Greetings Guild Wars 2 taste connoisseurs, innovators, and adventurers all. Welcome to Chief Gastronomic Engineer Bleumeqtall’s guide to the culinary arts of Tyria. You may remember my work from such best-selling recipe books as 'Heartburn Is For Losers: A Guide to Charr Cuisine', 'Raw Meat and You – A Journey Through Norn Food', and 'Saltpeter, Industrial Capsaicin, and other Asuran Cooking Secrets'. Sadly my book on human food, 'The Boiled Vegetable Diet', was a disaster, but what kind of innovator can’t learn from their mistakes? A failure kind, that’s what kind.
Anyway, in this column, so kindly offered to me by the fine humans at PCGamesN via an inter-dimensional portal, I shall be offering an introduction to cooking in Tyria, and a discussion of some of the more advanced recipes available.
So how does one begin cooking? Well first, one needs ingredients. These can be acquired from quality vendors (whether the vendor is poor or good quality is irrelevant, only that they possess some sort of quality), gathered from the wild through foraging or hunting, or made from other materials entirely. From there, the word of the day is practice! Make simple vegetable soups, bread, steaks, burgers, and simple salads – before you know it, you’ll be making spiced yams, fruit pies, and meat stews. Delicious!
When you reach the cooking profession’s new level 500 in Guild Wars 2, you’ll even have access to Gourmet Feast recipes. Here, presented for your delectation, are three of my favourites – some of the most challenging, and delicious recipes available. Perhaps one day you can aspire to be like me, and create wonderful concoctions such as these for every meal of the day!
Clear Truffle and Sesame Ravioli
Ingredients:
- 1 Snow truffle (large)
- 1 pile of Powdered Gelatine Mix
- 5 Sticks of butter
- 1 Parsley leaf
- 1 bowl of Fancy Tangy Sautee Mix
- 2 bottles of rice wine
- 1 bag of cultivated sesame seeds
Chef’s Notes:
Clear ravioli is a new innovation from Asuran gastronomic labs – by using refined gelatin rather than pasta, one can suspend various edible materials inside decorative transparent lumps. As well as being a conversation starter, being able to see the contents is a helpful perk for those with allergies. This dish is said to greatly increase vitality and toughness.
Gains
Nourishment (1 h): gain health every second
+100 Vitality
+70 Toughness
+10% Karma
+5% All experience gained
+20% Magic find
+20% Gold find
+10% WXP gained
Preparation:
First, prepare the gelatin. Boil around 250ml of water, then slowly add to the powdered gelatin mix. Ensure the powder is fully dissolved, then pour the mixture into several ravioli shaped setting containers (available from good vendors everywhere).
Crumble the snow truffle into small pieces, then mix in the sesame seeds. Add this to the gelatin, ensuring an even distribution. Put gelatin in an icebox. Be sure to stir the ingredients regularly as the gelatin sets to avoid clumping.
To make the butter sauce, melt five sticks of butter in a pan with the rice wine. Mix in the Fancy Tangy Sautee Mix, then leave to simmer on a low heat, allowing the wine to boil off. Once the ravioli have cooled, mix them into the butter sauce and enjoy.
Plate of Coq Au Vin with Mint Garnish
Ingredients:
- 2 Slabs of poultry meat
- 1 Cultivated mint leaf
- 1 Bottle of vintage wine
- 1 Head of garlic
Chef’s Notes:
A refined recipe that only uses the finest materials, be sure that your vintage wine dates from 1215 AE at the very earliest – remember, if it was laid down before Zhaitan the Undead Dragon woke up, it’s good wine. This dish is said to enhance one’s power and precision.
Gains
Nourishment (1 h): +10% outgoing healing
+100 Power
+70 Precision
+10% Karma
+5% All experience gained
+20% Magic find
+20% Gold find
+10% WXP gained
Preparation:
Slather the poultry with cooking oil and a sprinkle of spices and roast over a hot flame until golden and cooked through. Once cooked, remove the bones and juices, and add to a small pitcher of boiling water.
Add the resulting stock to a pan with the cooked meat and chopped garlic. Pour the wine over the top and leave to simmer until boiled off.
Add mint leaf as a garnish, or chop finely and mix into the dish. Enjoy.
Salsa Eggs Benedict
Ingredients:
- 2 Eggs
- 1 Piece of cured meat
- 1 Flatbread
- 1 Stick of butter
- 1 Lemon
- 1 Packet of salt
- 1 Tomato
- 1 Lime
- 1 Onion
- 1 Cultivated cilantro leaf
Chef’s Notes:
A magnificent way to start the day, this delicious breakfast recipe combines sophisticated cuisine with fiery salsa to give you that kick in the morning. Though unconfirmed by expert gastronomic engineers, this dish is said to improve concentration and heighten expertise.
Gains
Nourishment (1 h): 66% chance to steal life on critical hit
+100 Concentration
+70 Expertise
+10% Karma
+5% All experience gained
+20% Magic find
+20% Gold find
+10% WXP gained
Preparation:
First, prepare the salsa. Finely chop the onion, tomato and cilantro and mix thoroughly. Add lime juice, and if you’re feeling adventurous, extra charr spices.
Next, prepare the hollandaise. Melt the butter in a pan over a low flame. In a separate bowl, whisk one of the eggs with the salt and lemon, and slowly add the melted butter.
Half fill a pan with boiling water, bring to a simmer. Crack the remaining egg into a bowl, then gently tip it into the water. Poach for a few minutes and then remove carefully.
Grill the flatbread, then lay the piece of meat on top. Place the poached egg on top of that, pour over the hollandaise sauce, then add a healthy dollop of salsa. Enjoy.
That’s quite enough to be getting on with, I think. Until next time, this is Chief Gastronomic Engineer Bleumeqtall wishing you luck on your culinary travels! Guild Wars 2: The Icebrood Saga is available now.