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// Round 1 Acadeca Part II: Caramel Flan 
// Story: The Friendship Games: Amber Shine 
// by PonyyCode 
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Rainbow Dash and Lyra came up to the front table with their flan and set it on the table.  Mighty took a step foward and asked, "Care to explain what you two made?"


"It's a caramel flan.  We decided to go for a more fancy dessert," Rainbow replied.  


"We wanted to do something that was a little out of our comfort zone," Lyra added.  "Neither of us have much cooking expirence but I think at least we were able to get it done."


Before Mighty sliced himself a piece, he examined the texture on it.  "The texture seems really nice.  Very smooth and the caramel running down the sides I think is a nice addition."  He sliced himself a piece and tried it.  Rainbow and Lyra were wishing the best for themselves as they waited for Mighty to share his opinion.


I hope he likes it, Rainbow thought.  


"Now Rainbow and Lyra.  The flan I think has a nice caramel taste on the outside and it's very smooth and moist.  Unfortunatley on the inside it does fall on the bland category.  In contrast to the sweet taste outside, the inside doesn't seem to have that nice quality that I was hoping for.  Perhaps next time, try adding a bit more flavor for the inside when you mix the ingredients which in this case you girls used vanilla is that correct?"


"Yes, that's right," Lyra said.  


"And besides vanilla, don't be afraid to try anything.  Add a few more tables of sugar.  Even a few teaspoons of honey.  If you want your dish the stand out you gotta take a step or two out of your comfort zone, but I see you girls got a lot of potential.  I know you do.  You're here because people voted for you to compete.  You just need to find a way to express it on a plate." Mighty said as he smiled gently.  Rainbow was a bit upset that her and Lyra's caramel flan wasn't all that great but it could've been a lot worse.  Mighty went back and Sapphire stepped foward.  She sliced herself a piece and tried it.  


"The flavor isn't really that great, and I think the caramel could have been sweeter, although I do love how smooth the caramel looks and the way it runs down the flan adds a really fine touch.  Even though the inside isn't up to par, I do like how you girls made sure to make it smooth as possible so you get that nice quality when taking a bite.  Thank you, Lyra and Rainbow," Sapphire said.  Error stepped foward and took a fork tried a piece before sharing what he thought of it.  


"Now if I'm being honest, flans are not the easiest to make.  It requires careful measurements, timing and attention to detail.  And as brutal as this might sound, this flan does show a bit of your inexpirence.  However the fact that you girls were confident enough to choose a more difficult dish and commit to finishing it is what makes you strong competitors."


"Rainbow and Lyra you can head back and take your food back to your table now." Sapphire said.  Rainbow and Lyra headed back to their tables.  They felt a bit dissapointed in themselves that their evaulation wasn't all that great.  


"Don't feel too bad.  I thought you girls did great," Amber reassured.  


"Next up.  Sunny Flare and SugarCoat."  Sapphire announced.  She took a step foward towards the front table as the two Crystal Prep students bought their food to the table.  "And would you care to explain what you've made?"


Sunny Flare gestured to the dish she and SugarCoat made.  "It's a strawberry glazed cheesecake topped with a few thin dark chocolate bars and strawberry slices on top." she said.  "I think you might enjoy it." she said with a smug.  


"I'll determine that after I try it," Sapphire said as she tried a piece.  After a few seconds she looked at SugarCoat and SunnyFlare.  "Great taste and awesome use of strawberries.  It really adds in that nice combination to make a worthy dessert and that feeling of from this dish.  that fine taste of strawberries mixed in with the perfect amount of chocolate is what makes this dish stand out, though do be careful on the glaze.  It does seem to be excessivley sweet which takes away the attention of the most important thing on this plate: the actual cheesecake itself.  How much sugar did you add in the glaze?"


"I think we added like 7 whole cups of sugar," Sunny Flare said.


"I would suggest next time not adding in so much," Sapphire smiled as she headed back.  Mighty stepped foward and sliced himself a piece.  As he ate it, Sunny Flare took a worried glance over at Amber and Sunset's dish and got a sick feeling in her stomach.  As much as she didn't want to admit it, it looked pretty damn good but her mind didn't have time to think anymore when Mighty began to evaulate their dish.  


"Now Cheesecakes are something very delicate.  It's a well known dessert across the world and there's no doubt you girls know your stuff when baking."  He took a fork and gently pressed the side of it on the surface.  "What we have here is a smooth surface which is always good but perhaps the highlight would be the arrangement of the strawberries and chocolate.  I can tell each one was carefully placed which gives it this fine display.  Good job."


Error stepped up and tried a slice for himself.  "This is I think really spot on.  You girls did a great job pulling off this cheesecake and it has this nice rich flavor that's the pinnacle of all cheesecakes.  Each part is executed to a high degree.  "Excellent job."


SunnyFlare and SugarCoat went back to their tables when Mighty called out the next pair.  


"Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy are up next!"


Pinkie giggled as she turned to Fluttershy.  "They're going to have their minds blown."