Forbidden Feast / Chapter 4: Grilled Ambitions
Forbidden Feast

Forbidden Feast

Author: Keith Matthews

Chapter 4: Grilled Ambitions

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Brooklyn looked panicked, so I picked up a green onion and a piece of tripe. “Hey, have you ever had green onion stuffed in tripe?”

The air went silent. Brooklyn blinked. “Say what?”

“You just, like, shove the green onion inside the tripe and grill it. It’s actually pretty good.” I did a quick demo, hoping she’d get it. Explaining it felt like trying to walk your grandma through TikTok.

Brooklyn’s face twisted. “Natalie, where do you find this stuff?”

“Food trucks, everywhere… especially that one in Koreatown after wrap parties.”

She gave me a look. “You gotta stop eating at sketchy places.”

Before I could answer, I heard a low chuckle from the other station. I looked over to see Lucas grinning at me, his eyes crinkling at the edges. “Actually, it’s a Midwest thing. Pretty good, you should let her try it, Brooklyn.”

I perked up, licking my lips. “See? Even Lucas backs me up! It’s amazing—crispy grilled tripe and sweet, melty green onion.”

Brooklyn just shook her head, but she was smiling now.

We fired up the grill. The sun was setting, the air thick with the scent of grilling meat and sunscreen. Brooklyn elbowed me, grinning, “If we lose, I’m blaming your weird tripe obsession.”

I started prepping another dish. The tripe sizzled on the grill, paprika and chili powder making my mouth water. I wiped drool off my chin, hoping the camera missed it.

Brooklyn came over, pinching her nose. “What’s this one?”

“Blue Cheese Tripe Stew,” I said, holding up the pot. “You fry the tripe, add blue cheese, white wine, some seasoning, and let it bubble away. Smells funky, but tastes amazing!”

Brooklyn made a face. “I’ve never eaten anything you just said. Is it safe?”

I grinned. “Of course! It’s delicious!” My stomach rumbled on cue.

Both teams worked fast. Lucas’s team’s soup filled the air with a homey, savory smell. My tripe sizzled, and the blue cheese stew bubbled, its aroma surprisingly inviting.

The chat exploded:

[Bro, not Natalie turning this into Chopped Junior 😂]

[Lucas is husband material, fight me]

[Sophia’s playing dirty, but I respect the hustle.]

[Natalie’s tripe actually looks bomb! And that stew is making me hungry!]

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