Chelsea Monroe-Cassel, an amateur chef and fan of fantasy literature, has created a cookbook that allows fans to eat like the characters in the popular HBO series, Game of Thrones. The Official Game of Thrones Cookbook: Recipes from King’s Landing to the Dothraki Sea offers a taste of the unique cuisines of the seven kingdoms of Westeros.
Monroe-Cassel explained that the rich detail in George R. R. Martin’s novels, including the descriptions of food, landscapes, and clothing, inspired her to create the recipes. Each kingdom has its own unique cuisine, influenced by its climate, culture, and politics. For example, she used Scandi cuisine as inspiration for the seafaring folk of the Iron Islands who rely on long-lasting food for their voyages.
Monroe-Cassel’s research for each recipe includes studying the world in which the characters live, including their trade routes and culture. For instance, the Dornishmen love spicy food, so their recipes are spicier than those from the Iron Islands, where trade for spicy peppers is less common.
However, there were some recipes Monroe-Cassel avoided, as Martin advised against them, such as seagull. A typical Westeros pantry, according to Monroe-Cassel, would include standard baking flour, honey, and preserved fruits. Some of her favorite recipes in the book include Myrish fire wine, poppy seed pastries, stewed plums, roasted grapes, and Highgarden dumplings, a take on gnocchi.
