Undine Cuisine

It goes without saying that the Undines, being a predominantly aquatic species, have very different culinary ways to humans. Much of their diet comprises the vast assortment of aquatic plants they grow, several of which are poisonous even to them and have to be carefully prepared. A few Undines are strictly vegetarian, but most eat fish and other small aquatic creatures, and several kinds of mollusc are also often found in Undine kitchens - in fact, everything we know of edible molluscs is information given to us by Undines. On rare occasions, usually for a major celebration, a large creature such as a whale will be hunted, and will provide food for a whole colony for several days. Teuthida, with their habits of fighting such animals frequently, eat this way more often.

Execution

As Undines cannot light fires, they rely on magic to cook the few foods that require it. Typically, one or two buildings in a colony will be dedicated to the preparation of food, including a boiling room. Undines are relatively resistant to harmful toxins and bacteria, but a reasonable proportion of the plants they grow still require treatment before being edible. Most Undines have kitchens, but only trained families will handle the preparation of rarer items, those which are poisonous or require delicate extraction of certain parts, making sure that they are safe to eat before distributing them among the other members of the colony.

Components and tools

Undines have two pieces of culinary equipment not commonly used above water. The first is a kind of wide bowl with a hinged lid, which functions similarly to a standard bowl. Some are divided up by thin walls in order to keep different food items separate. The lid serves both to contain the meal and to keep inquisitive small creatures out when eating outside of a building, which I am told is much more of a concern than insects are to us. The second is a long spike which is used to pick up individual items, or for prising open some kinds of molluscs' shells. In a way, it is similar to the dinner forks used in Gardsel. Undines do not carry knives while eating, instead food is cut into small pieces before serving.