How to Play A la carte: Dessert

Objective of the Game

In A la carte: Dessert, players take on the role of chefs. The goal is to cook dishes and fulfill challenges to earn victory points. The player with the most victory points at the end of the game is the winner. Victory points are earned from both finished dishes and completed menu cards.

Preparation (Setup)

1. Gently punch all components out of the punchboard.
2. Construct the stove according to the illustration. Insert the plastic rivet halves for the adjusting knob from both sides, using pliers if needed for a firm connection. Turn the knob several times until it moves smoothly.
3. Shuffle all menu cards thoroughly. Each player is dealt 3 menu cards.
4. Each player secretly chooses one menu card, places it face down adjacent to their stove, and discards the other two face down. The unused and discarded cards are put back into the box.
5. Add all 6 new coffee cups from this expansion to the coffee cups from the base game and shuffle them face down.
6. Each player randomly draws one coffee cup and places it face up in front of their stove.
7. Pour the twenty condiments (5 of each color: lemon, pepper, paprika, herbs) into the new condiment dispenser to create the assorted condiments dispenser. Note that there is NO salt in the assorted condiments.
8. If playing with five players, use the additional stove, pan, tray for finished dishes, Crêpe, and stars.

Fluxo do Jogo

The original rules of the base game apply when playing with this expansion. The game progresses with players taking turns to cook dishes. New elements introduced in this expansion can be combined with the base game.

Ações e Como Jogar

Menu Cards

Menu cards are challenges that generate additional victory points. If a player successfully fulfills all challenges from their chosen menu card, the card is turned face up. At the end of the game, the player receives the victory points printed on this card. If a player does not fulfill all challenges from their menu card before the end of the game, they will not earn any victory points from it.

A special note: Four menu cards call for a star token. This means a player must have at least one star to create this dish. The star token does not need to be earned with any specific dish.

New Coffee Cups

There are 2 new types of coffee cups:

• Trash can: Instead of choosing a new dish from the table, the player may “recycle” an already spoilt dish. They put a dish which had previously been thrown in the trash can into their pan.
• Flavor Neutralizer: The player may remove any one condiment (even salt) from their pan. This is allowed even if the dish was already spoilt. Removing this one condiment can make the dish “edible” again or even make it “perfectly cooked” to earn a star token.

Briny Dishes

These dessert dishes offer new challenges. They are cooked as usual but require the condiment “salt.” These dishes can be more difficult to complete than they seem.

Assorted Condiments

The active player may choose to use the assorted condiments dispenser instead of the other dispensers. If this dispenser is empty, it is refilled with all available condiments – up to a maximum of 5 condiments per color (but without any salt!).

Fim de Jogo e Pontuação

The game ends just like in the base game. A game is over if any of the following conditions are met:

• A player is unable to place a dish in their pan because no more dishes are available.
• A player has finished 5 dishes.
• A player has collected 3 stars.

The player with the most victory points at the end of the game is the winner. Remember that both finished dishes AND completed menu cards are worth victory points.

Dicas para Vencer

• Consider using the Flavor Neutralizer coffee cup to save a spoilt dish or perfect it for a star token.
• Strategically choose your menu card at the beginning of the game, keeping in mind the challenges and potential victory points it offers.
• If a menu card requires a star token, focus on earning at least one star during the game, as the star token does not need to be earned with any specific dish for the card.