#Tockay

[night-unfurls-its-splendour]

For the send a fic idea ask:

What are your thought on a Phantom of the Opera vampire AU? 👀

OMG OMG OMG

I do not have the brain to write one, but I WISH I did and I am SO excited to share why.

About two years ago I got into a minor debate about whether "sexy" vampires are a "modern" invention or if there's any basis for it.

Now my standard for "Modern" as far as vampires go is BD and AD ("Before Dracula" and "After Dracula")

So the answer to that was "Yes and No".

No, because "original," vampires of Slavic folklore are mainly zombie-like.

Bram Stoker's classic Gothic novel is largely considered the birth of the modern vampire in pop-culture, and that's TRUE

BUT

He is NOT the first example of the Vampire as a fantastical erotic stalker in media.

Now most people probably do know that Dracula was predated by John Polidori's The Vampyre and Varney the Vampire or the Feast of Blood by several decades.

But the ORIGIN of the erotic vampire predate THEM by more than a century.

Widely considered the first appearance of a vampire in media is the 1748 poem Der Vampire by Heinrich August Ossenfelder. (Read more about that here)

The poem is notable, not only for being the first recorded appearance of a vampire in fiction, but also for its intense erotic subtext.

So how does all this relate to a PotO Vampire AU? Well because when I rediscovered this poem after getting into PotO I discovered in it a few things that connect it, albeit loosely, that connect it to Phantom, some things I think will probably jump out to you as well, including, what I think, is the ideal title for a PotO Vampire AU.

Here is the text of the poem's English translation, which is, like the first translation of Phantom of the Opera, flawed but iconic:

My dear young maiden clingeth Unbending. fast and firm To all the long-held teaching Of a mother ever true; As in vampires unmortal Folk on the Theyse's portal Heyduck-like do believe. But my Christine thou dost dally, And wilt my loving parry Till I myself avenging To a vampire's health a-drinking Him toast in pale tockay. And as softly thou art sleeping To thee shall I come creeping And thy life's blood drain away. And so shalt thou be trembling For thus shall I be kissing And death's threshold thou' it be crossing With fear, in my cold arms. And last shall I thee question Compared to such instruction What are a mother's charms?

If I ever DID work up enough of an actual story to write a PotO Vampire AU, I would, without restraint entitle it "But My Christine, Thou Dost Dally"

But the other section I highlighted you'll notice is the mention of Tockay.

Now Tockay appearing here is not an astonishing thing. It's a sweet Hungarian wine, and as the poem alludes to the Eastern European origins of vampiric lore, the likening of a maiden's blood to this particular wine is not at all shocking.

What does make me smile to myself a bit is the fact that Tockay is also mentioned in both Dracula and The Phantom of the Opera. Its not really a massive bombshell in either of these places either, because Dracula himself serves Jonathan Harker at his castle in Romania, with his tasty roast chicken dinner; and Gaston Leroux has Erik serve Christine a duvet of Chicken with tockay during her stay in his house by the lake.

(Also not too much of a stretch in the case of PotO because Tockay was very in vogue in the early 20th century and only fell out of favour following the Great War when availability became scarce. But Gaston Leroux was a noted admirer of Dracula, and even mentioned Erik reading vampire serials in the original Gaulois serial.)

Tl;dr I have the perfect title for a PotO Vampire Fic

I just don't have the brain to write it.

Yet.

[uxbridgeenglishdictionary]

Okay just seen a reblog asking for the dining car menu:

If, once again, you just want my basic-ass recommendation for what to eat, here you go:

"coffee, bread, and butter!"

I speak French and some German. Here we go.

Menu

Lunch (in French)/Breakfast (in German) (it's definitely lunch): wine not included Eggs or fish Hot meat (this would probably be beef rather than chicken or pork) Vegetables Cold cuts Dessert

Menu

Soup Starters/Appetisers Fish Two kinds of meat Vegetables Entremets (this is what we'd call a false friend or faux ami - a word that has a different meaning than you'd think. It's something like dessert in modern French. However, an entremet is literally a small dish served between main and dessert courses. This could be anything from a raspberry mousse cake to more vegetables. HOWEVER - the German gives us some clue with 'mehlspeise' - which was a Bavarian/Austrian term for 'flour dish' aka a kind of cake/pastry/pie product. So uh... go for an apple strudel if you're feeling basic. If you want MY recommendation, try to make Germknodel. Dessert

COFFEE, BREAD AND BUTTER (likely to be white bread and fresh butter)

