Celebrimbor: 30-Day Character Study by cloudyhymns

Day 5: What’s on the Menu?

Or, the one where I talk about poisonous spices!

I’d expect most of the foodstuffs Celebrimbor would stock wouldn’t be too far from what his people would stock, since his money would be spent elsewhere. Therefore, at least in the winter, dry goods with a long shelf life would be the most available—perhaps dried meats, pasta, and sometimes dried fruits? I could see him enjoying cheese, although I have a particular hatred of it myself, and there being many additional dish options open if cheese were included. In terms of meats, I do think veal, lamb, goat, sheep, and small to medium sized game would be available, but I *personally* can’t see Celebrimbor eating either veal or lamb. Not that I’d peg him as a vegetarian—I think he’d feel sorry for the little guys. But he’d probably eat it if Annatar cooked it. I just don’t think he’d have the stomach to prepare it himself, unless he really had to, and I don’t think he’d want any staff making it for him if he had the chance to turn it down.

There is, of course, the cranberry scene that I have down for him in my ongoing Eregion-centric WIP, and for some reason, I also associate him with cinnamon? Likely because he reminds me of winter, and cranberries and cinnamon are winter fare for me. Interestingly, though, cinnamon often contains very high levels of lead, so I feel like there might be something there…. One might say there’s someone hiding in his light and shadow, perhaps?

I think he’d always have staff on hand to cook for him, but I can also see him enjoying cooking and baking on his own. Not all the time, or even most of the time, but as a diversion from his craft that keeps his hands busy. My guess is he would enjoy making biscuits and dishes to accompany tea, since he would certainly be a tea drinker (and they made it canon in RoP. Thanks for that, actually, Amazon!) Black tea, probably, rather than green, though honestly I think he’d be in it for the caffeine.