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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

“Caleb, Dorm Chef” by Sarah Burnod

Submitted to Contest #162

I turn the stove on. Click, click, click, and the blue flames grow. I unscrew the olive oil’s lid, pour it in the pan, wipe a stray droplet with the towel tossed over my shoulder. Soon David, Mike and Jonas would come home, so there was no time to lose. The pantry is full, as always. Every Sunday we pool our money, share our cravings and make the long journey to Cart, the cheapest grocery store in town. Jonas, who basically lives in the gym and does hammer curls in his sleep, carries three bags while the rest of us share the other two. I gr...

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“Leah's Last and First Supper” by Sharon Swan

Submitted to Contest #162

The Master would be coming soon, coming for Leah. I had known the time was approaching; her spirit lit the darkness like a new sun.                A light patter drummed on the roof, trying its best to persuade the world to slow down. The message was broken by the spray of road water from passing cars: cars piloted by those deaf to nature’s plea.                The coffee pot clicked on in the...

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“Fun the Nun.....” by Julie Grenness

Submitted to Contest #162

Fun the Nun wiped the mist from her mirror. Yes, wrinkle cream had definitely worked. Who was that old woman staring back at her? Her name was Deborah White, one of the town's church people. She was known in her ladies' circle as the devout one. She always sat in the back pew, singing loudly off key, never doing her knee mails. She couldn't really, she was a sixty plus daily wrap of fat. Her fat cells lingered, gentle, permeating, timeless and eternal. Deborah White knew exactly where her fat had originated. A solo lady, she sometimes hanke...

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“Better be the Ravioli” by Hallett Sargent

Submitted to Contest #162

The Italian Kitchen has long been a cozy family restaurant both from the perspective of my relatives, who meet there once monthly, and the Greek family that runs the establishment. It is the kind of place where the food warms you from the inside out and what the pasta, sandwiches, pizza, salads, and desserts (leave room for dessert!) cannot quite displace from a rough day, the good company will finish off the task with admirable aplomb. These four walls know exactly what they are about.As I said, this is a family affair. Which means I am not...

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“A Night To Remember ” by Ian T. Smyth

Submitted to Contest #162

Thanksgiving was always Mary’s favourite time of the year.  As she prepped the table for everyone’s arrival, she looked out the front window and took note of how beautiful the trees looked; all auburn and yellow. Smiling to herself, she laid the knives and forks down, tucked white napkins under the china plates, and carefully placed wine glasses at every seat.  This was also the first Thanksgiving that her son’s girlfriend, Rosanne, would be joining them for.  The oven beeped, and Mary took the turkey out. It smelled delici...

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“Insanely Fine Cuisine” by Tanya Humphreys

Submitted to Contest #162

Warning: a bit of gore and violenceDuncan Dupree, head chef of La Vie Le Calamar, drummed his fat fingers on his crossed upper arms and surveyed the chefs in training as they prepared Le Grande Repas Quatro, the feast for that evening. His snooty nose in the air, his little piggy eyes lasered onto Pierre as the young man added a dollop of truffle oil to his risotto.Dupree waddled over to the gently bubbling pot and inhaled the steam, dramatically closing his eyes and wafting the steam towards him with one hand, the other hand at the end...

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“Bloodline” by Ian Matonti

Submitted to Contest #162

“That’s not what I’m saying at all.” “Then what are you saying?” “We should've stayed near the river.” “What river?” Lightning stretched and cracked above, illuminating the forest glen. Carl stared at his brother. He always did this. Saying things with supreme authority. It infuriated Carl. Thunder boomed. Loud enough to shake the ground. Carl felt it in his chest. Strangely, it calmed him. Knowing there is something more powerful than his brother Avery in the world. “Avery, are we lost?" "Does it matter if we're lost?” ...

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“FAULTY FORMULA” by Joseph Monachino

Submitted to Contest #162

Fred, Dan, and Mat have been working on creating a formula for almost 12 months. They must somehow come up with the final factor to make it function properly. The 3 scientists have been colleagues for several years at Jamco Corporation. For the last 13 months or so, they have been working on a formula that Mat devised. When created to perfection, this formula will create a liquid that, when added to gas tanks, will prevent gasoline from freezing for 3 months. The “eureka” moment has arrived. After several trials, they...

