Food in fictional universes

I’m doing a lot of world building right now with my current project and that means one of my go to scenes has been heavily impacting: The info dump while people are cooking scene.1 Since this is a fantasy world, I have spent a decent amount of time trying to think about what cooking might look like and if it would be any different.

What is available?

If your story takes place in the mountains with harsh, cold weather, the local food is going to be a lot different from what someone on a tropical island has access to. The possible meats are going to be different, since not all animals exist in all terrains.

The vegetation is also going to be considerably different! If there is no room for farming, then there may not be such a prevalence of things like flour and baked goods might look different, have a different base for the starch, or just be less common.

And then there’s the question of spices. How do they season their food and what kind of flavours might be available in that climate?

Outside of that, there’s also the question of whether that climate shifts and how that impacts what is available. What’s available all year round and what needs to be preserved in some way? How can they preserve food for times when it’s not as readily available from their environment?

It’s honestly a lot of fun to research.

What other climates are they getting food from?

Trade routes! Allies! Food can be a great way to imply how the fictional civilization is doing in relation to the countries around it. Are they able to bring in food from other regions? Are there trade routes to foreign lands? Are there people from the other lands that come with special spices or ingredients?

All of these things can be a great way to add a subtle touch to your world building, or be used to emphasize something that you are already trying to establish somewhere else.

How are they cooking?

Technology is such a big factor in cooking. The invention of the fridge did some amazing and terrifying things to cooking when it was introduced.2 So what do your people have access to and what of those things would make the most sense with that set of ingredients and the climate?

Some interesting things to look at is how people in similar climates have historically cooked the food available to them and take inspiration from that. Not everyone is going to be having a roast and Yorkshire puddings, after all, and other methods are fascinating.

Another thing to consider is the presence of magic in your world. Magic is a type of technology that could be used in cooking, and the kinds of magic might influence they way food is prepared and what can be done with it. Keep it in mind and see what you can do with that!

What am I doing?

So per my current project, this is what I have in my notes so far.

This takes place on a fantasy island that has been cut off from the rest of the world, with a relatively warm climate. Meat-wise, it’s a lot of fish and birds and the very occasional land animal only for very special occasions.

There is not much land left that would be used for farming, but most of the towns on the island are covered in vines that grow fruits, vegetables, and flowers that can be harvested and used to add to their food. Most buildings have a garden on the rooftop that supplies the people inside.

The majority of the cooking is done over a fire or via stove top because that seems to be the best course of action for this set of possible ingredients and generally matches what people in similar climates tend to use.

And, because it’s a magic universe, there is the ability to chill things. They prefer to have things that are frozen, though, and do a mix of sweet and savoury frozen foods as both meals and treats. Freezing to cook is considered an equivalent method to heating.

What food are you making for your fictional worlds?

1. No, I don’t know why I keep doing this. It just happens. [↩]
2. Just look up some of those Jello salad recipes. [↩]