You are a shining gem. Thanks Ed. Btw, given the chat on Middle-Eastern-type food, do the Realms have dips like hummus, tzatziki, etc.? What are they called?
— George Krashos (@gkrashos) January 6, 2019
Your timing is superb! Just found those lore notes! Here we go:
Baba ghanouj/ghanoush (roasted eggplants, lemon juice, garlic): has quite a few names in the Realms, including “olkoth,” “arlkha,” and “lennem” 2/5)
Carrot puree: in the Realms, “lannli”
Fel medammes (fava beans with tahini and/or lemon): in the Realms, “belthiir” (“bel-THEER”)
Gilan pomegranate (green olive, walnut, and pomegranate): in the Realms, “halahake”#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) January 6, 2019
4/5)
Harissa (hot chili pepper paste): in the Realms, “flametongue”
Mulhammara (walnuts, bread crumbs, red pepper paste, pomegranate syrup): in the Realms, “hotnut”
Hummus: several names across the Realms, incl. “yaruth” and “taeth” Tabbouleh/Tabouli (salad of very finely chopped vegetables, parsley, bulgur wheat, lime juice, olive oil): in the Realms, “broaz” or “ithili”
Tahini (sesame seed paste): several Realms names, incl. “harlbutur” and “yethil”#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) January 6, 2019
5/5)
Tzatziki: in the Realms, “tarator” (as in our-world Bulgaria, so maybe this is something Elminster or another plane-trotting individual took from our world to the Realms)#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) January 6, 2019
Would any of these be known or familiar in Ankhapur? All of them, although lannli and flametongue would be enjoyed by few Ankh citizens, whereas all of the rest would be widespread/popular.
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) January 6, 2019
I really want a forgotten realms cookbook Me, too! I did sneak a few recipes into Volo's Guides, and did a never-published "Dragon Soup" article for DRAGON. Check my Candlekeep forum threads for a few notes on Realms dishes.
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) January 6, 2019
Great! Any language or regional aspect to those different names? Regional, all of them, but I can't find the page (yet) where I jotted down which name went with what area.
I DO recall that "arlkha" is Var the Golden/Utter East, and that "broaz" is Sword Coast/Heartlands whereas "ithili" is everywhere east and south of there.— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) January 6, 2019