Food you would find at a D&D Tavern
- Thread starter trilobite
- Start date
Altalazar
First Post
All depends on where it is - a big city tavern could have just about anything - but a tavern in a one-tavern town on the edge of the wilderness will have a stew with whatever ranger-bob was able to grab that afternoon...
When I go to Ren Faire here in Michigan, I get the bread-bowl stew and the huge turkey legs - those are the best!
When I go to Ren Faire here in Michigan, I get the bread-bowl stew and the huge turkey legs - those are the best!
Wicht
Hero
If it was a poorer establishment I would expect to find either pork, chicken or goose as the main meat as these are animals easily raised on scraps. At slightly more expensive inns I would expect to find either beef or lamb, and at more expensive inns I would expect to find the regional delicacies.
Breads would vary in quality depending on the quality of the flour but would be a staple in most inns. Common root vegetables (potatoes, carrots, onions) would be common fare with fruits being more expensive.
Of course regional animals would greatly influence the menu as well.
Most inns would serve a staple course or two, while the more elite inns might have chefs that could fix up most any dish desired by the customer.
That would be what I would expect anyways.
Breads would vary in quality depending on the quality of the flour but would be a staple in most inns. Common root vegetables (potatoes, carrots, onions) would be common fare with fruits being more expensive.
Of course regional animals would greatly influence the menu as well.
Most inns would serve a staple course or two, while the more elite inns might have chefs that could fix up most any dish desired by the customer.
That would be what I would expect anyways.
trilobite said:
Well, hopefully, I didn't double post.
But, a small town tavern would use what is available and have a limited menu. If there are sheep in the area, then lamb-oriented dishes it is; if cows then beef, beef stews & veal; with chickens, it will be chicken dishes and egg dishes...(spam, spam, spam, spam, yes, I know somebody was thinking that...) they should have some bread available as well.
In a bigger city, you'll have more options, but a tavern in the poor section of town would still have limited dishes. While a better tavern would have fresh breads, and several types of meats to choose from prepared in a few different ways – a couple of stews, a couple of beef/steak type dishes, a couple of chicken dishes, venison, etc… maybe something a little more veggie oriented if there are a lot of elves in the area… or, something with fruits & berries for elves & Halflings.
Thornir Alekeg
Albatross!
I don't like the idea of a "generic" inn or tavern. If I had to come up with one I'd say it would have only a couple, maybe three, choices on the menu.
IMC it depends a lot on the tavern or inn, the town or city it is in etc. Bigger, more upscale inns in larger cities tend to have more selection than small village inns. Might also depend on when you are at the inn. At the prime mealtimes you might get some selection, later at night you might only be able to get what's been warming on the hook all evening.
Taverns will have less food selection if they are primarily watering holes, but some might have more if they try to be more a restaurant than a bar. Its all in how you decide to make it. My rule of thumb, though is the better the selection, the more expensive it is (need to keep a better chef, more food selection, more likely for perishables to go bad before being used etc.)
IMC it depends a lot on the tavern or inn, the town or city it is in etc. Bigger, more upscale inns in larger cities tend to have more selection than small village inns. Might also depend on when you are at the inn. At the prime mealtimes you might get some selection, later at night you might only be able to get what's been warming on the hook all evening.
Taverns will have less food selection if they are primarily watering holes, but some might have more if they try to be more a restaurant than a bar. Its all in how you decide to make it. My rule of thumb, though is the better the selection, the more expensive it is (need to keep a better chef, more food selection, more likely for perishables to go bad before being used etc.)
Speaks With Stone
First Post
Mrs. Sweeny's Meat Pies. (Rats if your are lucky, processed human flesh if you are unlucky).
ALA Sweeny Todd, of course. (I couldn't remember her maiden name)
But in poor areas meat is meat - dogs, cats, rats, mule - all could be cooked and served.
In less desperate times, a little porrige a few simple veggies that store well like onions or rutabagas.
In even less desperate times, pork and probably what you tend to think of anyway.
