A Game Of Thrones Feast At Elizabeth Restaurant [Photos]
Strawberries and sweet grasses. "In the Game of Thrones books, often when they are describing the beginning of a meal or table setting there is a mention of strawberries and sweetgrasses. We built this in a glass bowl we made to juxtapose winter is coming with the obvious spring that's arriving. Currently for sweet grasses we are using mint and making a granita and using chamomile and making an espuma" says Chef Regan.
![Strawberries and sweet grasses. "In the Game of Thrones books, often when they are describing the beginning of a meal or table setting there is a mention of strawberries and sweetgrasses. We built this in a glass bowl we made to juxtapose winter is coming with the obvious spring that's arriving. Currently for sweet grasses we are using mint and making a granita and using chamomile and making an espuma" says Chef Regan.]()
"The salad is referenced from a post tournament feast where they have sweet grasses, spinach, and chopped nuts. [Instead] we used bitter greens-romaine, dandelion, and miners lettuce. We spread on the leaves a mushroom fermentation liquid mixed with whey and black walnuts to thicken [and] spray it with house made apple cider vinegar… then we grate cured and smoked duck egg yolks over the top" says Chef Regan
!["The salad is referenced from a post tournament feast where they have sweet grasses, spinach, and chopped nuts. [Instead] we used bitter greens-romaine, dandelion, and miners lettuce. We spread on the leaves a mushroom fermentation liquid mixed with whey and black walnuts to thicken [and] spray it with house made apple cider vinegar… then we grate cured and smoked duck egg yolks over the top" says Chef Regan]()
Bread and salt, given to guests to signify they'd be safe. Which was violated by the Freys in The Red Wedding. "The bread and salt [is] crisp bread filled with dried nettles, we spread it with a housemade ricotta and imparted salt by way of savory pickles-carrot, beet, radish, burdock, and cucumber" says Chef Regan.
![Bread and salt, given to guests to signify they'd be safe. Which was violated by the Freys in The Red Wedding. "The bread and salt [is] crisp bread filled with dried nettles, we spread it with a housemade ricotta and imparted salt by way of savory pickles-carrot, beet, radish, burdock, and cucumber" says Chef Regan.]()
Snails with honey, white wine and garlic. From the rare time Joffrey was nice to Sansa: "Snails in honey and garlic. Sansa had never eaten snails before; Joffrey showed her how to get the snail out of the shell, and fed her the first sweet morsel himself."- A Game Of Thrones.
![Snails with honey, white wine and garlic. From the rare time Joffrey was nice to Sansa: "Snails in honey and garlic. Sansa had never eaten snails before; Joffrey showed her how to get the snail out of the shell, and fed her the first sweet morsel himself."- A Game Of Thrones.]()
Black bread, blood sausages and blackberry preserves. "Under the lid Jon discovered three duck’s eggs fried in drippings, a strip of bacon, two sausages, a blood pudding, and half a loaf of bread still warm from the oven."-A Dance with Dragons
![Black bread, blood sausages and blackberry preserves. "Under the lid Jon discovered three duck’s eggs fried in drippings, a strip of bacon, two sausages, a blood pudding, and half a loaf of bread still warm from the oven."-A Dance with Dragons]()
"The fish we pickle is mackerel. We use a standard Swedish pickle of 3 parts water, 2 parts vinegar, and 1 part sugar. and spices, onion and garlic. This comes from a reference for pickled fish and salted beef at Castle Black" says Regan.
!["The fish we pickle is mackerel. We use a standard Swedish pickle of 3 parts water, 2 parts vinegar, and 1 part sugar. and spices, onion and garlic. This comes from a reference for pickled fish and salted beef at Castle Black" says Regan.]()
"The clams and mussels come from a reference from Aeron Greyjoy. We smoked the clams and mussles then we make a sauce from the liquid of the shellfish with spring onion oil and spring onions" says Chef Regan.
!["The clams and mussels come from a reference from Aeron Greyjoy. We smoked the clams and mussles then we make a sauce from the liquid of the shellfish with spring onion oil and spring onions" says Chef Regan.]()
Beets, fermented milk, beef heart. Reminiscent of the stallion heart consumed by Daenerys Targaryen in Season 1.
![Beets, fermented milk, beef heart. Reminiscent of the stallion heart consumed by Daenerys Targaryen in Season 1.]()
Pigeon pie, mini versions of the pie that King Joffrey ate at The Purple Wedding.
![Pigeon pie, mini versions of the pie that King Joffrey ate at The Purple Wedding.]()
Milk of poppy, a sweet custard with poppy seeds.
![Milk of poppy, a sweet custard with poppy seeds.]()
Lemon cakes, a rendition of Sansa's favorite snack. "We make a lemon curd ice cream, graham cracker crumble, angel food cake, and yuzu granita" says Chef Regan.
![Lemon cakes, a rendition of Sansa's favorite snack. "We make a lemon curd ice cream, graham cracker crumble, angel food cake, and yuzu granita" says Chef Regan.]()
A cheese board. “The cheese will be served when I want it served, and I want it served now.”- Lady Oleanna in A Storm of Swords
![A cheese board. “The cheese will be served when I want it served, and I want it served now.”- Lady Oleanna in A Storm of Swords]()
House Sigil decorations- Targaryen and Lannister.
![House Sigil decorations- Targaryen and Lannister.]()
House Baratheon decorations.
![House Baratheon decorations.]()
Dining under the weirwood.
![Dining under the weirwood.]()
Chef Iliana Regan of Elizabeth Restaurant is known for her innovative dishes showcasing foraged ingredients. But she's also kind of a huge nerd. I've enjoyed discussing things like "Skyrim" and "Game of Thrones" with her, so I was elated when she decided to bedeck her restaurant with Game of Thrones sigils and do a whole menu inspired by the popular fantasy series.
It makes sense as the books are lush with references to food and drink. There's even a cookbook inspired by all the food placements. Chef Regan has done her homework with items like these—she can even tell you where in the book each dish comes from. But her idea is more of an inspiration than trying to recreate exactly the type of Medieval food author George R.R. Martin had in mind. While some of the courses like the pigeon pie wouldn't be out of place in a Medieval feast, many of the other dishes are more modernist takes on food discussed in the books.
Luckily for some of my friends who were befuddled by jokes about choking on pigeon pie, the food was delicious and enjoyable even for those who don't watch the shows or read the books. Click through our slideshow to see the entire menu. But be warned that if you aren't caught up with at least Season 4 of the show, there are some mild spoilers.
The Game of Thrones menu runs through June at Elizabeth, 4835 N. Western.
!["The salad is referenced from a post tournament feast where they have sweet grasses, spinach, and chopped nuts. [Instead] we used bitter greens-romaine, dandelion, and miners lettuce. We spread on the leaves a mushroom fermentation liquid mixed with whey and black walnuts to thicken [and] spray it with house made apple cider vinegar… then we grate cured and smoked duck egg yolks over the top" says Chef Regan](https://dudo6el28sqqp.cloudfront.net/gothamistgallery/2016/4/6/7ae4dadeb.jpeg)
![Bread and salt, given to guests to signify they'd be safe. Which was violated by the Freys in The Red Wedding. "The bread and salt [is] crisp bread filled with dried nettles, we spread it with a housemade ricotta and imparted salt by way of savory pickles-carrot, beet, radish, burdock, and cucumber" says Chef Regan.](https://dudo6el28sqqp.cloudfront.net/gothamistgallery/2016/4/6/88983852f.jpeg)
