Re: Rifts Dead Man's Hand - Festival Day - Francis

[Chaser1]

"The first obstacle of the second course was the hardest. If you try the first one, momentum goes a long way from one obstacle to another. Also be careful on the conveyor belt it's faster than it looks." Frank says in-between bites trying not to inhale his food because of the quality.

"But don't go too fast!" Johnny rebuttals, "I learned the hard way. Go just fast enough and don't hesitate unless you don't know exactly how to conquer something. But don't go too slow, or you'll either run out of time or end up tired... like Frank did." He frowns, "I'd rather be tired, with that one extra credit, than a loser."

Marshal nods, noticing Frank pacing himself, he slows down and begins enjoying his meal, "Thanks, guys. Usually no one is open or nice back in Smith Falls. I appreciate the kindness."

"Oh hey, Frank! Do you think we can get him into the poker tournament with us?" Johnny looks excited.

[mylow4200]

Frank thinks for a moment, "Well since the sheriff is covering us then yea i should be able to cover him." Takes another bite of food. "If you win I'd want ten percent to cover the entry, but if you loose you don't owe anything just get to have fun. If thats ok with you Marshal I don't mind the putting up the funds. Besides I'm pretty sure we're all just trying to beat the sheriff so bringing in someone unexpected my work to our advantage." He says with enthusiastically. "Oh before I forget wasn't there a cooking competition sometime Johnny? I wouldn't mind trying my hand at that."

[Chaser1]

Frank thinks for a moment, "Well since the sheriff is covering us, then yea, I should be able to cover him." Takes another bite of food. "If you win, I'd want ten percent to cover the entry, but if you lose, you don't owe anything just get to have fun. If thats ok with you, Marshal, I don't mind the putting up the funds. Besides, I'm pretty sure we're all just trying to beat the sheriff so bringing in someone unexpected might work to our advantage." He says with enthusiasm. "Oh before I forget, wasn't there a cooking competition sometime Johnny? I wouldn't mind trying my hand at that."

"Yeah, it starts in like twenty minutes. So... we might wanna hurry. Signups are free." Johnny smiles, "And a great chance to meet some ladies."

Marshal shakes his head, then asks, "Say, what's the prize for that?"

"Five credits and cookware," Johnny answers.

"Heck, why not?" Marshal already finished his steak and is working on the brussel sprouts, which he comments, "Speaking of food, I don't like brussel sprouts but these are good!" while holding up a forkful of them. "Thank you for spotting me on things. If I win, I'll give you half. If I win the cooking competition, then I'll give you all of the cookware. I have no use for it."

[mylow4200]

Ooc: if frank has around half his food left he will ask for a 'doggy bag' to save it for after the third round obstacle course if less he'll quickly finish it.
Frank looks at his food quickly before responding, "You have yourself a deal. Glad we caught you when you stopped in." He reaches out to shake on the deal. "I wonder who else is going to enter the cooking competition. Hopefully not this places cook. I think that'd be a rigged competition." Frank says with a laugh.

[Chaser1]

Frank looks at his food quickly before responding, "You have yourself a deal. Glad we caught you when you stopped in." He reaches out to shake on the deal. "I wonder who else is going to enter the cooking competition. Hopefully not this places cook. I think that'd be a rigged competition." Frank says with a laugh.

Frank procures a to-go container for his food, which he has over half of. He also gets a sealable cup for his soup, which he barely touched. The soda, Heather transfers to another cup with a waxed paper straw. Johnny and Marshal both catch the hint and quickly scarf their food. Marshal gets a to-go container anyways, unable to finish it all.

After having thirty credits deducted from the gift certificate, the trio runs for the cooking competition, near the library and lumberyard and mill, to find about three dozen women of various ages a few guys and three judges walking around the area. The three boys sign up for the contest and are shown to their separate cooking areas.

Frank is lead to three large tables and a cutting stump with a kitchen knife, paring knife and cleaver. An assortment of dishes, bowls, pans, pots, and a dutch oven are all present. A rotating rack of herbs and spices adorn one side of the table. Butter and cooking fat are in dishes beside the spices. A large campfire, full of red hot coals and fresh logs blazes not far away. Five items are on the table. Frank knows that these are the five items required to be in his dish, regardless of how he uses them. These five items are: Chocolate, Halloumi cheese, Black rice, Mayonnaise and finally butternut squash. The contestants are allowed to shop Trent Grocery and Trade for about 10 to 20 credits worth of additional ingredients. This is going to be a tough one. How does chocolate work with all of this? Then he remembers that he doesn't have to make just one thing. He could make a dessert too.

Glancing over where Marshal and Johnny are, they have different items than he does. Johnny looks frustrated at his fresh catfish, peanuts, blue cheese, cabbage and candied honey. Marshal grins and thumbs ups Frank as he sports a bowl of black beans, onions, eggs, zucchini and chicken thighs. He realizes that he and his buddies don't have it near as hard as some of the others, who have to try and make something out of lutefisk or fermented cabbage with fish eggs.

There are two rounds of cooking. The first one to weed out inexperienced or boring cooks. The second is to determine who the best is.