Lunches and Dinners available a la carte (aka not set menu, ordering 1 dish at a time)

Wines from the Rhineland (now a bit of Germany hotly contested by the French, Dutch, and Belgians, patronised by Queen Victoria in 1850 and consequently very expensive), both sold by the half-bottle or the glass on the German route: - Hochheimer: a white Reisling wine, very drinkable, known in English as 'Hock' - Rudesheimer: also a 'Hock', from a lesser vineyard Wines from Hungary, sold on the other route, 'AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN ONLY': (i know dick all about austro-hungarian wines, sorry) - Karlowitzer: ? - Nezmelyer: ? - Tockay: a sweet peach-coloured dessert wine made from grapes affected by 'noble rot'! Favourite of kings, composers, and poshos everywhere. Go check out the wiki for a lovely intro to Tokaji in history. I didn't think that Tokaji regions were in the Austrian bit of Austro-Hungary, they're actually in the Hungarian bit that's now partially in Slovakia, and that means that either the menu is lying about the source of the wine or that they're lying about the wine itself.

If I were you, I'd go for a very Dracula-esque a la carte order of Germknodel and a snifter of 'Tockay'.

Or, if I were not a gourmand/in a hurry, I'd do coffee, bread, and butter!

Mem., get recipe for Mina: a food guide to Dracula Daily

Inspired by There and Snack Again (in which you eat along with the LOTR movies), this is your guide to eating and drinking along with Dracula Daily.

All under a cut because there's no way I can do this with extensive spoilers. I strongly recommend not reading this unless you already know what happens in Dracula. Also only if you're comfortable reading about alcoholic drinks - there's a lot of booze in this novel.

Let's eat!

2 May We start with the famous paprika hendl. Google "chicken paprikash" and choose whichever recipe most strikes your fancy.

3 May For breakfast, choose from mamaliga (cornmeal porridge, similar to grits), "impletata" (vânătă umplută - stuffed aubergine) or anything with more paprika in it.

4 May For dinner, Jonathan has robber steak: "bits of bacon, onion, and beef, seasoned with red pepper, and strung on sticks and roasted over the fire".

5 May Slivovitz, if you'd like it (Jonathan declines). Then, for dinner, Dracula serves up roast chicken, with some cheese, a salad and a glass or two of Tokaji wine.

6 May "A cold breakfast" for Jonathan. In Romania a cold breakfast might include boiled eggs, telemea (sheep's cheese), franzela (bread) with assorted spreads, sliced cucumber and tomatoes, and sunculita taraneasca (sliced smoked pork). Jonathan also has "an excellent supper", but doesn't tell us what that includes.

16 May Would it be too bleak if I suggested eating a symbolic Jelly Baby?

26 May A glass of wine as Quincey and Jack congratulate Arthur and drown their sorrows.

18 June There's a kind of Scottish fruit slice called "flies' graveyard". That might make a suitable snack given Renfield's meal today.

24 June I guess a gingerbread woman, for the wolves? IDK, it turns out doing this for a horror novel is a bit grim.

8 July Thankfully the internet has hundreds of ideas for spider-themed cakes so you can eat along with Renfield.

18 July The voyage of the Demeter begins! Celebrate by eating like a sailor: have some salt pork, or make ship's biscuit.

20 July Renfield has just eaten several sparrows. Provide redress by feeding birds near you, bird flu guidance permitting.

24 July Imitate the "feet-folk" from York and Leeds by drinking some tea or eating some cured herring.

10 August Lucy and Mina enjoy a "severe tea". There are lots of severe teas in Victorian literature, but few writers actually describe what's in it - e.g. the Churchman's shilling magazine, 1868, has a story with a severe tea "which implies coffee, tea, and muffins, with substantials". What are substantials? I have no idea, but that's what you should eat today.

11 August Dracula has a little nibble on Lucy. I don't suggest doing this for every vampire bite in the novel, but given this one is particularly significant, how about marking the occasion with some black pudding?

30 August No food details for a while, but in this entry, Lucy notes that she "has an appetite like a cormorant" and "Arthur says I am getting fat". Celebrate with some cake.

3 September Van Helsing has been! And surely he wouldn't have come all the way from the Netherlands empty-handed? Acknowledge his visit with some gouda or a stroopwafel.

4 September Eat some sugar, which Renfield has requested for his flies.

7 September To stay in line with what the characters actually eat and drink, have a glass of port (though ideally not if you've just given blood). But for the real spirit of the day, consider a corn-on-the-cob.

