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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:

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

Dungeon #87: The Raiders of Galath's Roost • Anauroch: The Empire of Shade • Waterdeep: Dragon Heist

Novels & Short Stories

Referenced only
Dragon #413: "Spin a Yarn: Jantharl's Surprising Journey"

References[]

  1. 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. 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. 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.
  4. Jason Bulmahn, Rich Burlew (February 2007). Dungeonscape. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 30. ISBN 978-0-7869-4118-6.
  5. 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. 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. 7.0 7.1 David "Zeb" Cook et al. (1989). Monstrous Compendium Volume One. (TSR, Inc), p. 13. ISBN 0-8803-8738-6.
  8. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 13.0 13.1 13.2 Larian Studios (October 2020). Designed by Swen Vincke, et al. Baldur's Gate III. Larian Studios.
  14. 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. 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.
  16. John Haszosi (December 2013). “Inns in an Instant”. In Steve Winter ed. Dragon #418 (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 35–48.
  17. Ed Greenwood (July 1995). Volo's Guide to Cormyr. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 49. ISBN 0-7869-0151-9.
  18. 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.
  19. 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.
  20. 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.
  21. David Pulver (1994). The Complete Druid's Handbook. Edited by Sue Weinlein. (TSR, Inc), p. 104. ISBN 156076886X.
  22. 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.
  23. Ed Greenwood (July 2012). “Spin a Yarn: Jantharl's Surprising Journey”. In Steve Winter ed. Dragon #413 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 20.
  24. Nigel Findley, et al. (October 1990). Draconomicon. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 69, 82. ISBN 0-8803-8876-5.
  25. 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.
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