Our brave heroes gather at the legendary Yawning Portal tavern in the Forgotten Realms, eager to take part in delving and dining!
Goldenstars
As you step onto the docks of Berdusk, the Jewel of the Vale—perhaps fresh off one of the many boats that ply the River Chionthar—there's a good chance the first thing you'll eat will be a goldenstar. These rich little pastries, traditionally stuffed with a local chicken sausage and Goldenfields batatas and leeks, are known for their distinctive triangular shape. Vendors sell them everywhere, and their heartiness will tide you over until you can manage a sit-down meal. Varieties of the goldenstar have spread throughout the Sword Coast, from the river's end at Baldur's Gate to as far north as Neverwinter. But every time you eat one done right, you'll be brought back to the docks of Berdusk.
Talyth
The palm-size sandwich known as talyth is a beloved appetizer on many a menu, from Waterdeep and the rustic watering holes of Luskan to the cloistered refectories of Candlekeep and eateries as far east as the Sea of Fallen Stars where, it is said, the dish originated. Although countless variations exist, talyth commonly comprises meats (typically sliced sausage), cheese, spices, and herbs nestled between two large crackers, all lightly baked to adhere the layers. While the baking process seals in flavor, it also ensures its portability, making talyth a common travel snack along the major Faerûnian trade routes. Although frozen talyth can easily be reheated on an open campfire, freshly made talyth affords a more eclectic and adventurous array of savory ingredients, including diced egg, oysters, snails, and even spiced worms.
Chopforest
Many examinations of early Yawning Portal menus have noted that its heavy, often greasy, fare had a celebratory "last meal" sense about it. This is likely because return from the Undermountain was simply not expected, with only the soiled dishware of stout adventurers left behind. However, as more adventurers survived the mad mage Halaster's labyrinth, the menu evolved to accommodate a balance of healthier options. Senior cook Jarandur Tallstand adapted the traditional wood-elven forest salad, or chopforest, as it has been called, to complement the heavier menu options with its mix of peppered leaves, olives, fennel, and tangy vinaigrette dressing. It is said that a chopforest delivered unto your table, compliments of Yawning Portal proprietor and Undermountain gatekeeper Durnan, is a happy omen before one's descent to Undermountain.
Hot River Crab Bites
A center of music and the arts, the town of Berdusk, in Faerûn's western heartlands, is known for many things, but above all for its hot river crabs. A specialty of the Sign of the Silver Sword Inn, these river delicacies are as dependent on freshness as on seasoning. Traditionally, locals would harvest crabs with soft shells and consume them within the day. As for the crab recipe, it's a closely guarded secret, but is believed to include crème fraîche and lemon zest mixed into a spread and served on endive. At only one copper piece per plate, they'll leave enough in your coinpurse for a glass of Saerloonian Glowfire—the perfect complement.
Sornstag
Popular at holiday gatherings of humans and elves alike, sornstag is a simmered venison dish that can be seasoned and prepared in a variety of ways. Traditional elven sornstag is slow smoldered with ground coriander, cumin, and hotspice or curry in a thick broth and is a popular plate among wood elves during the Highharvestide Festival. Humans have also adopted their own stewed preparation techniques for this gamey, yet succulent, main course. Throughout the wooded regions of Faerûn, stags are hunted by humans for both sport and meal, resulting in the proliferation of venison-based cuisine. In the bucolic forests and fields of the Dalelands, the most popular regional recipe for sornstag demands a full day's preparation. The traditional recipe calls for powdered almonds simmered with red wine to form the emulsified base of a piquant sauce, in which the meat soaks overnight before it is slow-cooked on an open flame from dawn for an early evening feast. But to get it to the table faster, you can skip the overnight marinade and cook it in an oven for just a few hours. Notably, the Silver Taproom, in Essembra, sees travelers from far and wide eager to sample its famous pied sornstag, which consists of a heaping ladle of this venison stew baked inside a buttery crust. You'll know the sornstag pies are ready when the scent of the aromatic pastry wafts down bustling Rauthauvyr's Road.
