Hell's Smitten (Gordon Ramsay x Reader)

Chapter 60- Taste Test Challenge Part 2/2

Thursday, July 11th, 2013

Red and I step forward and stop when we reach the table with the ominous silver dome. Gordon gives me a grin as he hands over the blindfold and headset. I put both on and the sound of drums with a techno beat accompaniment flood my ears as I stare into blackness.

I feel a tap on my shoulder and open my mouth. Gordon feeds me a spoonful of something soft with a  cheesy undertone. I roll it around on my tongue and feel it break apart. A second tap on my shoulder comes a few seconds later.

"Mozzarella cheese, Chef," I say confidently over the drums. My ear piece lifts and I feel Gordon's breath tickle my ear as he whispers that I'm correct. Goosebumps form and I find myself arching my neck towards him. Quickly, I readjust and try to get back into the challenge mindset. I wonder if Red guessed correctly as well, but I don't have time enough to consider it before I feel another tap.

I open my mouth and this time, the smell hits me before the food touches my tongue. It's some sort of fish, for sure. I slide the cubes across my tongue. It's oily, smoky, and salty. The flavor dredges from somewhere deep in my memories. My dad tricked me into eating this by hiding it inside a pizza roll.

"Sardine, Chef."

"Correct," he whispers into my ear before dropping the headset back into place.

I try to push the recalled memory deep into my mind. There's no time to get emotional when my team needs me.

One more and Dave is in the clear.

The tap comes and I open my mouth. The savory flavor of perfectly cooked meat tantalizes my tongue. But what sort of meat? It's more firm than chicken would be, and it's gamey, so it can't be beef. Suddenly, it clicks.

"Lamb!" I say, remembering how it tasted when I was on the meat station. Gordon lifts my earpiece and I hear a smile in his voice as he lets me know I'm correct yet again.

One more to go. One more, and I come out with a perfect score. The inevitable tap on the shoulder comes and I open my mouth. An earthy, nutty flavor floods my taste buds.

A few moments later, a scream pierces through the techno beat. It seems Red didn't get the last bite right.

Whatever it is that Gordon has fed me is delicious, but I'm certain I've never tasted this before. It's sweet, juicy, and tastes like oak trees smell. Maybe it's some sort of mushroom?

"Black trumpet mushroom?" I hazard a guess. Gordon lifts my headset.

"Wrong, black truffle. Still amazingly close, though," he adds.

Three out of four isn't bad, and I've spared Dave from a sticky fate.

When I take off my blindfold and headset, I look over at the blue team. The extra gooey Kalyani seems upset that Dave didn't get caramelized. Dave stands from his chair and holds a hand out to Bella, who takes it and un-sticks herself from the chair. Long tendrils of caramel trail from her butt to the seat.

Gordon puffs up proudly when I glance over at him. I smile and drop my head, willing my cheeks to stay pale. The way he looks so pleased with me will always give me tingles.

When the clear plastic over the chairs is replaced, I head over and sit. Red smiles apprehensively from her seat across from me.

"Abel and Gina, please step forward."

I relax. Abel is my partner? I've got as much likelihood of being drenched in caramel as I do winning the lottery. Kalyani's jealousy is evident as she continues to drag her fingers through her sticky mess of hair. I snap my goggles into place, but they feel unnecessary.