Winter is coming: A Game of Thrones feast in the heart of Canberra
Winter is coming … well it’s actually well and truly here ... and what better way to celebrate than with a Game of Thrones inspired party.
Ginger Catering is hosting a medieval feast from the seven kingdoms on August 10. The National Arboretum will be turned into a venue worthy of Westeros and there’ll even be dragons.
While we can imagine Drogon soaring down over the hills of the arboretum - no, actually, imagine it next time you’re driving down the Tuggeranong Parkway, it’s the perfect location - on this night there’ll be holograms screened onto the vast windows that look down over the city.
There’ll be a DJ and ice bars and a throne for photo opportunities and staff will be dressed in theme as well. Of course guests are also encouraged to dress up. Trying to find my best Cersei gown as we speak.
Lissa Keogh, general manager of Ginger Catering, said there were a lot of GoT tragics on staff - apparently director Janet Jeffs herself is a fan - and they were lamenting the fact they’ll have to wait until 2019 for the next series.
“They were telling us how they used to all get together with their friends and watch the show and cook different food and we thought what a great idea,” Keogh said.
“We were looking at our events and wondering what we could do that was a bit different, in winter too, especially, it can be hard to come up with ideas.
“Everyone got quite excited by the idea, there’s some really creative people on staff who are keen to work with the theme.”
When you start investigating the role food plays in Game of Thrones, it’s quite interesting. Sarah Lawson, on First We Feast, writes “anyone who’s read at least two pages of A Song of Ice and Fire or has just seen a commercial for HBO’s Game of Thrones knows that George R.R. Martin holds three types of descriptions closest to his heart - gore, sex, and food.” There’s even an official Game of Thrones Cookbook.
From the wedding feast of Daenerys and Khal Drogo, where she eats the bloody stallion's heart, to the simple fare served at the Inn at the Crossroads, characters are often seen sharing a meal, or a wine, in fact a lot of wine. Does Tyrion ever not have a glass in his hand?
At the arboretum, Ginger will be serving a three-course dinner with mulled wine. Each table will be adorned with its own suckling pig. There’ll be venison pies, dessert served in dragon’s eggs and lemon cakes. Lemon cakes are my favourite too, Sansa.
But whatever you do, don’t eat the Frey Pie.
Game of Thrones Winter Feast at the National Arboretum, Friday, August 10, 6.30pm. Tickets $100 per person, for three courses with mulled wine and a pop-up ice bar and entertainment. Tickets at gingercatering.com.au