Every now and again, while reading through a piece of fiction, or while exploring in a videogame, I encounter a particularly enticing description of a dish or recipe that just begs to be created in a real kitchen. These dishes are often isolated examples in their little fictional worlds, and there are not enough of them to create a new blog or cookbook, but they are delicious, and deserve to be shared. I'd try for eloquence here, but I couldn't possibly top C.S. Lewis:
“The value of the myth is that it takes all the things we know and restores to them the rich significance which has been hidden by ‘the veil of familiarity.’ The child enjoys his cold meat, otherwise dull to him, by pretending it is buffalo, just killed with his own bow and arrow. And the child is wise. The real meat comes back to him more savory for having been dipped in a story…by putting bread, gold, horse, apple, or the very roads into a myth, we do not retreat from reality: we rediscover it.”
-C.S. Lewis
Fantasy
Fantasy has always been my genre of choice. The mythical worlds populated by dragons and elves filled my imagination growing up, and now as an adult, I can sample the flavors they have to offer.
works by Neil Gaiman
American Gods
Coraline
Neverwhere
Fragile Things
- Chivalry - Lemonade with Mint
- The Sunbird - Poultry ala Sunbird
Beauty, by Robin McKinley
Dragonriders of Pern series, by Anne McCaffrey
The Farseer Trilogy, by Robin Hobb
The Harry Potter series, by JK Rowling
The Hunger Games Series, by Suzanne Collins
The Inheritance, by Robin Hobb
The All Souls Trilogy, by Deborah Harkness
The Dragon Prince
The Gentleman Bastards series, by Scott Lynch
- Sausage and Pears in oil
- Peppers w/Spinach and Almond filling
- Ginger Scald
- Marzipan Dragonflies
- Capon with Grapes and Figs in Hot Wine Sauce
- Salted Peas & Lentils
- Bread-Pretzels
- Almond-crusted Rolls
- Balsamic-marinated Cherry Truffles
- Flaky Mushroom Pastries
The Eternal Sky series, by Elizabeth Bear
Lord of the Rings trilogy & The Hobbit, by JRR Tolkien
- Welsh Rabbit
- Ent Draught, from the Two Towers
- Seedcake, from The Hobbit
Mortal Instruments Series, by Cassandra Clare
- Apricot-Plum Smoothie, from City of Bones
The Redwall Series, by Brian Jacques
- Pea and Cabbage Soup, with Watercress Sandwiches, from High Ruhulain
- Apple Cream Pudding, inspired by
The Throne of the Crescent Moon, by Saladin Ahmed
Vlad Taltos series, by Steven Brust
ACOTAR series, by Sarah J Maas
- faerie wine
- court-themed cocktails
- chocolate torte
- and more!
Historical Fiction
I find historical fiction to be a great way to engage with different places and times in history. Whether it's a book written during a historical period or a modern novel set a hundred years ago, they bring to life the people of that age.
Pre-1875 Fiction
A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens
Don Quixote, by Miguel de Cervantes
Moby Dick, by Herman Melville
Historical Fiction
Anne of Green Gables Series, by L.M. Montgomery
Outlander Series, by Diana Gabaldon
The Fever Tree, by Jennifer McVeigh
All Souls Trilogy, by Deborah Harkness
Videogames
I've long love videogames as a way of exploring new worlds and living the lives of interesting characters. Not to mention the prodigious loot and amazing foods that can be found just around the next corner.
Skyrim
- Kwama Egg Quiche
- Orcrest Garlic Apple Jelly
- Honey Nut Treat
- Honey Pudding
- Sweetrolls
- Balmora Cabbage Biscuits
- and more to come!
Also check out the Elder Scrolls Cookbook!
Minecraft
Edibles
- Rock Candy
- Grass Block Brownies
- Spawn Eggs
- Breadstick Bones
- and more to come!
Crafts
- Mining for Gems
- Enderman Pinata
- Treasure Rocks
- etc.
The Witcher
- Honey Spice Cake
- Flamiche
- Chocolate Souffle
- Sugardoll
- Cintrian Faro
- Redanian Herbal
- and more coming soon...
Stardew Valley
- Maple Bars
- Cheese Cauli
- Void Mayo
- Miner's Treat
- and more to come!
7 Days to Die
- Blackstrap Coffee
- Sham Sandwiches
- Hobo Stew
- Fish Tacos
- and more!
Disney and Fairytale Inspired
There's something magical and timeless in the world of fairytales, and what better way to celebrate them than with delicious foods?
- Hansel and Gretel's Crumb Cake
- Cinderella's PB Mice
- Remy's Ratatouille
- and many, many more...