Disclaimer: I don't own the Gargoyles. I don't own Iron Chef, either. Suing me is pointless, as I'm making no money off this fic nor am I intentionally violating any Copywrites. Original characters are mine and I tend to be VERY possessive.
Author's Note: I so loved writing the first Kitchen Wyvern battle that today I have decided to write another one. So, here I go.
Kitchen Wyvern: Battle Two
"Hello everyone and welcome to the second ever battle of the cooks here at Kitchen Wyvern. I'm your hostess, Artemis. This evening we have a rather unusual battle between our resident doctor and our resident gambler. That's right folks; it is going to be Renee versus Haxot in our battle of the cooks here tonight. Now, unlike our first kitchen battle we won't be doing a five course meal. No, instead this will be a special edition. So, welcome to Kitchen Wyvern: Desserts Galore. Now we go over to Owen Burnett to meet our judges. Owen?"
"Thank you, Artemis. We have selected a new panel of judges this time. First we have Mrs. Raqueal Bluestone, detective. Mrs. Bluestone, it is a pleasure to have you here."
"Thank you, Owen. I am very pleased to be here. All ready I'm floored. I'd never have pegged you for the broadcast type. You certainly are a man of many hats."
"Indeed. Next to the lovely detective is Mrs. Elisa Maza. Detective."
"How did she talk you in to doing this?"
"That is not the topic here, Mrs. Maza. Why did you agree to be a judge?"
"Raqueal filled me in on the minor details and I couldn't resist a desserts edition judging opportunity, so here I am. Come on, who here can't resist the sweets those two put out?"
"Indeed. Thank you Mrs. Maza. Next to her we have the immortal Macbeth. I'm sure that everyone is happy to see you here, Macbeth."
"Thank you, Mr. Burnett. I was a bit surprised by the invitation, but like the others here couldn't pass up the opportunity to catch this."
"And your favorite?"
"Ach, I cannae tell you. I've never tasted anythin' Haxot has made, but I've heard he's a good rival for your bride."
"Indeed. Our last judge of the night is clan Wyvern's second in command, Brooklyn. Good evening, Brooklyn."
"Hey. So tell me, how did she talk you into doing this?"
"That is none of your concern. Now, since our gambling companion is part of this competition, are there any wages on who the winner will be?"
"Yeah, Athens started one in favor of her dad. You want in?"
"Yes. A c-note on my wife."
"Whoa, pretty confident, aren't you?"
"Indeed. Now, back to Artemis."
"I'll match that c-note, Brooklyn. Haxot trumps Renee. Anyway, back to the program at hand. Like the last time there will be five dishes, or in this case, desserts. The points system has also stayed the same with five points max in each of three categories: creativity, plating, and taste. With four judges and a max score of fifteen points per judge for a total of sixty points, this is sure to be a lot of fun. Now, assisting Renee will be Tathlyn and Lexington while Haxot is assisted by Lily and Lilac. Let's go to our first interview of the night, Haxot. Take it away, Athens."
"Thanks mom. I'm here with our challenger of the evening, my dad, Haxot. Hi dad."
"Hi baby."
"Da-ad! Anyway, the first question I have to ask has got to be the one on everybody's mind. How DID this happen?"
"How does stuff like this always happen? Renee."
"You say that like the name says it all. We don't know the details, dad. Spill them."
"Well, I was hunting something sweet in the kitchen the other night – Saturday to be precise – and I found Renee at the counter chopping some ingredients for a pie. Apparently she'd made a mistake with something and was venting on our poor taste buds. Anyway, she was cussing up a storm in Elvish so I snuck one of the cookies she had cooling. To be honest, they were a little over done. I told her that. Her response was something along the lines of still being able to kick my ass in the kitchen any day."
"Dad, you can't say ass on television."
"You just did."
"Oops."
"Anyway, I called her bluff and here we are. Hopefully our judges are most impartial."
"HEY!"
"You'll kick her tailless hide, dad. I'm counting on it."
"Just how much do you have on this?"
"Thank you, dad. Now, over to Broadway who is standing by with Renee. Broadway?"
"Thank you, Athens. Hello everybody. I'm here with Renee for her thoughts on this upcoming battle. Renee, how do you go from hostess to competitor in less than a year?"
"Pride, ego, a desire to cut loose and have some fun?"
"Is that all?"
"No. I also have a strong urge to kick a furry man's butt in the kitchen for telling me my cookies were a bit overdone. I mean, really, you'd think he was the cookie police from the way he was talking the other night."
"So this is really over one little comment about your cookies? Why didn't you just magic them up?"
