won and he was mad about his carrots?”

  Caroline shrugged. “Don’t you want to know who I picked? Caroline’s choice for most talented chef?”

  “Who?”

  “Guess?”

  Rae rolled her eyes. She wasn’t in a mood for jokes.

  “Okay fine, I picked . . . ME!”

  “You?” For a second Rae was surprised, but she shouldn’t have been. That’s why they were here—to win, no matter what. And to win, friends had to beat friends.

  Everyone’s so nice. I like Rae and Tate, and Oliver—well, he’s special, because he’s sort of a hero and he’s a really good cook, too. It’s hard to tell who’ll be the best, but I think I have a really good chance. I won’t give up. I want to win. That’s my dream.

  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅

  Rae’s turn was next, and Chef Nancy walked with her to the bright orange door. There were two stools in the room, and two cameras pointed toward the empty one. Steve was sitting on the other one. He motioned for Rae to sit down. Mark and Janet did not wave.

  “Are you okay?” Chef Nancy tapped Rae’s shoulder. “Comfortable? Need anything?”

  Rae shook her head.

  “Great. Have fun. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”

  As soon as Chef Nancy closed the door, the interview started.

  “So, Rae, tell us: what inspires you and your cooking?”

  “What inspires me and my cooking are the people in my neighborhood. They’re from all over the world, and they like to share their recipes. Mrs. Demir lives two trailers away and she showed my grandma and me how to make baklava, but she makes something even more unbelievable. It’s called tavukgogs—it’s a dessert pudding made with chicken. I haven’t tried that yet.” Rae scowled. “I’m not sure I would like it.”

  Steve nodded. “Well, you seem a lot more confident than when we first met you. Do you remember that first day? Can you believe that was only two days ago?”

  Rae scowled again. She didn’t like thinking about the fainting.

  Steve’s face got serious. “Who do you think should win the title of Next Best Junior Chef?”

  Rae smiled—easy answer. “Me! I’ve worked hard to get here and I won’t stop working. I should win the title of Next Best Junior Chef.”

  Steve took some notes and then looked up. Serious face again. “And the other contestants . . . what do you think of Oliver? He saved you. Any special feelings?”

  Rae’s eyes widened, then narrowed. She shook her head.

  “Oliver didn’t save me! He caught me. There’s a difference. It was nice of him, but it doesn’t mean we have to be friends or anything. Oliver spends most of his time thinking about Oliver. I don’t think he cares about friends.”

  Steve grinned and nodded.

  “Great interview, Rae. Thank you!”

  Rae was not like Caroline. She did not leave the interview room smiling.

  Oliver was curious. When she walked by, he threw out a “So, how did it go?”

  Rae ignored him and kept walking. Oliver watched Rae and Caroline huddling and whispering. He shrugged. Probably girl stuff, but then a moment later, they were staring straight back at him.

  Chapter 14

  liver wasn’t worried about the interview. In fact, he couldn’t wait for it to happen. He’d heard what Chef Nancy had said about acting up for the cameras, but he was keeping his options open. If the truth needed to be twisted, he could twist it. He had come here with two missions: to win and to look good on TV. And no matter what, he was going to succeed.

  When it was his turn, he waved off Chef Nancy.

  “Thank you, ma’am, but I’m fine alone.” He didn’t need an escort. He knew where he was going and what he was going to say. He had it all worked out. He’d start with a positive and end with a negative. Rae was determined but nervous. Caroline was considerate but careless. Tate was energetic but impulsive. And then he’d talk about himself. He was the King of Calm. He thought things through. He saw the big picture. He was serious. He wasn’t worried about the others. His path was a straight line to the big prizes.

  He sat on the stool, looked directly at Steve, and smiled.

  Chef Nancy popped in for a last-minute check. “Everything okay? Comfortable?”

  Oliver nodded. He was going to be good at this.

  “Rolling.” Steve motioned to the cameras and then grinned.

  “So, Oliver, can you tell us why everyone except Rae thinks you’re a hero?”

  For the first time in maybe his entire life, Oliver couldn’t think of a single thing to say.

  Well, Rae and I don’t even really know each other, so how can she say those things? Of course I care about friends. I care about people. I saved her, didn’t I? Some people just don’t know how to say thank you.

  As soon as Tate was done with his interview, Chef Nancy hurried everyone over to the school studio for a lesson. The looks between Oliver and Rae split the group in two. Oliver and Tate walked ahead, Caroline and Rae behind, and no one said anything.

  Oliver is a hero. We all think so. What he did for Rae was amazing. I can’t wait to see if he’s a hero in the kitchen, too. I guess that would be bad for me, but I’m not scared of a little competition. I’m little, but I have lots of energy.

  Chapter 15

  veryone filed quietly into the room, but Chef Nancy didn’t notice the mood. The lesson on taste and the tongue was one of her favorites, and she couldn’t wait to get started.

