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Everybody's favourite Norse trickster, Loki, returns to our devices on October 5, with his eponymous Marvel TV show commencing a second season on Disney+ Hotstar. And as you sit down to stream the premiere episode of this new season, what could be a better accompaniment than a bonafide Asgardian banquet?
While the pun-minded Marvel fan would tell you that Loki's favourite dishes could only be Thor-tillas or Revenge, Served Cold, you --- well-versed in Nordic history and culture --- certainly know better. Mead, roast meats, seasonal produce and bread had vital roles to play in ancient Nordic cuisine, and so it follows that Asgardians and other characters from Norse mythology, regardless of their otherworldly origins, would consume a similar diet.
In the 2011 movie, we saw Thor enjoying a decidedly human repast at a diner, even though he'd already wolfed down a box of pop tarts. The coffee he is presumably served certainly meets with his approval, as he proclaims (whilst holding up his mug), "This drink, I like it", before smashing it and asking for "another!".
Meanwhile, in Thor: The Dark World, we witness an actual feast, medieval in tone and aesthetics, where one gets a glimpse of how much the Asgardians love a sumptuous dinner. Tankards are passed around, while large haunches of meat grace the tables along with an array of other dishes. Music and conversation keep the bonhomie going. While not explicitly shown, one can conjecture that dairy, fish and grains would also make for a sizeable component of the banquet menu.
With the information that we have thus gleaned, let's revisit the question of the Asgardian Banquet Menu, and what might feature on it. Here goes:
1. Smoked Fish Platter: A selection of smoked herring, salmon, and mackerel, served with flatbread and a creamy dill sauce.
2. Roasted Game Skewers: Marinated venison and wild boar, grilled to perfection.
3. Pickled Vegetables: Assorted root vegetables and cucumbers pickled in a brine of vinegar, herbs and spices.
4. Bison and Barley Soup: A hearty soup featuring bison meat, barley, and root vegetables, seasoned with traditional Nordic herbs.
5. Roast Wild Boar: A whole boar, marinated in a blend of juniper berries, thyme, and wild honey, slow-roasted over an open fire.
6. Grilled Salmon: Freshly caught salmon, seasoned with Nordic herbs and grilled over oak wood for a smoky flavour.
7. Leg of Lamb with Lingonberry Sauce: A succulent leg of lamb roasted with garlic and rosemary, served with a tart lingonberry sauce.
8. Root Vegetable Mash: Mashed turnips, parsnips, and carrots, whipped with butter and seasoned with herbs.
9. Nordic Grains: A mix of barley and oats, cooked with onions and herbs to create a hearty grain dish.
10. Flatbread and Viking Cheese: Thin, crisp flatbread served with a variety of aged and smoked cheeses.
11. Honeyed Fruit Compote: A medley of apples, pears, and berries stewed in honey and spices.
12. Nordic Rice Pudding: A creamy rice pudding garnished with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
13. Asgardian Mead: The centerpiece of the feast, this honey-based mead would be served in ornate goblets.
14. Norse Ales and Ciders: Various ales and ciders, including a strong dark ale and a crisp apple cider.
15. Iced Water from the Well of Mímir: A legendary well that imparts wisdom, the water from it is said to be refreshing and pure.
Of course, in true Asgardian style, the banquet would need the presence of family, friends and tricky siblings to be truly complete. Some music played on a lyre or harp and a skald reciting epic poems and sagas late into the night --- even Loki would find nothing low-key about this spread!
