For the Watch - elda eats

Warning: This post may be dark and full of spoilers…

“Valar Comer.” ~a not so old High Valyrian saying in San Antonio

All men must eat.

Especially when preparing for something as significant as the last season of Game of Thrones.

Are you a fan? I wasn’t always. I arrived late to the GOT party, not starting to watch the HBO series—or read the books—until 2016. Let us say that this is when my watch began.

I have never been much of a fantasy fan. I haven’t been one to enjoy zombie movies or one to get so addicted to a show that I buy the action figures or name my children (or pets) after the cool made up names by a writer with two middle initials.

Note: I do not have any children, although I did consider naming my most recent dog after Arya Stark…hey, she looks like a dire wolf!

What I do love, though? Dragons (yes, I admit it), a great story with complicated characters and really, really good writing. I truly love those things, and thus, after much curiosity and prodding from family and friends, I decided to watch, and of course, eventually did indeed become addicted to the series.

While I could not find a good Dornish red, this Tempranillo would have made Tyrion proud.

Game of Thrones

Why did I become addicted to Game of Thrones? Well, besides loving Arya, Jon, Tyrion and all those dire wolves, I think the reason why is exactly what I wrote above: I have always loved the idea of dragons, of course I love good stories and good writing and I do love complicated characters. Those people you hate, but then understand, get a glimpse into who they really are, kind of forgive–or at least start to like—then hate again, but then they do something to completely redeem themselves and you start to love them, or at least respect them.

Only to watch them die some horrible death.

Oh, and there are cute dogs (dire wolves), too!

That pretty much sums up Game of Thrones. Well that, and a bunch of crazy schemes, incest, graphic sex scenes, clothes that are worn for a really, really long time and then more sex and lots of violence. And I mean a lot of violence. Violence that you actually find yourself looking forward to.

I mean, I’ve cheered and gotten goosebumps when certain horrible characters get their throats slit or get pushed through the moon door. Hey, pretty much this whole disaster of a world is the fault of crazy-ass Lysa and Littlefinger, you know!!!

If they wouldn’t have killed Jon Arryn, blamed Cersei, made Ned go to King’s Landing, then Bran would have never been pushed out of the window, and among a lot of other horrible things, Lady would have never been killed!!! I still hate watching that part.

Rest in peace, Lady.

Valar Morghulis

All men must die.

This is true. And because Game of Thrones is only a TV series, it’s easier to think about, and yes, enjoy.

We don’t enjoy all the deaths though, mind you.

Because I had started watching so late, binge-watching as they say, the first five seasons in a few months before season six started, and had been blissfully unaware of what happened, I was shocked when Joffrey had Lord Eddard Stark’s head lopped off. I did not enjoy that at all. I had not been paying attention on social media so was also unaware that the Rains of Castemere playing at the Red Wedding meant that pretty much everyone would have their throats cut open or get stabbed multiple—and I mean multiple—times in a pregnant belly.

Robb should have never married her.

The story is a bit different in the book, but the ultimate result was the same. Death, and lots of blood; and farewell to the original King in the North.

And poor, Grey Wind!!! Rest in peace.

Valar Dohaeris

All men must serve.

I don’t know about this one. I’m not much for self-sacrifice and not sure I agree with the opposite of death is service, but hey, I didn’t write the books or screenplays and well, I am also not fluent in high Valyrian so who knows what it really means in the grand scheme of things. Perhaps service to honor, integrity and a worthy cause? Or perhaps all men must serve a really good supper? I can definitely go along with that.

Anyway, Arya does end up serving, in the end; she serves herself (again), serves her family and she serves and fights for all that is right in her eyes (and mine). The many-faced god certainly gave her some good training and I can only hope–and pray to the old gods!—that she and needle are standing tall in the end.

I mean, Nymeria is still alive after all. That must count for something.

Long live Nymeria.

King Robert himself would have loved this meat and cheese board. Strong hard cheese, slices of bangers and wine-flavored rolls of salami and mozzarella were a few of the highlights we snacked on while we watched older episodes of seasons gone by.

Valar Comer

All men must eat.

Okay, so I made this up. But they do eat and drink well in the Seven Kingdoms. At least when they aren’t being held captive, or in chains, or with Khal Drogo, or in the black cells. Besides the Dothraki’s cuisine, they have pretty good taste in food in Westeros. Even Dany’s dragons eat well (when they aren’t roasting you know, little children…eek.)