  “Who knows where the taste buds are?”

  “On your tongue,” answered Oliver.

  Chef Nancy nodded. “And how many do you think there are?”

  Tate made a guess. “Two hundred?”

  “More,” said Chef Nancy. “Somewhere between two thousand and five thousand. And there are taste buds under your tongue, on the roof and sides of your mouth, and in your throat. These taste buds tell us what we’re tasting. Can anyone name the primary tastes and give a food example?”

  “Sweet like sugar and sour like vinegar,” said Oliver. He shot a look at Rae.

  She whispered something to Caroline.

  Then Rae sneered and put up her hand. “Salty like soy sauce, and bitter like coffee. Coffee smells good, but the taste of it can make you gag. Some things only seem good on the outside.”

  “Excellent,” said Chef Nancy. “There’s one more.”

  “Chocolate!” said Tate.

  That wasn’t the right answer, but it made Chef Nancy smile. She loved chocolate. “This fifth taste is a tricky one. A Japanese researcher discovered it in 1910. It’s call
ed umami, and is described as the ability to taste savory or meaty deliciousness. Parmesan cheese, steak, sardines, ripe tomatoes, black olives, and mushrooms all have umami. It’s the yummy taste.”

  Chef Nancy smiled at the group, but only Tate and Caroline smiled back. “Knowing the science behind taste can make you a better chef. It can also help you describe your dishes.”

  Tate waved his hand. “What if you don’t like sardines—then it’s not yummy, is it?”

  Chef Nancy nodded. “True, not everyone likes the same things, but even if you don’t like something, your taste buds are still tasting it. Do you like sardines?”

  Tate shook his head.

  Rae scrunched up her nose. “And I don’t like olives because—”

  “I do!” interrupted Oliver. “Olives are sophisticated.” He crossed his arms and sneered. He kept quiet about not liking mushrooms. No one needed to know he wasn’t perfect.

  Chef Nancy studied Rae, then Oliver. Was something going on?

  Rae leaned close to Caroline and whispered. “Oliver and olives are almost spelled the same. Do you think that’s why I don’t like them?” Rae leaned back, waiting for Caroline to agree.

  Caroline shuffled uncomfortably. She liked both Rae and Oliver. What was she supposed to say? Instead of an answer, she blurted out her secret. The thing she wasn’t going to tell anyone. “Cilantro tastes like soap.”

  “What?” Rae was surprised. “No it doesn’t!”

  Chef Nancy raised her hand. “Wait, it’s true! Some people are born with a gene that makes cilantro taste like soap.” She nodded to Caroline. “It’s genetic—they can’t help it.”

  Rae leaned over to Caroline. “I’m sorry you can’t like cilantro.”

  Caroline shrugged. “What if it does taste like soap and you’re the one who can’t tell?”

  Rae made a face. She hadn’t thought about it that way.

  The rest of the lesson continued without incident. Rae and Oliver were mostly quiet.

  Chef Nancy noticed, but she didn’t say anything. “The way you describe your food is important, especially in this competition. You will want to choose words that compliment the delicious meals you make. Who can think of a fancy way to say ‘mashed’?”

  “Puréed!” shouted Tate.

  “Whipped,” offered Caroline.

  “Exactly!” Chef Nancy clapped her hands together. “Words can be powerful. The right language can change the way someone thinks about your food. It might even convince them it tastes better. Which sounds better: scrambled eggs with tomatoes and onions or whipped eggs with a tomato onion relish? Remember, when you’re describing your food to the judges, make an effort to be creative. It could make a difference.”

  Monday

  Chapter 16

  very morning before breakfast, Chef Nancy had a meeting with Steve. It was routine—they went over the schedule, made small changes, and talked about what was coming up. Today he was more excited than usual. He couldn’t stop talking about Oliver and Rae. Would they become rivals? Would they feud in front of the cameras? Would the other kids take sides?

  Steve rubbed his hands together. “Those interviews yesterday were fantastic! The tension between those two is great for TV. Audiences love drama. This could really boost our ratings.”

  Chef Nancy smiled like she was agreeing, but she wasn’t. She didn’t want the kids to have drama; she wanted them to have fun. While she listened to Steve, her brain got working on a new idea. Was there a way to change a rival into a friend?

  At the end of the meeting, Steve had one more change. “Let’s add some interviews after breakfast. I don’t want to miss an opportunity. They might say something intriguing.”

  Chef Nancy nodded and gave him a thumbs-up. There was no arguing with Steve. He was the boss.

  ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅

  “More interviews?” Caroline crossed her arms. “Why do we have to do so much talking?”

  Chef Nancy sighed. What she really wanted to say was I’m sorry you have to do more interviews. The producer is sneaky!

