So on the hottest damn day of the year, this outrageously dressed stranger waltzes—literally waltzes!—down the street and right through my back door! Who does that? I nearly threw them out, but they got down on their knees, right on my brand new rug. \n\n“Oh, mistress Appius, purveyor of culinary delights, won’t you give this humble musician an audience?” \n\nI couldn’t say no. I couldn’t say anything. I was struck speechless by the sheer audacity of it all.

A Fortuitous Meeting

Feastingtide

First course: olives with parsley and fennel, small fish pastries in hot sauce, fresh oysters, smoked sturgeon with cold sage soup \n\nSecond course: fish pie with cinnamon and nutmeg, ginger-stuffed sturgeon, roasted sturgeon and jelly, thrice-spiced sturgeon skewers (brave guests only) \n\nDesserts: Damn the dessert. I’m good, but I can’t conjure dessert out of a sturgeon!

Claudia's Original Course List

My eyes ache. I’ll never get the smell of frying fish out of my best apron. I bought up every last jar of pepper in this town and the next one over. \n\nAnd when I said that to the Maestro, what did they do? Smiled that beatific smile, clapped me on the back, and asked, “Same time next year?” \n\nFor Heaven’s sake, I must be mad, but of course I’ll be back next year! And I’m bringing reinforcements. Kartik makes the finest fish curry, and I hope he won’t mind a stranger waltzing into his kitchen.

Weaver's Fen Summer Village Chapter - NWGuide Database of Lore

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