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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#162: Bon Appétit

With National Tofu Day, International Bacon Day, Cheese Pizza Day and World Salami Day (I promise I’m not making these up) coming up in the next 7 days, it’s only fitting that this week's prompts take inspiration from one of our greatest sources of happiness — food.

From being barely nibbled on over a first date, to being wholesomely prepared and wolfed down at a family gathering, or shared between friends meeting for the first time in years, food sits right at the heart of our cultures, relationships, and memories. So, time to dish out your most delicious story — after all, some of the best ones are told over a plate of food!

This week's prompts

Start your story with someone looking at a restaurant menu.

Middle School – 80 stories

Write about a character whose love language is making food for others.

Adults – 37 stories

Write a story where a character’s life completely changes over the course of a meal.

Adults – 71 stories

Write a story in which too many cooks spoil the broth — literally or metaphorically.

Adults – 10 stories

Start your story with one character trying to convince another that they make the best grilled cheese in the world.

Middle School – 36 stories

Stories

“The Rodeo Cowboy” by Nora Alyse

Submitted to Contest #162

"Here you go Ma'am," The host smiles at me as she hands me my menu.Why do I do this to myself? I get asked where we're going to go for dinner, but I'm so indecisive. I panic, and I pick somewhere that sounds like it could be made up. The Ranch. And no, it's not the place Dr. Phill sends disobedient children. It's a new burger joint that opened up 2 years ago, during a global pandemic. The only place that stayed open for people to come into the restaurant, despite there being a national lockdown. Still, I've heard it's good from several peopl...

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“Pasta Phantom” by Emmy Fennington

Submitted to Contest #162

I don’t like pasta. The thin and yellow noodles remind me of old lady legs; weak and brittle and ready to give out any moment. Something about eating old lady legs doesn’t sit right with me. The worn menu feels rough in my hands, the brown leather peeling off the front. You’d think the restaurant would’ve splurged on new menus during their remodel. My eyes skim over the list of pasta dishes in the faded sans serif font. I scan the size 12 words, silently willing a hamburger to magically appear before my eyes. Unfortunately, Il G...

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“Literary Circles.” by Krishna Jha

Submitted to Contest #162

Tanisha ran her finger down the page. She wasn’t used to looking at the dishes’ names without checking the prices, but it had been a while since she had met Fabian and Leah, and she wanted them to enjoy themselves. Besides, she no longer had to worry about money. The waiter arrived, and each one of them placed their order: tabbouleh for Fabian, fattoush for Leah, and muhammara for Tanisha. “I’ll choose the wine?”, Fabian asked, knowing that it was a redundant question. He barely waited for their answer before ordering the grenache. “D...

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“The Nest is Empty ” by Michael Abreo

Submitted to Contest #162

Naomi Matisse, born in New Hope, Pennsylvania on 27th March 2002, was born a culinary prodigy. She began helping her mother in the kitchen at age 4, standing on a small stool so she could stand tall enough to stir the pot of spaghetti under the protective supervision of her mother, Dorothy. By 6, she was already chopping up ingredients and had begun making spaghetti sauce from scratch, using recipes found on the internet. The age of ten saw her working more with her father, Arthur, as he changed jobs and was home more often. They began ind...

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“Holofernes” by Brittany W.

Submitted to Contest #162

[Contains strong language.] When Michael finds Jude, she is cloaked in red from head to toe. Not in clothing—she wears what was pure white negligee, edged in chantilly lace—but in something more visceral. Red cakes nearly her entire body, stopping at an almost clean break at her ankles. There is a smudge on her right foot and on her left, a thin, single line trickling toward the bridge. He focuses on that line, that lonesome, dark red tributary, as he lowers her into the tub. The water blossoms into petals of pink. Michael’...

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“Make-Up” by Caroline Warui

Submitted to Contest #162

She seemed to waft in, like the exotic perfume that enveloped her, alerting us to her presence even before she got into the room.Dainty steps.... dainty steps.....The wait staff leapt to attention guiding her through an arc to an inner secluded space, where minutes ago they had declined to seat us.Large earrings dangled under a honey-blonde asymmetrical bob, as she arranged herself delicately onto the seat held out to her. Her burgundy lips pursed while she regarded the hovering waiter, reading the specials of the day, then with french-tippe...

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“Caught Marinara Handed ” by Charity Jones

Submitted to Contest #162

I never really liked spaghetti, or meatballs for that matter. Spaghetti and meatballs, it’s just such a cliché combination. Then again, I am a cliché guy-I wear a suit to work and I come home to an empty apartment. The type of guy who can barely speak to women unless it’s Jill from Advertising because she reminds him of mom-but that's besides the point. The point is work had consumed me so much that I had yet again failed to take care of myself and so here I was facing all my least favorite clichés. How does one perfect the art of sp...

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“The Better Grilled Cheese” by Lena VanderMeer

Submitted to Contest #162

“You make the best grilled cheese in the world?” I asked, skeptical it was a joke. He looked me dead in the eye and said, “Oh Yeah,” ~2 hours earlier that day~ Swiping, swiping, swiping the warm phone ...

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“Grilled Chees and Sat Navs ” by Gill James

Submitted to Contest #162

Grilled Cheese and SatNavs "Well, I have been told I make the best cheese on toast in the world." "What, better than a croque-monsieur from Patisserie Valerie?" "Oh, much better. Especially since they don't exist anymore." Ginnie shrugged. "If you say so. Go on." She'd popped round to admire my new flat and have a bite to eat before we set off for a concert we were singing in with our choir. I'd decided to offer her my speciality. "Right then. Be prepared to be amazed." So I grated the cheese, mixed it with the soured cream, add...

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$250

Prize money

234

Contest entries

97

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Sep 09, 2022 EST

A winner will be announced soon.

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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