Post by Admin on Aug 13, 2017 8:44:33 GMT -5
As the bread-bowl of Archades, the cuisine in Shelbourne is the pinnacle of farm-to-table, thanks to the region's vast farms, herds and agrarian culture. The people of Shelbourne, especially the Gardiners, believe in setting a hospitable and lavish table, welcoming any and all guests to partake of what is served.
More often then not, meals are served family-style, with large bowls that are passed around in a carousel of abundance. Even the poorest family is able to serve at least three different dishes, and boasts a round of fresh-baked bread. No table is considered complete without that basic food-staple. When there is nothing else, there is bread thanks to a surplus of grain in the region. Cheese is also very common, though it is often a more robust goat-cheese or sheep's milk cheese, rather then cow's milk.
The emphasis in dishes is on simple and clean preparations where the emphasis is on the freshness of the food itself. Rich gravies and sauces are reserved for feast-days, and are often looked at suspiciously, knowing that they can hide food that could be going bad. In Shelbourne, food speaks for itself. There is never any question of what is being eaten, or that it is organic. Much of the diet in Shelbourne is heavily focused on vegetables and fruits, soups and stews, roasted and grilled meats where the flavors are allowed to shine, enhanced by the seasoning of herbs. This extends to drinks, whether it is wine, teas, ales or meads.
Much of what is grown in Shelbourne goes to feed her own people and a surplus is stored against the possibility of famine. The duchy leads the kingdom in preservation techniques as well, through stewing, preserves, dehydrating and other methods of long-term food storage. The rest is used in trade through-out the Kingdom, and even some is shipped across the seas.
Breakfast:
In Shelbourne, this is the largest meal of the day and often the most lavish. Heavy in proteins, the first meal of the day is meant to fuel a body through the day's work. Eggs, bacon, sausages, cheeses and other preserved meats are often served along-side fruit, nuts, yogurts, and honey. Warm bread, or in the more well-to-do houses, pastries, are served along with milk, teas, and small ale.
Lunch:
As many of the region's population is often to be found in the fields or at other employment, lunch is a simple affair that is known for being portable. Meat and vegetable pasties are the most common, or even bread with onion, cheese and cold meat with pickled vegetables along with a piece of fruit are what most consume for their short noon-time meal. The nobles trend towards soups, salads and egg pies that will not weigh them down so heavily, but full of flavor.
Dinner:
The evening meal is leisurely, often a rich soup or stew that has had the duration of the day to cook and meld flavors. These can be either purely vegetable or meat based, but are always accompanied by bread, cheese and a good, local wine or ale. The family gathers around the table to enjoy each other's company along with their meal, but sweets are not served at the meal's end. This is true of both noble-born and common-born.
Nocturne:
This is a custom observed only in Shelbourne, a way of ending the day to ensure that the dreams of adults and children are sweet. A glass of milk or a final dose of tea is sipped while a small pastry, cookie or other sweet is savored shortly before retiring for the night. It is believed that this is done in honor of Lunaris, who was rumored to have a sweet-tooth, and that in honoring him, he will give pleasant dreams.
More often then not, meals are served family-style, with large bowls that are passed around in a carousel of abundance. Even the poorest family is able to serve at least three different dishes, and boasts a round of fresh-baked bread. No table is considered complete without that basic food-staple. When there is nothing else, there is bread thanks to a surplus of grain in the region. Cheese is also very common, though it is often a more robust goat-cheese or sheep's milk cheese, rather then cow's milk.
The emphasis in dishes is on simple and clean preparations where the emphasis is on the freshness of the food itself. Rich gravies and sauces are reserved for feast-days, and are often looked at suspiciously, knowing that they can hide food that could be going bad. In Shelbourne, food speaks for itself. There is never any question of what is being eaten, or that it is organic. Much of the diet in Shelbourne is heavily focused on vegetables and fruits, soups and stews, roasted and grilled meats where the flavors are allowed to shine, enhanced by the seasoning of herbs. This extends to drinks, whether it is wine, teas, ales or meads.
Much of what is grown in Shelbourne goes to feed her own people and a surplus is stored against the possibility of famine. The duchy leads the kingdom in preservation techniques as well, through stewing, preserves, dehydrating and other methods of long-term food storage. The rest is used in trade through-out the Kingdom, and even some is shipped across the seas.
Breakfast:
In Shelbourne, this is the largest meal of the day and often the most lavish. Heavy in proteins, the first meal of the day is meant to fuel a body through the day's work. Eggs, bacon, sausages, cheeses and other preserved meats are often served along-side fruit, nuts, yogurts, and honey. Warm bread, or in the more well-to-do houses, pastries, are served along with milk, teas, and small ale.
Lunch:
As many of the region's population is often to be found in the fields or at other employment, lunch is a simple affair that is known for being portable. Meat and vegetable pasties are the most common, or even bread with onion, cheese and cold meat with pickled vegetables along with a piece of fruit are what most consume for their short noon-time meal. The nobles trend towards soups, salads and egg pies that will not weigh them down so heavily, but full of flavor.
Dinner:
The evening meal is leisurely, often a rich soup or stew that has had the duration of the day to cook and meld flavors. These can be either purely vegetable or meat based, but are always accompanied by bread, cheese and a good, local wine or ale. The family gathers around the table to enjoy each other's company along with their meal, but sweets are not served at the meal's end. This is true of both noble-born and common-born.
Nocturne:
This is a custom observed only in Shelbourne, a way of ending the day to ensure that the dreams of adults and children are sweet. A glass of milk or a final dose of tea is sipped while a small pastry, cookie or other sweet is savored shortly before retiring for the night. It is believed that this is done in honor of Lunaris, who was rumored to have a sweet-tooth, and that in honoring him, he will give pleasant dreams.