Constraint Chef

On a long ocean journey, it’s important to stay well-fed. Good thing this submarine has a well-stocked galley! Why not make some food for your fellow aquatic adventurers?

Make a meal in three courses (at least one vegetarian, at least one not) to feed at least four people (two of you and two of us, so you need to be willing to eat what you bring!). All three courses must contribute points to your score. Please also bring a written description of what you have prepared, including a full list of all ingredients and which points you are claiming. Call us when you are ready to bring it to HQ. Extra rewards may be in store if your team makes us something really tasty!

Choose several constraints, based on your team size:

• 1-20 people: 20 points
• 21-30 people: 30 points
• 31-50 people: 40 points
• 51-70 people: 50 points
• 71-100 people: 60 points
• 101+ people: 70 points

You’re on a long ocean journey, and it’s hard to make food on a submarine:

• +1 point if at least one course includes fresh citrus (avoid scurvy!)
• +1 point if at least one course includes dried fruits, vegetables, or mushrooms (+2 bonus, for 3 total, if any of the dried fruits, vegetables, or mushrooms has been rehydrated)
• +2 points if at least one course includes salted meat or jerky
• +2 points if at least one course includes rum
• +2 points if at least one course contains only shelf-stable non-perishable ingredients, and contains at least four ingredients total
• +2 points if at least one course contains crackers, biscuits, or hardtack, but no other starch
• +3 points if you make homemade hardtack
• +3 points if at least one course includes powdered eggs, powdered milk, or powdered cheese
• +4 points if no fresh water is involved in preparing any courses (salt water above 2% salinity is OK [that’s 1 teaspoon per cup], and other liquids besides water are OK)

You may as well use what you can find in the sea:

• +1 point if at least one course includes sea salt
• +2 points if at least one course includes fish
• +2 points if at least one course includes seaweed
• +3 points if at least one course includes octopus or squid
• +3 points if at least one course includes scallops, scalloped potatoes, or chicken or veal scallopine
• +4 points if at least one course includes sea urchin
• +4 points if at least one course includes sea cucumber
• +1 points if at least one course includes regular cucumber
• +1 points if at least one course includes goldfish crackers
• +1 points if at least one course includes swedish fish
• +3 points if at least one course includes tapioca “pearls”
• +3 points if at least one course includes something grown hydroponically
• +6 points if the meal includes at least one Seafood Watch “best choice” sustainable seafood option (seafoodwatch.org) and no “good alternative” or “avoid” options.
• +3 points if the meal includes at least one Seafood Watch “good alternative” sustainable seafood option and no “avoid” options.

Make it really thematic!

• +2 points per course that has been shaped or decorated by your team to look like a sea creature
• Make it authentic “steampunk” cuisine:
  +2 points if at least one course includes something steamed
• Oil and water don’t mix!
  +4 points if you prepare a dish that normally contains oil or butter, but you find a clever way to completely omit all oil or butter.
• Sail the seven C’s:
  +5 points per course that uses seven ingredients starting with C. (Each kind of ingredient can only count towards one course.)
• Show your love of the ocean by making at least one course predominantly blue in color:
  +2 points if commercial food coloring is used OR +5 points if the course is predominantly blue without use of food coloring
• +3 points if at least one course is served on a plate or container shaped like a boat (+2 bonus, for 5 total, if the boat-food-assembly floats).
• +4 points if at least one course is served within a closed container shaped like a submarine (+3 bonus, for 7 total, if the submarine-food-assembly is watertight and neutrally buoyant).