Rothé Steak
One silver piece is an extraordinary bargain for the Rothé Steak at the Yawning Portal—even if it is one of the more expensive things on the menu. Served sizzling-hot right out of the skillet, with just a hint of garlic and garden spices, rothé steak is a carnivore's delight and the perfect protein for a triumphant or aspiring adventurer. Along the Sword Coast, you can easily source fresh rothé that is either farm-raised or wild game—there are devotees of both. Why bother with any vegetable sides? You won't get to them with this slab of meat to tackle.
Onion Loaf
The onion loaf on the menu at the Yawning Portal is done in the Cormyr style: big, dark loaves, as dense as the King's Forest. While the onion may be the headliner, the real stars of the show are the leeks, scallions, and fresh buttermilk, which help round out the flavors of this rich, crusty loaf—perfect for morningfeast or eveningfeast. When it's time to break bread with adventuring companions, old and new, an onion loaf is an inexpensive and delicious option that's practically a meal in itself.
Sour Cream-Walnut Cake
It's rare to see this halfling specialty on the table, usually because it's gone before you ever catch a glimpse of it. Perfect for morningfeast, or teatime, the much-celebrated sour cream-walnut cake includes a delicious crumble of cinnamon, brown sugar, and walnuts, but it's the cake itself that takes the cake. A recipe passed down orally by generations of halflings, it is said to be made with the finest Luiren grain flour, fresh sour cream, and finely ground kaeth or coffee. The only known issue with the pastry is that there never seems to be enough of it.
Laumberry Pie
The Yawning Portal of Waterdeep serves a new pie every week, based on the seasonal ingredients available. You're really in luck when laumberries from the frosty Frozenfar are in season. Their tartness is softened by the sweetness of the dough, making it the perfect blend of flavors. The famous tavern likely pilfered the idea from the hardy bakers of Bryn Shander. Pies in this style are made off-season with blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries, which together give you something of the flavor of the original. They're best served a bit chilled, and when done right have been known to resurrect the spirits of weary adventurers emerging from the Undermountain.
Mingari-Spiced Owlbear Milk
While conventionally prepared with a base of owlbear milk, other types of milk such as yak milk, buttermilk, rice milk, and even nut milk are all suitable substitutes in this creamy, cozy concoction. But no matter which milk you choose, there is no alternative for Mingari spice, culled from the inner bark of Mingari trees. Likened in both flavor and scent to cinnamon, Mingari spice is a rare but highly sought-after seasoning indigenous to southeast Faerûn. Although rare, this strong, aromatic spice is incredibly versatile, at home in both sweet and savory dishes, and thus it has spread throughout the Realms and beyond. However, satisfying Mingari-Spiced Owlbear Milk requires merely a dash of this scarce but potent accent. Travelers in search of a day starter, an alcohol-infused night capper, or even a medicinal stomach soother, invariably relish a tall mug of this nourishing milk.
Neverwinter Nectar
Neverwinter nectar is an expensive but tasty spirit-based drink, known for its sweet fruit-infused flavor, buttery base, and citrus-tinged aftertaste. Perennially popular in Neverwinter, this "nectar" has gradually appeared on the drink lists of many of the finer eateries among the well-traveled cities of the Sword Coast. The surprisingly crisp and refreshing cocktail is so rich in flavor, it is often consumed in lieu of dessert or as an accompaniment to lighter fare. Veteran barkeeps unlock the full spectrum of flavors when they combine the unique mixture of juices, brandy, and white wine with a touch of sparkling water and ice. Felzoun's Folly, in Waterdeep, serves one of the more notable iterations of this syrupy and perfectly divine concoction.
Butternut Beer
As most adventurers know, there are serious spirits, hard liquors, and courage-enhancing brews that serve to bolster one's resolve before a trip down the well into the Undermountain. The drink known as butternut beer is none of these things. Instead, it is a sweetened and mirthful beverage best served as a dessert for a hearty meal or after a long day's night exploring Halaster's lair. Although it packs enough bourbon and butterscotch schnapps to rattle the senses, it is not intended to impair judgment. Rather, it's meant to encourage a hearty belly laugh and dull the aches of an adventurer's knotted muscles.