Once he sat down, the traveller reviewed a pamphlet menu as beautifully penned as an illustrated manuscript. It was handmade--he could see the slightest inconsistencies in the lettering--but the geometric designs bordering every page were nearly impeccable. He opened the folded parchment and skimmed the offerings. Like most taverns, it boasted a variety of common, hearty foods and drinks to warm the belly; unlike most taverns, it also boasted mana-infused wine and tea, as well as a small collection of truly unusual dishes. The traveller eyed the numbers next to each listing and was deeply relieved to see their prices were not astronomical, despite the luxurious atmosphere.
Teas
Hart's Grace (delicate white tea leaves, rosemary, vanilla bean, thyme, sugar cane)
Classic Isle Tea (smooth silver tea leaves, white butter, horse milk, sugar cane, winterleaf mint)
Dragon's Tongue (hearty red tea leaves, cardamom, cinnamon flakes, orange rind, black pepper)
Soft Milk Tea (gentle white tea leaves, white rose petals, powdered lemon, double-steeped vanilla)
Spring's Bounty (fresh green tea leaves, ground pomegranate seeds, powdered blueberry, dandelion petals, vanilla extract)
Point Tea (young pink tea leaves, strawberry slices, sharp summermint, sunflower honey)
Warm Hearth Tea (rosy red tea leaves, crystalized ginger, lemon rind, orange blossom honey)
Beverages
Lemon Water
Mint Water
Cold Horse Milk
Rosehip Mead
Sunflower Mead
Blackberry Wine
Spiced Pepper Wine
Cinnamon Wine
Mango Wine
Dragon's Blood Wine
Soups
Lemon Broth (roasted lemon, poppyseeds, roasted sunflower seeds, miniature yellow potatoes, white onion, egg whites, water chestnuts)
Turtle Stew (braised turtle, veal stock, chopped celery, shredded carrots, minced garlic, onion powder, bay leaves, thyme)
Strawberry Soup (strawberries, raspberries, lemon seeds, banana chips, roasted cashews)
Egg Soup (quail eggs, bay leaves, finger potatoes, goat cheese, basil)
Green Cheese Soup (rich medley of yellow and white cheeses, broccoli heads, diced asparagus, blonde peas, minced onion, oregano)
Green Bowls
Sea Salad (sliced cucumbers, seaweed ribbons, lettuce hearts; dressing of beach salt, sunflower oil, garlic, basil)
Summer Salad (spinach, baby lettuce, strawberries, blueberries, diced almonds, crumbled goat cheese; dressing of poppyseeds, lemon, sunflower oil)
Winter Salad (water chestnuts, iceberg lettuce, shredded white cheese, sugar snap peas, celery, sliced cucumbers; dressing of olive oil and herbs)
Breads
Brown Duovaren Beer Bread
Vanilla Bean Sweetbread
Rosemary Paper Bread
Fruit-Filled Pita Bread
Garlic Sourdough
Fire-Roasted Damper Bread
Thyme Butter Flatbread
Egg-Washed Braided Bread
Full Meals
Beer-marinated pork knuckle, served with fresh vegetables and lemon broth soup.
Herb-stuffed rainbow trout with lemon zest, served with fresh vegetables.
Boiled pastries filled with minced veal and herbs, served with green cheese soup.
Baked shortcrust pie filled with bone gravy, shredded chicken and goat, and diced vegetables.
Pickled deer sausage, served with whiskey soda bread and hard cheese.
Smoked, spiced medley of shredded meats served on a thick slice of buttered sourdough.
Hard-boiled ostrich egg, served with toasted beer bread and hard cheese.
Rabbit casserole with carrots, celery, finger potatoes, and herbs.
Spiced duck and diced vegetable medley, served over long-grain rice with a white wine sauce.
Softshell crab over wild rice with herbs.
Hart's Point Specialties
Boiled ocean jellies with naked shrimp in white mushroom sauce, all on a bed of herbed wild rice. Served with olive bread and grilled asparagus.
Thick rice noodles with braised eel in a dark savory-sweet sauce. Served with almond honey flatbread and sweetened rice pudding.
Baked ivy gourd stuffed with minced veal, roasted red potatoes, and herbs. Served with black pepper mushrooms and riced sweet potatoes.
Brined hare liver with breadnuts, mountain peppers, and dandelion heads. Served with damper bread and turtle stew.
Steamed surf shark with scallops, mussels, and roasted gull wings. Served with a buttery vegetable medley and rosemary flatbread.
Sweets
Honey Hazelnut Pie
Vanilla Banana Pie
Caramel Apple Tart
Rice Pudding with Sweet Milk
Cinnamon Rice Cake Ball
Cover image:
by
Ty Barbary via Midjourney
What a decadent menu! <3 I want to try every single thing on the at the Hart's Point--the teas especially sound DELICIOUS!
You are doing a great job! Keep creating; I believe in you!
Luridity: Where love is love and life is lived. Contains NSFW content.
Now with serialized fiction on Ream!!