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What Delicious in Dungeon can teach us about food, the world and everything

BBG News

As someone who spent countless hours tending to the soil and harvesting produce in my younger days, I can truly appreciate the message that “Delicious in Dungeon” conveys about the importance of understanding our local ecosystems and being mindful stewards of them. Watching this anime has reignited a passion for food systems that had waned over the years as I’ve become busier and busier, and I find myself eager to get back into the kitchen and reconnect with the act of cooking once more.

The captivating anime series, “Delicious in Dungeon,” is based on Ryoko Kui’s well-loved manga. You can now stream the first season on Netflix! With a total of 24 episodes, it’s ready for your viewing pleasure, and a second season is on the horizon. The production company behind this anime, Studio Trigger, is renowned for its stunning artwork and animation. As such, “Delicious in Dungeon” offers an visually delightful experience.

In the animated series “Delicious in Dungeon,” the protagonists are not merely seeking ordinary meals. Initially, it appears to be a story about a team of adventurers battling monsters, amassing wealth, and eventually challenging the Mad Mage. However, the narrative takes a significant turn when the cleric Falin is consumed by a red dragon while saving her brother Laios from its fiery breath. As a result of a spell she casts before disappearing, the other party members – Laios the fighter, Marcille the elf wizard, and Chilchuk the halfling rogue – are ejected from the dungeon. Now, their mission is to find a means to return and rescue Falin before she is completely digested by the dragon.

The predicament is, the group suffered complete loss of their gear and provisions when they were vanquished by the dragon. This left them without food or essentials, and no funds to replenish. Laios, despite his eagerness, nearly perished from self-poisoning upon attempting his first dish. It was then that they encountered Senshi, an odd dwarf dwelling in the dungeon who has a profound understanding of its ecology. He assisted Laios, Marcille, and Chilchuck in preparing their initial meal, subsequently deciding to join the party. From this point, Delicious in Dungeon finds its rhythm as a series that appreciates wit, creativity, and gastronomy.

Among the many captivating aspects of “Delicious in Dungeon,” one that stands out is how appetizing the food appears. The dishes cooked by the party are unique twists on familiar dishes, with ingredients adjusted to fit seamlessly into the show’s fantasy setting. Dishes like Scorpion & Walking Mushroom Hot Pot, Mandrake and Basilisk Omelets, Big Bat Tempura, Living Armor on the Half Shell, Fresh Golem Vegetable Lunch, Exorcism Sorbet, Tentacles and Kelpie Meat Stew Simmered in Undine, Dragon Tail Soup with Roast Red Dragon…are just a few of the mouth-watering meals that the characters in “Delicious in Dungeon” get to enjoy.

Declisious in conservationism

The purpose of the program isn’t to trigger your desire for another person’s culinary creations. Instead, its intention is to prompt you to examine your own dietary patterns more closely, emphasizing the values of straightforwardness, diligence, and community in ensuring that all are nourished.

Typically, it’s Senshi who imparts these lessons. While he initially impresses the group with his culinary prowess, over time we realize that Senshi is more than just a cook – he’s an advocate for the ecosystem. His actions always consider the overall health of the dungeon. The food he prepares is treated with reverence, reflecting his deep understanding of how a creature’s life contributes to the larger cycle. An illustration of Senshi’s wisdom unfolds when he witnesses Marcille detonating large areas of fish upon the party’s arrival at the dungeon’s water level.

He clarifies that excessive hunting of small creatures at the bottom of the food chain results in a scarcity of larger monsters who feed on them. This shortage, in turn, creates unusual and unpredictable events deep within the Dungeon. His prediction comes true when the group encounters a colossal kraken.

Senshi constructs thriving habitats in unexpected locations. He cultivates soil on colossal earth-golems. He spends lengthy periods perfecting the meat of the beasts he slays to craft exquisite yet uncomplicated dishes that embody the distinctive tastes of the subterranean realm. In pursuit of survival and, occasionally, prosperity for himself, his companions, and the broader ecosystem within his cherished surroundings.

