Take in as much of a Regular's outer punctuation as a reason spells

A mention extended over a stored name's optional outer punctuation only
when the reason spelled all of it, so "Like your Beef Chili!" left the
mention of "Beef Chili!!" at "Beef Chili" while "Chili!" extended through
its "!", and neither covered the other. Extend through the longest portion
of the punctuation the reason spells after which the border still holds,
at either end of the name.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

docs/ARCHITECTURE.md

@@ -322,6 +322,18 @@ automatic** (D-021).
   dinner when the token-set (Jaccard) similarity of their words is at least
   0.85. A `Deduper` over the Regulars, Quest log, pending suggestions and
   passed names rejects a suggestion that repeats any of them.
+- **Side quest suggestions** (`skills.SuggestSideQuests`, skill
+  `suggest_side_quests` v1): asks for twice the Side quests needed, at the
+  household temperature, with the household context plus the pending Side
+  quests. Malformed replies (bad JSON, a missing field, a bad enum, an
+  empty name) get the one repair turn. Well-formed Side quests that break a
+  rule are dropped, not repaired, and listed in `Dropped` with the rule:
+  one that repeats a Regular, Quest log dinner, pending Side quest, any
+  passed name (the whole history, not only the 60 in the context) or an
+  earlier Side quest of the batch; one citing no Regular or a name that is
+  not a Regular; and one whose reason is over 180 characters or names none
+  of its cited Regulars. Cited names are rewritten as the household writes
+  them. Grounding each survivor in a recipe is the caller's next step.
 
 ## Recipe grounding
 

internal/ai/skills/prompts/checksums.txt

@@ -3,3 +3,4 @@
 # version, rename its template to match and add a line for the new version.
 echo v1 ab5d7884f5c7a2261c06b0c9353bb9597070c001420bd4cbb6ec6272c093fdce
 normalize_recipe v1 7174e5479fc020f3b2b39953d85411381aea26defb9943145e7864c5b752d7ee
+suggest_side_quests v1 bd54d7bf9aea0980059a346e5f40ff4c866b80ef9bb9f74e7cbd413be0911c8a

internal/ai/skills/prompts/suggest_side_quests.v1.tmpl

@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+{{/* suggest_side_quests drafts Side quests: new dinners for the household to try, each based on its Regulars. */}}
+{{define "instructions" -}}
+You suggest Side quests: new dinners for the household to try, based on the dinners it already makes.
+
+Every Side quest must be a dinner the household has not had: never one of its Regulars, its Quest log, its pending Side quests or the dinners it has passed, and never one of those under another name. Base every Side quest on one or more of the household's Regulars, such as a familiar protein in a new cuisine or familiar flavours cooked a new way. Prefer the favorite Regulars, and vary the cuisines across the batch.
+
+Give for each Side quest:
+- name: the dinner's usual name, as a recipe site would title it.
+- cuisine: its cuisine, e.g. "Thai" or "Tex-Mex".
+- method: how it is mainly cooked: "stovetop", "oven", "crockpot" (slow cooker or crock pot), "grill" or "other".
+- est_minutes: your estimate of the whole minutes from starting prep to the table.
+- difficulty: "easy", "medium" or "hard" for a home cook.
+- reason: one sentence of at most 180 characters saying why the household would like it. It must name at least one of the Regulars in cited_regulars.
+- cited_regulars: the Regulars the reason relies on, at least one, each written exactly as its name appears in the Regulars list of the household context, without the details in parentheses. Cite only Regulars from that list.
+- search_query: a web search query that finds a recipe for this dinner.
+
+One valid Side quest, for a household with a Regular named "Chicken Fajitas" (an example only, not about this household):
+{"name": "Chicken Shawarma Bowls", "cuisine": "Middle Eastern", "method": "oven", "est_minutes": 40, "difficulty": "easy", "reason": "Spiced roast chicken and crisp toppings, like your Chicken Fajitas with a Middle Eastern twist.", "cited_regulars": ["Chicken Fajitas"], "search_query": "chicken shawarma bowls recipe"}
+{{- end}}
+{{define "user" -}}
+Suggest {{.Count}} Side quests.
+{{- end}}

