Winner Takes the Cake Read online

  Table of Contents

  Dedication

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  chapter 3

  chapter 4

  chapter 5

  chapter 6

  chapter 7

  chapter 8

  chapter 9

  chapter 10

  chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  chapter 14

  cooking tips from the chef girls!

  For Allie Rolh-D.M.

  CROSSET & DUNLAP

  Published by the Penguin Group

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  2007 Edition

  Text copyright © 2003 by Diane Muldrow. Interior illustrations copyright © 2003 by Barbara Pollak. All rights reserved. Published by Grosset & Dunlap, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group. 345 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014. GROSSET & DUNLAP is a trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. S.A.

  eISBN : 978-1-101-15334-5

  eISBN : 978-1-101-15334-5

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  Chapter 1

  “I’m starving!”

  Twin sisters Molly and Amanda Moore grinned at their younger brother, Matthew. “Nice to see you, too.” joked Molly as she dropped her heavy backpack on the floor in the Moores’ front hall. It was after six o’clock on Friday afternoon, and the twins had just gotten home from school.

  “We’ve been waiting for you forever,” Matthew complained. “What took you so long?”

  “Sorry, it’s my fault,” Amanda explained. “The school play is only a week away, and we were swamped with last-minute alterations to the costumes.” Amanda, who was in the drama club at Windsor Middle School, had joined the costume crew after not being cast in the most recent school play.

  “Don! take off your coats, girls,” Mrs. Moore said as she walked into the hall, followed by her sister. Livia. She’d been staying with the Moores for the past week. Everyone—especially the twins—loved having fun, stylish Aunt Livia around!

  “We’re going out for dinner,” Aunt Livia explained, hugging the twins. “Your dad will meet us there.”

  “Cool”, said Molly. “Louie’s?”

  “Actually, Aunt Livia and I saw a new restaurant on Seventh Avenue—Edo Teppan-Yaki. Mom said. “It’s a teppan grill.”

  Matthew scrunched up his face. “Teppan? I don’t like teppan,” he grumbled. “It tastes terrible.”

  “Teppan isn’t a food,” Mom said, smiling at Matthew. “It’s a kind of Japanese cooking. Trust me, you’ll love it!”

  Everyone was soon bundled up in their coats and heading down the hill toward Seventh Avenue, the heart of Park Terrace, Brooklyn. Molly and Amanda loved living in Park Terrace. It seemed to have everything—fun and unique stores all along Seventh Avenue; beautiful Prospect Park with its skating rink, pedal boats, rolling meadows, nature trails, and band shell; and dozens of restaurants that served food as diverse as the people of Brooklyn themselves. And it was just a short subway ride under the East River to Manhattan, the heart of New York City!

  “Molly, how was your Volunteers’ Club meeting today?” Aunt Livia asked as she draped her arms around her two nieces.

  “It was great!” exclaimed Molly. “We earned so much money at the Harvest Fair fundraiser a few weeks ago that we got this really nice thank-you letter. And guess what—it was signed by the mayor! Principal Wagner stopped by the meeting to congratulate us, and she said she’s going to frame the letter and hang it in the front hall.”

  “Wonderful, sweetie!” exclaimed Mom. “You should feel so proud.”

  Molly nodded. “If feels awesome to help people like that.” For a recent social studies assignment, Molly had researched hunger in America. She’d been shocked to learn how many people go hungry in America every single day—and had vowed to find a way to help however she could.

  “Here we are,” Aunt Livia said suddenly, stopping in front of a small restaurant with large glass windows. The twins could see their father waiting in the entryway inside, rumpling his hair while studying a menu.

  “Hey, everybody,” Dad said with a smile as they entered the restaurant. “This place looks—”

  “Wow ! This is awesome!” Matthew interrupted him. A teakwood bridge arched over a small indoor pond filled with smooth stones and koi—large, brightly-colored Japanese fish. A gentle waterfall provided a calm, soothing atmosphere. Single-file, the Moores crossed the bridge into the main part of the restaurant, which was decorated with paper screens and richly-colored Japanese prints. But the best part of the restaurant was the seating area. Instead of tables and chairs arranged throughout the main room, Edo Teppan-Yaki had five gleaming silver surfaces that were edged on three sides with polished wooden countertops. Eight tall chairs were pulled up to three sides of the tables.

  A smiling woman in a glistening green-and-gold kimono approached them, bowing slightly. “Welcome to Edo Teppan-Taki,” she said softly. “We are so pleased to serve you tonight. Six?”

  “Yes,” Aunt Livia confirmed. The Moores followed the hostess to one of the odd-looking tables.

  “Have you eaten teppan before?” asked the hostess. The adults nodded, but the kids just looked puzzled.

  “No,” Molly answered. “But we love Japanese food.”

  “Wonderful,” smiled the hostess. “In teppan cooking, all of the food is prepared right at the table by a master chef. You are served the freshest, most inspired dishes and are able to watch your chef prepare them. I am certain you will find teppan a fascinating cooking style—and very delicious!”