"Hey, I pride my self on my magicless cooking just the same as the next person. I actually prefer cooking that way. Plus, I've tasted Haxot's cookies. Even my overdone ones are better than his."
"Your desserts are really your trademark here at the castle. What surprises do you have in store for us today?"
"With all of this being magic free I think I'm just going to shoot for some familiar rarities… things people will recognize but with new twists."
"New twists, eh? Like the time you added sherbet to lemon meringue pie?"
"Nothing that drastic, I'm sure."
"Thank you, Renee, and now, back to Artemis with David Xanatos and the revealing of the secret ingredient. Artemis?"
"Thank you, Broadway. Now, with the kitchen remodeled to better suit two cooks preparing several different desserts, I do think we are about to begin. Once our buzzer starts, our two chefs will have one hour to prepare their plates and get them ready for judging. And the man of the hour, David Xanatos."
"Thank you, Artemis. Chefs, are you ready?"
"Rip, roarin', and ready here."
"Let's get this party started, David."
"And the secret ingredient is… EXOTIC FRUITS!!"
"Who picked that one?"
"Shush Brooklyn. START COOKING!"
"Both chefs have grabbed several different fruits here from the table and now we get a first hand look at both these chefs in motion. It looks like Haxot is going to the grill. That is a bit odd for desserts, don't you think, Artemis?"
"Not at all, Owen. Some of the best desserts that come to mind are grilled. Perhaps my mate is just walking the road less traveled."
"Indeed."
"You aren't going to make this easy on me, are you?"
"I believe the chefs have the hard part. All we do is make conversation for the replays."
"Spoiled sport. Anyway, it looks like Haxot has sliced that pineapple and laid it out there on the grill while Renee is dicing several different fruits. I wonder how well she'll do without her magics."
"My wife does not depend on magic for everything, as you well know, Artemis."
"I know, but she is more apt to conjure a plate of cookies up than bake them."
"Not always."
"Well, now we see bananas, peaches, and oranges making their appearances along with mangos. I see some interesting combinations going on down there. Why don't we get a closer look to see what's going on? Broadway?"
"Thank you, Artemis. I'm here in order to chat up the chefs here at Kitchen Wyvern. Let's start with Haxot since his foods are giving off a great aroma even this early in the competition. Hello Haxot, what's on the menu?"
"Hm? Oh, hi Broadway. I'm actually going off your idea of a themed type deal. I'm going to try and go unusual and yet appetizing while keeping the judges in mind."
"So you know exactly what you're going to do with all this?"
"Of course. Once the ingredients were revealed it was like someone threw a switch. It was all mapped out."
"Your caramel's done."
"Crap!"
"Good luck chef."
"Thanks."
"And now we move over here to Renee who seems to be skewering several of the fruits onto kabobs of sorts. What's this part of, doctor?"
"Kabobs, of sorts."
"As a dessert?"
"Why not? It's only part of the plate."
"Are you doing anything special for the judges?"
"Not really, I don't think. I mean, I'm trying to keep in mind that some people are allergic to some things, but other than omitting those things, I think I'm just going to shoot from the hip. I know I want a couple of different things, so I've got no real plan right now."
"Right. Confident of a win?"
"Yes and no. I know my abilities, but I don't know Haxot's. I'm glad I'm not a judge."
"Wonderful. We'll check back in with you soon."
"Bye."
"And back to you two."
"Thank you, Broadway. Owen, don't you have any facts about this stuff in your head?"
"No."
"Gah. So, how do we fill time?"
"By conversing with one another."
"About what?"
"There is always the issue of your child's sweet tooth."
"HEY!! You promised!"
"That was before your cavity."
"Cavity? Athens."
"Mo-om!"
"Or perhaps why we chose to do this."
"Who could resist, Owen? I want to try these dishes and I'm sure you really want to as well, deep down."
"Indeed. Broadway?"
"Thanks Owen. I would have never guessed you ate sugar. Anyway, it seems like Haxot is making ice for snow cones. Can we get a flavor on it, Haxot?"
"Mango."
"Mango? What's that?"
"A mango, Broadway, is indigenous to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Cultivated in many tropical regions and distributed widely in the world, mango is one of the most popularly exploited fruits for food, juice, flavor, fragrance and color. Its leaves are ritually used as floral decorations at weddings and religious ceremonies."
"What Owen means is that the mango a sweet fruit with a rather unique taste."
"Thanks, Artemis. I guess we'll find out how unique that flavor is when the judging comes up. … On Renee's side we have what looks like several oranges being stuffed with ice cream. Can you tell us anything on this, Renee?"
