Food

The food of Andoran is generally seen as plain, rustic, and less than inspiring—but this is by the cosmopolitans of Egorian in Cheliax and Oppara in Taldor, whose palates are exquisitely refined and who lead lives of such luxury that their every meal is a delicacy. Though it is this judgment that damns the culinary experience of Andoran, the truth is that artisans and chefs across the nation provide a huge array of delicious foods.

With their exposure to the cultures of both Taldor and Cheliax, their navy ranging far across the sea, and their merchant class the envy of Avistan, Andorens have access to the foodstuffs of the world: their meats, their fruits and vegetables, and their herbs and spices. Almas boasts some of the finest food in western Avistan, if one knows where to look. In the foothills near Droskar’s Crag, flocks of sheep and cows graze in the sweet-grassed meadows. Something of that flavor makes it into their milk, and the cheeses that come south are legendary for their quality.

Likewise, the cattle in the plains near Riverford produce steaks of exceptional quality, and the farms of the rolling grasslands bring in corn, alongside a wide array of other vegetables. The colder north sees apple, cherry, and pear trees, while certain portions of the coastline of the Inner Sea sport orchards of orange, lemon, and lime.

The cities of the coast are renowned for their seafood, with fresh catches coming into harbor every day. Lavieton in particular is said to offer the finest fish in all the Inner Sea at The Sign of the Blue Sail. The slaughterhouses of the cities create succulent sausages and excellent cuts of meat, and the bakers’ bread is both crusty and soft, leading to the Andoren judgment that cuisine in their nation is often simple, but no less remarkable for it.