Christmas 2020: Fandom in Food

Today as part of our festive celebrations, we’re joined by the New York Times-bestselling cookbook author Chelsea Monroe-Cassel! Looking back on a strange year, she gives some suggestions on a new way to approach food and fandom…

Food is, arguably, one of the best things in this world. Not just because we all need to eat to survive, but because it can open up new horizons and experiences through taste, can bring back memories and nostalgia through smells, and can be a reason for people to gather and celebrate.

2020 has had other ideas, though, and the prospect of facing the much-changed holiday season has many of us bummed out. For that reason, there’s perhaps never been a better period in our lifetimes for a touch of escapism as when we are all cooped up at home with winter bearing down on us. In many places, facing the inability to leave home in person necessitates leaving home in one’s imagination. That can take the form of books, movies, videogames, and more.

It’s a great time for a touch of escapism in the kitchen, too. And that isn’t just limited to fantasizing about tucking into a plate of steaming hot fries in your favorite local spot, or biting into a scalding pizza fresh from the oven, too-hot-to-eat but too-good-to-resist. For many of us, our standard rotation of home cooking recipes have gotten a bit stale, so why not spruce things up?

This year a lot of festivities look pretty different from usual; The smiling faces of friends and family beam out from video screens instead of sofas, and the bustle of busy kitchens has been downsized to a quiet murmur. So in this different year, why not venture into a different sort of cooking? But it can be dangerous to go alone, so ask someone to join you! Food is something that can transcend the boundary of distance, especially with the help of modern technology.

Consider adding in a monthly themed dinner with friends as a way to connect and as something to look forward to. You can invite your friends to share a distanced tea with you and Bilbo Baggins. Break your fast with your own family and the brothers of the Night’s Watch. Arrange an online game night and make themed snacks to go along with it. Bake up a batch of fictional sweets to send to loved ones as a surprise gift.

Whatever your fandom, there are delicious recipes just waiting for you online and in the many fictional food cookbooks circulating out there. If you are just picking up a spoon and beginning your adventure into this type of cooking, check out some of my online recipes by following the link below, or by picking up a fictional food cookbook from your favorite bookseller.

Thanks for being awesome, brave, and adventurous, and I hope to see you at The Inn at the Crossroads soon!

A big thank you to Chelsea! You can check out her range of nerdy cookbooks, perfect for cooking up a fandom feast, below.

World of Warcraft The Official Cookbook

Prepare a feast fit for a warchief with this delicious compendium of recipes inspired by the hit online game from Blizzard Entertainment. The Official Cookbook teaches you how to conjure up a fantastical menu of foods inspired by the beloved massively multiplayer online role-playing game. The book's vast and varied selection of colorful recipes offers something for everyone, from apprentice cook to master chef, druid to orc.

World of Warcraft: Flavors of Azeroth - The Official Cookbook (available for pre-order now!)

Journey through Azeroth and prepare to feast on new culinary delights inspired by World of Warcraft. In this cookbook, Pandaren chef Nomi has collected the best recipes gathered during his travels and will instruct you in everything you need to know as you feast your way through Azeroth. Through the years, intrepid cook Nomi has traveled across Azeroth, learning countless regional recipes and techniques from Pandaria, the Broken Isles, and even the mysterious Shadowlands. Each chapter features easy-to-follow dishes, as well as numerous tips on how to not burn your food. Let Nomi be your guide in World of Warcraft: Flavors of Azeroth.

Hearthstone: Innkeeper’s Tavern Cookbook

A compendium of sweet and savoury recipes inspired by Blizzard’s hit online card game, Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft. Featuring a dynamic in-world design, this fun and engaging cookbook is an exciting follow-up to World of Warcraft: The Official Cookbook. Including food pairings for each dish and tips on meals for specific diets, this portable little cookbook is the perfect culinary guide for weary travellers from Azeroth and beyond.

 

Star Wars - Galaxy's Edge: The Official Black Spire Outpost Cookbook

This exciting new cookbook is inspired by the cuisine from Disney's hugely anticipated theme park expansion, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. Based on the delicious delicacies found in Black Spire Outpost on the planet Batuu, this cookbook provides fans with a wealth of delicious intergalactic recipes. Engaging, fun, and informative, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Cookbook is the definitive guide to the delectable cuisines of a galaxy far, far away.

Firefly - The Big Damn Cookbook

Treat your friends, family, and crew with Firefly: The Big Damn Cookbook. Featuring over 70 recipes inspired by Joss Whedon's cult TV show and illustrated with gorgeous full-color photography, you’ll never have to settle for protein blocks again. From Simon’s protein birthday cake to River’s problematic ice planet, this collection of recipes will keep you and your fellow Browncoats well fed even on your longest smuggling runs.

Overwatch: The Official Cookbook

Based on Blizzard Entertainment’s global phenomenon Overwatch, this official cookbook is packed with more than 100 recipes inspired by the game’s diverse heroes who hail from all corners of the universe. This cookbook features food and drink recipes from each hero’s homeland. Each recipe includes easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions, mouth-watering full colour photos, pairing suggestions, and more. 

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

Feast on all of the delicious offerings found in the world of Skyrim in this beautifully crafted cookbook based on the award-winning game The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Immerse yourself in the diverse cuisine of Skyrim with these recipes inspired by food found in the Old Kingdom and across Tamriel. With over 70 delicious recipes including Apple Cabbage Stew Sunlight Souffle, Sweetrolls, and more, this cookbook will delight every hungry Dragonborn.

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