internal/ai/skills/suggest_side_quests.go

@@ -0,0 +1,420 @@
+package skills
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"slices"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+	"unicode"
+	"unicode/utf8"
+
+	"code.cubecraftlabs.com/Maniacs_Mansion/Meal-Quest/internal/ai/harness"
+	"code.cubecraftlabs.com/Maniacs_Mansion/Meal-Quest/internal/ai/llm"
+)
+
+// ReasonLimit is the most characters a Side quest's reason, its "Why
+// this?", may have.
+const ReasonLimit = 180
+
+// SideQuestsRequest is what suggest_side_quests reads.
+type SideQuestsRequest struct {
+	// Context is the household context (see harness.BuildContext). It must
+	// hold at least one Regular, since every Side quest cites one.
+	Context harness.HouseholdContext
+	// Needed is how many Side quests the caller wants to keep. The skill
+	// asks the model for twice as many, since validation and grounding
+	// drop some. It must be positive.
+	Needed int
+	// Pending holds the names of the Side quests not yet tried or passed.
+	Pending []string
+	// Declined holds the name of every passed Side quest, not only the
+	// recent ones Context holds.
+	Declined []string
+}
+
+// SideQuest is one suggested new dinner. Method, EstMinutes and Difficulty
+// are the model's estimates until the dinner is grounded in a recipe.
+type SideQuest struct {
+	Name    string `json:"name"`
+	Cuisine string `json:"cuisine"`
+	// Method is one of stovetop, oven, crockpot, grill and other.
+	Method     string `json:"method"`
+	EstMinutes int    `json:"est_minutes"`
+	// Difficulty is easy, medium or hard.
+	Difficulty string `json:"difficulty"`
+	// Reason is the "Why this?": at most ReasonLimit characters, naming at
+	// least one of CitedRegulars.
+	Reason string `json:"reason"`
+	// CitedRegulars are names of the household's Regulars, as the
+	// household writes them.
+	CitedRegulars []string `json:"cited_regulars"`
+	// SearchQuery is a web search query that finds a recipe for the dinner.
+	SearchQuery string `json:"search_query"`
+}
+
+// SideQuests is suggest_side_quests' output.
+type SideQuests struct {
+	// Suggestions are the Side quests that passed every rule, in the
+	// model's order. There may be more or fewer than Needed.
+	Suggestions []SideQuest `json:"suggestions"`
+	// Dropped are the Side quests the model gave that broke a rule, in the
+	// model's order. It is never part of the model's reply.
+	Dropped []DroppedSideQuest `json:"-"`
+}
+
+// DroppedSideQuest is a Side quest dropped by PostProcess.
+type DroppedSideQuest struct {
+	Name string
+	// Why says which rule it broke.
+	Why string
+}
+
+// SuggestSideQuests runs suggest_side_quests v1 on in and returns the Side
+// quests that cite only real Regulars, give a short reason naming one of
+// them, and repeat no Regular, Quest log dinner, pending or passed Side
+// quest, nor each other. The rest are in Dropped. scope names the batch
+// (see harness.Run).
+func SuggestSideQuests(ctx context.Context, cfg harness.Config, scope string, in SideQuestsRequest) (SideQuests, error) {
+	return harness.Run(ctx, cfg, suggestSideQuests{in: in}, scope, in)
+}
+
+// suggestSideQuests is the skill. It holds its input because validation
+// and post-processing compare the output with it.
+type suggestSideQuests struct {
+	in SideQuestsRequest
+}
+
+var _ harness.Skill[SideQuestsRequest, SideQuests] = suggestSideQuests{}
+
+func (suggestSideQuests) Name() string { return "suggest_side_quests" }
+
+func (suggestSideQuests) Version() int { return 1 }
+
+func (suggestSideQuests) Timeout() time.Duration { return harness.DefaultTimeout }
+
+// sideQuestsPrompt is the template data of suggest_side_quests.v1.tmpl.
+type sideQuestsPrompt struct {
+	// Count is how many Side quests to ask for.
+	Count int
+}
+
+// requested is how many Side quests the model is asked for.
+func (s suggestSideQuests) requested() int { return 2 * s.in.Needed }
+
+func (suggestSideQuests) PromptInput(in SideQuestsRequest) (harness.PromptInput, error) {
+	if in.Needed <= 0 {
+		return harness.PromptInput{}, fmt.Errorf("%d Side quests needed; the number must be positive", in.Needed)
+	}
+	if len(in.Context.Regulars) == 0 {
+		return harness.PromptInput{}, errors.New("household has no Regulars for Side quests to be based on")
+	}
+	sections := append(in.Context.Sections(), harness.ContextSection{Title: "Pending Side quests", Lines: in.Pending})
+	return harness.PromptInput{Data: sideQuestsPrompt{Count: suggestSideQuests{in: in}.requested()}, Context: sections}, nil
+}
+
+func (suggestSideQuests) Schema() llm.JSONSchema {
+	return llm.JSONSchema{Name: "suggest_side_quests", Schema: json.RawMessage(`{
+		"type": "object",
+		"properties": {
+			"suggestions": {
+				"type": "array",
+				"items": {
+					"type": "object",
+					"properties": {
+						"name": {"type": "string"},
+						"cuisine": {"type": "string"},
+						"method": {"type": "string", "enum": ["stovetop", "oven", "crockpot", "grill", "other"]},
+						"est_minutes": {"type": "integer"},
+						"difficulty": {"type": "string", "enum": ["easy", "medium", "hard"]},
+						"reason": {"type": "string"},
+						"cited_regulars": {"type": "array", "items": {"type": "string"}},
+						"search_query": {"type": "string"}
+					},
+					"required": ["name", "cuisine", "method", "est_minutes", "difficulty", "reason", "cited_regulars", "search_query"],
+					"additionalProperties": false
+				}
+			}
+		},
+		"required": ["suggestions"],
+		"additionalProperties": false
+	}`)}
+}
+
+// UnmarshalJSON decodes a Side quest, requiring each of its fields as the
+// schema does: encoding/json would otherwise read a missing or null one as
+// empty.
+func (q *SideQuest) UnmarshalJSON(data []byte) error {
+	if err := requireFields(data, nil, "name", "cuisine", "method", "est_minutes", "difficulty", "reason", "cited_regulars", "search_query"); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("suggestion %s", err)
+	}
+	type plain SideQuest
+	return json.Unmarshal(data, (*plain)(q))
+}
+
+// UnmarshalJSON decodes the output, requiring its one field as the schema
+// does.
+func (out *SideQuests) UnmarshalJSON(data []byte) error {
+	if err := requireFields(data, nil, "suggestions"); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("output %s", err)
+	}
+	type plain SideQuests
+	return json.Unmarshal(data, (*plain)(out))
+}
+
+// Validate finds what makes the reply unusable as a whole: a wrong number
+// of Side quests or one that is malformed. A well-formed Side quest that
+// breaks a rule is dropped by PostProcess instead.
+func (s suggestSideQuests) Validate(out SideQuests) []string {
+	var problems []string
+	switch n := len(out.Suggestions); {
+	case n == 0 && len(out.Dropped) == 0:
+		problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("suggestions is empty; give %d Side quests", s.requested()))
+	case n > s.requested():
+		problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("suggestions has %d entries; give at most %d Side quests", n, s.requested()))
+	}
+	for i, q := range out.Suggestions {
+		for _, f := range []struct{ field, value string }{
+			{"name", q.Name}, {"cuisine", q.Cuisine}, {"reason", q.Reason}, {"search_query", q.SearchQuery},
+		} {
+			if strings.TrimSpace(f.value) == "" {
+				problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("suggestion %d has an empty %s; give one", i+1, f.field))
+			}
+		}
+		if strings.TrimSpace(q.Name) != "" && harness.Normalize(q.Name) == "" {
+			problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("suggestion %d name %q has only filler words; name the dish", i+1, q.Name))
+		}
+		if !slices.Contains(methods, q.Method) {
+			problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("suggestion %d method %q is not one of %s", i+1, q.Method, strings.Join(methods, ", ")))
+		}
+		if q.EstMinutes <= 0 {
+			problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("suggestion %d est_minutes %d is not positive; give the minutes from prep to table", i+1, q.EstMinutes))
+		}
+		if !slices.Contains(difficulties, q.Difficulty) {
+			problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("suggestion %d difficulty %q is not one of %s", i+1, q.Difficulty, strings.Join(difficulties, ", ")))