9 September Free space! Jack has "an excellent meal" but doesn't say what it is. Dig into your favourite dinner.

10 September A sip of brandy, with which Van Helsing wets Lucy's lips.

11 September The garlic flowers arrive. There's lots that you can make with wild garlic - personally, I like it in risotto.

17 September A boxful of garlic flowers arrive for Lucy every day. Time to make chicken with 40 cloves of garlic. Other options for today include more black pudding (in honour of Renfield lapping up Jack's blood) or sherry.

18 September The Zookeeper enjoys a teacake, and so shall we.

20 September No food, but the labourers have "a stiff glass of grog". This is rum diluted with water, but you could also add lemon or lime juice, sugar, and/or cinnamon.

25 September Nibble another Jelly Baby for the Bloofer Lady.

29 September A lot happens in this entry, but there's not a lot of food. There are thirsty labourers, however. Maybe have a beer?

30 September Mina makes everyone a pot of tea. Also, we don't know what they have for dinner, but they eat it at 7pm, if you'd like to time your evening meal accordingly.

1 October More tea! Since this is being gulped down by a working man, make it builder's style - strong, sweet, lots of milk.

2 October Jonathan visits the Aërated Bread Company. He only has a cup of tea, but you could have whatever you like best from their menu:

(source)

3 October Dracula forces Mina to drink his blood like "a child forcing a kitten's nose into a saucer of milk". You could either have some more black pudding, or drink a glass of milk in solidarity with Mina.

15 October The Crew of Light aren't focusing much on meals any more, but they have travelled on the Orient Express. Here's the 1887 dining car menu.

(source - I can't vouch for the accuracy of a random person on Twitter but it looks plausible)

29 October No one is thinking of food in this bit of the novel (though Mina makes yet more tea), but as they're heading to Romania, have some sarmale. These stuffed cabbage rolls are the Romanian national dish.

31 October Mina and Van Helsing have "a huge basket of provisions". Have a picnic in their honour, if it's warm enough where you are.

1 November Mina and Van Helsing have "hot soup" into which the local cooks have put an extra amount of garlic. Consider having a truly extra amount of garlic with this 44-garlic-clove soup.

7 November The Crew of Light return to Transylvania. No details of food, but in honour of their journey, I would suggest a final round of chicken paprikash, to bring us back to where it all began.

[dennisasp]

Bali 2/2 - Abud og Amed

New Post has been published on https://dennisasp.dk/bali-2-2-abud-og-amed/

Bali 2/2 - Abud og Amed

Vores rejse fortsatte til Ubud, hvor vi udforskede et forladt hotel, så en masse vandfald, risterrasser og besteg en vulkan, inden vi fortsatte nordpå til dykkerbyen Amed. Her var vi så heldige endelig at få lov at komme helt tæt på en havskildpadde. - Amed, Aperitif, Bali, Bali Swing, Banyumala Waterfall, Bjerge, Delfiner, Fiji, Fine Dining, Gecko, Ghost Palace, Havskildpadde, Hotel Pondok Indah Bedugul, Indoneisen, pool, Rejse, rismarker, Sekumpul, Snorkling, Tegallalang, Tempel, Tockay, Twin Waterfall, Ubud, Ubud Palace, Ulun Danu Beratan Temple, Urban Exploring, Vandfald, Vulkan, Yellow Flower Café

[lit-escapes]

Der Vampir

a poem by Heinrich August Ossenfelder May 25th, 1748 Mein liebes Mägdchen glaubet Beständig steif und feste, An die gegebnen Lehren Der immer frommen Mutter; Als Völker an der Theyse An tödtliche Vampiere Heyduckisch feste glauben. Nun warte nur Christianchen, Du willst mich gar nicht lieben; Ich will mich an dir rächen, Und heute in Tockayer Zu einem Vampir trinken. Und wenn du sanfte schlummerst, Von deinen schönen Wangen Den frischen Purpur saugen. Alsdenn wirst du erschrecken, Wenn ich dich werde küssen Und als ein Vampir küssen: Wenn du dann recht erzitterst Und matt in meine Arme, Gleich einer Todten sinkest Alsdenn will ich dich fragen, Sind meine Lehren besser, Als deiner guten Mutter? Der Vampir is arguably the first modern vampire poem, predating Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu's Carmilla, John Polidori's The Vampyre and Bram Stoker's Dracula to a date of 1748, which is only 14 years after the word "vampyre" entered the English language. Here it is written in the original German language, translated below for an English audience to enjoy. Notice the description of the vampire in this poem. His cold arms, the embracing kiss of death, the sleeping victim, the vampire's pale complexion, the draining blood; These characteristics would pave the way and set a cornerstone for future romantic vampire fiction novels like Bram Stoker's classic Count Dracula written in 1897. My dear young maiden clingeth Unbending fast and firm To all the long-held teaching Of a mother ever true; As in vampires unmortal Folk on the Theyse’s portal Heyduck-like do believe. But my Christine thou dost dally, And wilt my loving parry Till I myself avenging To a vampire’s health a-drinking Him toast in pale tockay. And as softly thou art sleeping To thee shall I come creeping And thy life’s blood drain away. And so shalt thou be trembling For thus shall I be kissing And death’s threshold thou’ it be crossing With fear, in my cold arms. And last shall I thee question Compared to such instruction What are a mother’s charms?

