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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

“Fun News” by J.L. (Jesse) DuRona

Submitted to Contest #162

Dad’s made his world-famous lasagna tonight, and that means something’s up. He gives me a long stare after setting an extra-big piece on my plate. “You alright, Clay? You look a little green under the gills.” “I’m fine, Pop,” I reply, though I can’t meet his eyes.  He smiles, ruffles my hair, and takes his place at the head of the table. “C’mon, everyone, there’s plenty to go around!” The giant slab of noodles, sauce, and cheese is calling my name, but my stomach is too swishy to do anything about it. The last time Dad made lasagna ...

4 comments 4
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“Sheila's Menu” by Ralph Emery Barhydt

Submitted to Contest #162

Sheila's MenuSheila was always there at exactly 5:30 every evening. She stood at a careful angle to the window so that he wouldn’t notice her, but she had a very good view of him. It only took her three nights to have a complete grip on his face. He looked Japanese but he was tall. And. He was very handsome. It was Sheila’s opinion that the menu really wasn’t that interesting but that her handiwork, her calligraphy must have caught his eye. For ten, twenty, thirty minutes every night, he studied her handwriting like he was reading the menu. ...

2 comments 2
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“Storybook Sushi (1 roll, 6 pieces)” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #162

Discussion of violence.*AceMy face is pressed against a blood-splattered restaurant menu while I am handcuffed flat on the floor of the restaurant. On the pink paper there is a drawing of a sushi roll on an open book, the logo of my favorite restaurant, Storybook Sushi.All I did was defend myself with a stupid jujitsu move I learned watching the Black Panther movie. How did I get here? Everyone has a backstory, the reasons behind their actions. But the only thing that mattered was what happened, not how it came about. That nig...

2 comments 2
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“The Love of Cooking” by ELLEN DILLIGAN

Submitted to Contest #162

Lisa Delviri sat in the dimly-lit restaurant, looking over the menu, although food wasn’t what was on her mind. As her eyes bounced from appetizers to entrees, she thought about her greatest dilemma. Lisa had recently graduated culinary school, and with hope in her heart, she had moved to New York City to fulfill her dream of opening a restaurant, but little did she know how hard it would be. Her father had died only a few months before, and with her mother back in her hometown, New Orleans, Lisa was struggling to make ends meet with her nee...

4 comments 4
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“Dish of the Day” by Jed Cope

Submitted to Contest #162

“I don’t know what to have,” said Laura. “Is that usual for you?” asked Brad, peering over his menu at her. Laura lowered her menu further and smiled, “none of this is usual, is it?” Brad smiled at her, “depends how you look at it doesn’t it?” “OK,” she said, “it’s usual for you.” Brad shrugged, she was wrong, but he didn’t want to dissuade her from this notion, “under other circumstances,” he said, “are you often indecisive?” Now it was Laura’s turn to shrug. Brad wondered whether she realised that she had mirrored his own movem...

10 comments 10
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“Cheesy Kid's Stuff” by Howard Seeley

Submitted to Contest #162

By the time Gilbert Einstein opened his eyes, the sun had already risen and with it, birds were singing songs to their loved ones. The rustling of leaves accompanied nature’s orchestra and was crescendoed by children’s laughter, and a cloudless sky perfected the scene. For Gilbert, this was icing on the cake, for what made today great wasn’t the weather. It was Saturday. No school, no homework, and best of all, no spelling test. Not wanting to waste a second of his free time, Gilbert jumped out of bed, greeted the poster of his honorary un...

1 comment 1
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“Step into the Light” by Sidra Jawad

Submitted to Contest #162

I look at the menu in my hands. I couldn't read a single word because my eyes were filled with tears. I tried to hide my tears and wipe them behind the menu. I hate feeling vulnerable in front of others. I have just received bad news. The worst news possible. Something I would never be able to recover from.I try to compose myself but fail miserably. I mumble something about going to the toilet and fly out of my chair before I breakdown in front of him. Desperately, I look around for a place I can escape to. Thankfully I spot a sign that said...

0 comments 0
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“Lemon Cake” by Todor Frost

Submitted to Contest #162

I’ve been staring at this menu for the last five minutes. I don’t recognize any of the food items. They all seem like made-up words to me. There are no pictures either. I don’t know why James brought me to this restaurant. It’s my birthday today so he wanted to surprise me. I appreciate it, but he could have picked a better place. He went here last week with his coworkers and loved it. I really question his taste sometimes. There is nothing special about this place. All the walls have this disgusting brown color. The atmosphere is so depress...