+		}
+	}
+	return problems
+}
+
+// PostProcess tidies every Side quest's text, writes its cited Regulars as
+// the household does, and moves each one that breaks a rule to Dropped
+// (see drop).
+func (s suggestSideQuests) PostProcess(out SideQuests) (SideQuests, error) {
+	regulars := regularNames{exact: map[string][]string{}, normalized: map[string][]string{}}
+	var names []string
+	for _, r := range s.in.Context.Regulars {
+		regulars.add(r.Name)
+		names = append(names, r.Name)
+	}
+	regulars.all = names
+	known := harness.NewDeduper(harness.DedupeSources{
+		Regulars: names,
+		QuestLog: s.in.Context.QuestLog,
+		Pending:  s.in.Pending,
+		Declined: s.in.Declined,
+	})
+	result := SideQuests{Suggestions: []SideQuest{}}
+	for _, q := range out.Suggestions {
+		q = SideQuest{
+			Name:          oneLine(q.Name),
+			Cuisine:       oneLine(q.Cuisine),
+			Method:        q.Method,
+			EstMinutes:    q.EstMinutes,
+			Difficulty:    q.Difficulty,
+			Reason:        oneLine(q.Reason),
+			CitedRegulars: q.CitedRegulars,
+			SearchQuery:   oneLine(q.SearchQuery),
+		}
+		cited, why := drop(q, regulars, known, result.Suggestions)
+		if why != "" {
+			result.Dropped = append(result.Dropped, DroppedSideQuest{Name: q.Name, Why: why})
+			continue
+		}
+		q.CitedRegulars = cited
+		result.Suggestions = append(result.Suggestions, q)
+	}
+	return result, nil
+}
+
+// regularNames finds the Regular a cited name means. Names need not be
+// unique, even ignoring case, so each key holds every Regular with it.
+type regularNames struct {
+	// exact is keyed by the name in lower case on one line.
+	exact map[string][]string
+	// normalized is keyed by harness.Normalize of the name.
+	normalized map[string][]string
+	// all holds every Regular's name, in the household's order.
+	all []string
+}
+
+func exactName(name string) string { return strings.ToLower(oneLine(name)) }
+
+func (r regularNames) add(name string) {
+	r.exact[exactName(name)] = append(r.exact[exactName(name)], name)
+	if n := harness.Normalize(name); n != "" {
+		r.normalized[n] = append(r.normalized[n], name)
+	}
+}
+
+// find returns the one Regular cited means, or "" and why there is none.
+// A Regular named exactly cited, ignoring case and spacing, comes first;
+// failing that, cited may name a Regular by its normalized name.
+func (r regularNames) find(cited string) (string, string) {
+	matches := r.exact[exactName(cited)]
+	if len(matches) == 0 {
+		matches = r.normalized[harness.Normalize(cited)]
+	}
+	switch len(matches) {
+	case 0:
+		return "", fmt.Sprintf("cites %q, which is not a Regular", cited)
+	case 1:
+		return matches[0], ""
+	default:
+		return "", fmt.Sprintf("cites %q, which could be any of the Regulars %q", cited, matches)
+	}
+}
+
+// drop returns why q must be dropped, or "" and its cited Regulars as the
+// household writes them when it may be kept. q is dropped when it repeats
+// a known dinner or a Side quest already kept, cites no Regular or one
+// regulars finds no single Regular for, or has a reason over ReasonLimit
+// characters or naming none of its cited Regulars.
+func drop(q SideQuest, regulars regularNames, known *harness.Deduper, kept []SideQuest) ([]string, string) {
+	if known.IsDuplicate(q.Name) {
+		return nil, "repeats a Regular, Quest log dinner, pending or passed Side quest"
+	}
+	for _, k := range kept {
+		if harness.Similar(q.Name, k.Name) {
+			return nil, fmt.Sprintf("repeats the Side quest %q in the same batch", k.Name)
+		}
+	}
+	if len(q.CitedRegulars) == 0 {
+		return nil, "cites no Regular"
+	}
+	var cited []string
+	for _, c := range q.CitedRegulars {
+		name, why := regulars.find(c)
+		if why != "" {
+			return nil, why
+		}
+		cited = append(cited, name)
+	}
+	if n := utf8.RuneCountInString(q.Reason); n > ReasonLimit {
+		return nil, fmt.Sprintf("reason has %d characters, over %d", n, ReasonLimit)
+	}
+	named := regulars.named(q.Reason)
+	if !slices.ContainsFunc(cited, func(name string) bool { return slices.Contains(named, name) }) {
+		return nil, "reason names none of its cited Regulars"
+	}
+	return cited, ""
+}
+
+// named returns the Regulars text names, by one rule. A mention of a
+// Regular is a place where text spells its name, ignoring case and spacing,
+// with no letter, mark or digit just outside it: the start or end of text,
+// white space, punctuation or a symbol must border it, so "Beef
+// Chili-inspired" and "Beef Chili's" mention "Beef Chili" while "Beef
+// Chilis" does not, nor does "Cafe" with a combining accent after it
+// mention "Cafe". Punctuation at either end of the name, with any spacing
+// beside it, is optional, and a mention takes in as much of it as text
+// spells, spaced in any way, with the border still holding after it: "Easy
+// Beef Chili!" is mentioned by "Easy Beef Chili." too, by "Easy Beef Chili
+// !" with its "!", and by "Easy Beef Chili!x" without its "!", and "Beef
+// Chili!!" by "Beef Chili!" with one "!". A
+// combining mark is part of its letter, never punctuation. A mention names
+// its Regular unless a mention of a different Regular covers the same text
+// or more, so "Your Easy Beef Chili." names "Easy Beef Chili" and not "Beef
+// Chili", and text that two Regulars spell alike names neither there.
+func (r regularNames) named(text string) []string {
+	type mention struct {
+		name       string
+		start, end int
+	}
+	text = exactName(text)
+	bordered := func(start, end int) bool {
+		before, _ := utf8.DecodeLastRuneInString(text[:start])
+		after, _ := utf8.DecodeRuneInString(text[end:])
+		return (start == 0 || !isWord(before)) && (end == len(text) || !isWord(after))
+	}
+	var mentions []mention
+	for _, name := range r.all {
+		full := exactName(name)
+		core := strings.TrimFunc(full, isOuter)
+		if core == "" {
+			continue
+		}
+		lead := full[:len(full)-len(strings.TrimLeftFunc(full, isOuter))]
+		trail := full[len(lead)+len(core):]
+		for at := 0; ; {
+			i := strings.Index(text[at:], core)
+			if i < 0 {
+				break
+			}
+			start, end := at+i, at+i+len(core)
+			at = start + 1
+			if !bordered(start, end) {
+				continue
+			}
+			start = spelledBefore(text, start, lead, func(s int) bool { return bordered(s, end) })
+			end = spelledAfter(text, end, trail, func(e int) bool { return bordered(start, e) })
+			mentions = append(mentions, mention{name, start, end})
+		}
+	}
+	var names []string
+	for _, m := range mentions {
+		covered := slices.ContainsFunc(mentions, func(o mention) bool {
+			return o.name != m.name && o.start <= m.start && o.end >= m.end
+		})
+		if !covered && !slices.Contains(names, m.name) {
+			names = append(names, m.name)
+		}
+	}
+	return names
+}
+
+// spelledAfter returns where the longest start of outer that text spells
+// from at ends, ignoring spacing, among those after which bordered holds,
+// or at when there are none.
+func spelledAfter(text string, at int, outer string, bordered func(int) bool) int {
+	end := at
+	for _, c := range strings.Join(strings.Fields(outer), "") {
+		at = len(text) - len(strings.TrimLeftFunc(text[at:], unicode.IsSpace))
+		if !strings.HasPrefix(text[at:], string(c)) {
+			break
+		}
+		at += utf8.RuneLen(c)
+		if bordered(at) {
+			end = at
+		}
+	}
+	return end
+}
+
+// spelledBefore returns where the longest end of outer that text spells up
+// to at starts, ignoring spacing, among those before which bordered holds,
+// or at when there are none.
+func spelledBefore(text string, at int, outer string, bordered func(int) bool) int {
+	start := at
+	punct := []rune(strings.Join(strings.Fields(outer), ""))
+	for i := len(punct) - 1; i >= 0; i-- {
+		at = len(strings.TrimRightFunc(text[:at], unicode.IsSpace))
+		if !strings.HasSuffix(text[:at], string(punct[i])) {
+			break
+		}
+		at -= utf8.RuneLen(punct[i])
+		if bordered(at) {
+			start = at
+		}
+	}
+	return start
+}
+
+// isWord reports whether c is a letter, a mark on one or a digit.
+func isWord(c rune) bool { return unicode.IsLetter(c) || unicode.IsMark(c) || unicode.IsDigit(c) }
+
+// isOuter reports whether c may be left off the end of a name: punctuation
+// or white space.
+func isOuter(c rune) bool { return unicode.IsPunct(c) || unicode.IsSpace(c) }

