Tag Archives: GRRM

Oatbread w/bits of date, apple, and orange

“Tyrion listened with half an ear as he sampled sweetcorn fritters and hot oatbread baked with bits of date, apple, and orange, and gnawed on the ribs of a wild boar.” -A Storm of Swords
Oatbread

Our Thoughts:

This is a really fantastic bread. Each bite has a different combination of fruity filling, but the entire loaf is soft and delicious, with the oats providing a subtle heartiness. A bite with a bit of candied orange peel is so utterly sweet and wonderful that it will keep you coming back for more and more. A bit of fresh butter or honey pairs extremely well, and try it alongside a glass of iced milk.

Get the recipe in the Official Cookbook!

Honey Spiced Locusts

“Hizdahr had stocked their box with flagons of chilled wine and sweetwater, with figs, dates, melons, and pomegranates, with pecans and peppers and a big bowl of honeyed locusts. Strong Belwas bellowed, “Locusts!” as he seized the bowl and began to crunch them by the handful.” (Dance with Dragons)

Our Thoughts:

The things we do for food…

As soon as we read the description of honey-spiced locusts in Dance, we knew we had to rise to the challenge.

This Volantene recipe results in a sweet & spicy, super crunchy snack that is surprisingly good. It takes a bit of psychological adjustment to get over the idea of eating bugs, but the novelty and brag-factor makes it well worth the effort. Underlying the more familiar tastes of honey and spice is the real flavor of the crickets- a sort of smoky nuttiness that takes several bites to savor.

We dared to try it. Do you?

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Black Cherries in Sweet Cream

“Illyrio smiled as his serving men spooned out bowls of black cherries in sweet cream for them both.” (Dance with Dragons)

Black Cherries in Sweet Cream

Our Thoughts:

This is an easy dessert with a serious wow factor. I mean, have you seen that photo?

I would totally eat this dessert.

In fact, I did.

The cream isn’t too sweet, allowing the slight tartness of the cherries to come through. The pop of the cherries melts into the texture of the cream, leaving just a hint of purple swirl in the bottom of the bowl. It’s so good you may have to lick your bowl…

For an even more decadent dining experience, leave the stems on the cherries. Dip them into a dish of sweet cream, and gently eat them one at a time like a Roman Emperor. Magister Illyrio would be proud.

Get the recipes for the Sweet Cream in the Cookbook, and make it at home!

Cream of Wheat with Honey and Butter

Medieval Cream of Wheat

“Or even better, to wake in Castle Black behind the Wall and go to the common room for a bowl of Three-Finger Hobb’s thick cream of wheat, with a big spoon of butter melting in the middle and a dollop of honey besides. Just the thought of it made his empty stomach rumble.” (Storm of Swords)

Modern Cream of Wheat

Our Thoughts

The medieval cream of wheat is incredibly heavy and hearty. The hulled wheat never really loses its structural integrity without going through a sieve, so the texture is more like that of a very creamy pottage. The honey and butter sweeten it just enough for it not to be overwhelming. This recipe will definitely stick to your ribs! The way it comes out is more like a thick cream with the wheatberries, and the stock makes it taste quite nice. It would be best served with a breakfast meat and/or eggs

The modern cream of wheat is much more like what you would buy from the store. It has a smoother texture and the consistency of apple sauce. The reduced milk creates a very sweet flavor when paired with the honey butter, almost too sweet for a breakfast food. The honey butter is divine, and wonderful on an assortment of baked goods!

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Baked Venison

” Season might pass without a singer ever coming to play for us, and there’s not a goldsmith on the island. Even meals became a trial. My cook knew little beyond his roasts and stews, and Lynesse soon lost her taste for fish and venison.” (Clash of Kings)

Medieval Baked Venison

Modern Baked Venison

Our Thoughts

Venison is a very lean meat that should always be cooked with a fat to retain moisture. The medieval venison recipe is something from heaven. As we all know, everything is better with bacon, and this venison was no different. We had small venison steaks available for this recipe. and the bacon taste overwhelmed the venison a bit, but this can probably be countered by using a larger roast type cut. The modern recipe really showcases the taste and texture of the venison. The added fat from the butter prevents the meat from drying out in the oven, but does not create a greasiness to the venison. Both recipes are certainly worth making, and don’t forget to save your leftovers for venison pie- it’s wonderful!

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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…