[themousefromfantasyland]

"The Vampire" by Heinrich August Ossenfelder

Written in 1748, this poem is one of the first literary pieces about Vampires. Notice that since the very beginning, vampires always had this weird sexual connotation to them.

My dear young maiden clingeth

Unbending, fast and firm

To all the long-held teaching

Of a mother ever true;

As in vampires unmortal

Folk on the Theyse’s portal

Heyduck-like do believe.

But my Christine thou dost dally,

And wilt my loving parry

Till I myself avenging

To a vampire’s health a-drinking

Him toast in pale tockay.

And as softly thou art sleeping

To thee shall I come creeping

And thy life’s blood drain away.

And so shalt thou be trembling

For thus shall I be kissing

And death’s threshold thou’ it be crossing

With fear, in my cold arms.

And last shall I thee question

Compared to such instruction

What are a mother’s charms?

[night-unfurls-its-splendour]

But my Christine, thou dost dally,

And wilt my loving parry

Till I, myself avenging,

To a vampire’s health a-drinking

Him toast in pale Tockay.

{Der Vampire -- Heinrich August Ossenfelder, 1742}

[a-pirate-my-hearties]

Der Vampir by Heinrich Ossenfelder (1748)

My dear young maiden clingeth Unbending, fast and firm To all the long-held teaching Of a mother ever true; As in vampires unmortal Folk on the Theyse’s portal Heyduck-like do believe. But my Christine thou dost dally, And wilt my loving parry Till I myself avenging To a vampire’s health a-drinking Him toast in pale tockay. And as softly thou art sleeping To thee shall I come creeping And thy life’s blood drain away. And so shalt thou be trembling For thus shall I be kissing And death’s threshold thou’ it be crossing With fear, in my cold arms. And last shall I thee question Compared to such instruction What are a mother's charms?

[night-unfurls-its-splendour]

"Der Vampire" - Heinrich August Ossenfelder

My dear young maiden clingeth

Unbending. fast and firm

To all the long-held teaching

Of a mother ever true;

As in vampires unmortal

Folk on the Theyse's portal

Heyduck-like do believe.

But my Christine thou dost dally,

And wilt my loving parry

Till I myself avenging

To a vampire's health a-drinking

Him toast in pale tockay.

And as softly thou art sleeping

To thee shall I come creeping

And thy life's blood drain away.

And so shalt thou be trembling

For thus shall I be kissing

And death's threshold thou' it be crossing

With fear, in my cold arms.

And last shall I thee question

Compared to such instruction

What are a mother's charms?

POTO Vampire AU entitled "My Christine, Thou dost Dally"

Anyone? Please?

Also Erik serves Christine Tockay from the Konigsberg cellars in the book. You guys~

[night-unfurls-its-splendour]

Vampires are about sex.

Vampires [in media] HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT SEX going right back to the first known mention of a vampire in fiction, Der Vampyre (1748), a poem by Heinrich August Ossenfelder

My dear young maiden clingeth Unbending, fast and firm To all the long-held teaching Of a mother ever true; As in vampires unmortal Folks on the Theyse’s portal Heyduck-like do believe. But my Christine thou dost dally, And wilt my loving parry Till I myself avenging To a vampire’s health a-drinking Him toast in pale Tockay. And as softly thou art sleeping To thee shall I come creeping And thy life’s blood drain away. And so shalt thou be trembling For thus shall I be kissing And death’s threshold thou’ it be crossing With fear, in my cold arms. And last shall I thee question Compared to such instruction What are a mother’s charms?

