Pork fat, sometimes in the form of lard or bacon fat, was the fat of pigs and boars. It was generally for use in cooking.[1][5][6][7]
Description[]
Pork fat was popular for culinary applications in places like Cormyr,[8] the Dalelands,[1][6] the North (although there it was not as popular as goose or goat fat for cooking),[9][10] Tethyr,[5] the Vast[11][12] and the Western Heartlands.[13] The lard of wild boars was generally interchangeable with that of domestic pigs.[7]
Pork fat could be either liquid or semi-solid, requiring that it be scooped.[3] It was perishable and thus often stored in the same environments as pork or vegetables,[6] but it could also be packaged in casks for transport, such as on ships.[9] It was generally quite flammable.[3]
Culinary Uses[]
In cooking, pork fat was measured by the "knife".[2] It was often used to cook or fry other foods, such as fish,[14] game fowl like quail,[5] mushrooms, onions,[1] and potatos,[13] Ladling liquid pork fat over meats as they roasted on a spit—causing the fire beneath to roar—was a particularly decadent preparation method.[5] Pork fat was also used as an ingredient in dishes ranging from high-class pâté[15] to low-class bloodlick,[12] as well as in sausage[8] and as an ingredient used to make bread[16] or pie and pastry dough.[2][17]
In places like Raven's Bluff, rancid pork fat was sometimes boiled into a stew to feed to prisoners.[11]
It was said that some elves had a form of rations that were patties made of corn, dried fruits, nuts, seeds and small candies that were held together by lard, honey, molasses and/or sugar.[18]
Other Uses[]
In magic, a pinch of lard was used as a material component in the grease slick spell.[19] It could also be used by alchemists and druids in the making of ointments by mixing it with dry or caky substances to allow it to be applied to the skin.[20][21]
Pig fat could also be used as a lubricant. For example, it could make a smooth surface slippery, such as for setting a trap similar to a use of oil of slipperiness.[3][22] Grapplers could also apply it to their skin to give them an edge against being grabbed,[22] and in a pinch, pork fat could be applied to a naked human to allow them to squeeze into spaces intended for smaller folk.[23] Some sages suggested applying a coating of pork fat over exposed skin prior to battling a steel dragon or black dragon in order to protect from the effects of the beasts' breath weapons.[24]
Availability[]
Pork fat could be found in pantries and larders across Faerûn.[6][25]
Notable Locations[]
Inns, taverns, and restaurants notable for their use of pork fat included:
- The High Moon Inn in Highmoon used it as a cooking medium.[1]
- Hot Highsun Handbreads in Gladehap used pork fat in their rabbit pate.[15]
- The Watchful Eye in Essembra used it when making the dough for its famous stuffed turkey pie.[2]
- Waukeen's Rest on the Risen Road served potato wedges fried in pork fat.[13]
- Wyrmkindler Sausage Works in Gladehap used pork fat as part of the filling in their stag sausage.[8]
Rumors & Legends[]
There was said to exist a wondrous item known as the everful jug of lard which could provide an endless supply of pork fat for cooking.[3]
Appendix[]
See Also[]
Appearances[]
Adventures
Novels & Short Stories
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Ed Greenwood (July 2011). Spellfire. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 11. ISBN 978-0-7869-6173-3.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Ed Greenwood (January 1996). Volo's Guide to the Dalelands. (TSR, Inc), p. 68. ISBN 0-7869-0406-2.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 B.A. Landires (April 1998). “Bazaar of the Bizarre: Cauldrons and Cookery”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #246 (TSR, Inc.), p. 84.
- ↑ Jason Bulmahn, Rich Burlew (February 2007). Dungeonscape. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 30. ISBN 978-0-7869-4118-6.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Ed Greenwood (October 2012). Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 88. ISBN 0786960345.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Skip Williams (July 2001). “The Raiders of Galath's Roost”. Dungeon #87 (Wizards of the Coast) (87)., p. 37.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 David "Zeb" Cook et al. (1989). Monstrous Compendium Volume One. (TSR, Inc), p. 13. ISBN 0-8803-8738-6.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Ed Greenwood (July 1995). Volo's Guide to Cormyr. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 89. ISBN 0-7869-0151-9.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Christopher Perkins, James Haeck, James Introcaso, Adam Lee, Matthew Sernett (September 2018). Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 134. ISBN 978-0-7869-6625-7.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Ed Greenwood (November 2000). “The New Adventures of Volo: Dragonwing Stew”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #277 (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 92–93.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Ed Greenwood (October 1998). The City of Ravens Bluff. Edited by John D. Rateliff. (TSR, Inc.), p. 71. ISBN 0-7869-1195-6.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Ed Greenwood (January 1991). “The Everwinking Eye: At Home in Maskyr's Eye”. In Jean Rabe ed. Polyhedron #57 (TSR, Inc.), p. 21.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Larian Studios (October 2020). Designed by Swen Vincke, et al. Baldur's Gate III. Larian Studios.
- ↑ Jesse Decker, David Noonan, Chris Thomasson (June 2005). Dungeon Master's Guide II. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 145. ISBN 0-7869-3687-8.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Ed Greenwood (July 1995). Volo's Guide to Cormyr. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 90–91. ISBN 0-7869-0151-9.
- ↑ John Haszosi (December 2013). “Inns in an Instant”. In Steve Winter ed. Dragon #418 (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 35–48.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (July 1995). Volo's Guide to Cormyr. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 49. ISBN 0-7869-0151-9.
- ↑ Grant Boucher, Troy Christensen, Jon Pickens, John Terra and Scott Davis (1991). Arms and Equipment Guide. (TSR, Inc.), p. 116. ISBN 1-56076-109-1.
- ↑ Jean Rabe, Norm Ritchie (Feburary 1994). The Ruins of Undermountain II: The Deep Levels (Campaign Guide). (TSR, Inc), p. 104. ISBN 1-5607-6821-5.
- ↑ Jean Rabe, Norm Ritchie (Feburary 1994). The Ruins of Undermountain II: The Deep Levels (Campaign Guide). (TSR, Inc), p. 93. ISBN 1-5607-6821-5.
- ↑ David Pulver (1994). The Complete Druid's Handbook. Edited by Sue Weinlein. (TSR, Inc), p. 104. ISBN 156076886X.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Gregory W. Detwiler (July 2000). “Something Up Your Sleeve”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #273 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 52.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (July 2012). “Spin a Yarn: Jantharl's Surprising Journey”. In Steve Winter ed. Dragon #413 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 20.
- ↑ Nigel Findley, et al. (October 1990). Draconomicon. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 69, 82. ISBN 0-8803-8876-5.
- ↑ Greg A. Vaughan, Skip Williams, Thomas M. Reid (November 2007). Anauroch: The Empire of Shade. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 9. ISBN 0-7869-4362-9.