The books and the series are full of meats roasted on spits, ale, wine, lemon cakes, lots of lamb and goat, eggs and sausages and bacon, pigeon pies, rabbit stew, fish, breads and cheese, even more ale and yes, much more wine. It was a true feast for the eyes reading through many of George R.R. Martin’s passages about food. The rat cook aside, they ate pretty well when life was good.

When life wasn’t good, well, one doesn’t have time to think about food when your prized sword-wielding hand has just been chopped off with what looked like a very dirty and unsanitary blade. Lucky for Jaime, Brienne talks him into eating to survive. He can eat and drink for enjoyment later. If the Army of the Dead doesn’t get to him first.

I hate those guys.

Please, please don’t let me see sweet Summer marching with those zombies. Please. Not Summer!

Rest in peace always, Summer.

In honor of episode one, Winterfell and Lady Sansa, I knew I wanted to have lemon cake for dessert. Moist lemon pound cake with homemade lemon curd made the perfect sweet treat.

Our Watch Begins

The final season.

If you’re like me, you’ve been waiting quite a while for this season and the end of this story. Who will die, who will live, will the Hound kill the Mountain, will Jaime kill Cersei, will we ever see Ghost again, who will sit on the Iron Throne, does it even matter? If you’re like me, you have so many questions! If you aren’t like me, then none of what I’ve written above makes any sense whatsoever, but oh well. I can’t stop now.

A few months ago and in preparation for this final watch, I started to think about what I wanted to do to pay tribute to so many years of life spent in this fictional Seven Kingdoms, to celebrate what is probably the best series I’ve ever watched on TV, and of course, I knew it would be about food. And drink. And Ghost.

Because, for me, everything is about food! And drink.

I swear, nothing bad better happen to Ghost!

In The Kitchens

So, how would I/will I pay tribute? By cooking and eating food that perhaps the characters can be proud of. Or at least perhaps a few things that Hot Pie himself might serve up in the kitchens at the Crossroads Inn.

While not quite ready to pay tribute to a dinner fit for Ramsay, I do think that will probably happen in the next few weeks. Along with a toast to Shaggydog (I’m crying again!), Rickon and his bad running, and all the poor flayed skins of people who those Boltons terrorized, we’ll feast on something deserving of them soon; but for now, let’s continue to celebrate the wolf banners…

Episode One: Winterfell

In honor of the first episode of the must-anticipated final season, we feasted all day on Game of Thrones-themed fare with all plates being worthy of Winterfell.

We started our Sunday with a hearty breakfast worthy of any warrior of the Seven Kingdoms: a nice ale, brown bread with Irish butter, fried eggs, fried tomatoes, boxty, bacon, bangers, some hard cheese and well, Tabasco sauce because I like Tabasco sauce.

Dinner was going to be pigeon pie!
Peter putting the finishing touches on this keto-friendly crust. Yep.

The chicken “pigeon” pie ended up being really, really good. Especially with melted cheese and parsley on top and a side of brown bread with lots of melted butter.
Not pictured: another pint of beer and/or glass of wine. So as not to choke on my pigeon pie…

Episode Two: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

Easter Sunday and episode two seemed like a good reason to make my next Cook the 40 recipe as it would be perfect for both occasions. (Will also be featured in a Cook the 40 blog post…stay tuned!) Both Easter and episode two, and the fact that Ser Brienne of Tarth finally happened!

Killing two ravens with one meal, if you will? Okay, that is bad.

Sorry. Let’s just look at the food…

Oh, my! This garlicky braised lamb shank dish was indeed perfect for GOT-watching. The lamb was falling off the bone and the garlic and peppers had me thinking perhaps of great meals savored in exotic Essos.

Queen Cersei would have liked this bottle of Spanish wine.
Not sure they have carrot cake in Westeros, but they should. Arya shouldn’t have to just eat those carrots out of the dirt, after all.

I wonder if Hot Pie has a good hot cross buns recipe? Add a few more iced stripes and it easily becomes a seven-pointed star! (I wish I would have thought of that last week. Darn!)

The Meals to Come…

Too much? Maybe. Maybe not. All I know is that, as Cersei reminds Lord Stark, “When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground.”

When you watch Game of Thrones, you should eat and drink, and you should eat and drink well. There should be no middle ground.

And for the next month or so, those Game of Thrones meals to come should be the best ones you eat. They were for me the last two weeks. I am sure they will be again.

Elda XO