Monroe-Cassel - Feast of Ice and Fire

Acknowledgments

First and foremost, we would like to thank George R. R. Martin, without whose work this cookbook obviously could not have been imagined. His world became ours years ago through his novels, and led us to explore the wonders of historical cookery. Only in our wildest dreams did we imagine that our culinary adventure would turn into this cookbook, so thank you for everything. The world needs its share of eaters, and well cook anything you like so long as you dont kill off too many main characters.

We would like to thank a great number of others:

Our good friends, who put up with our monopolization of the kitchen for months on end, were patient while we photographed their cooling dinners, and without whose appetites we would have surely drowned in the sheer volume of food we cooked.

Percival, prince among cats, who made sure to taste everything that came out of the kitchen for quality assurance.

Our parents, not only for their continued faith in us, but also for their borrowed dishes, silverware, taxidermy, and backyards in which to build hazardous wildling fires.

Our fearless field agents, who delivered baskets of delicious goodies to George R. R. Martin during his book signing tour, braving crowds, public transportation, and pits of deadly vipers for the cause.

The terrific staff at Random House, for their belief in this project and invaluable help throughout the entire publishing process.

The loyal fans of our blog, whose enthusiasm and delight have kept us eager to try new Westerosi dishes long past what we would have been able to sustain by ourselves.

We would also like to thank the Vikings for mead, the Mesopotamians for beer, and that crazy Celt way back when who ate some spoiled apples, saw amazing things, and decided to make cider.

About the Authors

Chelsea and Sariann co-run Inn at the Crossroads, a popular food blog based on the Song of Ice and Fire series. Both avid fans of the fantasy genre, they bring to the table a unique combination of artistry, historical knowledge, and love of food.

Chelsea grew up in rural New York, surrounded by cows and an appreciation for small farms. However, her real love affair with food began during a year abroad in Turkey, which sparked a passion for both food and history, as well as leading her to a degree in classical history. A lifelong artist and fantasy fan, she greatly enjoys foreign languages, treasure hunting, and all things honey.

Sariann learned her way around the kitchen at the sides of her mother and grandmothers. After growing up on a working New England farm, she attended the University of Vermont, where she spent time working on a dairy farm and became a supporter of the eating local and small farming movements. Something of a British cultural history enthusiast, she finds great pleasure in reinventing traditional staple dishes and rekindling love for foods that have been forgotten.

www.innatthecrossroads.com

Menus

Dinner in Kings Landing

, Summer Greens
Salad, , White Beans and
Bacon,

Dinner with the Nights Watch

Dinner at Riverrun

, Summer Greens
Salad,

A Feast at Winterfell

,
, Turnips in
Butter, ,
, wheels of white cheese,
, chilled autumn ale

Tourney Feast at Kings Landing

, Crusty White
Bread, , Baked
Apples,

Sumptuous Spread at Bitterbridge

,
,

A Wedding in Kings Landing

, Pork
Pie, , Almond
Crusted Trout, , Fish
Tarts,

Feasting in Style

Cooking, eating, and drinking are closely tied to the Proustian memory, the experiences etched into our minds forever. When planning a feast, one must consider not only the food, but also the overall atmosphere. Serving dishes, lighting, flatware, table decor, beverages, and overall mood affect how your family and guests will experience a meal. You may have cooked your authentic Westerosi meal on your beautiful new gas range in your relatively high-tech kitchen, but when guests are seated and the meal is served, you can transport everyone to the decadence of Kings Landing, the insulated comfort of Winterfells halls, or the opulence of a magisters villa in Pentos.

Strive to make the table as much a tactile experience as the meal itself. Heavy rough-spun linen and furs reflect life in the North, while sheer silks and gilding are more suited to Kings Landing. Choosing a tablecloth is the simplest way to begin the transformationred for a Lannister meal, gray for a Stark, ornately woven fabrics from across the narrow sea, or a rough-spun black for meals with the Nights Watch. Likewise, propsantlers, silver bowls, autumn leaves, pine boughs, exotic fruits, and flowersadd something special to the meal. And dont skimp on the candles. Beautiful as well as authentic, candlelight creates a special experience.

Serving dishes and place settings should, ideally, reflect the location in which the guests mentally dine. Avoid starkly modern items, choosing instead earthenware casseroles, turned wooden bowls, and hammered flatware. Rather than the glasses given to you on your wedding day, opt for hefty pewter tankards and thick, handblown glass. Historical accuracy is not as important as creating an atmosphere consistent with the aesthetic of Ice and Fire. As modern consumers, we are so used to certain conveniences that something as simple as the absence of separate water and wineglasses will immediately distance the meal from an everyday culinary experience.

Thrift stores are a great way to inexpensively outfit a Westerosi table; they offer props, dishware, centerpieces, and cutlery. Also take a look through dusty attics and deep kitchen cabinets for items you may have forgotten.

Breakfast on the Wall

When day broke, Jon walked to the kitchens as he did every dawn. Three-Finger Hobb said nothing as he gave him the Old Bears breakfast. Today it was three brown eggs, boiled hard, with fried bread and ham steak and a bowl of wrinkled plums. A GAME OF THRONES

Serves 1 Cooking: 15 minutes