Chapter 2 - The Chef
Regina sat backstage, her heart pounding like a drum in her chest. She couldn't help but feel a bit absurd in full makeup and chef's attire, knowing that the hours of preparation would soon be undone by the heat of the kitchen. It was her first TV appearance, and the nerves were making her question her decision.
As she glanced at herself in the mirror, she tried to muster a confident smile. She hoped it would convey the image of a seasoned chef ready to conquer the competition. Yet, deep down, butterflies swarmed within her, threatening to take over.
She worried about impressing the judges, especially Emma Swan, whose opinion she valued the most. Regina knew she had the culinary skills, but the pressure of the competition was a whole new beast.
Just as her anxiety reached its peak, Killian's voice echoed through the backstage area. He began to introduce the chefs, and Regina's heart raced even faster. It was showtime, and there was no turning back now. She took a deep breath, steadying herself, ready to step into the spotlight and prove herself in the kitchen.
"Welcome to the all-female episode of Pressure Cooker," Killian announced, his voice brimming with anticipation. "In today's episode, four formidable chefs are thrown into the heat of competition, vying for a life-changing prize of $50,000. Let's welcome our chefs."
As the contestants made their entrances, Killian introduced them one by one, creating an atmosphere thick with tension and expectation.
"First up is Eugenia Lucas, better known as Granny. She owns an acclaimed restaurant in a small town in Maine."
"Next, it's Ashley," Killian continued as a young and slender pastry chef emerged. "Pastry chef from the critically acclaimed Candle Restaurant in New York."
"Our third chef is Regina Mills, a displaced chef from Boston's now-defunct Aroma Ristorante." Regina stepped out onto the stage, her exterior projecting confidence, but inside, her nerves were a churning tempest. This was her shot at redemption, and the weight of her past failures bore down on her. She couldn't afford to falter.
"Fourth and final chef is Chef Snow. A star on YouTube, Snow creates high-end meals at affordable rates." Snow's unassuming beauty caught Regina's eye, and an unexpected connection sparked within her. Regina needed the $50,000 to launch her own restaurant, but there was something about Snow's understated charm that drew her in. The tension in the room grew as they awaited the challenge.
"Chefs, take your stations," Killian instructed, his tone conveying a sense of urgency.
"In your basket, you will find brioche, fennel, and sea urchin."
"Cut!" the director called out sharply, heightening the tension in the room.
"We will give you ten minutes to devise your plan, then we will start the clock," Killian announced, leaving the contestants with a sense of impending pressure. He walked over to the judges, engaging in conversation, as the anticipation swirled around the contestants.
Regina felt a surge of panic. Sea urchin was unfamiliar territory, and she had no clear plan. She gazed at the spiky creatures, hoping for inspiration, but time ticked away relentlessly.
"Action," the director declared, raising the stakes even higher.
Regina had been so lost in thought that she barely noticed the commotion around her until Killian's voice filled the room once more.
"Chefs, if you are ready," Killian began, "on your mark, get set… cook."
The countdown had begun, and Regina had a mere 20 minutes to concoct a dish with ingredients she'd never worked with before. She filled a pot with water, placing the sea urchin inside, attempting to soften its spines. Then, she turned her attention to cleaning and chopping the fennel, her mind racing for a plan amidst the mounting tension.
She sampled a sprig of fennel and decided on crafting a refreshing salad. Rushing to the pantry, she procured lettuce and craisins, adding pine nuts for an extra layer of flavor. With the salad taking shape, Regina hurried to the brioche, cutting it into bite-sized cubes and seasoning them with garlic powder before toasting them in the oven.
As time dwindled, the pressure weighed heavily on Regina. With just 10 minutes remaining, she turned her focus to the sea urchin, which had softened enough for her to handle. Carefully, she removed the spines, cleaned the urchins, and scooped out the tongues with a grapefruit spoon, marinating them in lemon juice, onion, cilantro, and olive oil.
Regina checked the oven; the brioche cubes were crisp, perhaps slightly overdone, but there was no time for corrections. Grabbing rectangular plates, she drizzled vinaigrette in a zig-zag pattern. On top of the dressing, she elegantly piled the salad, adding the croutons as the finishing touch. Regina glanced at the clock; she had mere seconds to spare as she placed the sea urchins in a bowl, their custard-like consistency enhancing the tension in the room.
The countdown reached its climax. "Hands up, step away from your stations," Killian instructed.