0 comments 0
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“First Date” by Jamus Hanscom

Submitted to Contest #162

“I make the greatest grilled cheese you have ever tasted.” “You think to seduce me with a grilled cheese sandwich?” “First of all, I said the greatest grilled cheese you have ever tasted. Secondly, why are you assuming I would be seducing you, rather than the other way around? I don't typically sleep with someone on a first date.” He smiles as he says this, and it gives me a little shiver. I like his confidence and the way he says it, not cocky but with a note of challenge. He lights the burner on the range and moves a cast iron over to i...

8 comments 8
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“Moon Rabbit” by Isa C

Submitted to Contest #162

“Hello, my name is Yuki Sachiko, and I am dying.” I have repeated those words a thousand times. And a thousand times I have heard, “Apologies, Mr. Sachiko, we cannot help you.” I sit on my bed staring outside at a grey and dreary city. All the money in the world, and I couldn’t use it for what mattered most. I’m not sad. I don’t believe life and death will feel much different. Instead I’m scared. No one wants to feel pain. The embarrassment of writhing under the gaze of doctors as my life slowly tapers away will surely soil my...

5 comments 5
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“Don't Eat The Blackberries” by Taylor And Sandra Preisler

Submitted to Contest #162

For as long as I can remember, I have believed in Faeries.It all started with my mother. I don’t remember much about her, but I do remember she smelled like wildflowers and campfire smoke. I remember a halo of black hair around her head and the sound of songs I couldn’t understand. I remember screams and crying and the sound of glass breaking. I remember waking up to find her gone and my father taking down all our family pictures.I was never allowed to play in the forest behind our home after that. When I cried and pleaded, he finally told m...

1 comment 1
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“Food Warefare” by Laurie Roy

Submitted to Contest #162

Food WarfareIt’s usually when you’re being smug and satisfied and thinking that you have the world by the balls that you end up in a world of hurt. The spaghetti clinging to the walls of my childhood home and the meatball on the chandelier proved the point. Somehow, in the midst of my father’s birthday party, war broke out. The remnants of Nana’s Jell-O salad; something she always made but no one ever ate, and the green leafy salad cousin Marie made, were comingled on the sideboard, a strange goopy looking alien with mini marshmallow eyes an...

6 comments 6
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“The Brave Lad & The Chef” by Kyle Quande

Submitted to Contest #162

“Eat every single dish that you find across the lands, and you will surely find that these chef’s two hands. Make better than any elf, dwarf, or human chef of expertise The yummiest and most delicious sandwich of gooey grilled cheese!”‘Twas the boasting of the great and prideful orcish chef.Across these wild lands, they all say he is the best.But the brave little lad had no spare time to lend an ear,for a quest he was pursuing and off-track, he would not veer.For the land that he came from, his hometown was at stake. He mustn’t dawdle one mo...

2 comments 2
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“Abuela's Tamales ” by Charlie Stradiotto

Submitted to Contest #162

The streets are crowded. This is the first time I have been in my Abuela's food stall at night time. It is really busy. The streets are lit with glowing pink and yellow lanterns, and people bustle by, hoping to buy and eat some of my Abuela's famous tamales before she sells out for the night. My family's little food stall, the Especia de la Calle is crowded with people. My Mama is making the filling for the tamales in a large frying pan over an open flame, mixing the shredded chicken, beans, red chilli and pork with a large spoon until the m...

6 comments 6
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“The Final Grilled Cheese Sandwich” by Louis Woolsey

Submitted to Contest #162

The Final Grilled Cheese Sandwich: “A grilled cheese sandwich? Then I AM your guy!” The words lingered with the full confidence in which they were spoken. “Trust me I am known for the best-grilled cheeses this side of the Atlantic. Hell, the world even.” The words came out quick yet not rushed, Tom the self-proclaimed grilled cheese sandwich king, was becoming out of breath, sweat had left dark ovals on the armpits of his red t-shirt. The room was hot, sweltering even and Tom’s large size exacerbated this fact. Plus his girlfriend of three...

2 comments 2
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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!

Prompts | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

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