  But she couldn’t say that, so instead she tried to be positive: “It’ll be fast! The producer is giving you a chance to really shine—to show off your enthusiasm for the show and cooking. Right after the interviews we’ll head to the filming studio for a mini-challenge.”

  Caroline slumped. Chef Nancy’s pep talk didn’t help. She was tired of the cameras.

  I’m going to beat Rae because I’m better chef. I’ve had more training than she’s had. When you learn from the best, you’re going to be the best. Sure, I’ve had lessons, but that’s how you get better. I will win!

  Rae came out of her interview smiling, victorious. Steve had tried to trick her, but she was watching for it. Kids could be clever too.

  When he asked, So why do you think you will beat Oliver? she didn’t repeat his question like she was supposed to. Instead, she completely left out Oliver’s name.

  I’m going to win because I’m smart, I have skills, and I can adapt. I like to try new things.

  Steve grumbled and asked another Oliver question and another, but she did the same thing each time. At the end of the interview, Steve was not smiling.

  After a quick beverage break, Chef Nancy marched everyone over to the filming studio. The cameras were waiting and rolling. “Okay, it’s time to team up for our next mini-challenge.”

  “TEAMS?” Tate hopped up and down, looking at Oliver and then Chef Nancy again. “Can we pick our own teams?”

  Chef Nancy called Rae to the front. “Rae gets first pick of her teammate, because she won the last challenge.”

  Rae smiled at Caroline. This was an easy choice.

  Chef Nancy held up a green bag. “Time to pick your partner! There are three envelopes in here, each with a name in it.”

  Rae’s smile disappeared. Chef Nancy held the bag while Rae put her hand in and felt each envelope. Which one was Caroline’s, or even Tate’s? She closed her eyes and made a wish: Any name except Oliver’s. But the wish didn’t matter, because each envelope was exactly the same, inside and out. It was Chef Nancy’s secret; they all said Oliver.

  Rae pulled an envelope halfway out, then changed her mind and chose a different one.

  Chef Nancy opened the envelope and read out the winning name.

  “Congratulations, Oliver! Come join your partner.”

  Chapter 17

  olling!” shouted Steve.

  Everyone gathered around while Chef Nancy explained the mini-challenge. Rae and Oliver stood next to each other, grumpy and uncomfortable.

  Chef Nancy smiled. “Here’s a clue. The team with the strongest muscles will win this one. Any ideas?”

  “Cooking, food, muscles . . .” Rae was thinking out loud.

  Caroline’s face lit up. “Mussels, the kind from the ocean!”

  “Close!” Chef Nancy put a small pot on the table, grabbed a fork, and speared a . . . “Scallop!” She held it up for everyone to see. “This is one of the most famous bivalves of the sea. Did you know that the part we eat is actually the muscle? Fascinating . . . and delicious!” She dropped the scallop back into the pot. “You’ll have thirty minutes to create a scallop entrée with an accompanying sauce. The pantry will be open for the entire length of the challenge, so don’t worry if you forget something. You can go back.”

  Chef Nancy handed each team a small glass bowl and sent them back to their workstations. “Oliver and Rae will work at Rae’s workstation and Caroline and Tate will work at Tate’s workstation.”

  Caroline nudged Tate and held out the bowl. “Look, only three scallops per team. No room for mistakes.”

  As soon as everyone was ready, Chef Nancy gave the signal to start. “Let’s get cooking!”

  Oliver quickly tossed salt and pepper onto the scallops. “Have you cooked these before?”

  Rae shook her head.

  He reached for a frying pan. “Don’t worry—I got this.” Rae scowled. This was going to be a disaster. They were
only just starting and already Oliver was bossy.

  Chef Nancy waved her arms. “And one more thing . . .”

  The room fell silent. “You must work together and divide up the work evenly. I’ll be watching you.”

  Oliver stopped, put down the pan, and turned to Rae. If he wanted to win, he had to let her help. He forced a smile. “We should work together. Do you have any ideas for the sauce?”

  Rae was surprised, but not too surprised to contribute. This was her chance. “How about a lemon butter créma?”

  Oliver thought for a second, then nodded. “Simple and tangy, but what about adding some basil? It’ll give it a little more flavor, but not so much that it overpowers the scallops.”

  Rae agreed. She’d tried scallops before and they were pretty mild.

  Chef Nancy checked in while Rae was zesting a lemon. “Any special strategies?”

  Oliver picked up a cutting board. “Scallops cook fast, so we’re leaving that until the end. Right now we’re both working on the sauce. I’m helping with the prep.”

  “Like chopping these.” Rae tossed three shallots across the counter.

  Oliver caught them with one hand.

  Chef Nancy nodded. “Good teamwork—keep cooking!” Three steps later, she breathed a sigh of relief. Her plan was working.

  Watching the carrots didn’t make them roast any faster, but Tate couldn’t help it. He checked the oven every thirty seconds. They were critical to the recipe.