Chapter 266 The christmas baking tournament finals
With those thoughts mulling around in her mind, Scarlet tried her best to pay attention during the finals of the christmas baking tournament which was being televised live. When it started over one hundred people had showed up to display their baking talents. She could remember that more than half of them could not bake. Some of their cookies or cakes had almost sent her running to the bathroom or the hospital. Because cooking was still new to most of the citizens of the sun star, people were very creative with their dishes and this creativity was not always good.
Someone had meat to a fruit cake!!! It was called a fruit cake, why would you add meat to it?
Another baked a cake with spoiled milk which created stomach troubles for all who tasted it.
One had even gone so far as to fry their cake instead of baking it. Scarlet had refused to put that cake near her mouth.?A deep fried cake was not something she had ever eaten in her life.
She was very apprehensive about eating anything from any creative chef now. It was time to release a cook book before these people poisoned themselves.
The numbers had dwindled and now, there were five bakers left standing and each of them was eager to win the big prize of two hundred thousand star coins and a one year supply of baking and cooking ingredients.
When the year started city hall had announced that all those intending to start businesses could apply and pay for licenses.?More than twenty people had applied for licenses related to food business, bakeries or restaurants specifically. A win at the tournament on national television would be a big stamp of approval for the victor.
"You are not paying attention." Esong whispered to her.
"That's because your hands are trailing up and down my thighs inappropriately." She whispered to him. "Have some self-control for God's sake Esong."
The judging panel consisted of the two governors, the head chef of the only blue star confectionary a chubby and jolly woman named Molly Hayes, Mr. Rodney of BSTV and the seventh prince Markay.
Of all the people on the panel, only the two women could lay a claim to having any expertise in food. Esong was there because he was the other governor; Markey was there for publicity and Mr. Rodney because he was known for being a food critic.
Scarlet was squeezed in between Esong and Molly, who was very excited to be sitting next to the governor and sharing their opinions on the do's and don'ts of baking.
"That's because you look so good and smell so yummy. We have been here for one whole hour already, I want to be supportive but it's hard to do so when you are sitting next to me." Rather than retract his hand Esong, upped his teasing and tried to move his hand further up.
She gripped it tightly and stopped its unruly movements. "Are you crazy?" she whispered to him.
He winked, looked forward and waved at the live audience of at least one thousand five hundred or more viewers.
The host of the event, an upcoming comedian Jonny Jim, from the Blue star was enthusiastically hyping the crowd and interrupting the bakers with questions which had the audience laughing.
"Did you know that Xenoans were coming here?" she asked him after stopped his mischief.
"I am negotiating to have them redirected." Esong replied. He did not want to play host to those strangers who might or might not be hostile.?He especially did not want them so close to his home and family.
"Our judges are discussing something secretively over here, I think they might be picking a favorite. Judge Scarlet and judge Esong, who do you think is winning the tournament." The host could not resist coming closer to ask because the cameras made it look like the whispering between the governors was something romantic.
Scarlet smiled and Esong laughed.
"Anyone that can blow my mind will be my favorite." She answered.
"Don't say that Judge, I saw one of the bakers blending red chillies, so your mind will be blown along with something else."
Everyone laughed as they recalled the first day of the tournament when Scarlet run out of the Maple leaf center with her hand over her tummy.
"How about you governor Esong, rumor has it that you have a sweet tooth so will the baker that bakes the sweetest cake win your heart?" The host moved over to Esong.
"That is very dangerous." Molly said and she laughed, "You might mislead our bakers into adding bucketful's of sugar into their cake mix because they are eager to please the judge."
"That's true." Esong agreed with what Chef Molly said. "But I will repeat what my wife aired, I want my mind blown."
"It looks like times up for the side task and the bakers must present their Christmas cookies to the judges. Keep in mind that whoever wins this round gets to work on their cake for ten minutes while everyone else takes a time out."
The chefs assembled at the front and one by one, when the chef's name was mentioned, the judges would taste the cookie and comment.
To add more excitement to the competition, there was an additional large screen which was displaying comments of the people from all over the empire who were watching and commenting fervently.
"I hope my husband wins."
"Please let my mother, win."
"Oh great deity, I really hope the other chefs lose, please let their cakes burn."
"It is not enough that the other chefs forget to add sugar to their cakes, please Buddha, let them forget to add milk and eggs and well. We need this victory."
These were some of the prayers of the family members of the bakers participating in the challenge. If people could hear could each other's silent prayers, perhaps a fight would break out in the venue.
To the surprise of the audience, and the judges, the winner of the side task was the unlikely large mecha warrior who had been nicknamed Big Santa by the children because of his large abdomen and thick black beard. His true name was Melvin, but Big Santa had caught on pretty quickly and it was all anyone called him now.
Big Santa the unlikely baker with large hands baked the perfect vanilla coconut cookies with one chocolate ring in the middle.
Esong called the cookies a bite of victory and it surprised no one when he won the entire baking tournament.
When the competition was finished, Big Santa posed for photos with all the judges and an interview with BSTV reporter Jelly followed.
Scarlet was filled with joy when she watched the excitement of Big Santa's daughter and his wife as they waved at the cameras nonstop.
"Let's go home."?Esong whispered to her. "We can have our own private celebration.
This content is taken from (f)reewe(b)novel.𝗰𝗼𝐦