  After the Moores sat at the table, the hostess gave them menus and then returned to the front of the restaurant. Now that the twins were closer to the tables, they could tell that the gleaming surfaces were actually grills surrounded by bottles of oils, vinegars, and spices. Molly turned to Amanda. “I can’t believe a real chef is going to cook right here!” she exclaimed.

  “I know,” Amanda said, nodding her head. “Too cool!” She opened her menu. One side had dishes listed in English under the headings, “Sushi,” “Traditional,” “Side Orders,” and “Special.” The other side of the menu was covered with Japanese writing.

  “Hey. Matthew”, Molly teased. “How about some sushi? Mmm, raw fish!”

  “No way,” he replied, shaking his head vehemently. “I want that really good fried shrimp stuff. With sticky rice.”

  “You mean shrimp tempura, sport,” Dad told Matthew.

  “Yakisoba is excellent,” recommended Aunt Livia as she glanced at her menu. “It’s a wonderful dish of fried curly noodles, like ramen, with vegetables, pork, and a thick sauce. And I love sushi, Matthew! I’m getting some for an appetizer and you have to try it.”

  “Okay,” Matthew agreed. “If you say it’s so great.” but he didn’t sound too sure.

  “Molls, do you want to split some sushi for an appetizer?” Amanda asked.

  “Sure,” replied Molly.

  “What looks good for an entree?” Dad asked the twins.

  “Chicken teriyaki,” they replied at the same time. Everyone laughed.

  “The twin thing again!” Aunt Livia smiled. That’s what the twins called it whenever they said or thought the same thing at the same time—which happened a lot.

  Although Molly and Amanda were identical twins with long brown hair, freckles, and bright green eyes, it was easy to tell them apart. Molly preferred high pony-tails and low-top sneakers to fancy hairstyles and funky shoes, and would rather play sports than go shopping. Amanda was the fashion-conscious one, always experimenting with new looks. Tonight was no exception. While Molly sported her favorite jeans and a red sweatshirt with “brooklyn” on the front, Amanda was decked out in a green top with a silver paisley pattern over flared brown cords and cute brown ankle boots.

  Just then, a man wearing white chefs clothes approached their table. Across his forehead was a white band with a red rising sun design. He bowed, grinning broadly. “Welcome to Edo Teppan-Taki!” he exclaimed. “My name is Chef Kaga and I hope you’re all hungry!” He picked up a gleaming flat spatula and twirl
ed it, tossing it high in the air and catching it gracefully. Chef Kaga turned to Matthew and pointed the spatula at him. “You must be the one in charge. Sir, I am delighted to serve you this evening.” Then Chef Kaga bowed to Matthew, making the boy giggle.

  Chef Kaga turned to Molly and Amanda, flipping the spatula behind his back before pointing it at them. “Twins! Twice as nice! Ladies, your wish is my command.” finally, he faced Mom, Dad, and Aunt Livia. “boy and girls, would you like to order from the kiddie menu tonight?” That was too much for Matthew, who started laughing.

  Chef Kaga straightened up and snapped his fingers loudly. As if by magic, two assistants appeared pushing a three-tiered cart laden with fresh vegetables, raw meat, and fish. “Here is your dinner,” Chef Kaga announced. “My work here is done.”

  The twins looked at all the raw food and shook their heads, puzzled. Then Chef Kaga slapped his head. “Whoops! I forgot to cook it!” Laughing at his own corny joke, Chef Kaga asked, “What would you like to eat tonight?”

  Molly noticed that as everyone ordered, Chef Kaga nodded, but wrote nothing down. She leaned over to Amanda and whispered, “This guy’s good!”

  “Excellent choices,” Chef Kaga said, beaming. “Teppan-yaki is a relatively new style of Japanese cooking—only two hundred years old. But in Japan, freshness and presentation have always been very important parts of food preparation. Teppan-yaki adds the excitement of a performing chef who cooks right at your table!”

  While Chef Kaga spoke, he began expertly slicing vegetables. The knife moved so quickly in his skilled hands that it was just a flash of silver. After Chef Kaga had sliced cabbage, mushrooms, carrots, broccoli, sweet potatoes, and scallions, he pushed each vegetable into a separate pile. He did the same with chicken, beef, and fish. With one hand, he poured golden cooking oil onto the grill in front of him, then spread it around to each corner with the flat spatula.

  The twins watched in amazement as Chef Kaga cooked all six meals on the grill in front of them—at the same time! With the flat spatula in one hand and the long chopstick in the other, Chef Kaga sauteed the chicken and beef, stir-fried the vegetables, cooked the scrambled eggs, fried the rice, and grilled the fish.

  “How does he do that?” wondered Amanda.

  “Years of practice!” replied Chef Kaga.

  In about ten minutes, each meal was ready. Chef Kaga artfully arranged the food on beautiful china plates with Japanese designs on them. From a sushi bar on the side of the restaurant, Chef Kaga’s assistant brought several small plates of sushi to the table.