Regina complied, the director called "Cut," and the dishes were whisked away for their close-ups. As the food finished its photoshoot, Regina wiped her brow with a towel and finally looked up at the panel of judges.
Her heart raced as her eyes met Emma Swan's. The renowned food critic had sampled Regina's cuisine before she became a million-dollar sensation, and the opportunity to meet her had always been a dream. Emma's feedback held the most weight, and Regina hoped for constructive criticism to ease the mounting tension.
Once the food had finished its photoshoot, they presented the dishes to the judges, and the cameras rolled once more. Killian's voice, brimming with anticipation, filled the air.
"The judges are about to deliberate, but first, let's meet our esteemed panel," Killian began.
"First, we have Chef Mal, renowned host of Restaurant Fixer and owner of the Bistro in LA." An elegant older blonde nodded gracefully in acknowledgment.
"Next, we have Chef David, the esteemed host of the Food Network show Charmed Chef. And last but certainly not least, our Million Dollar Food Critic, Emma Swan."
"Let's have our first tastes," Killian stated, setting the stage for the culinary verdict.
As the judges delved into the first two dishes, Regina felt herself receding into the background. She was contestant number three, and the praise lavished on the others overshadowed her presence.
Then, it was her moment. Killian's inquiry turned to her, and she stepped into the spotlight.
"Chef Regina, what have you got?" Killian asked, drawing attention to her creation.
"Chef, I have a Fennel cranberry salad served over a vinaigrette with brioche croutons served beside a Sea urchin bowl in lemon and onion," Regina explained, her voice steady despite the mounting tension.
Chef Mal, the seasoned judge, was the first to offer her thoughts. "The salad is quite refreshing and tasty. However, I believe that integrating the Sea urchin with the salad might have elevated the dish. I found it a bit cumbersome to have to add it separately from the bowl."
Regina acknowledged the critique, aware that her plating could have been better but with no time to spare.
"Chef David?"
"I concur with Mal," Chef David chimed in. "While this is undeniably a tasty salad, it does seem a bit on the safe side. Given the creativity we've seen today, there was potential for something more daring. Nevertheless, it's a flavorful dish."
Regina bristled internally at their comments. Sea urchin was uncharted territory for her, and she hadn't been afforded the luxury of extensive experimentation.
Then, it was Emma Swan's turn, her presence casting a magnetic allure.
"This looked like custard, I was expecting custard," Emma began, her tone sincere. "The texture isn't my favorite, but that's a personal aversion, unrelated to your skills. I must say, though, this is undeniably tasty. I appreciate the freshness of the salad, with the taste of Fennel shining through. Perhaps there could have been a more inventive use of the brioche, but the flavors are all there. You've laid a strong foundation; now it's time to build upon it."
Emma's feedback resonated deeply with Regina. It felt genuinely constructive, and her gaze locked onto Emma's, appreciating the intensity with which she evaluated her dish.
Regina couldn't help the nervous gulp that escaped her. She wasn't sure if she could overcome the challenges ahead, no matter how poised she appeared to others. As the judges headed for deliberation, Regina glanced back at Emma, her heart somersaulting with hope that her culinary journey was far from over.
"Did you see Killian fawning all over Emma? I knew it!" Snow said, her voice hushed in a conspiratorial tone. She was attempting to connect to the more experienced chef. Everyone seemed so intense around her and she needed to think about anything other than food.
Regina raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the gossip. "You know what?"
"They came out of the same dressing room. I bet they're involved," Snow speculated, a mischievous glint in her eye. Regina, however, didn't share her enthusiasm for such speculation and frowned at the YouTuber's comment.
"How is that any of our business?" Regina replied, her tone tinged with disdain for idle gossip, as she settled at the counter, watching as the cameraman prepared for the next scene.
Snow, on the other hand, seemed to blush slightly, her earlier gossiping now making her feel a tinge of embarrassment. "I, uh, didn't mean to pry or anything. Just thought it was, you know, interesting."
Eugenia, with her air of confidence, Focused on the Task at hand, especially now that the camera was rolling. They were supposed to engage in banter, so she was going to banter, "I think I did alright, considering."
Regina nodded in agreement, taking the opportunity to speak for the benefit of the camera. "Yeah, I had never worked with sea urchin before."
Snow, ever the diplomat, offered a standard line to ease the tension. "I think it's anybody's game at this point," she said, and the group fell into a contemplative silence, each chef lost in their own thoughts about the unpredictable competition ahead.