Day 14-What to order to 'Eat like a local'.
"Living on my own, moving from planet to planet to avoid the unpleasantness of my own people, I ate whatever I could get ahold of that wasn't dangerous to my health. As I noted previously, sometimes I made some fantastic discoveries and sometimes what I came across was pretty foul.
Now that I'm in Starfleet and travel to new planets and civilizations on a regular basis, I find that my earlier experiences have turned me into a rather adventurous eater. Not deterred by the occasional bitter fruit or utterly bland plant, I am always curious to try something I haven't taste before. The foods of the galaxy exhibit infinite diversity in an infinite combinations of flavors (my apologies to the my Vulcan friends for the one. *Chuckle*).
While there appears to be an endless number of great restaurants in the Federation, I really relish trying local foods in the regions I visit. Here are a few that really stand out to me...
Andorian Cuisine
Technically, Andorian foods are not local to the sectors we're currently exploring. Andor is a long way from the Tango Super Sector but there are a considerable number of Andorian colonists and merchant vessels traveling throughout the area, so their cuisine is pretty prevalent in this vicinity As I have close relationships with two Andorian friends, I've had the opportunity to sample a large number of different dishes. Here are my thoughts, combined with some additional research.
Most non-Andorians find Andorian foods either very bland or sickly sweet. One of the staples of their fare is, as an example, Thelodoln or Andorian Tuber Roots, a root vegetable not unlike the Earth potato, turnip, and taro. Nine out of ten non-Andorians who try them find them almost tasteless, while those who do like them tend to absolutely love them. I find them bland myself but not tasteless by any means. They are just so subtle that I'd rather eat something else.
Andorian Redbat is a flying mammal native to their homeworld that Andorians ate on a regular basis in regions of the planet where the animal flourished. As travel between different regions of Andor became more common, the popularity of the creature as a food spread. Raising Redbats became a rising industry, though to this day most Andorians agree that wild Redbat tastes much better than domesticated. Eventually the meat became popular beyond Andor, real and synthesized, and is one of the few Andorian dishes liked by species all across the UFP. It has been described by more than one Human as 'steak cooked in chicken broth'. It is very rare to find Redbat out here on the frontier and apparently the Andorians are willing to pay considerably to get ahold of some.
Thuush is a comfort food that is eaten by everyone from the average working citizen to the highest Clan nobles. Throughout Andorian history, different classes of people have prepared it differently, given what other ingredients they are able to obtain by their station in life. Basically, Thuush is a thick, whipped egg custard that is mixed with blue barley flour and buttermilk. It looks like semi-solid custard or Earth's flan. It is normally served as a side dish. Often it is mixed with other things like honey, salt, butter, or even Andorian garlic. The resulting flavors are usually very sweet and/or salty but a savory version is not unknown.
There is a related dish once considered fancy by common folk that eventually impressed the nobility as well known as Thush shu Hetht or 'Egg in a Nest'. These are absolutely delicious! Commander Bhoth told me his mother made them on Andorian holidays when he was a child. The first time I had them they were made by renowned Vulcan chef Solna, younger sister of former First Officer Commander Solok and married to Commander Bhoth's blood brother, Lt. Hallee Thran of the USS Algol. These are threads of deep fried Tuber Root, formed to look like a small bird's nest, that is then filled with Thuush heavily sweetened with honey and butter. Some people add tiny Miteberries and crushed nuts but that isn't the traditional way.
As for Andorian Ale, that ever-present effervescent blue beverage that has a massive impact on Andorian culture and power in the Tango Super Sector; I've spoken a little about it already but I can not emphasize enough the importance of this drink and the industry around it to the economic, social, and even political well-being of this region of space.
[Blue] Orion Cuisine
Barbequed Garadius Wing-Slug, Orion Style.
The blue-skinned Orions (who pronounce their species 'OR-ee-ans') likely came to this region of space in one of several lost sleeper ships launched from Orion Prime nearly a hundred years ago to colonize some far off world that they may or may not have successfully reached. For the most part, these Orions live in small enclaves on a variety of planets, as well as in nomadic caravans of starships that travel around in constantly moving pirate fleets.
Their food is a weird combination of traditional Orion recipes and local ingredients available in the Tango Super Sector, much of which they obtain through piracy. This means the supplies you have to work with this week may not be seen again for weeks or even months. It is therefore even more impressive that they even have a defined cultural cuisine at all.
One of the most popular mainstay Orion dishes is the cooking of Orion Wing-Slugs, an insect-winged invertabrate animal native to their home planet of Orion (Pi3 Orionis III). Different Orion Houses, regions, and even colonies have different ways of preparing the creature. Additionally there are a number of subspecies, some of which are rare and considered a delicacy.
A similar alien species exists on the planet Garadius IV (Garadius System - Delta Muscae) and the Blue Orions poach them as often as they can. I say poach because the people living on Garadius IV are not catching these creatures and selling them to the Orions but rather the Orions are sneaking onto the planet and illegally capturing and removing them. They are most commonly drowned in a beer-like marinade and then allowed to dry out a bit before barbequing them, either slow roasting or over a grill.
Most of their other foods are, as noted, whatever they can find and steal from the ships they pilfer. As a result, some of the other foods in this entry may end up on Orion tables. According to some reports, they have a version of the traditional Orion Wanderer's Biscuit, which they call a Raider's Biscuit, which is akin to the Hardtack of ancient Earth sailors.
Orion Beer, interchangably called Orion Ale, and Orion Dulaq are popular alcoholic beverages with both Green and Blue Orions. The local versions of these use alternate ingredients but come very close to their traditional forms. Their beer has a greener tint to it than the traditional recipe and their dulaq is a very deep green and can cause hallucinations if overindulged (or even if you aren't used to it).
Mazzulan Cuisine
Mazzulan Zoh'meza with Spicy Cream Sauce.
Not a lot is known about Mazzulan cultural details such as art, music, and food Relations between the Mazzulans and the Federation had a very rough start and although things are progressing slowl,, they do seem generally promising.
That said, some observations can be made based on early trade discussions, what visiting diplomats eat, and their physiology, which as I've previously mentioned combines Vulcan/Romulan biology with that of Green Orions.
They tend to prefer Vulcan dishes but will add far more spices to them, notably black pepper, chili pepper, and cinnamon. In addition, whereas most Vulcans are vegetarian, the Mazzulans are not and will add meat to Vulcan dishes that traditionally do not include it. One example is chili pepper and shreaded fowl meat, such as chicken, being added to Plomeek Soup, a Vulcan favorite. It seems to be a Mazzulan staple and I recently found out they call it Ploh mez'mehk.
A food unique to the Mazzulan people was found on New Cheron (Xices II, Star System Xices/GL 570.1) during our recent visit there. Pre-prepared and available to take away, the Zoh'meza or 'Leaf Meal', was made by the fellow in charge of the colony's provisions and general store. He and his daughter had made them for those working to keep the colony operating. This food consists of a millet-like grain mixed with meat and vegetable which is then wrapped in the wide edible leaf of a tropical plant native to Mazzula. It is often served with a mildly spicy, creamy sauce. Humans have described it as a cross between a Tamale and Sticky Rice in a Lotus Leaf. The ones I saw were formed into a pyramid shape making them easy to carry and eat 'on the go'. I imagine they might make variations on this shape as well.
I don't know about you but I'm full.
Let us continue on our journey,
AD
Barking Alien