  Chef Kaga bowed low as the Moores thanked him. “My pleasure! I hope to see you all back soon!” He moved to another table that had filled up with hungry patrons, eager to watch Chef Kaga’s cooking performance and eat the delicious food.

  The fragrant dishes, which had been cooked just moments before, smelled wonderful to the twins. “Mmm! This is delicious!” Molly exclaimed after her first bite of chicken. “I love the marinade—it’s salty and tangy.”

  “Ish aweshum,” Matthew mumbled with his mouth full. Bits of rice sprayed onto the table.

  “Gross!” squealed Amanda.

  Dad raised his eyebrows. “Mind your manners, sport.”

  With his mouth tightly closed, Matthew nodded.

  “Barb, try some of my yakisoba,” Aunt Livia encouraged. “Let’s share like the twins.

  “Great idea,” Mom replied. “This is my favorite part of eating out—getting to try new things! And it’s even better when the food is so fresh and delicious. It’s so nice to take a break from cooking, isn’t it, girls?

  “Definitely,” Amanda replied emphatically. “But I’ll be back in the kitchen tomorrow. Dish has a four-dinner job for the Myers.”

  Dish was a cooking business that Molly and Amanda had started over a year ago. It all started one boring summer day when Molly, who was sick of the takeout their busy parents kept bringing home, had the great idea to surprise their parents and cook dinner for the whole family. Amanda wasn’t sure they could do it, but together the twins had found a recipe, gone to the grocery store, and made chicken picatta, wild rice, and salad. And it was delicious!

  The twins had had such a blast cooking that dinner that they’d decided to take a cooking class for kids at Park Terrace Cookware with their best friend, Shawn Jordan. At class, they’d run into Peichi Cheng and Natasha Ross, who they knew from school. It wasn’t long before the five girls had formed a cooking club. Soon, the cooking club turned into a cooking business when the girls realized that the Moores weren’t the only family in Park Terrace who were too busy to cook dinner every night. By offering fresh, home-cooked meals to busy families, Dish became an instant success! Since those first summer days of Dish, the Chef Girls (as they called themselves) had had some amazing experiences, including cooking for fancy parties, appearing on live TV, and, most recently, helping those in need.

  It wasn’t always easy for the Chef Girls to balance homework, after-school activities, and their business. Recently, for Molly, it had all become too much. Already busy with baby-sitting, writing for the school newspaper, and fundraising for the Windsor Volunteers’ Club, Molly had been so upset to find out how many families in America are hungry that she had decided to start a new business. By bottling and selling her delicious pesto sauce, Molly would be able to donate all of the profits to local food banks. But working on two businesses was overwhelming, and Molly had made the difficult decision to leave Dish. It had shocked the girls—especially Amanda—but they tried to be understanding. Still, Dish just wasn’t the same without Molly.

  Even though leaving Dish had been Molly’s decision, she felt uncomfortable talking about it. She cleared her throat. “Tomorrow, I’m covering the Windsor football game against the Bergen Bears,” she told her parents. “I want to cover more sports for the Post. I really love writing articles.”

  “Just like your Aunt Livia!” Mom said with a smile. Aunt Livia, a freelance writer, wrote all kinds of articles for magazines and newspapers. Mom turned to Dad and changed the subject. “By the way, Professor Stephens, the head of the art history department, presented me with an interesting offer today.” Mom was a professor of art history at Brooklyn College.

  “Oh? What’s that?” asked Dad, reaching for some of Molly’s sushi with his chopsticks.

  “He was supposed to attend the annual ‘Art through the Ages’ conference at King’s College in London,” Mom began. “But he won’t be able to make it. He asked if I’d take his place. But I just don’t see how it could work out. The conference is two weeks long—and I’d have to leave next Tuesday.”

  “What?” cried Aunt Livia. “You’re kidding, right, Barbara? This is a fantastic opportunity! You’ve got to go to London.”

  The twins smiled at each other. They were doing the “twin thing” again, thinking how much Aunt Livia sounded like Mom just then.

  “I agree,” Dad said, smiling at Mom. “An all-expenses-paid trip to London? How could you refuse? And it will be great for your career, too. I can hold down the fort around here.”

  Aunt Livia looked at Dad. “Mike, you should go with her! A romantic trip to London for just the two of you? It will be like a second honeymoon! I can stay on and take care of the kids.”

  “It would be a wonderful experience,” Mom began. “But Livvy, you’re supposed to leave for California on Sunday.”

  Aunt Livia shrugged and waved her hand in the air. “Please—I’d much rather spend another few weeks with my favorite nieces and nephew,” she said with a grin. “I can call my editor on Monday and work from here for the next few weeks.” She looked at Molly. “One of the great things about being a freelance writer is flexibility. It sounds like a career you would like!”

  “Well”, Mom said, “I’d love to go to London. What do you say, Mike?”

  “Absolutely! When do we leave?” Dad replied. “I still have some vacation time at work, so that shouldn’t be a problem.”