There’s something magical about food, isn’t there? The tastes, smells, textures, even the visual elements can all bring about memories of times gone past and set the mood for a given event. It’s also an everyday staple at most gaming events, with players bringing snacks, pizza, soda and more to the game to keep the player's stomachs sated while their adventures commit heroic(?) deeds. One of my favorite concepts has always been bringing themed snacks or meals to the game to help set the mood. There are suggestions below for those whose culinary skills involve opening a bag of chips to those who have a fair hand in the kitchen. Whichever you choose know that adding an unusual twist to the snack-time offerings is a great way to keep players coming back for more.
Basic Tavern Fare
It’s typical that a campaign has an overwhelming human presence, and thus you’ll likely have an abundance of human taverns. Even if the party will only be spending a short time at the tavern meeting ye olde quest giver having tavern fare available is a great way to set the mood and keep the players fed throughout. Below are a few items you’ll find in just about any tavern.
• Bread – If you live anywhere near a Walmart or similar establishment you can almost certainly get inexpensive bread from their bakery. Full loaves of French Bread often go for .99$, and there are often wonderful varieties that include garlic, Italian herb, and sometimes cheese-topped bread. To help set the mood look into oddly shaped loaves, sourdough balls are another great option, especially if you hollow them out and use them for bowls. Which brings us to.
• Stews – Stews are a common part of any tavern fare, in part thanks to the ability to use multiple inexpensive ingredients to make a little meat go a long way. If you aren’t interested in cooking, then you can always grab a few cans of Beef Stew off the shelves. Serving up this common dish in the bread bowl can help add to the atmosphere.
• Cheese Boards – Cheese boards are another great option and are simple to make. Select a few flavorful kinds of cheese and cut them into slices, and to give a bit more sophisticated air grab a soft cheese like Brie or Camembert and cut the top of the rind off to provide a dip for the bread slices. (see our post about cheeseboards from earlier this week)
• Charcuterie Board – This is just a fancy name for a tray of sliced meats available in any grocery store.
• Meat Pies – These are often a little more on the expensive side but meat pies, also known as pasties in medieval times, can be easy to make and are often available at convenience stores already prepared. You could also pick up a few boxes of hot pockets and serve them on a wooden tray.
• Bread – If you live anywhere near a Walmart or similar establishment you can almost certainly get inexpensive bread from their bakery. Full loaves of French Bread often go for .99$, and there are often wonderful varieties that include garlic, Italian herb, and sometimes cheese-topped bread. To help set the mood look into oddly shaped loaves, sourdough balls are another great option, especially if you hollow them out and use them for bowls. Which brings us to.
• Stews – Stews are a common part of any tavern fare, in part thanks to the ability to use multiple inexpensive ingredients to make a little meat go a long way. If you aren’t interested in cooking, then you can always grab a few cans of Beef Stew off the shelves. Serving up this common dish in the bread bowl can help add to the atmosphere.
• Cheese Boards – Cheese boards are another great option and are simple to make. Select a few flavorful kinds of cheese and cut them into slices, and to give a bit more sophisticated air grab a soft cheese like Brie or Camembert and cut the top of the rind off to provide a dip for the bread slices. (see our post about cheeseboards from earlier this week)
• Charcuterie Board – This is just a fancy name for a tray of sliced meats available in any grocery store.
• Meat Pies – These are often a little more on the expensive side but meat pies, also known as pasties in medieval times, can be easy to make and are often available at convenience stores already prepared. You could also pick up a few boxes of hot pockets and serve them on a wooden tray.
• Ciders and other Beverages - Serving up sparkling apple ciders is a simple way to bring something unusual to the table, though if you're playing with an adult group some (lightly) alcoholic beverages can do even more. If your group is of the beer swilling type consider changing up their experience by bringing in unusual brews or something more exotic like mead (a honey wine).
These simple ingredients will help set a tavern atmosphere, especially if you combine them with wooden mugs, plates, and serving utensils with a few candles on the table. You’re going to want to take care with your gaming supplies to ensure they don’t wind up marked with grease and the like. If you’ve been eating pizza while gaming, however, this may already be a lost cause.
Other Tips
You can also spruce things up with some background music. I suggest bands like Danheim, Faun, Omnia, Brobdingnagian Bards, the Whiskey Bards, and countless others to properly set the mood. If you’re running a game at a fancy nobleman’s event, you may also consider looking up traditional chamber music to set the tone.
Setting the mood at your gaming sessions can add another dimension to the immersion in the world and help bring your world to life. This post is likely to be the first of a series, with others going into foods to serve to evoke thoughts of certain races from the flavorful vegetation heavy Elven dishes to the earthy flavors of Dwarven Cuisine.
These simple ingredients will help set a tavern atmosphere, especially if you combine them with wooden mugs, plates, and serving utensils with a few candles on the table. You’re going to want to take care with your gaming supplies to ensure they don’t wind up marked with grease and the like. If you’ve been eating pizza while gaming, however, this may already be a lost cause.
Other Tips
You can also spruce things up with some background music. I suggest bands like Danheim, Faun, Omnia, Brobdingnagian Bards, the Whiskey Bards, and countless others to properly set the mood. If you’re running a game at a fancy nobleman’s event, you may also consider looking up traditional chamber music to set the tone.
Setting the mood at your gaming sessions can add another dimension to the immersion in the world and help bring your world to life. This post is likely to be the first of a series, with others going into foods to serve to evoke thoughts of certain races from the flavorful vegetation heavy Elven dishes to the earthy flavors of Dwarven Cuisine.
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