AFGNCAAP
First Post
As many have said before, it mainly depends on the cost of the tavern/inn, and the local foodstuffs.
More likely than not, common dishes will be from farm animals, & not necesarily game animals (since you'd have to hunt every day, in order to have any sort of supply). Any sort of meat dish will probably be a bit more expensive overall compared to a vegetarian one (with some exceptions). If near a sizeable body of water, then fish & other "seafood" (or lakefood/riverfood/etc.) could be an option.
Grains and vegetables will probably be common fare, though I'd say whatever sorts of grains and veggies you want available, have available (you'd be limited to certain ones if you were going for a pseudo-medieval European style setting, like no corn, tomatos, or potatos, but who says that you have to?) Fruits & nuts would most likely be used in dessert dishes, if not some sort of flavoring for a meat dish.
As for drinks: it'll most likely be alcohol, unless there was some regular way to pasturize milk and ensure the safety/cleanliness of water. Stuff like beers (ale, lager, bock, stout, etc.) and wines (grape or any other fruits) would be common, though mead may be if there's any sort of bee farms/honey production in the area. Harder liquors may be a bit more expensive (or maybe on par, if the crops needed were common enough), and may be reserved for more expensive places (barring of course, if a certain drink is common enough).
Also, one thing that may or may not be applicable for you, but it's a little fact of the times: other than spoons (for stews & soups), no eating utensils were supplied. People brought their own knives to eat with (& forks as part of silverware didn't exist until much later). Though there would be cups/mugs for drinks, stews & soups were either in bowls or in hollowed-out round loaves of bread (sometimes the hollowed-out loaf was used to line a bowl). Instead of plates, food was served on large, flat trenchers of bread. Though the feasters could eat the bread, more oftne than not, the bread was given to the poor after meals.
Of course, this may not be applicable IYC, but then again, a general lack of silverware is that much less stuff to have to recollect & wash with every diner/patron. Bowls and cups/mugs would be made of wood, ceramics, pewter, or even leather (sealed to be leak-proof). Spoons would probably be made of wood, pewter, iron, bronze, or some other tough material.
One thing you may want to consider for sizeable cities/towns (though it depends on what's available IYC) is what would essentially be "fast-food shops"--they did exist in Rome. It'd be more like a place in a food court (a counter facing the walk/street, with kitchens/prep place behind) than a "restaurant." The dishes would be limited, but constantly made, and rather quick and easy to eat (i.e., no need for utensils): sandwiches, wraps, & other easily hand-held foods/entrees. Any sort of city living may limit/prohibit its dwellers from preparing food in their homes/apartments/flats (too many chances for fire), so it'd be necessary to dine at one of these shops, if not a tavern/pub/inn/etc.
Hope this helps.
More likely than not, common dishes will be from farm animals, & not necesarily game animals (since you'd have to hunt every day, in order to have any sort of supply). Any sort of meat dish will probably be a bit more expensive overall compared to a vegetarian one (with some exceptions). If near a sizeable body of water, then fish & other "seafood" (or lakefood/riverfood/etc.) could be an option.
Grains and vegetables will probably be common fare, though I'd say whatever sorts of grains and veggies you want available, have available (you'd be limited to certain ones if you were going for a pseudo-medieval European style setting, like no corn, tomatos, or potatos, but who says that you have to?) Fruits & nuts would most likely be used in dessert dishes, if not some sort of flavoring for a meat dish.
As for drinks: it'll most likely be alcohol, unless there was some regular way to pasturize milk and ensure the safety/cleanliness of water. Stuff like beers (ale, lager, bock, stout, etc.) and wines (grape or any other fruits) would be common, though mead may be if there's any sort of bee farms/honey production in the area. Harder liquors may be a bit more expensive (or maybe on par, if the crops needed were common enough), and may be reserved for more expensive places (barring of course, if a certain drink is common enough).
Also, one thing that may or may not be applicable for you, but it's a little fact of the times: other than spoons (for stews & soups), no eating utensils were supplied. People brought their own knives to eat with (& forks as part of silverware didn't exist until much later). Though there would be cups/mugs for drinks, stews & soups were either in bowls or in hollowed-out round loaves of bread (sometimes the hollowed-out loaf was used to line a bowl). Instead of plates, food was served on large, flat trenchers of bread. Though the feasters could eat the bread, more oftne than not, the bread was given to the poor after meals.
Of course, this may not be applicable IYC, but then again, a general lack of silverware is that much less stuff to have to recollect & wash with every diner/patron. Bowls and cups/mugs would be made of wood, ceramics, pewter, or even leather (sealed to be leak-proof). Spoons would probably be made of wood, pewter, iron, bronze, or some other tough material.
One thing you may want to consider for sizeable cities/towns (though it depends on what's available IYC) is what would essentially be "fast-food shops"--they did exist in Rome. It'd be more like a place in a food court (a counter facing the walk/street, with kitchens/prep place behind) than a "restaurant." The dishes would be limited, but constantly made, and rather quick and easy to eat (i.e., no need for utensils): sandwiches, wraps, & other easily hand-held foods/entrees. Any sort of city living may limit/prohibit its dwellers from preparing food in their homes/apartments/flats (too many chances for fire), so it'd be necessary to dine at one of these shops, if not a tavern/pub/inn/etc.
Hope this helps.