You can look at any of the James McCauley books for simple meals for peasants, kings, romans, or whatever. Besides, they are fun to read.
ALA Sweeny Todd, of course. (I couldn't remember her maiden name)
But in poor areas meat is meat - dogs, cats, rats, mule - all could be cooked and served.
In less desperate times, a little porrige a few simple veggies that store well like onions or rutabagas.
In even less desperate times, pork and probably what you tend to think of anyway.
You can look at any of the James McCauley books for simple meals for peasants, kings, romans, or whatever. Besides, they are fun to read.
hunter1828
Butte Hole Surfer
Meats: Beef, pork, mutton, venison, rabbit, chicken, duck, goose, partridge, squirrel, goat, moose, elk, woodchuck, wisent/bison, pheasent, beaver.
Fish: Cod, salmon, flounder, herring, sardines, trout.
Cheeses of all sorts.
Vegetables: parsnips, carrots, onions, beets, beans, peas, mushrooms. (in less historical based campaigns or those based on Middle-Earth you can include potatos, squash and corn)
Fruits: Apples, pears, cherries, apricots, grapes/raisins, plums/prunes.
Not all would have all of the above. Just a list of different things different inns might serve.
hunter1828
Fish: Cod, salmon, flounder, herring, sardines, trout.
Cheeses of all sorts.
Vegetables: parsnips, carrots, onions, beets, beans, peas, mushrooms. (in less historical based campaigns or those based on Middle-Earth you can include potatos, squash and corn)
Fruits: Apples, pears, cherries, apricots, grapes/raisins, plums/prunes.
Not all would have all of the above. Just a list of different things different inns might serve.
hunter1828
First off, if you're in a big town, you had apartments and apartment complexes,
but kitchens weren't available.
So, you'd go down to the neighborhood tavern and in return for allowing the cooking of your food, you'd give a portion to the tavern.
Next, seasonal food.
Beef in winter in spring, cooking the cattle that had died and frozen over the winter.
Otherwise, beef is for the rich.
Pork, and some sheep would be normal fare.
Porridge all day.
'Beer' in the morning (not the stuff we know now, more like porridge above, but still fermented)
Take a look at the calender and what fruits and vegatables would be available at what time of year.
Apples in the fall. Strawberries in summer, etc.
And the 'bread bowl' thing is a good idea - no dishes.
And bread would be made every day by the establishment.
More later,
Vahktang
but kitchens weren't available.
So, you'd go down to the neighborhood tavern and in return for allowing the cooking of your food, you'd give a portion to the tavern.
Next, seasonal food.
Beef in winter in spring, cooking the cattle that had died and frozen over the winter.
Otherwise, beef is for the rich.
Pork, and some sheep would be normal fare.
Porridge all day.
'Beer' in the morning (not the stuff we know now, more like porridge above, but still fermented)
Take a look at the calender and what fruits and vegatables would be available at what time of year.
Apples in the fall. Strawberries in summer, etc.
And the 'bread bowl' thing is a good idea - no dishes.
And bread would be made every day by the establishment.
More later,
Vahktang
diaglo
Adventurer
hunter1828 said:
what thread have you been hanging out on lately?
i don't think you need to list the meat, fruit, etc...unless you have a very detail oriented group. this will require economic, agriculture, etc...courses to truly answer.
or you could just pick up a copy of Aurora's whole realms catalog
Altalazar
First Post
diaglo said:what thread have you been hanging out on lately?
i don't think you need to list the meat, fruit, etc...unless you have a very detail oriented group. this will require economic, agriculture, etc...courses to truly answer.
or you could just pick up a copy of Aurora's whole realms catalog
Speaking of Beaver meat, a few years ago I was walking down the street in Downtown Grand Rapids (a reasonably sized downtown, quite urban) and lo and behold, I see a Beaver walking its merry way down the sidewalk. There is a river that cuts through town - I guess he was taking a walk away from the river (which was several blocks away...)
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