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“Dining With The Damdykers” by Kathleen Papageorgio

Submitted to Contest #162

Lu Lu waddled into the living room where her husband was lounging on his worn-out and patch-worthy Easy Boy watching cable TV. She stood in front of him with her hands on her hips and pretending to be impatient. Lu Lu was hungry. But her appetite craved grilled cheese. But since Lu Lu didn’t know how to cook, she had to somehow get Big Al to prepare it. So the persuading began. Knowing that Big Al thought he knew everything and could do anything better than anyone, Lu Lu aimed a barrage of compliments at his bigger than life ego. Lu Lu beg...

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“Paper Doll Dreams” by Anna Frayer

Submitted to Contest #162

“Manchego. That’s the secret,” Cobb declared.“What the hell is Montego?” asked Brooks.“Manchego. It’s a cheese. And it’s the secret to the world’s best grilled cheese sandwich.”“Everybody knows grilled cheese is made with yellow cheese.”“What kind of cheese?”“You know. Yellow cheese.”“Yellow is a color, not a cheese.”“Sure it is. It’s cheese…that’s yellow.”“I don’t care if it’s purple. You haven’t lived until you’ve had my grilled Manchego with honey butter. Honey butter is the secret.”“I thought Montenegro was the secret.”“Manchego.”“Would ...

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“Paranoia on a Platter” by Falynn Almeda

Submitted to Contest #162

The moment was here; to choose from a menu. Maybe for some people this is a mundane non-issue, but for me, it felt like a rest-of-my-life, domino-effect choice. Everything rested on this decision. I could only hope I was only sweating bullets in my head and that everyone else couldn’t see my anxiety was at max.   I liked going out to eat for the most part. I enjoyed the atmosphere, I liked not having to do dishes, I enjoyed the company and conversation of my friends.   But I hated, despised, loathed, and feared being handed th...

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“A Sentimental Menu” by Uma Nambiar

Submitted to Contest #162

It felt like the fanciest of silks. The way my hand was holding the menu felt like I was holding the silk pillow that I cherished, the one that made sure my face stayed clean and acne free. I never thought that anything could feel the same way my special pink silk pillow felt, but this menu proved otherwise. I must have stared at the calligraphy that read Secret Garden for an eternity before actually opening it. But how could I not? They were the most beautiful words I had ever seen. The first letter of each word was made up of big, elegant...

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“Cooking with Love” by Mary Delaney

Submitted to Contest #162

As she looked down at the menu, Diana smiled, running her fingers over the laminated pages. Her own restaurant, Cooking with Love, was born. She finally made her dream come true.   After saving enough for down payment plus beginning overhead costs, she was now the owner of a waterfront location she had her eye on for years. Now here she was with a staff of 20, bringing to life her grandmother’s recipes along with some of her own authentic Italian creations. Diana had fond memories of watching her mother and grandmo...

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“The Lunch Menu” by Kevin Quin

Submitted to Contest #162

The Lunch Menu It was lunchtime and both men knew that looking at the menu would spoil the surprise. The place looked like Heaven. Some might say it was only a step or two away. But it wasn’t. It was just a veranda with windows. Not an old, pre-war breezeway, but a modern, well-lit sunroom. The large glass windows let in the light and the sun - yet protected from the cold and the heat. The quiet buzzing of the air-conditioning saw to that. In any case, today, the place was pleasantly warm from the winter sun which streamed in picking up the...

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“Honey Glaze” by Lauren Montgomery

Submitted to Contest #162

The menu is rigid in my hands. Embossed onyx lettering on one hundred pound seashell cardstock. It’s too full of entrees and appetizers for such a small restaurant. Lamb meatballs with a honey glaze served over hand rolled pappardelle pasta. Crusted Bronzino wontons. Pear and prosciutto salad on a bed of wild long grain rice. Red velvet ganache and rosemary sorbet.  The diminishing sun laces through the latticed windows of Basin & Wood, veiling the mirrors on the opposite wall with webbed light. I didn’t want to come here. Ostent...

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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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