internal/ai/skills/suggest_side_quests_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,488 @@
+package skills
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"reflect"
+	"slices"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"code.cubecraftlabs.com/Maniacs_Mansion/Meal-Quest/internal/ai/harness"
+	"code.cubecraftlabs.com/Maniacs_Mansion/Meal-Quest/internal/ai/llm"
+	"code.cubecraftlabs.com/Maniacs_Mansion/Meal-Quest/internal/store"
+)
+
+func date(y int, m time.Month, d int) store.LocalDate {
+	return store.LocalDateOf(time.Date(y, m, d, 0, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC))
+}
+
+// household asks for two Side quests, so four are requested.
+var household = SideQuestsRequest{
+	Context: harness.HouseholdContext{
+		Today:    date(2026, 10, 6),
+		Timezone: "America/New_York",
+		Regulars: []harness.RegularDinner{
+			{Name: "Beef Chili", Cuisine: "Tex-Mex", Method: "crockpot", Minutes: 240},
+			{Name: "Chicken Fajitas", Cuisine: "Tex-Mex", Method: "stovetop", Minutes: 30, Favorite: true},
+			{Name: "Spaghetti Bolognese", Cuisine: "Italian", Method: "stovetop", Minutes: 45},
+		},
+		QuestLog: []string{"Pad Thai"},
+		Passed:   []string{"Chicken Tikka Masala"},
+		Plans: []harness.PlannedDinner{
+			{Date: date(2026, 10, 5), Name: "Chicken Fajitas"},
+			{Date: date(2026, 10, 6), Name: "Beef Chili"},
+		},
+	},
+	Needed:   2,
+	Pending:  []string{"Shrimp Scampi"},
+	Declined: []string{"Chicken Tikka Masala", "Fish Tacos"},
+}
+
+// sideQuest renders one Side quest of a reply.
+func sideQuest(name, reason string, cited ...string) string {
+	c, _ := json.Marshal(append([]string{}, cited...))
+	r, _ := json.Marshal(reason)
+	return fmt.Sprintf(`{"name":%q,"cuisine":"Fusion","method":"stovetop","est_minutes":35,"difficulty":"easy","reason":%s,"cited_regulars":%s,"search_query":%q}`,
+		name, r, c, strings.ToLower(name)+" recipe")
+}
+
+// batch renders a reply holding the Side quests given.
+func batch(quests ...string) string {
+	return `{"suggestions":[` + strings.Join(quests, ",") + `]}`
+}
+
+var (
+	shawarma = sideQuest("Chicken Shawarma Bowls", "Spiced chicken and crisp toppings, like your Chicken Fajitas.", "Chicken Fajitas")
+	ragu     = sideQuest("Beef Ragu Pappardelle", "A slow beef sauce like your Spaghetti Bolognese, on wide noodles.", "Spaghetti Bolognese")
+	verde    = sideQuest("Chili Verde", "Your Beef Chili gone green, with pork and tomatillos.", "beef chili")
+	bulgogi  = sideQuest("Beef Bulgogi", "Sweet, quick-seared beef for fans of Chicken Fajitas and Beef Chili.", "Chicken Fajitas", "Beef Chili")
+)
+
+// want returns the Side quest that sideQuest renders, with cited as the
+// household writes them.
+func want(name, reason string, cited ...string) SideQuest {
+	return SideQuest{
+		Name: name, Cuisine: "Fusion", Method: "stovetop", EstMinutes: 35, Difficulty: "easy",
+		Reason: reason, CitedRegulars: cited, SearchQuery: strings.ToLower(name) + " recipe",
+	}
+}
+
+var (
+	wantShawarma = want("Chicken Shawarma Bowls", "Spiced chicken and crisp toppings, like your Chicken Fajitas.", "Chicken Fajitas")
+	wantRagu     = want("Beef Ragu Pappardelle", "A slow beef sauce like your Spaghetti Bolognese, on wide noodles.", "Spaghetti Bolognese")
+	wantVerde    = want("Chili Verde", "Your Beef Chili gone green, with pork and tomatillos.", "Beef Chili")
+	wantBulgogi  = want("Beef Bulgogi", "Sweet, quick-seared beef for fans of Chicken Fajitas and Beef Chili.", "Chicken Fajitas", "Beef Chili")
+)
+
+// suggest runs SuggestSideQuests on household with f and checks f was
+// called exactly calls times, each at the household temperature.
+func suggest(t *testing.T, f *llm.Fake, in SideQuestsRequest, calls int) (SideQuests, []llm.Request, error) {
+	t.Helper()
+	out, err := SuggestSideQuests(context.Background(), testConfig(t, f), "2026-W41", in)
+	reqs := f.Requests()
+	if len(reqs) != calls {
+		t.Fatalf("Generate called %d times, want %d", len(reqs), calls)
+	}
+	if g, _, _ := f.Remaining(); g != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("%d scripted Generate results unused", g)
+	}
+	for i, req := range reqs {
+		if req.Temperature == nil || *req.Temperature != 0.7 {
+			t.Fatalf("request %d temperature = %v, want 0.7", i+1, req.Temperature)
+		}
+		if req.Schema == nil || req.Schema.Name != "suggest_side_quests" {
+			t.Fatalf("request %d schema = %v, want suggest_side_quests", i+1, req.Schema)
+		}
+	}
+	return out, reqs, err
+}
+
+func assertSideQuests(t *testing.T, got, want SideQuests) {
+	t.Helper()
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(got, want) {
+		t.Fatalf("output = %+v\nwant     %+v", got, want)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSuggestSideQuestsCleanBatch(t *testing.T) {
+	var f llm.Fake
+	f.QueueGenerate(reply(batch(shawarma, ragu, verde, bulgogi)))
+	out, reqs, err := suggest(t, &f, household, 1)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	assertSideQuests(t, out, SideQuests{Suggestions: []SideQuest{wantShawarma, wantRagu, wantVerde, wantBulgogi}})
+
+	system, user := reqs[0].System, reqs[0].Messages[0].Content
+	golden(t, "suggest_side_quests_clean.system.golden", system)
+	golden(t, "suggest_side_quests_clean.user.golden", user)
+	for _, part := range []string{
+		"## Household context",
+		"- Chicken Fajitas (Tex-Mex, stovetop, 30 min, favorite)",
+		"### Quest log\n- Pad Thai",
+		"### Passed, oldest first\n- Chicken Tikka Masala",
+		"- 2026-10-06 Tue: Beef Chili",
+		"### Pending Side quests\n- Shrimp Scampi",
+		"## Output contract",
+		`"cited_regulars"`,
+		`"search_query"`,
+	} {
+		if !strings.Contains(system, part) {
+			t.Errorf("system prompt lacks %q", part)
+		}
+	}
+	if strings.Index(system, "## Household context") > strings.Index(system, "## Output contract") {
