Evening Stew

"My personal recommendation is stew! There is nothing quite like a good stew to end the day."

— A Veloran waiter

  At the end of every day, many people in the Known World will go home and make themselves some hot stew. It is nutritious, warming and has become a comfort food in many parts of the continent. It has also become a way to make and keep friends.   The stew itself relatively quick to make. The most commonly eaten stew is tomato stew, made from tomatoes and hot water and cooked in a pot. But people will add vegetables, fish and meat and season the stew to their liking. But with the opening of stew shops across the continent, people have started experimenting with more seasonings and ingredients.  

History

The stew's popularity came from the Vokans, around 200 years before the Ice Age. It was a custom in various clans to make a large pot of stew at the end of the day, using all the fish they had caught. If they had caught enough meat, then they would cook it and add it to the stew too. It was a community event and people would sit around fires and eat it. This custom first started in the North Pole and the Vokans brought it with them as they conquered the lands in the south.   When the Vokans ventured south, they built towns and gave up their nomadic lifestyle. But they would still come together in the town hall and serve themselves from the big stew pot. Offering stew also became a way of welcoming people they had captured into their empire. The evenings were a time for storytelling and introductions, so people could integrate in the empire.   Over time, this tradition spread as the Vokan Empire expanded, and continued long after the Vokans had gone.  

Stew Culture

"I heard that young people like their stews cold nowadays. Our shops are ruined, now they're selling it cold too."

— A disappointed local

  After the Ice Age, tastes changed and the way people ate stew did too. In many cultures, there is still a high importance placed on stew, and its role in community bonding is still there. But more people are eating it alone, and are willing to experiment with new combinations and new tastes.   The most common stews are still those with meat and vegetables inside. Some people eat them with rice or bread while others will drink it, especially if they are ill. In restaurants, it is common to see people sharing a stew bowl with their friends or family and dipping bread inside.   In the northern countries, when receiving someone, it can be a good idea to serve them some hot stew. It shows that the host appreciates the journey the visitor took to get there, and is also a good way to get them settled in.