The World of Avlis

*Points to the Elven Gourmet booklet.*

Hamlet wrote:

*Points to the Elven Gourmet booklet.*

Eh, fo' serious now, who would believe that this book is anything but M'Chekian military propaganda?

Shaahesk Eating

It should be noted that because they are cold-blooded, shaahesk do not need to eat as often as warm-blooded races. Although to a large degree eating is viewed as a necessity rather than any sort of pleasurable experience, the desire to demonstrate their strength to others, as well as the drive to find nourishing meals, has led to certain peculiarities.

Shaahesk are first and foremost carnivores. All creatures are considered potential food, including other shaahesk. For cultural reasons, sentient races (although the shaahesk do not consider them sentient) are considered the best food, dwarf in particular because of their ample portions. Any food that can be swallowed live and whole is considered a delicacy, such as snakes and eels. Sometimes, however, this can be more for the experience and decadence than taste, such as eating small fairies.

Typically food is eaten as fresh as possible and raw. In poorer places, minimal preparation is done. Food is simply hacked apart by a large knife, if that, and devoured. More affluent shaahesk take more time with preparation. Meats can be sliced into thin strips and dipped into various liquids, such as raw egg. The most affluent shaahesk eat live food. Slowly cutting strips off of a live being and eating them is the height of shaahesk eating. Rarely food is smoked for preservation, particularly for soldiers who must spend their time fighting rather than tracking down food. Smoked freshwater eel is the most common. Cooking on an open fire is not done.

In shaahesk culture, the use of fingers in eating food is acceptable. The use of a single knife in slicing and getting food to the mouth is also done, which also tends to leave those eating with their fingers alone in a more precarious situation. It is considered good form to stab a piece of food that someone is reaching for with their fingers to claim it as one’s own. Typically, the social castes do not eat together. When they do, the highest-ranking shaahesk eat first. When all present are of equal status, the strongest eats the most, and the fastest knife gets the best cuts. The weak are allowed to eat what is left over.

Urizen wrote:I wrote this about 6 years ago:

Shaahesk Eating

It should be noted that because they are cold-blooded, shaahesk do not need to eat as often as warm-blooded races. Although to a large degree eating is viewed as a necessity rather than any sort of pleasurable experience, the desire to demonstrate their strength to others, as well as the drive to find nourishing meals, has led to certain peculiarities.

Shaahesk are first and foremost carnivores. All creatures are considered potential food, including other shaahesk. For cultural reasons, sentient races (although the shaahesk do not consider them sentient) are considered the best food, dwarf in particular because of their ample portions. Any food that can be swallowed live and whole is considered a delicacy, such as snakes and eels. Sometimes, however, this can be more for the experience and decadence than taste, such as eating small fairies.

Typically food is eaten as fresh as possible and raw. In poorer places, minimal preparation is done. Food is simply hacked apart by a large knife, if that, and devoured. More affluent shaahesk take more time with preparation. Meats can be sliced into thin strips and dipped into various liquids, such as raw egg. The most affluent shaahesk eat live food. Slowly cutting strips off of a live being and eating them is the height of shaahesk eating. Rarely food is smoked for preservation, particularly for soldiers who must spend their time fighting rather than tracking down food. Smoked freshwater eel is the most common. Cooking on an open fire is not done.

In shaahesk culture, the use of fingers in eating food is acceptable. The use of a single knife in slicing and getting food to the mouth is also done, which also tends to leave those eating with their fingers alone in a more precarious situation. It is considered good form to stab a piece of food that someone is reaching for with their fingers to claim it as one’s own. Typically, the social castes do not eat together. When they do, the highest-ranking shaahesk eat first. When all present are of equal status, the strongest eats the most, and the fastest knife gets the best cuts. The weak are allowed to eat what is left over.

surfer69 wrote:

Urizen wrote:I wrote this about 6 years ago:

Shaahesk Eating

It should be noted that because they are cold-blooded, shaahesk do not need to eat as often as warm-blooded races. Although to a large degree eating is viewed as a necessity rather than any sort of pleasurable experience, the desire to demonstrate their strength to others, as well as the drive to find nourishing meals, has led to certain peculiarities.

Shaahesk are first and foremost carnivores. All creatures are considered potential food, including other shaahesk. For cultural reasons, sentient races (although the shaahesk do not consider them sentient) are considered the best food, dwarf in particular because of their ample portions. Any food that can be swallowed live and whole is considered a delicacy, such as snakes and eels. Sometimes, however, this can be more for the experience and decadence than taste, such as eating small fairies.

Typically food is eaten as fresh as possible and raw. In poorer places, minimal preparation is done. Food is simply hacked apart by a large knife, if that, and devoured. More affluent shaahesk take more time with preparation. Meats can be sliced into thin strips and dipped into various liquids, such as raw egg. The most affluent shaahesk eat live food. Slowly cutting strips off of a live being and eating them is the height of shaahesk eating. Rarely food is smoked for preservation, particularly for soldiers who must spend their time fighting rather than tracking down food. Smoked freshwater eel is the most common. Cooking on an open fire is not done.

In shaahesk culture, the use of fingers in eating food is acceptable. The use of a single knife in slicing and getting food to the mouth is also done, which also tends to leave those eating with their fingers alone in a more precarious situation. It is considered good form to stab a piece of food that someone is reaching for with their fingers to claim it as one’s own. Typically, the social castes do not eat together. When they do, the highest-ranking shaahesk eat first. When all present are of equal status, the strongest eats the most, and the fastest knife gets the best cuts. The weak are allowed to eat what is left over.

We need more of this.

Or maybe people can conceive of regional/racial cuisines? You know like "Grovehaven Leaf Pie" or a Deglosian breakfast food called "Grape Nutz"?

strickp wrote:Hey, between Gurky and Flenken, no doubt there would be some awesome additions to gnomish cuisine...