+		t.Error("the output contract is not after the household context")
+	}
+	if user != "Suggest 4 Side quests." {
+		t.Errorf("user message = %q, want twice the 2 needed", user)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSuggestSideQuestsPersonaFirst(t *testing.T) {
+	var f llm.Fake
+	f.QueueGenerate(reply(batch(shawarma)))
+	cfg := testConfig(t, &f)
+	cfg.Persona = "You are the household's cheerful kitchen helper."
+	if _, err := SuggestSideQuests(context.Background(), cfg, "2026-W41", household); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if system := f.Requests()[0].System; !strings.HasPrefix(system, cfg.Persona+"\n\n## Instructions\n") {
+		t.Fatalf("system prompt does not start with the persona then the instructions:\n%s", system)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSuggestSideQuestsInventedRegularDropped(t *testing.T) {
+	invented := sideQuest("Meatloaf Wellington", "Your Grandma's Meatloaf, wrapped in pastry.", "Grandma's Meatloaf")
+	partly := sideQuest("Fajita Meatballs", "Chicken Fajitas meets your Grandma's Meatloaf.", "Chicken Fajitas", "Grandma's Meatloaf")
+	none := sideQuest("Mushroom Risotto", "Creamy and comforting.")
+	var f llm.Fake
+	f.QueueGenerate(reply(batch(invented, shawarma, partly, none)))
+	out, _, err := suggest(t, &f, household, 1)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	assertSideQuests(t, out, SideQuests{
+		Suggestions: []SideQuest{wantShawarma},
+		Dropped: []DroppedSideQuest{
+			{Name: "Meatloaf Wellington", Why: `cites "Grandma's Meatloaf", which is not a Regular`},
+			{Name: "Fajita Meatballs", Why: `cites "Grandma's Meatloaf", which is not a Regular`},
+			{Name: "Mushroom Risotto", Why: "cites no Regular"},
+		},
+	})
+}
+
+func TestSuggestSideQuestsSharedNormalizedRegularNotRewritten(t *testing.T) {
+	in := household
+	in.Context.Regulars = append(slices.Clone(household.Context.Regulars),
+		harness.RegularDinner{Name: "Easy Beef Chili", Cuisine: "Tex-Mex", Method: "stovetop", Minutes: 30})
+	plain := sideQuest("Chili Verde", "Your Beef Chili gone green, with pork and tomatillos.", "beef chili")
+	easy := sideQuest("Frito Pie", "Your Easy Beef Chili over corn chips.", "EASY  beef chili")
+	either := sideQuest("Tamale Bake", "Your Beef Chili under a cornbread crust.", "Beef Chili!")
+	var f llm.Fake
+	f.QueueGenerate(reply(batch(plain, easy, either)))
+	out, _, err := suggest(t, &f, in, 1)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	assertSideQuests(t, out, SideQuests{
+		Suggestions: []SideQuest{
+			want("Chili Verde", "Your Beef Chili gone green, with pork and tomatillos.", "Beef Chili"),
+			want("Frito Pie", "Your Easy Beef Chili over corn chips.", "Easy Beef Chili"),
+		},
+		Dropped: []DroppedSideQuest{
+			{Name: "Tamale Bake", Why: `cites "Beef Chili!", which could be any of the Regulars ["Beef Chili" "Easy Beef Chili"]`},
+		},
+	})
+}
+
+func TestSuggestSideQuestsReasonNamesResolvedRegular(t *testing.T) {
+	in := household
+	in.Context.Regulars = append(slices.Clone(household.Context.Regulars),
+		harness.RegularDinner{Name: "Easy Beef Chili", Cuisine: "Tex-Mex", Method: "stovetop", Minutes: 30})
+	other := sideQuest("Chili Verde", "Your Beef Chili gone green, with pork and tomatillos.", "Easy Beef Chili")
+	easy := sideQuest("Frito Pie", "Your Easy Beef Chili over corn chips.", "Easy Beef Chili")
+	plain := sideQuest("Chili Mac", "The Beef Chili, not the Easy Beef Chili, over macaroni.", "Beef Chili")
+	inside := sideQuest("Tamale Bake", "Your Easy Beef Chili under a cornbread crust.", "Beef Chili")
+	var f llm.Fake
+	f.QueueGenerate(reply(batch(other, easy, plain, inside)))
+	out, _, err := suggest(t, &f, in, 1)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	assertSideQuests(t, out, SideQuests{
+		Suggestions: []SideQuest{
+			want("Frito Pie", "Your Easy Beef Chili over corn chips.", "Easy Beef Chili"),
+			want("Chili Mac", "The Beef Chili, not the Easy Beef Chili, over macaroni.", "Beef Chili"),
+		},
+		Dropped: []DroppedSideQuest{
+			{Name: "Chili Verde", Why: "reason names none of its cited Regulars"},
+			{Name: "Tamale Bake", Why: "reason names none of its cited Regulars"},
+		},
+	})
+}
+
+func TestSuggestSideQuestsReasonMentionRule(t *testing.T) {
+	const none = "reason names none of its cited Regulars"
+	for name, tc := range map[string]struct {
+		extra  []string // Regulars added to household's
+		reason string
+		cited  string
+		why    string // "" when the Side quest is kept
+	}{
+		"exact name":                   {nil, "Like your Beef Chili, gone green.", "Beef Chili", ""},
+		"other case and spacing":       {nil, "Like your beef  CHILI, gone green.", "Beef Chili", ""},
+		"sentence punctuation":         {nil, `Green, like "Beef Chili" (yours).`, "Beef Chili", ""},
+		"possessive":                   {nil, "Beef Chili's spices, gone green.", "Beef Chili", ""},
+		"joined by punctuation":        {nil, "A Beef Chili-inspired stew.", "Beef Chili", ""},
+		"no mention":                   {nil, "Grilled skewers with a peanut sauce.", "Beef Chili", none},
+		"letters run on":               {[]string{"Ham"}, "Like your Hamburgers, glazed.", "Ham", none},
+		"stored punctuation written":   {[]string{"Easy Beef Chili!"}, "Your Easy Beef Chili! over corn chips.", "Easy Beef Chili!", ""},
+		"stored punctuation as period": {[]string{"Easy Beef Chili!"}, "Corn chips under your Easy Beef Chili.", "Easy Beef Chili!", ""},
+		"inside stored punctuation":    {[]string{"Easy Beef Chili!"}, "Your Easy Beef Chili! over corn chips.", "Beef Chili", none},
+		"inside before period":         {[]string{"Easy Beef Chili!"}, "Corn chips under your Easy Beef Chili.", "Beef Chili", none},
+		"longer name cited":            {[]string{"Easy Beef Chili"}, "Your Easy Beef Chili over corn chips.", "Easy Beef Chili", ""},
