Critical Role Cookbook: Pre-orders for the 60 recipe book are live

I love products that reward fandoms by bringing them closer to the center of the worlds they love. I will never forget finding it The Dragon Lover’s Guide to Pern, a book co-written by science fiction author Anne McCaffrey that featured a recipe for klah — the coffee-like drink that has been a staple of my favorite fictional world since I was a child. That’s why I’m so happy for fans of Critical Role and The Legend of Vox Machina, because later this year they will finally have a chance to taste the world of Tal’Dorei.

The cover of Exquisite Exandria features a close-up of a banquet table covered with pies and meat dishes. Is that a quesadilla? Who let the cat in here!? No legwarmers at the table!

Exquisite Exandria: The Official Crucial Cookbook is poised for its big debut this summer, and fans are in for a treat. Written by Liz Marsham, with recipes by Jesse Szewczyk, Susan Vu, and Amanda Yee, you’ll find 60 dishes and drinks inspired by the world of Critical Role. The official description lists a few that should pique any living thing’s interest, including Slayer’s cake from Whitestone, the Issyrian delicacy known as midsummer honey polenta, and even street meat from Marquet.

Publisher Penguin Random House was kind enough to give Polygon readers a sneak peek. It’s a pasta dish known as Percival de Rolo’s Revenge Pasta and I’m sure you can guess what the main ingredient is.

A recipe for a pasta dish that includes 20 cloves of garlic and some fresh pepper. It's called Rolo's Revenge and it's based on the world of Critical Role.

Garlic. It’s garlic – 20 whole cloves of garlic.

As far as the recipes go, it’s as rooted in the world of Critical Role as it is Heroes’ Festival: The Official Dungeons & Dragons Cookbook is anchored in the worlds of Faerûn and Krynn. But even more so than the slightly more technical dishes in this excellent book, De Rolo’s Revenge Pasta leaves plenty of room for improvisation – just like a good sequel to a proper play. My family added to the meal by rolling up some hickory-smoked chicken breasts on the grill, simply marinated in Italian dressing, a fresh baby kale and beet salad, and a well-aged Barovian wine that just came in the mail.

Good news! There aren’t any leftovers to speak of, the kids ask for more, and I’ve been invited to a mysterious castle by a count with an impeccable taste for red wine. It’s best to toss some garlic in your holdall to be on the safe side.

Exquisite Exandria: The Official Crucial Cookbook arrives August 29 with a retail price of $29.99. It includes a foreword by Quyen Tran and Sam Riegel. You can pre-order at your local bookseller and online.