Taste Test (31 page)

“Because we’ve got about five minutes before the cameras start rolling, and now I’m going to need to get my makeup touched up again.”

“Too bad …” He brushes his lips against mine again, but before the kiss can deepen, I put my hand on his chest and push him back lightly.

“I’ll see you at Elimination Table.”

“Should I bring you a box of tissues?” he asks, raising an eyebrow. I narrow my eyes.

“Sure, if you think you’ll need them. I know you’ll be devastated when I win.”

“Nah, I’ll be far too distracted thinking about our date tonight.”

He gives me a final wink before slipping out into the hallway. I watch from behind the curtain as he saunters back toward his side of the room. I take a deep breath. Christian’s bravado always brings out the sarcastic side of me—but now that he’s gone, I have to face my nerves.

I’ll tell you one thing—I won’t miss this part. I hope this is the last time I’ll
ever
have to wait while someone decides my fate.

There isn’t really an Elimination
Table
anymore, per se. I guess that was left back at NACA in the old arena. Now it’s just more of an Elimination Counter, which isn’t quite as imposing.

The judges are the same though—sans Svincek, obviously. Prescott, who’s really enjoyed his exoneration via the late night talk show circuit, is wearing a Cheshire cat smile—the kind that appears harmless … at first. I’m sure he’ll have lots of
lovely
things to say about me since I accused him of electrocuting people and blowing up sinks. Chef Mason and Madame Bouchon, however, are almost stony faced. It makes me wish I could just fast forward through this part, or DVR it and watch the details later on when I’m not so nauseated.

Christian and I enter from opposite sides of the darkened room, equal distance from the spotlighted stools, which stand five feet apart from each other. As we walk toward them, our eyes lock. He gives me a wink and I can’t help but smile.

“Nora Henderson and Christian Van Lorton,” Madame Bouchon calls out.

We stop in front of our stools and turn to face the panel.

“We’ve had an opportunity to watch you work and to taste your dishes. We’d like to ask you both a question before we make our final decision.”

Prescott stands up to face us. He cocks his head, the hint of a smile playing his lips.

“Nora, tell me, why do you think you should win
Taste Test
?”

I pause, thinking. I look at each of the judges.

“I don’t know if I can answer that.”

“This isn’t optional, Nora. Unless, of course, you’re forfeiting your chance of winning.”

Prescott may not be a felon, but he’s still a complete jerk. I shake my head.

“Here’s what I
do
know—I know that I’ve never worked harder in my life than I have here. I know that I love to cook and that I’d love the opportunity to go to Paris and study.”

I glance over at Christian, then back at the judges.

“But this place—this show—hasn’t changed me. I came here thinking it was my big break. What I’ve realized is that I’m the same person here as I am in Weston, North Carolina. And I’ll be the same person in Paris, too. I’ve learned so much here. I don’t know if that makes me a winner or not. For me, this is a greater graduation ceremony than I could have imagined. I get to leave here and do what I love, whether I win or lose. And that seems to matter more than anything else.”

Prescott’s face is a little pinched.

“How touching,” he says, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “And how about you, Mr. Van Lorton? More
Chicken Soup for the Taste Test Soul
?”

From the corner of my eye, I see Christian fidget just a little. It’s the first hint of nervousness he’s shown all season.

“Christian,” Madam Bouchon speaks quietly, shooting Prescott a disapproving look, “why do you think you should win
Taste Test
?”

I watch him take a breath and, for a second, I think he might say something funny—he’s got that smirk on his face, the same one he was wearing the night we met.

“Listen,” Christian says, rocking back on his heels, “Nora Henderson has been nothing if not a valiant competitor, and there’s nothing I’d rather do than come out on top. But you already know who you’re voting for—what I say to you right now isn’t really going to change that.”

He folds his arms across his chest.

“So
I’m
not going to tell you why I should win. Maybe
you
should tell me that.”

My eyes grow wide. I can’t
believe
he just said that to the judges. Madame Bouchon purses her lips, looking nonplussed. Chef Mason gives Christian a long look.

“Thank you both for your, uh, candid responses,” Mason says. “We’ll need just a moment to discuss.”

As the judges huddle into a human tripod, I stare at Christian. He glances back at me and shrugs.

“What?”

“Have you lost your mind?” I whisper.

“Maybe. Why?”

“Because you may have just sacrificed your win—and I swear, if you did that because of some misguided sense of chivalry or something …”

“Are you kidding?” he whispers, hiding his mouth behind one hand. “What better way to
get
the win than by pretending I couldn’t care less? It’s a foolproof plan!”

I roll my eyes. A strategy. Why am I not surprised?

“Nora and Christian?”

All of a sudden, I can feel my heart in my throat, as though it’s nervous enough to jump ship and swim for shore. Chef Mason looks from Christian to me and back again.

“This season of
Taste Test
has been filled with more trouble, more drama, more disruption than any before it—but it’s also never had more talent.”

His face, always so serious, melts a bit. He smiles at the two of us.

“Both of you are going to do great things with your culinary careers—but one of you has fought the hardest to create the most delicious, inventive dishes. One of you wants this opportunity the most. But understand, regardless of who walks away from here a champion, both of your lives will never be the same. Talk to the other former contestants. Life after
Taste Test
is a whole new life indeed.”