+		"shorter inside longer":        {[]string{"Easy Beef Chili"}, "Your Easy Beef Chili over corn chips.", "Beef Chili", none},
+		"longer not mentioned":         {[]string{"Easy Beef Chili"}, "Your Beef Chili over corn chips.", "Easy Beef Chili", none},
+		"shorter also on its own":      {[]string{"Easy Beef Chili"}, "The Beef Chili, not the Easy Beef Chili.", "Beef Chili", ""},
+		"punctuation-only difference":  {[]string{"Beef Chili!"}, "Your Beef Chili! over corn chips.", "Beef Chili!", ""},
+		"bare name inside punctuated":  {[]string{"Beef Chili!"}, "Your Beef Chili! over corn chips.", "Beef Chili", none},
+		"spelled alike by both":        {[]string{"Beef Chili!"}, "Corn chips under your Beef Chili.", "Beef Chili", none},
+		"punctuation then a letter":    {[]string{"Beef Chili!"}, "Your Beef Chili!X is our inspiration.", "Beef Chili!", none},
+		"letter before punctuation":    {[]string{"¡Beef Chili"}, "Your X¡Beef Chili is our inspiration.", "¡Beef Chili", none},
+		"spacing before punctuation":   {[]string{"Beef Chili!"}, "Your Beef Chili ! over corn chips.", "Beef Chili!", ""},
+		"spacing after punctuation":    {[]string{"¡Beef Chili"}, "Your ¡ Beef Chili is our inspiration.", "¡Beef Chili", ""},
+		"stored spacing left off":      {[]string{"Beef Chili !", "Chili!"}, "Like your Beef Chili!", "Beef Chili !", ""},
+		"inside unspaced punctuation":  {[]string{"Beef Chili !", "Chili!"}, "Like your Beef Chili!", "Chili!", none},
+		"stored punctuation partly":    {[]string{"Beef Chili!!", "Chili!"}, "Like your Beef Chili!", "Beef Chili!!", ""},
+		"inside partial punctuation":   {[]string{"Beef Chili!!", "Chili!"}, "Like your Beef Chili!", "Chili!", none},
+		"partly then a letter":         {[]string{"Beef Chili!!", "Chili!"}, "Your Beef Chili!!X is our inspiration.", "Chili!", none},
+		"leading punctuation partly":   {[]string{"¡¡Beef Chili", "¡Beef"}, "Like your ¡Beef Chili.", "¡¡Beef Chili", ""},
+		"inside partial leading":       {[]string{"¡¡Beef Chili", "¡Beef"}, "Like your ¡Beef Chili.", "¡Beef", none},
+		"stored symbol left off":       {[]string{"Green Chili 🌶"}, "Like your Green Chili, gone green.", "Green Chili 🌶", none},
+		"stored accent left off":       {[]string{"Chicken Cafe\u0301"}, "Like your Chicken Cafe, gone green.", "Chicken Cafe\u0301", none},
+		"accent written after name":    {[]string{"Chicken Cafe"}, "Like your Chicken Cafe\u0301, gone green.", "Chicken Cafe", none},
+	} {
+		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			in := household
+			in.Context.Regulars = slices.Clone(household.Context.Regulars)
+			for _, r := range tc.extra {
+				in.Context.Regulars = append(in.Context.Regulars, harness.RegularDinner{Name: r, Cuisine: "Tex-Mex", Method: "stovetop", Minutes: 30})
+			}
+			var f llm.Fake
+			f.QueueGenerate(reply(batch(sideQuest("Frito Pie", tc.reason, tc.cited))))
+			out, _, err := suggest(t, &f, in, 1)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			result := SideQuests{Suggestions: []SideQuest{want("Frito Pie", oneLine(tc.reason), tc.cited)}}
+			if tc.why != "" {
+				result = SideQuests{Suggestions: []SideQuest{}, Dropped: []DroppedSideQuest{{Name: "Frito Pie", Why: tc.why}}}
+			}
+			assertSideQuests(t, out, result)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSuggestSideQuestsDuplicatesDropped(t *testing.T) {
+	declined := sideQuest("The Best Homemade Chicken Tikka-Masala", "Spiced like your Chicken Fajitas.", "Chicken Fajitas")
+	oldDeclined := sideQuest("Fish Tacos!", "Tortillas like your Chicken Fajitas.", "Chicken Fajitas")
+	regular := sideQuest("Easy Beef Chili", "Just like your Beef Chili.", "Beef Chili")
+	questLog := sideQuest("Pad Thai", "Noodles like your Spaghetti Bolognese.", "Spaghetti Bolognese")
+	pending := sideQuest("Shrimp Scampi", "Pasta like your Spaghetti Bolognese.", "Spaghetti Bolognese")
+	again := sideQuest("Chicken Shawarma Bowls", "Chicken Fajitas, but Middle Eastern.", "Chicken Fajitas")
+	var f llm.Fake
+	f.QueueGenerate(reply(batch(declined, oldDeclined, regular, questLog, pending, shawarma, again)))
+	in := household
+	in.Needed = 4
+	out, _, err := suggest(t, &f, in, 1)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	known := "repeats a Regular, Quest log dinner, pending or passed Side quest"
+	assertSideQuests(t, out, SideQuests{
+		Suggestions: []SideQuest{wantShawarma},
+		Dropped: []DroppedSideQuest{
+			{Name: "The Best Homemade Chicken Tikka-Masala", Why: known},
+			{Name: "Fish Tacos!", Why: known},
+			{Name: "Easy Beef Chili", Why: known},
+			{Name: "Pad Thai", Why: known},
+			{Name: "Shrimp Scampi", Why: known},
+			{Name: "Chicken Shawarma Bowls", Why: `repeats the Side quest "Chicken Shawarma Bowls" in the same batch`},
+		},
+	})
+}
+
+func TestSuggestSideQuestsReasonRulesDropped(t *testing.T) {
+	long := sideQuest("Beef Stroganoff", "Your Beef Chili"+strings.Repeat(" and more", 20)+".", "Beef Chili")
+	unnamed := sideQuest("Chicken Satay", "Grilled skewers with a peanut sauce.", "Chicken Fajitas")
+	wrongOne := sideQuest("Beef Tacos", "Like your Beef Chili, in a shell.", "Chicken Fajitas")
+	var f llm.Fake
+	f.QueueGenerate(reply(batch(long, unnamed, ragu, wrongOne)))
+	out, _, err := suggest(t, &f, household, 1)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	assertSideQuests(t, out, SideQuests{
+		Suggestions: []SideQuest{wantRagu},
+		Dropped: []DroppedSideQuest{
+			{Name: "Beef Stroganoff", Why: "reason has 196 characters, over 180"},
+			{Name: "Chicken Satay", Why: "reason names none of its cited Regulars"},
+			{Name: "Beef Tacos", Why: "reason names none of its cited Regulars"},
+		},
+	})
+}
+
+func TestSuggestSideQuestsAllDroppedIsNotRepaired(t *testing.T) {
+	var f llm.Fake
+	f.QueueGenerate(reply(batch(sideQuest("Pad Thai", "Like your Beef Chili.", "Beef Chili"))))
