Set your story in the kitchen of a bustling restaurant.

Posted in Fiction on Jul 14, 2023

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✍️ 39 stories

“The Four-Star Frenzy -A top chef's ego runs roughshod over his staff as success pushes him to his breaking point. ” by Arpad Nagy

Submitted to Contest #207

Diners and critics hailed "La Tavola Appassionata" as the premier Italian restaurant on the west coast, and its Chef, Arturo Pacioretti, emerged as the newest culinary star in the industry. He was short, with a round, plump face, beady black eyes set beneath a Cro-Magnon protruding forehead, and even though he kept his hair trimmed close to the scalp, it was still as thick and unmoveable as fresh asphalt. For a man whose entire life revolved around found, it was ironic that he had such a small mouth, with lips pursed in a perpetual pout. ...

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“Yarn and Plastic” by Rose Parkstone

Submitted to Contest #207

“Marlon!” Kiki cried. “I need you to chop those onions faster!” Kiki craned her neck around from washing her assortment of vegetables to see her older brother adjusting the strap on his chef’s hat. He flashed a thumbs-up without looking up from his task. “Yes, ma’am!” He began rapidly hacking at the white orbs with a knife only he and Kiki could see with their imaginations. Even though he was old enough to handle a real knife, Kiki knew he wouldn’t destroy her little plastic ingredients that could cook an infinite amount of whatever yum...

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“Getting to the Other Side” by Melody Watson

Submitted to Contest #207

Placing the crisp white chef’s beanie over her hairnet Jessica Parker stares at the spotless silver wall separating the kitchen from the dining room. The silver was polished shining brighter than the blemish free stainless steel of the rest of the kitchen the owner sure had an obsession with the silver appearance. There were a few items around that were black or red but very few.Double checking her uniform she breathed in a few calming breaths, she always took them daily then stepped forward into the bustling staff.New to the restaurant Jess...

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“Just Desserts” by Raven West

Submitted to Contest #207

Just Desserts Malika Badawi, owner of Almaza restaurant and her assistant Shakira finished setting up the dining room, then hurried to the kitchen to make sure they were out of sight before the male manager unlocked the front door. “Can you believe it’s been nearly a year since the occupation?” Shakira remarked as she removed her full body covering. &...

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“The Gala” by J R

Submitted to Contest #207

In my mind, I call her Winter; she is cold but pretty. She has an adorable arrangement of birthmarks that she wears like Donatella wore Versace. We Share stolen moments amongst all the guests she invited to dinner. Her friend to the left is holding a mirror. The fact that she is already beautiful she can't even consider. Winter stands by the piano, looking at her reflection. She cannot not be lovely. The melodic notes play below her, blanketed in heavy rainfall hitting the city streets just outside the window pane. No pressure. Just gra...

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“Fading Out” by Jed Cope

Submitted to Contest #207

The light is always crazy bright in this place. You have to be able to see, but this is so intense, it burns my eyes and hurts my skin.There is an intensity to my surroundings that has always pressed in upon me, but more so here.Everything about this place hurts. I try to focus on the job in hand. Chopping and chopping with the knife and piling the cut vegetables into large metal bowls so they can go to the next station. I work tirelessly and although I am now used to the work, I can feel the aches and pains that I will suffer later.I w...

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“The Directions” by Jeffrey Campbell

Submitted to Contest #207

Diyaris Fernandez looked up at the digital clock on the wall. 12:28 PM. She lifted her left forearm and confirmed it with her watch. Her focus returned to the kitchen. The island layout gave her an easy view of the process as she started to walk from the left side against the wall, from the entrance toward the exit. On her right, Bryson and Pamela were focused on their task at the cleaning stations. Bryson was washing and Pamela was drying, and Phillip had just arrived to carry clean utensils back to their stati...

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“Smoke Break” by Emily Kaufman-Bell

Submitted to Contest #207

3 pm. Post lunch rush, pre dinner rush. The chaos that ensued just a couple hours before has died down. The bandaid covering the gash on my finger is losing its stickiness (I sliced myself cutting carrots), and I have to replace it with a fresh one but of course we’re out of fucking bandaids because everyone in this damn kitchen has at least one on each hand. I forgo the search for a new box of bandaids because I have about a million things to prep before dinner. Don’t worry, I wear gloves so the food won’t be exposed to my mutilated finger....

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“The Buffet” by Nick Baldino

Submitted to Contest #207

“What’s on the menu today, boss?” The words are a hiss on the griddle, and he turns to his fry boy, eyes hanging like bloodhounds. “Same old.” It’s all he can manage to say, when his yellowed jacket is buttoned so tight against his skin. A picture appears in his head- Houdini facing a crowd on the Harvard Bridge, iron chains strapped across his chest- and instinctively he digs for a deep breath in the dark neon of the Starship. Ramon recalls how he used to feel, staring out at the big-breasted women as they take off their bedazzled pant...

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Set your story in the kitchen of a bustling restaurant.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 39 stories

“The Four-Star Frenzy -A top chef's ego runs roughshod over his staff as success pushes him to his breaking point. ” by Arpad Nagy

“Yarn and Plastic” by Rose Parkstone

“Getting to the Other Side” by Melody Watson

“Just Desserts” by Raven West

“The Gala” by J R

“Fading Out” by Jed Cope

“The Directions” by Jeffrey Campbell

“Smoke Break” by Emily Kaufman-Bell

“The Buffet” by Nick Baldino

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your story on a film or TV set, starting with someone calling “Cut!”

Write about a person who constantly has to put on a persona (e.g. at work, in their relationships, etc.) who can finally drop the facade.

A journalist has been granted permission to visit the premises of a lab carrying out top-secret work. They could never have anticipated what they’d find…

Write a story about a magician who never reveals their secrets — until now.

Contest #207

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

235

Contest entries

96

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: