Ahh Anauroch, the greatest desert of Faerun, and reminder of the greatest fall in its history. Once a great Nethril empire, now an ocean of sand, sun and danger. Home to Bedine nomad tribes, Zhentarim spies, dangerous monsers and not much else. But many still venture there drawn by the stories of Netheril treasures hidden beneth the sands, and adventures like no other. Even though they are more likely to find the remnants of the evil, ever hungry Phaerimm.

In a way people of the desert are like elves of Underdark. They adapted to their envoirment and they eat what they can. Anything that is edible. From small bugs, rodents and bats, to various types of grass. However the main source of food – and wealth – are camels Within Bedine tribes wealth is literally measured by the herd size, rather the amount of gold they posses. So grab your water bags everyone couse in the desert you’ll need it to survive the sandy trails – that is, if you wish to eat ever again.

Local Cuisine and Ingredients

Local Cuisine is very dependant on the exact part of desert and the exact tribe that lives in these parts. Near the Black Road Zhentarim may enjoy more common ingredients due to the close proximity of trading route. D’tarig who lived primarily on the eastern and southeastern edges of the Anauroch, survive mostly by herding sheep and goats, and so these are basis for their cuisine. Bedine tribes inhabiting different, and depper parts of the desert relay mostly on camels and rabbits. But one rule referes to them all. Whatever they could grew, whatever animals they could sustain would immidiately become a center for coulinary culture of their tribe. And wealth as well.

There are native plants, bugs, rodents and animals that inhabit Anauroh desert. But list of them is not long. So I strongly encourage any Dungeon Masters to invent some of their own fauna and flora. But be aware a little preparation and reseach for these inventions would be required. As it is highly unlikely that the players might encounter a Bedine tribe roasting a boar on an open fire. Below you will find some of my own ideas, as well as ingrediens already established in the lore. Forgottenrealms Wiki as usuall was a great help when drawing these informations.

Flora on Anauroch:

• Sesame plant
  Grows largely on oases, as well on the outskirts of desert. Sesame seeds are used in a lot of dishes. D’tarig tribes leared to make a flour out of it. And Bedine tribes prepare dry but very nutrinal rusks from it, which they take for their travels. They also learned how to make an oil from it. They placed sesame seeds in large mortars, made from acacia tree. Then they crushed the seeds with a wooden beam, counter-weighted with stones, by having a camel haul it around in a circle. The Bedine would sell the oil poured in clay jugs for one silver piece.
  
• Tumeric
  Used both as a spice and as a dye this plant grows mostly in Anauroch and it is very rare to encounter is anywhere else in Faerun. Tumeric is also known for its medical properities. It can be used as antiseptic agent. Also it is interesting that Bedine woman use it to make sunscreen and makeup. Outside of Faerun it can reach very high prices. Only roots are edible, they are dryed on sand and crashed to a powder which can be added to various dishes.
  
• Date Palm
  Aka the best friend of every living creature in Anauroch. Date fruits when dried are used in all sorts of ways. They can be eaten like raisins, made into a strong tea, crashed into sweet flour. There are multiple varieties of date palm and each fruit has very distinguish taste. For instace Ameri taste like caramel, Thoory tasts like peanuts, Barhi fruits are very watery. Even leaves and treebark of Date Palm is edible and often made into traditional Bedine dishes.
  
• Pomegranate
  Usually can be found around oases. Source of vitamins most needed in the desert. They are eaten raw but they can be made into juice or desserts.
  
• Desert Grass
  Its roots are edible and often used in stews in place of traditional fillers (like potatoes).
  
• Allium plant
  Very rare plant with healing properities. It protects from poisons and diseases or can shorten duration of its effects. It has an onion like root, and long hard pointy leaves – much like asparagus. Its edible and tastes similar to cucumbers. And most importantly it stors up a lot of water which is incredibly important for desert plants.
  
• Cactus
  Several cactus plants found in Anauroch can be edible. Like a Barrel cactus or Pear cactus.
  
• Chia Grass
  Whole plant is edible with seads being the most nutritional part.
  
• Agave Plant
  The leaves, flower stalks, flowers, and even the seeds of the agave plant are all edible. Bedine tribe produce sugar and fiber from agave plants.
  

Fauna on Anauroch:

• Camels
  Camels are main source of protein on Anauroch desert. They are bred for meat, milk and skins. Like mentioned before Bedine wealth is measured in numer of camels in their herds
  
• Rabbits
  Cottontail rabbits can be spotted in Anauroch deserts. Usually on outskirts or nearby oases. They can survive a short periods of time on an open desert but they rather stick to water sources. They are usually most active in an early morning. They are hunted for meat and skins.
  
• Snakes
  Anauroch is a home to variety of snakes of different species. Which is why snakes are also hunted for meat and skins. Desert Dragon Rattlesnake being considered a delicacy amongst Bedine and D’tarig tribes.
  
• Lizards and bugs
  Several lizards and bugs are considered edible and sometimes make their way to Bedine table.

“The Last Friend” Inn

This Inn is run by ex adventurer Marcus Rumbler. It is located on an outskirts of Anauroch. The owner spent a lot of time with Bedine tribes and has a lot of friends in the desert. When he retired he desided to put all his gold and knowlege of Bedine cuisine into running the Inn in the vestibule of the desert. He called his tawern “The Last Friend” Inn making this place the last safe and cosy place before venturing into Anauroch.

The Inn is a large buiding with several dome ceilings, and small towers heavily influenced by Bedine culture. There is a big round saloon with bar in the center of it, with low tabels and sofas, placed on colorful carpets. Red and yellow tapestries hang on the walls and small palm trees in flower pots serve as decorations. The bar is located in the center of the room. Its round and directly below it there is a passage to basement. Kitchen is located outdoors, beacuse Bedine custom dictates that all meals must be cooked on an open fire. Both main saloon and guest rooms are decorated so that they would resemble rich Bedine tents.

The inn is located in an oasis, with number of beautiful palm trees surrounding it and emerald stream running next to it. The inn is near southern trade route so it receives supplies from other parts of Faerun but it mostly depends of trade made with Bedine tribes. Served food gives the guests a rare chance to familiarise with Bedine dishes withouht venturing deep into the desert.

Examples of breakfast:

• Maloya
  Ameri Palm treebark marinated for two weeks in hot, sweet date fruit souce and sesame oil. Served with goat cheese and chia seeds.
• Karuka
  Sweet oatmeal soup, made with sesame seeds, chia seeds, crushed desert grass roots, with camels milk and dried date fruit.
• Sandy Delicacy
  Pita bread boats, made from date palm leaves and desert grass, with tumeric and salt with fried eggs inside. Eggs in general are considered delicacy on desert and can reach high prices. This is the most pricy item on breakfast menu.

Dinner examples:

• Iyawazi
  Wheel of goat cheese encased in sesame seeds and deep fried in camel fat. Served with mix of date palm treebark and rabit jerky.
• Hoppity hop roast
  Rabit coated in a mixture of thic salt, tumeric, and desert grass roots. Then baked in ceramic bowl on date plam leaves.
• Sweet desert salad
  Salad made from Aunuri cactus flowers, small Pear cactus fruits, and chopped Gray cactus with pomgranate seeds, chia seeds, with thic caramel – like date fruit souce. Served with very hard biscuits made of sesame seeds and honey.
• Sauhcci
  Dried rabbit jerky wrapped in pita made of sesame flour, eggs and milk, sprinkled with pomgranate seeds.
• Sand Stew
  Sand stew was a slow-cooked broth made of date palms leaves, roots of desert sand grass, lizards, and bats.

Luxury Dinner Example:

• Malavesh
  Serveral parts of rabbit stewed with pomgranate seeds and cooked in a pot with rice, joghurt made of camel milk, and goat cheese. This dish is traditional Bedine dish made for special occacions like weedings or welcoming special guests in their tribe tents.
• Great Desert Roast
  Huge camel thigh marinated in mixture of sesame oil, tumeric and sand grass for 24 hours. Then fried on an open fire. It can feed up to 6 people and is served with pices of fresh cactus, pomgranate, and very thin crapes made of agave seeds.
• Healing Sands
  This is by far the most pricy and artistic item on menu. And not only that – due to used ingredients it has slight healing properties. This dish is made of big Desert Dragon Rattlesnake skinned, and marinated in tumeric and allium plant root. This snake is served on big platter buried in ton of sesame seeds mixed with sour camel milk. It almost looks like an acctual snake hiding in a sands. Eating this dish will bring back 1k4 health points, and will cure all poisoning and sicknesses that the character suffers.

Drinks:

• Desert Tea
  Similar to green tea, made of desert grass. Varieties of this tea are brewed in different Bedine tribes. They can taste differently due to different dried fruit or herbs added. Like date fruits, agave plant or pomgranate
• Bedine coffee
  Black coffee brewed from desert grass roots. Usuall served with sweetner made from agave plant
• Water
  Water is served with every meal in “The Last Friend” free of charge, as a symbol of hospitality
• Beer and Wine
  Both are imported from Evereska
• Cactus Ale
  Brewed in a tawern its a beer brewed with addition od rare Malachi cactus that grows only on Anauroch and smells very similar to citrus grass
• Agave Moonshine
  Moonshine produced in tawern made from agave plant