Tried some bear stew. It was a little grizzly. (open)

[metaari]

WHO: Anyone who wants to show up
WHAT: Learn how to cook, eat food, drink, talk, be merry
WHEN: waves hands at the last weekend of Kingsway
WHERE: Camps just outside Skyhold
NOTES: Followup open log to this post

It's through travel with everyone recently that Metaari has come to realize that... well. There aren't a lot of battle chefs around. Not that he considers himself a chef, either, but at least he knows how to do a little more than stick meat over a fire. And now it's time to impart his knowledge on others so that they, too, may eat a little better when on the road. And, you know, assuming they aren't in such dire straits that they can afford to spend a little time pampering themselves.

Comments

[metaari]

He's seen her in the kitchens more than once (he likes to pop in now and then to snag something before being shooed away), and she certainly has an air of curiosity to her that he can appreciate. His eyes glance up from his work briefly so he can cast her a smile. "Well, if the weather is off, your first goal will most likely be to find more suitable shelter. Caves over overhanging rocks help. If you're still stuck outside and it's raining, well... not too many people are going to be keen on trying to keep a fire going anyway. That's a night for jerky."

Metaari laughs a little as he sets a grate over the fire, lifted up by sticks he has buried into the dirt around the pit. "Wind is a bit easier to cope with. If you've a spare cloth--a blanket, someone's extra large cloak, what have you--you can string it up on whichever side of the fire the wind is coming from. That'll usually do a fair job of blocking it."

[aceso]

Christine nods along, smiling at the jerky joke. Cold, wet, and miserable is not the way she would want to spend a night outside. She did it plenty after the Circles fell and she's not keen to return to it. Back then she busied herself with tending to injuries among the mages and not trying to cook, which is why she's trying to educate herself now.

"I see. I supposed you could not string it up in the desert. You would need a place with trees. Or at least bring a tent in order to use the poles." She takes note of the grate he's set up, looking fascinated.

"Will you be cooking directly on that, or in a pan on top of that?"

[metaari]

"Honestly, if you're traveling through the desert, you probably have a few more problems to think about than cooking." He grins a bit. "Sand does not make for a very tasty seasoning, I can tell you that. And that's mostly what you'll find. Desert travels are another prime opportunity for jerky. And nuts, too. Though there's plenty you can do to both before you hit the desert..."

He sounds thoughtful at that, trailing off for a moment as he thinks on it before shaking his head, mentally moving on.

"Right on it. Pots and pans are a nice luxury, but often times get left behind. It also gives everything nice, crisp lines, and a better smokey flavor."

[aceso]

"But you can always hit someone with a pan," she jokes, nose scrunching up at her own joke. "A smokey flavor is good. The flavor comes from the type of wood burned, does it not? I am afraid I know little of trees or which to use, but when roughing it, I suppose beggars cannot be choosers when it comes to selecting wood."

[metaari]

"That's a fair point! Nothing like good, solid iron that's built to withstand fire for beating someone about the head." Metaari laughs and rolls his shoulders a little as he straightens his back for a moment, working out the kinks from staying bent over.

He nods, almost happy to know there's someone else around here who knows something about cooking. "That's right. Oak is my personal favorite for red meats. I like maple for a lighter flavor. But as you said, when it comes right down to it, I often don't get the choice."

[aceso]

"That makes sense. Maple is for syrup or candy. It has a sweet flavor and I can see the flavor of its smoke being light because of it." While she knows plenty about cooking, it all comes from books. It's not the same as getting experience from someone who has done this sort of thing before.

"Is there anything I can do to assist?"