[mylow4200]

Frank will begin by going and getting thick cut bacon for his recipe along with salt, pepper, cilantro, and cumin. He'll then place the bacon with into a frying pan and put over heat. While the bacon begins to cook he will peel the squash then cube it into one inch pieces then he'll cut the cheese into cubes half the size of the squash. Once the bacon is done cooking he will set aside to rest while pouring the bacon grease into the Dutch oven along with the cheese, squash and a little bit of cumin and the seasonings he grabbed before. Then he will wash the black rice until the water stops changing color then cook the rice in water with a pinch salt one knuckle above the rice. While the rice, squash and cheese cook he will make a chocolate sauce with some butter and the chocolate provided. Once the sauce is made he will dip the pieces of bacon that are resting in the chocolate three times per bacon strip to get a nice coating on. When the rice becomes soft and fluffy he will take it off the heat. When the cubed squash becomes soft and the cheese looks like it's starting to melt he will top the rice with the baked squash and cheese. Then drizzle a thin line of mayonnaise over the dish while serving the chocolate covered bacon as a salty sweet dessert.

[Chaser1]

Frank begins by getting thick cut bacon for his recipe along with salt, pepper, cilantro, and cumin. He'll then place the bacon with into a frying pan and put over heat. While the bacon begins to sizzle, he peels the squash, then cubes it into one inch pieces. He cuts the cheese into cubes; half the size of the squash. As the bacon is finished cooking, he sets aside to rest while pouring the bacon grease into the Dutch oven, along with the cheese, squash and a little bit of cumin, cilantro, salt and pepper. He washes the black rice until the water stops changing color, then cooks the rice in water with a pinch salt one knuckle above the rice. While the rice, squash and cheese cook, he makes a chocolate sauce with some butter and the chocolate provided. Once the sauce is made he dips the pieces of bacon in the chocolate three times per bacon strip to get a nice coating. When the rice becomes soft and fluffy he takes it off the heat. When the cubed squash becomes soft and the cheese looks like it's starting to melt, he tops the rice with the baked squash and cheese. Then drizzles a thin line of mayonnaise over the dish while serving the chocolate covered bacon as a salty sweet dessert.

When it comes time for the presentation to the judges, which Frank creates a plate for each, he's mortified to find that he may have used too much grease in the creation of the rice toppings. The rice is cooked right, but incredibly greasy. For some reason, the bacon, while cooling down, flaked most of the chocolate off.

As the judges taste his creation, two of them make sour faces upon tasting the bacon, asking each other what it is. The third judge tries the rice, seems to enjoy it, until hitting the cilantro, stating that it just doesn't go with the ingredients.

The first judge states to Frank, "Bacon with chocolate, while it sounds great if done right, wasn't. The bacon needed to be thin cut so that it could crisp up better. The floppy bacon caused the chocolate to break off. The thick cut produced the grease you needed, but is difficult to crisp up without burning." Frank feels like the guy only likes crispy bacon and doesn't like cilantro.

The second judge begins, "I liked the creativity and the thought of chocolate covered bacon is amazing! The mayonnaise on the rice dish was a nice touch, but could have used some garlic to enhance it. The toppings... I have to agree were a bit too greasy, but the flavor was good, until you taste the cilantro."

The third judge finally adds, "I liked all of it except the cilantro. Masterfully thought up, but the execution needs some massive work."

The three judges stand and inform Frank that he will not be moving on. But would love to offer a two month long course in cooking for just fifty credits. They were impressed with his enthusiasm and definitely recognised that he has no real experience with professional cooking.

Frank notices that Johnny did worse. He spilled most of the food in the grass, making it inedible. Marshal also failed. He tried to make a dish, noticed he was failing and tried to create a stew, which, from the looks on the judges' faces, might as well have been sauerkraut boiled in bile and shattered dreams.

OOC: Even if you were a level 15 chef... the cooking check was 25%... a 99 was rolled

[mylow4200]

Frank waits for Marshal and Johnny after the competition. "Well that was more fun than I expected. So since we all suck at cooking what should we do next?" He says looking back at his greasy dish. "When are the fights and the third round of the obstacle course?"

[Chaser1]

Frank meets back up with Marshal and Johnny after the competition. "Well that was more fun than I expected. So since we all suck at cooking what should we do next?" He says looking back at his greasy dish. "When are the fights and the third round of the obstacle course?"

Johnny thinks for a moment, "The fights start much later and the obstacle course is about thirty minutes."

"I wanna try this course," Marshal replies confidently.

"What do you say, Frank? Let's see how he does." Johnny pats Frank on the shoulder.

[mylow4200]

"Yea sounds like a plan let's head that way." Frank says while still thinking about the cooking contest. "Let's grab a beverage on our way. I think I'm still slightly dehydrated, but I don't want to chug anything." Looking over to Marshal he continues, "If I'm not mistaken I think people are allowed to try the previous obstacles in between each announced event. Personally the announcer kind of adds some pressure that I didn't expect. Real time criticism of your efforts hits a bit different in front of the crowd." He says with a chuckle.