I love this idea! What a fun, creative and exciting way to talk
about our books and characters! So let’s get going!
When I was in the early stages creating my War of Whispers
fantasy series, I had to decide how much world building to delve into. Did I
want to create a fantasy rich in detail (like GRR Martin) or something like The
Hunger Games? I found (IMHO) a happy
median and focused on topics that interested me. I’d much rather watch a
cooking show than a political exposé on CNN, so food and dining ousted
political/economic backstory. Plus, a meal (or lack thereof) will tell you more
about a country or a character’s economic situation than a discourse on
finances.
The next hurdle was this: what would my heroine, Elabea
(pronounced “Ella-bay”) eat in her dystopian, medieval-like world? Since her
nation, Allsbruth, is relegated to an agrarian life by their adversaries, the
Ebonites, their diet consists of vegetables with meat coming from what they
could hunt. In Chapter 1, while debating the Oracles of the Cauldron with her
mother, I chose porridge as her breakfast meal. It is one of their staples, yet
is bland and simple, all of which reflect her dull, oppressed life.
Despite their harsh conditions, the Allsbruthians are still able
to brew their noteworthy tea. Inspiration for this came from one of my
favorites, a spicy brew made by Celestial Seasonings called “Bengal Spice.” Tea
drinking is thread throughout the stories but I did so sparingly, which is the
culinary secret to using any spice.
Since I love to cook, I created a nation—the MerriNoons—who are
hailed as culinary masters. Digri, a MerriNoon who befriends Elabea, emphasizes
this point. “Allsbruthians know nothing of cooking…too much fire. Too
little spice.” When Elabea is invited to dine with the MerriNoons, she marvels
at the sights and aromas. “The air was
filled with the fragrance of hickory-smoked meats, yeast breads, rich spices
and fresh herbs.”
The Ebonites, who were the victors in the Dark War, are on the
other spectrum. They enjoy the spoils of war: the best art, coffers filled with
coins & jewels, and of course, the finest food and wine. To emphasize this
lavish lifestyle, I have scenes where Brairtok, their king, dines in opulent
splendor while gorging himself on roasted pheasant, boar, fruits, desserts…
In Book II, Martyr’s
Moon, I have a key chapter set around an elegant meal where the
conversation is as delicious as the food in the banquet hall. But to describe
it here would be a “spoiler alert,” so I’ll leave it for you to discover on
your own.
If you’re like me, nothing is better than a good meal shared with
good friends. Unless, of course, they are characters in your book!
Bon Appétit!
Thanks for stopping by to share your food for thought, Jay!
You can find Jay and his books here:
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