King shit

[varnishedtruths]

Golden Tree Snake by Culpeo-Fox งูเขียวพระอินทร์. Chrysopelea ornata. Snakes from the genus Chrysopelea share a very unique ability of gliding through the air (hence their common name Flying Snakes). The gliding is managed by these serpents through flaring out their ribs and doing slithering motions while in the air, which is a fascinating sight (but surely makes it the living nightmare for every ophiodophobic person). C. ornata, commonly known as the Golden Tree Snake, is the largest of the three species occuring in Thailand and also one of the most common snakes in Thailand altogether. It is a fierce fighter with somewhat psychotic eyes, known to hunt down large and tough prey like Tockay Geckos which it kills with its mild venom (that is not considered dangerous to humans, though). In Thai, it is flowerly named after the powerful deity Indra ("Phra Int" in Thai) who is often portrayed with having green skin, is known as the God of storms and rains and, in the Ramakian epic, built the city of Ayutthaya. Its German name is a little less divine in nature, but still creative ("Schmuckbaumnatter" literally translates to "Jewelry Tree Snake").

[ohaneth]

Tokay Gecko eating a snake. Cambodia by Paul Cowell on Flickr.

[night-unfurls-its-splendour]

Dracula 🤝 Erik, the Phantom

Servin' up a mean roast chicken with Tockay for their prisoners

[ohaneth]

Tokay Gecko eating a snake. Cambodia by Paul Cowell on Flickr.

[ymfingsteadilyon]

Image description of the Orient Express menu from October 15 (translations mine):

Tarif des con[interupted]/Preise der Speisen [food prices].

Déjeuner (vin non compris)/Frühstuck (ohne wein) [breakfast (without wine)] fr. 4,00

Menu

Œufs ou poissons/Eier oder Fische [eggs or fish] Viande chaude/Warmes Fleisch [hot meat] Légumes/Gemüse [vegetables] Viande froide/Kalter Aufschnitt [cold cuts]

Dessert

Diner (vin non compris)/Diner (ohne wein) fr. 6,00

Menu

Potage/Suppe [soup] Hors-ďœuvre/Vorspeise Poissons/Fisch 2 Plats de Viande/2 Speisen Fleisch [two meat dishes] Légumes/Gemüse [vegetables] Entremets/Mehlspeise [”flour foods”; not sure about this one, some sort of cake perhaps?]

Dessert

Café, pain et beurre/Kaffée mit Butter und Brot [coffee, bread and butter] fr. 1,50

Déjeuners et Diners à la Carte

Vins du Rhin/Rheinweine [wines from the Rhine basin]

[unreadable] le farcours Allemand/auf der Deutschen Linie [on the German lines]

Hochheimer: la 1/2 bouteille/ 1/2 Flasche [half a bottle] 3 [franc] Rudesheimer: la 1/2 bouteille/ 1/2 Flasche [half a bottle] 2 [franc]

Vins de Hongrie/Ungarische Weine [Hungarian wines]

sur(?) le farcours/nur auf der Fahre(?) [only while traveling]

Austro-Hongrois seulement/in Oesterreich-Ungarn [in Austria-Hungary] Karlowitzer: la 1/2 bouteille/ 1/2 Flasche [half a bottle] 2 [franc] Nezmelyer: la 1/2 bouteille/ 1/2 Flasche [half a bottle] 2 [franc] Tockay: la 1/2 bouteille/ 1/2 Flasche [half a bottle] 5 [franc]

@alexseanchai

Mem., get recipe for Mina: a food guide to Dracula Daily

Inspired by There and Snack Again (in which you eat along with the LOTR movies), this is your guide to eating and drinking along with Dracula Daily.

All under a cut because there's no way I can do this with extensive spoilers. I strongly recommend not reading this unless you already know what happens in Dracula. Also only if you're comfortable reading about alcoholic drinks - there's a lot of booze in this novel.

Let's eat!

2 May We start with the famous paprika hendl. Google "chicken paprikash" and choose whichever recipe most strikes your fancy.

3 May For breakfast, choose from mamaliga (cornmeal porridge, similar to grits), "impletata" (vânătă umplută - stuffed aubergine) or anything with more paprika in it.

4 May For dinner, Jonathan has robber steak: "bits of bacon, onion, and beef, seasoned with red pepper, and strung on sticks and roasted over the fire".

5 May Slivovitz, if you'd like it (Jonathan declines). Then, for dinner, Dracula serves up roast chicken, with some cheese, a salad and a glass or two of Tokaji wine.

