A Game of Thrones Meal Plan
A Unique Approach Dinner, Inspired by A Feast of Ice and Fire
WINTER IS COMING.
(But first, I need to figure out what we're eating for the season premier of Game of Thrones!)
I enjoy cooking, and I love to eat with my family all around me! But over the years, I have fallen into a rut. Lasagna, pot roast, chili, chicken, barbecue in summer, the usual suspects for sides; repeat.
This year, I decided to make a big change. When I read that there was an official Game of Thrones cookbook being published, I was inspired to attempt some completely different family dinners.
Feasting at Winterfell
...or Kings Landing...or the Wall...
A Feast of Ice and Fire, by Chelsea Monroe-Cassel and Sariann Lehrer, is a cookbook of delectable recipes based on meals described in the Song of Ice and Fire series. Full of gorgeous photos, suggestions on how to decorate a Game of Thrones table, and an introduction by George R.R. Martin himself, it is easily followed by cooks of any level of experience. It's perfect for creating the meal for my Game of Thrones premier party.
The authors researched old medieval cooking practices and recipe books to find real foods like the ones in the series, then adapted those recipes for modern methods and ingredients. Both the historical recipe sources and the modern adaptations are included, which makes for a fascinating read.
The menu below comes entirely from the book. It's impossible to not drool while you read it! I have also been inspired by the authors' suggestions for medieval or Game of Thrones tableware and decorations.
The Game of Thrones Meal
A Feast of Ice and Fire
This is the Game of Thrones menu I have chosen for the premier this year. I think it's going to be amazing! I hope it inspires you to branch out a little too - even if you incorporate just a few of the recipes and decorations from A Feast of Ice and Fire into your feast, it will make the celebration unique and fresh for your guests.
Southron Mulled Wine
Cabernet simmered with clementines, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, honey...yum.
Sweet Pumpkin Soup
Pumpkin, yam, butternut squash blended with cider, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and chicken stock, served steaming.
Sansa Salad
Sansa is probably the character I like least from Game of Thrones, but the salad named for her is refreshing and different - a base of spinach, lemongrass and mint, with candied walnuts, prunes, and edible flowers (such as violets), in raspberry vinaigrette. I think I will replace the prunes with dried cranberries.
Black Bread
Made with rye, white, and whole wheat flours, dark beer or porter, and honey, this loaf will be dense and flavorful.
Quails Drowned in Butter
Marinated overnight in a butter and lemon sauce, and stuffed with apples, these will be loved by the kids for their size - they look like mini Thanksgiving turkeys!
Aurochs Roasted with Leeks
Unfortunately, aurochs are extinct, so I am substituting a top round roast of bison, roasted with leeks, carrots, and served with Medieval Pepper Sauce.
Peaches in Honey
Hot grilled peaches in a honey and lemon sauce, served with home made ice cream.
Tyroshi Pear Brandy
Aristocrat brandy (or any inexpensive brandy) and sugar syrup over sweet comice pears left for a few weeks in a dark pantry, then filtered through cheesecloth, is an invaluable aid to relaxing after dinner!
The Game of Thrones Table
My family dinner tables usually consist of a crisp white tablecloth and my beloved Fiestaware in appropriate colors (Persimmon, Ivory, and Chocolate for Thanksgiving, Scarlet and Shamrock for Christmas), but a Thanksgiving Feast of Ice and Fire requires a different aesthetic.
So far, I have a large piece of salvaged burlap for a tablecloth, a dark brown corduroy and velvet table runner I found at a discount store, and an ugly candelabra I'm going to paint black and use as a centerpiece with some faux "wolf fur" from the fabric store. Black Fiestaware dishes and wooden and pewter serving bowls, platters, and place settings will be perfect, and I am hoping to find some on my eBay and Salvation Army adventures.
Don't watch Game of Thrones? Well, start!
Old World Ambiance, Winterfell Style
Lighting provided only by candles, oil lamps, and a fire in the fireplace, with medieval or perhaps Elizabethan music on the CD player, will be the finishing touches. And of course, a screening of the latest Game of Thrones episode during dessert!