Day 140: Cafeteria Cook-Off
Campus life can be full of surprises, but a culinary competition in the cafeteria? I didn’t see that coming.
It started with an innocent lunch break. Amanda, Faisal, and I were sitting at our usual corner table, discussing our group project—or rather, Amanda was discussing it while Faisal and I tried to decide if the soggy chicken curry on our plates was safe to eat.
“Why does this taste like regret?” Faisal asked, grimacing after a bite.
“Because you still think cafeteria food is gourmet,” Amanda replied without looking up from her notebook.
Suddenly, the PA system crackled to life. “Attention, students! The first-ever Campus Cafeteria Cook-Off will begin in ten minutes! Sign up now and prove you’ve got what it takes to impress our panel of esteemed judges. The winner will receive free cafeteria meals for a month!”
Faisal’s eyes lit up. “Free meals? Say no more—I’m entering.”
“You can’t even boil water,” I reminded him.
“Details, Eddie. Details,” he said, already making his way to the signup table.
Amanda sighed. “This is going to be a disaster, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” I said, grinning. “And we’re not missing it.”
The cafeteria staff had set up a makeshift kitchen area at the front, complete with hot plates, cutting boards, and a display of ingredients that looked suspiciously like leftovers from yesterday’s menu. A crowd of curious students gathered to watch the chaos unfold.
The rules were simple: participants had 30 minutes to create a dish using the available ingredients. The judges—a mix of faculty members and the head chef—would evaluate the dishes based on taste, creativity, and presentation.
Faisal was among the ten contestants. His competition included a guy from the culinary club, two overconfident seniors, and a girl who looked like she had a TikTok channel dedicated to cooking. Faisal, on the other hand, was armed with nothing but enthusiasm.
“Any ideas?” I asked as he tied on an apron that was three sizes too big.
“Yeah, I’m making my signature ‘Faisal Fried Noodles,’” he said.
“Do you even know how to make fried noodles?” Amanda asked, incredulous.
“How hard can it be?” he replied with a shrug.
The timer started, and the contestants sprang into action. Faisal grabbed a handful of ingredients at random—some noodles, a bottle of soy sauce, a can of sardines, and what might have been frozen peas. He tossed everything into a pan with reckless abandon, his face a mix of concentration and sheer panic.
Meanwhile, his competitors were slicing, dicing, and sautéing with precision. The girl with the TikTok aura was assembling what looked like a Michelin-star-worthy salad, while the culinary club guy was flambéing something that smelled amazing.
Faisal, on the other hand, had set off the smoke alarm.
“Turn down the heat!” Amanda shouted from the sidelines.
“I’ve got it under control!” he yelled back, waving a spatula like a sword.
The crowd was loving it. Phones were out, recording Faisal’s every move.
When the timer buzzed, the contestants presented their dishes. Faisal’s “Fried Noodles” looked like a crime scene, but he plated it with confidence, garnishing it with a single sprig of cilantro.
The judges tasted each dish in turn, offering polite nods and murmured comments. When they reached Faisal’s, the head chef hesitated before taking a bite.
“It’s... interesting,” the chef said, trying to keep a straight face.
“What’s your inspiration?” another judge asked.
“Chaos,” Faisal replied, earning laughter from the crowd.
Unsurprisingly, the culinary club guy won, with TikTok girl coming in a close second. Faisal didn’t even get an honorable mention, but he was grinning ear to ear as he returned to our table.
“I’d call that a success,” he said, untying his apron.
“You nearly burned the cafeteria down,” Amanda pointed out.
“Details,” Faisal said, waving her off. “At least I gave everyone a show.”
“And a new reason to avoid the noodles here,” I added.
Lesson of the day: Cooking isn’t Faisal’s calling, but chaos? He’s a master chef in that department