His words hang in the air, as though somehow made buoyant by how true they already are. Our lives will never be the same—I guess that’s what I need to come to terms with. There is no going back. In the end, what made coming here possible was that I loved to cook and wanted to try—and those things haven’t changed. Wherever I end up, it’ll be
because I chose to be there, not because a contest paid my way or a panel of chefs voted for me.

Christian reaches over and takes my hand. Chef Mason clears his throat.

“And the season five champion of
Taste Test
is …”

Contestant Interview

Nora Henderson

Producer (P):
     Nora Henderson—congratulations! You must be ecstatic!

Nora Henderson (NH):
     Thanks—yes. I’m … God, I’m blown away, really. I never actually thought I’d win.

P:
     And now you’re the season five champion! What are you thinking? What are you
feeling
?

NH:
     I’m … excited. Scared. A little overwhelmed.

P:
     Scared? Why is that?

NH:
     [shrugs] I guess it’s fear of the unknown? I mean, coming here was a big step. I’d never been further north than Virginia. And now France? It’s all really … surreal.

P:
     How do you think your father is going to react to the news of your win?

NH:
     I’m not sure. I hope—I hope my dad is proud. I hope he understands that I’m trying to do the best thing for myself and my future.

P:
     So, tell me—you’re now fifty thousand dollars richer and heading to Europe. Your life has become something you never imagined. What are you going to do now?

NH:
     Well, I’ll probably use a spackling knife to scrape off this pancake makeup and change out of this dress before I manage to stain or rip it.

P:
     And after that?

NH:
     [looks down, smiles] And after that, I have a date.

Contestant Interview

Christian Van Lorton

Producer (P):
     Well, Christian, it’s been one hell of a season.

Christian Van Lorton (CVL):
     It’s been real, man. I’ll give you that much.

P:
     So, what’s next for Christian Van Lorton? Are the rumors true?

CVL:
     Which rumors are those?

P:
     The ones about you opening up a place with your old man.

CVL:
     It could happen. Diamonds and Spades is doing really well in Manhattan—Dad’s been wanting to open a sister restaurant, Hearts and Clubs, for years.

P:
     Right. And working for your father … you think that’s—wise? It seems as though you two don’t exactly get along.

CVL:
     Hey, I could just strike out on my own, try to do my own thing—but if I can use my dad’s connections and cash and still do what I love? It sounds like a no-brainer to me.

P:
     So anywhere specific you’re thinking of opening the new digs?

CVL:
     Well, now that you mention it, I hear all the best chefs are going to Paris this fall.

P:
     I see. Well, Paris is a culinary capital.

CVL:
     So I’ve heard. But, between you and me, it has a far more important reputation—one I plan on taking full advantage of.

P:
     And what reputation is that?

CVL:
     [raises eyebrows] The city of love, of course.

Taste Test
Season Five

Contestant Recipes

Nora Henderson’s Coffee-Cocoa-Cayenne Dry Rub and Three-Chili Macaroni and Cheese

Coffee-Cocoa-Cayenne Dry Rub

½ cup coffee, finely ground

¼ cup pepper, freshly ground

3 tablespoons kosher salt

3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa

2 tablespoons raw sugar or brown sugar, finely ground

2 tablespoons cayenne pepper

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon celery salt

1 teaspoon onion powder

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl. Measure out 2 tablespoons of the rub. Using your hands, rub it evenly onto the meat of your choice just before grilling. Chicken and fish need a lighter coating than a more substantial protein, like ribs or steak.

Three-Chili Macaroni and Cheese

1½ cups elbow macaroni

2 tablespoons butter

1 tablespoon flour

2 cups milk

⅛ teaspoon chili powder

⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper

¾ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon dry onion, minced

pinch of red chili flakes

2 cups cheddar cheese, grated

Directions:

Cook macaroni according to package directions. Melt the butter in a saucepan. Blend in flour. Cook until bubbly. Stir in milk. Heat to boiling. Boil and stir 1 minute. Add both chili powders. Combine macaroni, salt, onion, chili flakes, and cheddar cheese. Mix thoroughly in 2-quart casserole. Pour sauce over macaroni. Sprinkle chili flakes over the top, if desired. Bake at 350 degrees, covered, for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for 15 minutes longer. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Joy Kennedy-Swanson’s Lobster Bisque with Roasted Corn and Potato Shreds

2 cups cooked lobster meat

2 to 4 tablespoons dry sherry or white wine

¼ cup butter

3 tablespoons flour

3 cups milk

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

salt and pepper to taste

dash of hot-pepper sauce (i.e. Tabasco, Texas Pete)

1 cup roasted corn kernels, cooled (see directions below)

potato shreds, for garnish (see directions below)

Directions:

In a small bowl, combine lobster and sherry; set aside.

In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt butter. Blend in flour and cook, stirring constantly, until smooth and bubbly. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly. Continue cooking and stirring until mixture is thickened; stir in steak sauce and salt, pepper, and Tabasco to taste. Add lobster, corn, and sherry; cover and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. If mixture becomes too thick, thin it out with extra milk, seafood stock, or water. Serve in individual bowls. Top with potato shreds. Makes 4 cups of lobster bisque.