Tag Archives: food

Take the Black, NYC

When Campfire asked us to consult for HBO’s “Take the Black” event in NYC, all we knew was that it would be some sort of release party for the season 2 DVD of Game of Thrones, but that’s about it. The details were all very hush-hush almost up to the event itself, but that only piqued the curiosity of hundreds of fans who turned out for the big evening.

They were well rewarded: Northern-themed foods from Inn at the Crossroads, a performance of GoT music by Jason Yang and other musicians (I never get tired of hearing the Rains of Castamere!), and even a life-sized direwolf ice sculpture carved by Shintaro Okamoto studios. Inside Best Buy, attendees ascended the escalators past house sigil banners, and at the top came face to face with Jon Snow’s Night’s Watch blacks, and Longclaw. Around the back of the store, everyone could don a fur-collared cloak and say their words in front of a green screen. After some technological wizardry, the oathtakers appeared to be in a snowy forest. Very cool. The videos from that can be seen here.

When we arrived at the venue, an hour before people were invited to line up, there was already a line forming behind the metal barriers. Our gracious hosts at Campfire introduced us to the caterers who did a marvelous job with our recipes- especially the pease porridge and the meat pies. We designed the menu with cold weather in mind, and it was COLD; hopefully hot apple cider, warm meat pies, and peas porridge took the edge off for the intrepid fans who showed up to take the black. For the next three hours, Sariann and I chatted with fellow fans, gave interviews to some very cool people, and even signed a few cookbooks.

Those devoted enough to wait until midnight to buy the DVDs received swag bags from HBO containing GOT-themed iced sugar cookies and house-themed scarves complete with sigil. Sariann left sporting Lannister red, and I bundled up with a super-fashionable Targaryen black. I pretty much haven’t taken it off since.

Now, I’m off to go grocery shopping in my new scarf. I might buy them, or I might take them with fire and blood.

I haven’t decided yet. :)

My awesome Targaryen scarf from HBO

My awesome Targaryen scarf

Check out these sites’ additional coverage of the event!

 

mulled cider lineup
awesome Take the Black cups
menu and foods, photo courtesy of Unspoiled! Podcast
chatting with folks in line
waiting by the food booth
action shot!
finished direwolf ice sculpture
abstract house sigils
raven decals inside Best Buy, during S2 dvd launch
Jon Snow’s costume
Longclaw on display
Daenerys and her dragong
Chelsea signing cookbooks
Jason Yang performing
Sariann signing
Friend taking The Black
Tyrion has rabbit ears
My awesome Targaryen scarf
these cookies were delicious

A bit about the Cover…

Plan your Premiere Party

With just over a week to go before the premiere of Season 2, it’s time to nail down your party plans.

For starters, be sure to check out our page for Planning a Party. There, we have great ideas for foods both simple and daring, as well as templates for invitations, party favors, and much more. Our personal favorites are the Heraldic Banner Cake toppers, the very impressive Weirwood Tree Cake, Mulled Wine, Pork Pie, and Elizabethan Lemoncakes.

 

What foods are you planning to make? Are you decorating? Coming in costume? What’s the craziest Game of Thrones superfan thing you’ve done? Let’s make sure everyone watches Season 2 in style!

Book-signing Tour Recap

On July 12th, George RR Martin began his half-month book signing tour for A Dance with Dragons. Being the foodies that we are, we couldn’t help but start planning how to get him some of the food that he has inspired us to create. And since Chelsea takes projects a little too seriously, our plan soon expanded to include all of the stops on the tour.

However, since we are human, and cannot be in multiple places at once, and do not have dragons to take us hither and yon, we sent out a call to our fans, challenging them to take up our cause. Several adventurous souls willingly volunteered, and soon we were off.

The signing tour kicked off in Burlington MA, practically in our backyard. We loaded up a basket with lemoncakes, pork pies, cheese and olives, mulling spices, oatcakes, faux Tears of Lys, and a bottle of a local cognac, all wrapped up in linen and hand woven cords.

New York saw the efforts of Agent Oshidori well rewarded, as she was invited to the panel to present GRRM with the basket. He was very appreciative, and took the opportunity of outing our recent cookbook deal. Here’s the video: NYC Signing. Basket featured mini Beef & Bacon Pies, Salad from Castle Black, and Peaches in Honey.

Agent Kristin stepped up to the plate in Indianapolis, bringing to the table a delicious collection of mini Cheese & Onion Pies, apple-goat cheese-pecan tarts, spiced pecans, and a local beer. GRRM accused her a being a part of our “conspiracy”. :) Here she is presenting her Lannister-themed basket:

In San Diego, Agents Jason and Meegan wowed us with their assortment of Dornish goodies. Their beautiful selection included Flatbread and homemade Hummus with ingredients from their garden, Arbor Grapes, Olives Feta and Stuffed Peppers, Cheese & Onion pies, Lemoncakes, and a bottle of Arrogant Bastard beer in honor of the Red Viper’s daughters. Check it out:


In Seattle, Agents Adrienne and Kia stepped up to the challenge, packing their basket with biscuits and local honey, homemade PB & honey granola, local cheese and crackers, homemade winter cake, and homemade chocolate & fruit trifle. GRRM thanked them for the grub, and expressed his admiration for the country-wide planning.

