Food Detectives, Part 2: Solving the Minifig Mystery Meal

Spectators, welcome back to the kitchen where our food detectives demonstrate their talents at both cooking and criminalistics! As you saw in our first episode of Food Detectives, our contestants had to investigate the kitchen for culinary clues about what mystery dish Moriarty cooked up and today they will have to replicate it.

So tighten your apron and get comfy because we’re in for a ride through the kitchen with some unexpected twists and turns!

We Pick Up The Action…

Equipped with Sherlock Holmes' quick wit, our two teams have already made their guesses to solve the "culinary crime" by looking for the evidence left by our famous chef… but are their conclusions correct? Now they have to recreate the delicious riddle, using all the ingredients they found during the investigation.

Sam and Fred are cooking Risotto. If only they could remember more recipes that include the eggs that they found in the fridge! The eggs are used for several rice dishes which is why they are on a difficult path. Now they are boiling rice instead of frying or baking it like our mystery dish.

Without a shadow of a doubt, Hayley and Audrina won't have to cook their rice twice: they succeeded in their investigation and chose the correct dish, Arancini. The girls are now preparing the seafood-filling for the fried rice balls.

The Plot Thickens

Well, here he is, folks! Chef Moriarty appears on the stage! He's ready to add more spice to the competition and spin a sugar web of mystery… If our contestants can decipher his clues, they will have a real chance to get a hint about the secret recipe and win!

Chef: "Nice to meet you, Detectives! Is my secret recipe as easy as shelling peas? No!? Of course, it isn't, so I've decided to throw you a bone. Your success is hidden in this envelope, and it won't cost you much… just jump into these huge dinosaur costumes and keep cooking! Which of you will take the challenge for the hint?"

Fred: "I think we need the help… and we are very brave guys… we’ll do it for the clue. Wait, what is this hint?"

Sam: "We didn't find oranges in the ingredients! Do we need a conical strainer? Or is it a form of a code for the dish? Oh, it isn’t Risotto, so it must be Arancini! Our first guess was so wrong. As much as the costumes get in the way, we needed the hint."

The Race Is On!

With the pieces of this puzzle falling into place, Sam and Fred start over on their dish with just enough time to pull it off. But there is just one problem…

Sam: "Hey you, green guy, watch out! We didn't ask you to lay eggs!"

Meanwhile, the girls are continuing their work energetically.

Hayley: "Oh boy, onions. Don’t cry!”

Hayley and Audrina are cooking away. They didn’t need a clue and had all of their ingredients prepared in time, a perfect pairing of their detective and culinary abilities… just like the mix of tomatoes and spices for the sauce in their blender.

Time For A Twist

Moriarty: "Hold up everyone, cooking is not that easy! I've prepared something fun for you, my dear Holmes and Watsons! You all have to finish your cooking in this diving equipment. Good luck!”

Fred: "Why, why, why is onion so evil even through the diver’s mask? I thought it would help!"

Sam: "Just keep mincing, bro! I’m filtering this shrimp broth and wish I had a mask to block out the smell!"

Chef Moriarty is watching on in glee at the chaos from the mix of food and floaties. Our contestants don't hear any more useful comments from his cozy studio, just laughter.

In the last few moments of cooking, the boys remembered they found the right appliance among the chef's evidence: a special Arancini mold. But will they have time to use it and fry the rice balls until golden brown?

Moriarty: "Stop smiling and hurry! The time is almost up!"

Panic!

Moriaty: “Three, two, one… Time’s up!"

Let’s move to the most important part of the show—tasting the participants' dishes! Our Culinary Moriarty will see who was closer to the original and reveal the "culinary crime" in the finest detail.

First up is the girls’ plate. The chef takes a thoughtful taste of the dish and tomato sauce, but what is this? The rice balls are in the wrong shape!

Now it is the boys’ turn. Fred and Sam guessed the dish with the dino-clue clue from the chef, and their rice balls not only have the proper flavor but also a classical form.

Moriarty: "Your dishes have been tasted and now I will reveal the dish that I cooked and created clues for you, my Culinary Detectives!"

The Big Reveal

Moriarty: "You all guessed it… Arancini! A perfectly balanced and delicious Sicilian dish!"

Hayley, Audrina, Fred & Sam: “Oooooh… Ahhhhhhh…”

Moriarty: “But we can only have one winning team. Congratulations to… Fred and Sam!”

And that’s it from Food Detectives. Fred and Sam were closer to the original taste and form of the dish, so they win the entire competition! Until next time, stay curious and keep cooking!

Would you put on a crazy Dino-suit to win a competition? Did this article make you hungry? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

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