+	out, _, err := suggest(t, &f, household, 1)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	assertSideQuests(t, out, SideQuests{
+		Suggestions: []SideQuest{},
+		Dropped:     []DroppedSideQuest{{Name: "Pad Thai", Why: "repeats a Regular, Quest log dinner, pending or passed Side quest"}},
+	})
+}
+
+func TestSuggestSideQuestsMalformedRepairedOnce(t *testing.T) {
+	for name, tc := range map[string]struct{ first, want string }{
+		"truncated JSON": {
+			`{"suggestions":[` + shawarma + `,{"name":"Beef`,
+			"reply does not decode: unexpected EOF",
+		},
+		"omitted field": {
+			batch(strings.Replace(shawarma, `"cuisine":"Fusion",`, ``, 1)),
+			`suggestion has no "cuisine" field; give every field the schema requires`,
+		},
+		"unknown field": {
+			batch(strings.Replace(shawarma, `"easy",`, `"easy","spice":"mild",`, 1)),
+			`suggestion has unknown field "spice"`,
+		},
+		"bad method": {
+			batch(strings.Replace(shawarma, `"stovetop"`, `"air fryer"`, 1)),
+			`suggestion 1 method "air fryer" is not one of stovetop, oven, crockpot, grill, other`,
+		},
+	} {
+		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			var f llm.Fake
+			f.QueueGenerate(reply(tc.first), reply(batch(shawarma, ragu)))
+			out, reqs, err := suggest(t, &f, household, 2)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			assertSideQuests(t, out, SideQuests{Suggestions: []SideQuest{wantShawarma, wantRagu}})
+			repair := reqs[1].Messages
+			if len(repair) != 3 || repair[1].Content != tc.first {
+				t.Fatalf("repair turn does not quote the first reply: %+v", repair)
+			}
+			if !strings.Contains(repair[2].Content, tc.want) {
+				t.Fatalf("repair message = %q, want it to contain %q", repair[2].Content, tc.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSuggestSideQuestsFillerNameRepaired(t *testing.T) {
+	filler := sideQuest("The.", "Like your Beef Chili.", "Beef Chili")
+	first := batch(filler, filler)
+	var f llm.Fake
+	f.QueueGenerate(reply(first), reply(batch(shawarma, ragu)))
+	out, reqs, err := suggest(t, &f, household, 2)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	assertSideQuests(t, out, SideQuests{Suggestions: []SideQuest{wantShawarma, wantRagu}})
+	repair := reqs[1].Messages
+	if len(repair) != 3 || repair[1].Content != first {
+		t.Fatalf("repair turn does not quote the first reply: %+v", repair)
+	}
+	for _, want := range []string{
+		`suggestion 1 name "The." has only filler words; name the dish`,
+		`suggestion 2 name "The." has only filler words; name the dish`,
+	} {
+		if !strings.Contains(repair[2].Content, want) {
+			t.Fatalf("repair message = %q, want it to contain %q", repair[2].Content, want)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSuggestSideQuestsMalformedTwiceFails(t *testing.T) {
+	var f llm.Fake
+	f.QueueGenerate(reply(`{"suggestions":`), reply(`{"suggestions":[]}`))
+	out, _, err := suggest(t, &f, household, 2)
+	var bad *harness.BadOutputError
+	if !errors.As(err, &bad) || !errors.Is(err, llm.ErrBadOutput) {
+		t.Fatalf("err = %v, want a BadOutputError", err)
+	}
+	if !slices.Equal(bad.Repair, []string{"suggestions is empty; give 4 Side quests"}) {
+		t.Fatalf("repair problems = %q", bad.Repair)
+	}
+	if out.Suggestions != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("output = %+v, want none", out)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSideQuestsValidate(t *testing.T) {
+	s := suggestSideQuests{in: household}
+	if p := s.Validate(SideQuests{Suggestions: []SideQuest{wantShawarma}}); len(p) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("valid output has problems: %q", p)
+	}
+	if p := s.Validate(SideQuests{Suggestions: []SideQuest{}, Dropped: []DroppedSideQuest{{Name: "x", Why: "y"}}}); len(p) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("output whose Side quests were all dropped has problems: %q", p)
+	}
+	for name, tc := range map[string]struct {
+		out  SideQuests
+		want []string
+	}{
+		"empty": {SideQuests{}, []string{"suggestions is empty; give 4 Side quests"}},
+		"too many": {
+			SideQuests{Suggestions: []SideQuest{wantShawarma, wantRagu, wantVerde, wantBulgogi, wantShawarma}},
+			[]string{"suggestions has 5 entries; give at most 4 Side quests"},
+		},
+		"malformed": {
+			SideQuests{Suggestions: []SideQuest{{Name: " ", Method: "air fryer", EstMinutes: 0, Difficulty: "trivial", CitedRegulars: []string{}}}},
+			[]string{
+				"suggestion 1 has an empty name; give one",
+				"suggestion 1 has an empty cuisine; give one",
+				"suggestion 1 has an empty reason; give one",
+				"suggestion 1 has an empty search_query; give one",
+				`suggestion 1 method "air fryer" is not one of stovetop, oven, crockpot, grill, other`,
+				"suggestion 1 est_minutes 0 is not positive; give the minutes from prep to table",
+				`suggestion 1 difficulty "trivial" is not one of easy, medium, hard`,
+			},
+		},
+	} {
+		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if got := s.Validate(tc.out); !slices.Equal(got, tc.want) {
+				t.Fatalf("problems =\n%s\nwant\n%s", strings.Join(got, "\n"), strings.Join(tc.want, "\n"))
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSideQuestsPromptInputRejects(t *testing.T) {
+	noRegulars := household
+	noRegulars.Context.Regulars = nil
+	none := household
+	none.Needed = 0
+	for name, tc := range map[string]struct {
+		in   SideQuestsRequest
+		want string
+	}{
+		"no Regulars": {noRegulars, "household has no Regulars for Side quests to be based on"},
+		"none needed": {none, "0 Side quests needed; the number must be positive"},
+	} {
+		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			_, err := suggestSideQuests{in: tc.in}.PromptInput(tc.in)
+			if err == nil || err.Error() != tc.want {
+				t.Fatalf("err = %v, want %q", err, tc.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}