Agents Amanda and Mystral teamed up in Denver to deliver unto The Martin two versions of lemoncakes, some Honeyed-chicken-in-a-hand-pies, some local beer, oatcakes, and pease pudding. GRRM was most pleased:

And that concludes the book tour! We had an absolute blast keeping up with the signings through tweets and FB posts, reading about GRRM’s reactions to the baskets as he moved across the country. Also, our field agents are ace. We could not have asked for better schemers and collaborators. You all rock, and we look forward to meeting you in person some day.

Many, many thanks to those who put much love and work into their baskets. Thank you also to the folks with Random House for putting up with our conspiracy, and thanks most of all to GRRM, without whom none of this would have been possible.

Happy Eating! :D

Burlington Book Signing

Everyone deserves goodies. But a really great author who has entertained and captivated us with the emotional rollercoaster that is A Song of Ice and Fire deserves extra swag. Being the foodies that we are, we decided to make up a gift basket for George RR Martin when he started his book signing tour in MA.

Being a creative sort, Chelsea just couldn’t help herself, and may have gotten a little carried away…

The swag basket included a medieval pork pie, cheese and olives, a small bottle of local cognac, traditional oatcakes with both blackberries and pine nuts, our new ultimate lemoncakes, potted hare, mulling spices, and our own little gag gift: a small bottle of “Tears of Lys”. The parcels were wrapped in a combination of linen cloth and hand woven inkle bands before getting their individual labels. Into the basket, lined with leather and fur, for the perfect presentation.

  

After Sariann finished work, we piled into the car with a couple of our Inn-mates (Ha!), and headed for Burlington. At the bookstore, the lines were predictably around the entire side of the building, fans all abuzz with excitement about the new book and meeting George. We felt like superheroes in disguise wearing our snazzy aprons as the bookstore staff ushered us in and handed us off to the uber efficient Random House marketing folks, who in turn took us to The Martin.

George was kind enough to take a few minutes to chat with us about food, and the contents of the gift basket.

He also signed our aprons:

George signs apron

 

This was pretty much one of the best nights of our lives…

Breakfast in Mereen

“Dany broke her fast under the persimmon tree that grew in the terrace garden… Missandei served her duck eggs and dog sausage, and half a cup of sweetened wine mixed with the juice of a lime. The honey drew flies, but a scented candle drove them off.”

-A Storm of Swords

Breakfast in Mereen

Our Thoughts:

We need a duck. To lay eggs. For us to eat. Because this was one of the most decadent breakfasts we’ve ever encountered. The yolks of these eggs stay creamy even after being hard boiled, and the texture combined with the subtle flavors imparted by its tea-immersion is just wonderful. Then you take a bite of the sausage and get an explosion of meaty, spiced nomminess.

Not feeling all that keen to search out dog sausage, let alone actually eat it, we swapped in some delicious lamb sausage instead. Lamb seems to be nearly everywhere in Westeros and Essos, so it is a reasonable substitute.  We wanted the eggs to look exotic, so we used a Chinese technique for tea staining them.

The honey-sweetened wine is a variation on Ancient Roman Mulsum, and is very refreshing and very drinkable on a warm summer morning.  The crispness of the drink counters the heaviness of the other elements of the meal, as does the fresh fruit.

Get the recipes in The Cookbook!

Rock Your Premiere Party!

In honor of the upcoming premiere of Game of Thrones on HBO, we have put together a selection of foods that would be ideal for any premiere party.  We’ve included a selection of full recipes for those willing to try their hands in the kitchen, but also provided a “fake it” option for those with less time for or inclination towards preparation.

Make It!

In  this category, we’ve thrown out a bunch of options, and will leave the decisions to you!  You can choose to make one thing, or all of them (if you’re feeding an army).  Options are listed in order from left to right, more difficult to easier.

♦ A Full Dornish Dinner ♦

Stuffed Grapeleaves  ♦ Flatbread ♦ Olives and Feta

Honeyed Chicken ♦ Skewered Lamb/Goat/Beef ♦ Pork Pies

Cream Swans ♦ Lemon Cakes ♦ Spiced Honey Biscuits ♦ Baked Apples

Southron Mulled Wine  ♦  Mead

Fake It!

For this category, we have listed all the easy food stuffs you can get at most stores, and put together for your guests to nibble on.  Think of it as a tasty wayfarer’s meal, eaten on The King’s Road, between Winterfell and King’s Landing.

Loaf of Rustic Bread  ♦  Variety of cheeses (cheddar, brie, chevre, etc.)  ♦  Pickles

Big Bunch of Grapes  ♦  Slices of Blood Oranges,  Pears, and Apples in Lemon Juice

Pita and Hummus  ♦ Variety of Olives ♦ Packaged Stuffed Grape Leaves

Store-bought Rotisserie Chicken  ♦  Pre-marinated Shish Kebab Skewers

 Mead ♦ Wine  ♦ Cider  ♦  Ale

 NOTE: The trick to faking it effectively is purchasing high quality ingredients and presenting them well.  Consider visiting Whole Foods. If you want to feel like you are at Winterfell, the bread needs to be crusty and authentic and the cheese should come from some small farm in Vermont.  Serve on your largest wooden cutting board, with your most rustic looking knife.