6 May "A cold breakfast" for Jonathan. In Romania a cold breakfast might include boiled eggs, telemea (sheep's cheese), franzela (bread) with assorted spreads, sliced cucumber and tomatoes, and sunculita taraneasca (sliced smoked pork). Jonathan also has "an excellent supper", but doesn't tell us what that includes.

16 May Would it be too bleak if I suggested eating a symbolic Jelly Baby?

26 May A glass of wine as Quincey and Jack congratulate Arthur and drown their sorrows.

18 June There's a kind of Scottish fruit slice called "flies' graveyard". That might make a suitable snack given Renfield's meal today.

24 June I guess a gingerbread woman, for the wolves? IDK, it turns out doing this for a horror novel is a bit grim.

8 July Thankfully the internet has hundreds of ideas for spider-themed cakes so you can eat along with Renfield.

18 July The voyage of the Demeter begins! Celebrate by eating like a sailor: have some salt pork, or make ship's biscuit.

20 July Renfield has just eaten several sparrows. Provide redress by feeding birds near you, bird flu guidance permitting.

24 July Imitate the "feet-folk" from York and Leeds by drinking some tea or eating some cured herring.

10 August Lucy and Mina enjoy a "severe tea". There are lots of severe teas in Victorian literature, but few writers actually describe what's in it - e.g. the Churchman's shilling magazine, 1868, has a story with a severe tea "which implies coffee, tea, and muffins, with substantials". What are substantials? I have no idea, but that's what you should eat today.

11 August Dracula has a little nibble on Lucy. I don't suggest doing this for every vampire bite in the novel, but given this one is particularly significant, how about marking the occasion with some black pudding?

30 August No food details for a while, but in this entry, Lucy notes that she "has an appetite like a cormorant" and "Arthur says I am getting fat". Celebrate with some cake.

3 September Van Helsing has been! And surely he wouldn't have come all the way from the Netherlands empty-handed? Acknowledge his visit with some gouda or a stroopwafel.

4 September Eat some sugar, which Renfield has requested for his flies.

7 September To stay in line with what the characters actually eat and drink, have a glass of port (though ideally not if you've just given blood). But for the real spirit of the day, consider a corn-on-the-cob.

9 September Free space! Jack has "an excellent meal" but doesn't say what it is. Dig into your favourite dinner.

10 September A sip of brandy, with which Van Helsing wets Lucy's lips.

11 September The garlic flowers arrive. There's lots that you can make with wild garlic - personally, I like it in risotto.

17 September A boxful of garlic flowers arrive for Lucy every day. Time to make chicken with 40 cloves of garlic. Other options for today include more black pudding (in honour of Renfield lapping up Jack's blood) or sherry.

18 September The Zookeeper enjoys a teacake, and so shall we.

20 September No food, but the labourers have "a stiff glass of grog". This is rum diluted with water, but you could also add lemon or lime juice, sugar, and/or cinnamon.

25 September Nibble another Jelly Baby for the Bloofer Lady.

29 September A lot happens in this entry, but there's not a lot of food. There are thirsty labourers, however. Maybe have a beer?

30 September Mina makes everyone a pot of tea. Also, we don't know what they have for dinner, but they eat it at 7pm, if you'd like to time your evening meal accordingly.

1 October More tea! Since this is being gulped down by a working man, make it builder's style - strong, sweet, lots of milk.

2 October Jonathan visits the Aërated Bread Company. He only has a cup of tea, but you could have whatever you like best from their menu:

(source)

3 October Dracula forces Mina to drink his blood like "a child forcing a kitten's nose into a saucer of milk". You could either have some more black pudding, or drink a glass of milk in solidarity with Mina.

15 October The Crew of Light aren't focusing much on meals any more, but they have travelled on the Orient Express. Here's the 1887 dining car menu.

(source - I can't vouch for the accuracy of a random person on Twitter but it looks plausible)

29 October No one is thinking of food in this bit of the novel (though Mina makes yet more tea), but as they're heading to Romania, have some sarmale. These stuffed cabbage rolls are the Romanian national dish.

31 October Mina and Van Helsing have "a huge basket of provisions". Have a picnic in their honour, if it's warm enough where you are.

1 November Mina and Van Helsing have "hot soup" into which the local cooks have put an extra amount of garlic. Consider having a truly extra amount of garlic with this 44-garlic-clove soup.

7 November The Crew of Light return to Transylvania. No details of food, but in honour of their journey, I would suggest a final round of chicken paprikash, to bring us back to where it all began.