Book Review: THE OFFICIAL GAME OF THRONES COOKBOOK

Melody McCune

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The hardback cover of The Official Game of Thrones Cookbook, featuring a sumptuous feast spread out on a table.

Thank you, Penguin Random House, for an advanced copy of The Official Game of Thrones Cookbook in exchange for an honest review. 

The Official Game of Thrones Cookbook 

If watching the Game of Thrones opening credits doesn’t immerse you in the world of A Song of Ice and Fire, imagine taking a bite of Dornish Creamcakes or feasting on Crown Roast of Boar’s Ribs while sipping a cup of Hippocras. Perhaps Highgarden Dumplings are more your speed? Well, imagine no more: The Official Game of Thrones Cookbook by Chelsea Monroe-Cassel brings cuisine from King’s Landing to the Dothraki Sea into your kitchen. Now, you can live vicariously through the denizens of Westeros and Essos — without the ultraviolence and bloodshed. 

With a foreword from George R.R. Martin, Cassel constructs this cookbook of 80 mouthwatering recipes with the aid of Maester Alton, whose obsession with food led to an accumulation of recipes from Westeros and beyond. 

Recently, I had the privilege of trying a few recipes on for size: Redwyne Roasted Grapes, Rhoynish Pudding and Dressed Greens. I’m no culinary connoisseur, but I had a blast bringing these to life (although I enjoyed eating them more). I picked simpler recipes to show that anyone can create something from this cookbook regardless of skill. However, I’m excited to tackle more complex dishes in the future. 

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Redwyne Roasted Grapes 

A collage of two photos of Redwyne Roasted Grapes, a dish featured in The Official Game of Thrones Cookbook. The grapes sit in a metal baking sheet on a black, gold and white-colored marble countertop.

This snack is incredibly easy to make—even for me, who, as I mentioned above, isn’t the best cook. All it requires is balsamic vinegar, olive oil, coarse sea salt and a sprinkling of ground pepper. As the name implies, you bake the grapes in the oven. I did leave them in for longer than 20 minutes (more like 40) to get the grapes slightly wrinkled and sizzling, but this is an issue with my oven, not the recipe itself. 

I love how sweet, salty and tangy these are. I’m adding this recipe to my snack rotation. 

Rhoynish Pudding 

A collage of four photos of Rhoynish Pudding, a dish featured in The Official Game of Thrones Cookbook. It's a grain and legume-based dish garnished with pomegranate seeds and pistachios. The food sits in a blue and tan bowl on a black, gold and white-colored marble countertop.

Rhoynish Pudding is an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink-type dish. It’s certainly not a “pudding” in the traditional sense. Instead, it’s an amalgam of grains, legumes and dried fruit. I took some liberties with the ingredients because of what I had on hand (and, admittedly, what I forgot to get from the store).

For example, I substituted raisins for currants and dried strawberries for dried figs. Honestly, I don’t think it would’ve tasted any differently with figs because of how potent the dried apricots and raisins were in the recipe’s flavor profile. 

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I really like this one. It’s versatile, making for a great breakfast dish or dessert. Be warned that it takes one hour of diligently stirring the pudding on the stove to ensure it doesn’t stick to the bottom of your pot. That said, it’s hearty, filling and healthy. It’s also sweet (the recipe calls for sugar) and savory. Best of all, it makes eight servings, so you’ll have lots of leftovers if you’re flying solo like me. 

Dressed Greens 

A collage of four photos of Dressed Greens, a dish featured in The Official Game of Thrones Cookbook. The salad consists of spinach, pomegranate seeds, pine nuts and apple slices stacked with feta cheese between each slice. The dish sits on a black, gold and white-colored marble countertop.

I’m partial to a good salad. As you can see in my exquisite camerawork, the apple tower was challenging to construct. The only substitution I made was spinach instead of mixed greens because, well, I love spinach. The recipe allows for any soft, crumbly cheese, so I used feta. 

You can bet I’m making this again because I love these ingredients (and the homemade balsamic vinegar/honey dressing), but I’m doing apple chunks instead of a tower. I’m more about an effortless eating experience than aesthetics. 

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The Look, Layout, Descriptions and Photography 

A photograph featuring a black metal cup filled with liquid. It sits on a metal tray with citrus slices, golden raisins and herbs. A hardback book with a metal lock sits next to it, as do two black crow figurines.
Courtesy of Penguin Random House

The Official Game of Thrones Cookbook has a sturdy hardback cover that feels resistant to wear and tear. This bad boy is made for messy kitchens and accident-prone people like me. It consists of beautifully lit food photography that might ignite your competitive side to make your dishes look better. Additionally, this cookbook boasts stunning woodcut illustrations. 

My favorite part is Monroe-Cassel’s care in crafting Maester Alton’s relationship with food and his extensive travels. Each recipe includes a history of that particular dish, told in Alton’s voice, complete with the maester’s anecdotes. It feels like we’re getting more ASOIAF lore. 

A photo of the Brown Butter Pastry Crust recipe on a gray background.
Courtesy of Penguin Random House

Monroe-Cassel provides a comprehensive, easy-to-follow breakdown of how to prepare each dish. She even includes other foods/beverages they pair well with (some in the cookbook and some you can find in your own kitchen). You can also peruse recipes by region, and if you’re feeling adventurous, there are suggestions for menus if you’re hosting a Game of Thrones-themed get-together. 

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I recommend picking this one up, Westerosis and residents of the Free Cities. There’s a wide variety of dishes, so there’s something for everyone. As for me, I’m excited to make almond milk and tackle some of the heavenly-looking bread recipes. 

The Official Game of Thrones Cookbook is available wherever you get your books. Click here to order your copy through Penguin Random House.  

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Melody McCune
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