Welcome to the Inn at the Crossroads! It’s not a real place, with a street address and a sign hanging out front, but it is near and dear to the hearts of many. Think of it as a virtual gathering place where recipes from many different worlds come together.
Q: What on earth is this blog all about?
A: The Inn at the Crossroads is named after a place in the Song of Ice and Fire series (better known to some by Game of Thrones, the name of the HBO series inspired by the novels) by George RR Martin. In the books, there is frequent mention of food, most of which sounds mouthwatering (there is a lot of bacon). In 2011 IatC cofounders Chelsea and Sariann had the idea to make dinner based on one of the dishes, and share the recipe online. The whole thing quickly snowballed into this blog and our first cookbook, A Feast of Ice and Fire.
Q: Why do some posts have more than one recipe?
A: Many of the original Game of Thrones posts have a modern recipe and an older take on the same dish. When available, we used medieval recipes, but have also drawn from Ancient Roman and Elizabethan cookbooks. This approach not only showcases how tastes have changed over the centuries, but also introduces readers to some amazing historical recipes and ingredients that often outshine their modern counterparts.
Q: How many recipes will you make?
A: Now that it’s just Chelsea busily writing cookbooks behind the scenes, the time between new recipes has definitely lengthened. But There are countless amazing sounding fictional dishes just waiting to be developed into real recipes, so stay tuned!
Q: I want to make some of your dishes, but can’t find or afford the specialty ingredients. What can I do?
A: I always try to keep these dishes as accessible as possible, but when it comes to historical cooking, there are occasionally some real oddball ingredients. Innovation is deep in the heart of any culinary exercise, not to mention perfectly in keeping with the culture of both the Middle Ages and of many fictional settings. Ingredients could not be guaranteed, and so substitutes were often made. If you like the sound of stewed goat but all you have is lamb, go for it! In a pinch, reach out and we can hopefully point you in the right direction.
Q: If I run into trouble, or have a question, can I get in touch?
A: OF COURSE! You can email us, post on Facebook, or send us a note on Twitter. We would love to hear from you about your recipes, and are happy to answer any questions, if we can!
Q: I have one of your cookbooks, but there’s a mistake or an ingredient missing. Can you tell me how to correct it?
A: You bet! There’s a list of known Errata for all my books on the blog. If your problem isn’t on the list, please let me know so I can add the correction to the list!
Q: I love what you’re doing, and would love to support your efforts! How can I do this?
A: First off, Thank You! Fan support is a huge part of what made this blog a success in the first place. You can help by checking out the Cookbook section, and if you’ve enjoyed one of the cookbooks, leaving a positive review. If there’s a fictional cuisine you’d especially like to see made into a new cookbook, definitely reach out to us and the publisher of that work.
Q: What are some other franchises you’d love to work on?
A: I’ve been so fortunate to be able to work on many projects that were on my dream list, but there is always room for more! As a longtime fan, The Lord of the Rings is one I’d love to explore. The Gentlemen Bastard series by Scott Lynch has a lot of amazing sounding food, as does the Witcher video game series.
Q: I’m a publisher interested in exploring the possibility of a fictional food cookbook with you. What’s the best way to begin that line of inquiry?
A: Awesome. I’m always excited about possible new projects! Please feel free to check out [this page] and send me an email through the blog’s Contact Page.