"Only that what you see is what you get."
"What happened to your earlier skewers?"
"Done. Tathlyn, get the wontons out. Sorry Broadway, a bit distracted here."
"No problem Renee. And now, back to Owen and Artemis. Guys?"
"Thank you Broadway."
"Thanks Broadway. And I'm going to go down and chat with our judges just one more time before we get to the tasting. Hello Raqueal."
"Hello Artemis. How's the hosting spot?"
"Very interesting, though next time I'm suggesting a more chatty co-host."
"I agree."
"Hmph."
"So, what are your thoughts before we move on to the eating portion of the show?"
"It smells so good. Can't we have a preview now?"
"I hear you, but that'd be against the rules. Any idea of who you want to win?"
"The best one."
"Well put. Thank you, Raqueal."
"You're welcome. "
"Hello, Elisa. How's the baby?"
"Teething."
"I feel you there. Have you been bitten yet?"
"Yeah. It's really bad when…"
"A-hem."
"Oh, sorry. Anyway, if you want to know who I think will win, I'd have to say with the smells coming from your mate's kitchen I'm leaning his way, but we'll have to see."
"Agreed. Thank you Elisa."
"Sure."
"Now we move on to the immortal Scotsman himself, Macbeth. How are you?"
"Hungry, actually. Renee said not to eat before coming, so I dinnea."
"Oh, I feel you there. I also didn't eat and if my stomach isn't louder than the noise going on behind us, I don't know what is."
"Aye, it's quite loud in here. Pots and cutlery, sizzling and popping."
"Yes it is. So, do you have a favorite?"
"Nay. I'll be impartial in this."
"Thank you, Macbeth. And last, but not least, Brooklyn. Hello Brooklyn."
"Hi Artemis. I was wondering when you'd get down here to me."
"All in good time, wyvern second. So, who are you betting on?"
"I'm actually going for the long shot of a tie. Everyone seems to think one of them is better than the other, but I don't."
"And if you're wrong?"
"Then I lose. No problem there."
"Thank you, Brooklyn. And now, back to Owen for a recap of the scoring."
"Artemis. As stated earlier there is a total of sixty points in all. That will be fifteen points per judge in the three areas of creativity, plating, and taste."
"Way to wow them with your words, Owen."
"I am not here to wow anyone with words."
"Except me."
"Indeed."
"Aaand there's the timer. The cooking's done and it looks like Haxot is offering a shot to his crew and his rival. Oh and Renee's accepted. Down the hatch!"
"Indeed. Now we go over to Broadway with Haxot for the explanation of his dishes. Broadway?"
"Thank you Owen. I'm standing here with Haxot so he can explain his desserts to the judges. Haxot?"
"Thanks Broadway. First of all I wanted to try something out of the ordinary. I went with a grilled desserts type theme and this is what I've got. I'll start you off with some grilled pineapple with molasses followed by grilled orange slices with frozen yogurt and raspberry fudge sauce. Next I redid a classic by offering you a grilled banana split with hot fudge and rum caramel sauce. I also have grilled peaches with Amoretti and finally my personal favorite, mango strawberry snow cones."
"Thank you Haxot."
"Thank you."
"Now on to Renee."
"Thanks Broadway. As I told you earlier, I didn't really have a plan, but I did come up with a few things that I thought would be successful. First I made some rainbow fruit skewers with chocolate dipped strawberries. The skewers have mango, orange, pineapple, kiwi, and peach chunks on them. I also made some ice cream stuffed oranges with a caramel sauce. Then we have a crispy wonton stuffed with chocolate and bananas. Then I made a mango margarita with black pepper mango sorbet for a side. I do admit of thinking of one person in particular when I made my last dish which is the individual peach upside down cakes and brandy."
"Hudson's favorite."
"Yeah, I miss him."
"Thank you Renee."
"Thank you."
"And now that the tasting is over with, we'll give the judges a few minutes to vote and then we'll announce our winner. Back to you Artemis."
"Oh no, stay right there Broadway. You'll be announcing the winner."
"Wha? Ok."
"Here you are, lad."
"Thanks Macbeth. And now the moment we've all been waiting for. The moment that will put to bed the question of who is the best desserts chef here at Castle Wyvern. That person is…
… it's a tie."
"I knew it!"
Author's note: And thus the second edition of Kitchen Wyvern. I was pleased with the muse bite, but had a heck of a time with the desserts. All of these recipes can be found at Food . Except the brandy part. I added that for Hudson. This turned out a little bit longer than the last one, but only by a page. Not too bad. Anyway, I shall let you go.