When it came to adding a meat-substitute to the menu in the form of "Surrogate Steaks," Heroes' Feast decided the only way it could be justified in a fantasy setting is for it to come from outer space.
The whole point of these meat-substitutes is just that, they're substitutes for meat. Therefore, their flavor and texture should be similar to meat. Of the two, I feel Impossible Burgers are closer to that ideal; Beyond Burgers still taste more like a plant than meat to me. But when you're using the meat as a hamburger, it's mixed with many other flavors (lettuce, tomato, ketchup, mayo, etc.). The meat matters to a certain degree, but as it's not a steak, the patty takes a back seat to the rest of the meal. I state all this because in theory, a meat-substitute can be treated just like meat in a recipe. Heroes' Feast disagrees.
We discussed previously how there are subtle and overt references to certain groups of elves not eating meat, despite the fact that they use a bow (and presumably, not just for warfare). Elven magic could have just as easily created a meat-substitute. But in this book, the elves got a little help. The meatless patties came from outer space. The Expedition to the Barrier Peaks to be precise.
In short, in a world of fantasy and magic, aliens are the source of the meat substitute. And yet there is no reference to this type of food in the original adventure. There are references to food dispensers in kitchens:
Ironically, the fiercest defenders of these food dispensing machines are vegepygmies. Given that this food is plant-based, does that make them cannibals?
The other food dispensing encounter is my personal favorite, the Pushy Dining Servo Robot:
To sum up, the two major sources of food that Heroes' Feast uses as meatless inspiration is poisonous 50% of the time and protected by plants or is covered in mold and force-fed by a handsy robot. Someone doesn't like meat-substitutes, and it shows in the recipe itself.
This meat-substitute is largely the same, with a white sauce that's quite tasty. But in making the patties, it calls for something that can only be described as "cover the taste of the meatless patty":
That's right, you drag the patty through a bed of pepper. I love pepper, but this was too much. You couldn't taste anything else but the pepper. And that seems intentional.
Meat alternatives are always a fun opportunity for role-playing. We discussed previously how "mystery meat" can be used to good effect, but in science fiction there's a long history of using alternatives to meat that range from gross (Alien) to merely distasteful (Snowpiercer). But then, there's no reason meat-based substitutes have to be from aliens. Unless of course they're created by the energy-based beings from "They're Made Out of Meat," in which case aliens seem the most likely source.
Your Turn: Is there a meat alternative in your campaign that still tastes like meat?
Beyond the Impossible
We've tried Impossible Burgers and Beyond Burgers before, so when we realized that there was a recipe with a meat-substitute as an ingredient, we couldn't pass it up. But before we get into the recipe itself, it's worth discussing the point of meat-substitutes vs. a plant-based product that doesn't try to taste like meat.The whole point of these meat-substitutes is just that, they're substitutes for meat. Therefore, their flavor and texture should be similar to meat. Of the two, I feel Impossible Burgers are closer to that ideal; Beyond Burgers still taste more like a plant than meat to me. But when you're using the meat as a hamburger, it's mixed with many other flavors (lettuce, tomato, ketchup, mayo, etc.). The meat matters to a certain degree, but as it's not a steak, the patty takes a back seat to the rest of the meal. I state all this because in theory, a meat-substitute can be treated just like meat in a recipe. Heroes' Feast disagrees.
We discussed previously how there are subtle and overt references to certain groups of elves not eating meat, despite the fact that they use a bow (and presumably, not just for warfare). Elven magic could have just as easily created a meat-substitute. But in this book, the elves got a little help. The meatless patties came from outer space. The Expedition to the Barrier Peaks to be precise.
Aliens Made Meat-Substitutes
Here's how Heroes' Feast describes this recipe:In short, in a world of fantasy and magic, aliens are the source of the meat substitute. And yet there is no reference to this type of food in the original adventure. There are references to food dispensers in kitchens:
Ironically, the fiercest defenders of these food dispensing machines are vegepygmies. Given that this food is plant-based, does that make them cannibals?
The other food dispensing encounter is my personal favorite, the Pushy Dining Servo Robot:
To sum up, the two major sources of food that Heroes' Feast uses as meatless inspiration is poisonous 50% of the time and protected by plants or is covered in mold and force-fed by a handsy robot. Someone doesn't like meat-substitutes, and it shows in the recipe itself.
I Heard You Like Pepper, so Here's Some Pepper with Your Pepper
There's already a "burger" recipe in Heroes' Feast that's called a "tavern steak." To make it seem less like a burger, the recipe places it on half a bun and covers it with sauce. It was surprisingly delicious.This meat-substitute is largely the same, with a white sauce that's quite tasty. But in making the patties, it calls for something that can only be described as "cover the taste of the meatless patty":
That's right, you drag the patty through a bed of pepper. I love pepper, but this was too much. You couldn't taste anything else but the pepper. And that seems intentional.
Meat alternatives are always a fun opportunity for role-playing. We discussed previously how "mystery meat" can be used to good effect, but in science fiction there's a long history of using alternatives to meat that range from gross (Alien) to merely distasteful (Snowpiercer). But then, there's no reason meat-based substitutes have to be from aliens. Unless of course they're created by the energy-based beings from "They're Made Out of Meat," in which case aliens seem the most likely source.
Your Turn: Is there a meat alternative in your campaign that still tastes like meat?
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