internal/ai/skills/testdata/suggest_side_quests_clean.system.golden

@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+## Instructions
+You suggest Side quests: new dinners for the household to try, based on the dinners it already makes.
+
+Every Side quest must be a dinner the household has not had: never one of its Regulars, its Quest log, its pending Side quests or the dinners it has passed, and never one of those under another name. Base every Side quest on one or more of the household's Regulars, such as a familiar protein in a new cuisine or familiar flavours cooked a new way. Prefer the favorite Regulars, and vary the cuisines across the batch.
+
+Give for each Side quest:
+- name: the dinner's usual name, as a recipe site would title it.
+- cuisine: its cuisine, e.g. "Thai" or "Tex-Mex".
+- method: how it is mainly cooked: "stovetop", "oven", "crockpot" (slow cooker or crock pot), "grill" or "other".
+- est_minutes: your estimate of the whole minutes from starting prep to the table.
+- difficulty: "easy", "medium" or "hard" for a home cook.
+- reason: one sentence of at most 180 characters saying why the household would like it. It must name at least one of the Regulars in cited_regulars.
+- cited_regulars: the Regulars the reason relies on, at least one, each written exactly as its name appears in the Regulars list of the household context, without the details in parentheses. Cite only Regulars from that list.
+- search_query: a web search query that finds a recipe for this dinner.
+
+One valid Side quest, for a household with a Regular named "Chicken Fajitas" (an example only, not about this household):
+{"name": "Chicken Shawarma Bowls", "cuisine": "Middle Eastern", "method": "oven", "est_minutes": 40, "difficulty": "easy", "reason": "Spiced roast chicken and crisp toppings, like your Chicken Fajitas with a Middle Eastern twist.", "cited_regulars": ["Chicken Fajitas"], "search_query": "chicken shawarma bowls recipe"}
+
+## Household context
+### Today
+- Tuesday 2026-10-06 (America/New_York)
+
+### Regulars
+- Beef Chili (Tex-Mex, crockpot, 240 min)
+- Chicken Fajitas (Tex-Mex, stovetop, 30 min, favorite)
+- Spaghetti Bolognese (Italian, stovetop, 45 min)
+
+### Quest log
+- Pad Thai
+
+### Passed, oldest first
+- Chicken Tikka Masala
+
+### Recent plans
+- 2026-10-05 Mon: Chicken Fajitas
+- 2026-10-06 Tue: Beef Chili
+
+### Pending Side quests
+- Shrimp Scampi
+
+## Output contract
+This contract overrides any earlier instruction about the form of your reply. Reply with one JSON value matching the JSON Schema "suggest_side_quests" below, and nothing else: no prose and no Markdown code fences.
+
+{
+  "type": "object",
+  "properties": {
+    "suggestions": {
+      "type": "array",
+      "items": {
+        "type": "object",
+        "properties": {
+          "name": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "cuisine": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "method": {
+            "type": "string",
+            "enum": [
+              "stovetop",
+              "oven",
+              "crockpot",
+              "grill",
+              "other"
+            ]
+          },
+          "est_minutes": {
+            "type": "integer"
+          },
+          "difficulty": {
+            "type": "string",
+            "enum": [
+              "easy",
+              "medium",
+              "hard"
+            ]
+          },
+          "reason": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "cited_regulars": {
+            "type": "array",
+            "items": {
+              "type": "string"
+            }
+          },
+          "search_query": {
+            "type": "string"
+          }
+        },
+        "required": [
+          "name",
+          "cuisine",
+          "method",
+          "est_minutes",
+          "difficulty",
+          "reason",
+          "cited_regulars",
+          "search_query"
+        ],
+        "additionalProperties": false
+      }
+    }
+  },
+  "required": [
+    "suggestions"
+  ],
+  "additionalProperties": false
+}

internal/ai/skills/testdata/suggest_side_quests_clean.user.golden

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+Suggest 4 Side quests.