Today, we continue Tolkien Feast Week with Day 3: The Feast of Gildor. At this point on the road to Bree, the hobbits have had their first scare with a black rider and get the indication of how treacherous their journey will be.
Luckily, the darkness is lifted when they cross paths with elves, lead by Gildor. He invites the hobbits to join them for a meal in the greenwood.
Pippin afterwards recalled little of either food or drink, for his mind was filled with the light upon elf-faces, and the sound of voices so various and so beautiful that he felt in a waking dream. But he remembered that there was bread, surpassing the savour of a fine white loaf to one who is starving; and fruits sweet as wildberries and richer than the tended fruits of gardens; he drained a cup that was filled with a fragrant draught, cool as a clear fountain, golden as a summer afternoon.
Sam could never describe in words, nor picture clearly to himself, what he felt or thought that night, though it remained in his memory as one of the chief events of his life. The nearest he ever got was to say: “Well, sir, if I could grow apples like that, I would call myself a gardener. But it was the singing that went to my heart, if you know what I mean.”
The Fellowship of the Ring, Chapter 3: Three is Company
It is perhaps fitting that the Feast of Gildor should fall on a Monday this year. If you have had a difficult or foreboding start to your week, partake in tonight’s feast to lift your spirits!
The only requirements for the Feast of Gildor are white bread, berries, apples, and cold mead or white wine. Gildor himself called it “poor fare,” but it is easy enough to gather these items on a quick trip to the store at the start of a busy week.
I decided to refrain from the time consuming task of baking my own bread, and like the hobbits, have it provided for me! I grabbed a loaf of country white bread from the bakery, and picked up some berries and apples. It just so happened that I already had a partial bottle of white wine at home.
Though this meal is simple, in honor of the High Elves, who surely seemed elegant to the homely hobbits, I thought it would be fun to pull out the china to dine on this meal lavishly.
If you’re lucky, you’ll have extra for breakfast the next morning, just like the hobbits.
‘They have left us fruit and drink, and bread,’ said Pippin. ‘Come and have your breakfast. The bread tastes almost as good as it did last night. I did not want to leave you any, but Sam insisted.’
The Fellowship of the Ring, Chapter 4: A Shortcut to Mushrooms
Tolkien Feast Week continues through Saturday, September 29, with members of the Middle-earth News staff posting the designated meal for that day and sharing their process, recipes, and photos with you. Our hope is to inspire each of you to cook your own meal and join in the tasty fun of Feast Week.
Feast Week, Day 1: Bilbo and Frodo’s Birthday
Feast Week, Day 2: Sleeping Outdoors
Feast Week, Day 4: Farmer Maggot’s Feast
Feast Week, Day 5: The Feast of Tom Bombadil
Feast Week, Day 6: The Feast of Tom Bombadil, Part Deux
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