I’m having a theme party, and I"m looking for food suggestions. In the past I had a smashing success with a “My Big Fat Greek Dinner Party”, where we served all Greek dishes, watch the movie, then drew a name so someone got to bring the movie home. It was great.
Well, my friends want to have a ROTK party, and I"m stumped for food ideas. I mean, when they actually ate (I’m thinking of the books now), it seemed to be either a general “feast” or some elven breadstuffs- no specific foods. Ale, of course, because Hobbits love ale so, but what else?
Ideas? Thoughts? Foods from New Zealand, perhaps? (and what on earth would that entail?)
Or should we just order a pizza and watch the damned movie?
I have a Tolkien/Middle Earth hardcover art book at home that I can’t remember the name of off hand. It had a bunch of art, explanations of the characters, and (here’s the relevant part) some recipies for a bunch of Middle Earth themed dishes - the only 2 I remember offhand were some sort of muffin like things and Stryder’s Eggs.
Think in terms of a Renaissance/Medivel feast. Raid your local thrift store for all the wooden plates and bowls, goblets and ale-mugs you can find.
Don’t give anyone any forks, just use knives and wooden spoons.
No electric lights, just candles and lanterns.
Do want it leaning towards the elegant Elvan dining experience? Spread leaves on the floor, Or is a rollicking good time in the “Green Dragon” more to your taste? Then use straw.
Decorate accordingly.
Join the S.C.A.
Serve foods like meat pies, roasts, whole fruits, “Po-ta-toes”, stews, tarts, fowl, etc.
We had a similar thread recently where people suggested donuts, Bundt cake, ring bologna, Funyuns, etc. It didn’t dawn on me until later why those were appropriate.
Raw unskinned, unboned catfish.
I don’t have the resource in front of me, but there was a rather descriptive menu for the supper at Tom Bombadil’s place (lots of honey & cakes & berries as I recall)
But yeah, for the majority of the story I guess it was pretty much elven pop-tarts.
For the feast idea, you can get a ton of inspiration here: http://www.godecookery.com/allrec/allrec.htm
It’s a site from an SCA guild that specializes in re-creating period recipes. (just promise me you won’t try to gook a live goose, that one’s just disgusting.)
Some of the recipes even have pictures of the finished food. (And you can put little flags with the white tree of Gondor in your meat pies!)
But cherry tomatoes are an absolute must. And roast a couple of whole chickens and make your guest tear them apart. After dinner immolation optional.
And serve the salt in a cute little carved box (you’ll only get this if you’re watching the extended editions.)
And mushrooms!
(This thread is making me want to throw a LotR themed feast of my own…)
I really want to have my own party now. I’d like to have a party with the whole series. I just have to find people who can sit still that long. I even have a cheap copy of the ring that I could use. It fell off a LOTR bookmark.
Similar fare is served and described at the home of Beorn, in The Hobbit. That might also be a source for you.
Rabbit stewed with herbs is a definite must, but I’m not sure if it’d be more authentic to include the onions and taters (the way Sam wanted it) or not (the way they actually had to settle for).
And real-life cram is known by the name “pilot biscuits”. You can get them at a backpacking store, along with dried meats and fruits, and other trail foods similar to what the adventurers would have carried with them.
Gotta have strawberries and cream. After the Shire was cleaned up the year 1420 was mentioned as being great for growing things. One line said “and young hobbits very nearly bathed in strawberries and cream.”