Why does he put himself through such effort when he could easily access everything above ground? This is due to the fact that the nearby town is bustling with people who require money and societal interaction to thrive. It’s because they wouldn’t know which parts of a giant scorpion you need to eliminate before boiling it, so as to avoid being poisoned. Essentially, all of this complicates things, making it harder for you to grow and survive as a living entity.

What Delicious in Dungeon reminded me about how we treat food

In several aspects, Senshi holds a comparable level of proficiency and insight in his realm as Wendell Berry and Akiva Silver do in ours when it comes to farming and sustainability. The key is perspective. Moreover, for Senshi, it’s not just about understanding the grand cycle he’s part of, but also about nurturing a deep affection for its majesty and finding harmony with its rhythm.

Initially hesitant about consuming monsters, Marcille eventually shares Senshi’s perspective, particularly when she recalls the day she and Falin forged their friendship in Episode 8 titled “Raspberries; Grilled Meat.” In this episode, Falin guides Marcille to a hidden dungeon where she often seeks refuge from wizarding school stress. When a slime creature arises from the water surrounding their resting spot on a small island, Marcille readies a destructive spell to eliminate it. However, Falin halts her action, explaining that this slime breaks down bat droppings and transforms them into mana, essential for the magic of the dungeon and its ecosystem’s balance. Moreover, these creatures avoid sunlight, ensuring the girls’ safety.

This scene encapsulates the essence of ‘Delicious in Dungeon’: it’s about wholeheartedly appreciating your local environment and understanding its intricate web of ecosystems, enabling us to be more responsible caretakers. Interestingly enough, this concept is closely tied to food.

High school AP Environmental Science sparked my initial interest in vegetarianism and a more conscious approach to food consumption. During college, I majored in Environmental Policy with an emphasis on food systems, and worked part-time on an organic vegetable farm led by my favorite professor. These years were both physically demanding yet deeply rewarding, filled with long days under the sun, evenings savoring meals made from produce we grew, and shared with cherished companions. However, as I transitioned away from farming and focused more on writing, my connection to food evolved.

In a jam-packed routine, dinner becomes a hastily prepared affair. Ideally it’s delicious, but primarily it needs to be finished so I can return to my computer or squeeze in a short while with dear ones before dashing off to an evening engagement. The groceries arrive in sterile packaging from the store. At times, the kitchen seems less of a creative space and more like a production line. This is how wealthy influences – those same wealthy forces that Senshi aims to distance himself from by dwelling in the dungeon – want us to perceive food for the rest of our days. Surviving and passing away at their mercy.

Ever since I’ve been watching “Delicious in Dungeon”, my passion for food systems has been renewed. It has inspired me to cook, and I now view time spent in the kitchen as an act of appreciation instead of a chore. Furthermore, my connection with the work of writers and farmers I admired in college has grown stronger than ever. I’ve come to realize that enthusiasm is all it takes to ignite a movement, and in today’s world, using media and culture’s shared interests to spread meaningful messages is crucial. “Delicious in Dungeon” is doing exactly that; by using the widespread appeal of anime, it’s helping foster curiosity and delight in understanding food and its origins.

As a dedicated movie enthusiast, I’d put it this way: This captivating show has the power to ignite a passion among young ones, transforming them into budding chefs, farmers, and environmental stewards. The intrigue it sparks in its audience serves as a call to action, drawing them closer to their food. Given that we all share one universal truth – the necessity of sustenance – this message of unity is incredibly potent. So, imagine an anime that fuels the curiosity of tomorrow’s generation towards their surroundings, instilling care for their footprint and encouraging boldness in kitchen experiments, all wrapped up in a thrilling dungeon-crawling narrative? Now, isn’t that a compelling tale to share?

That’s pretty freaking delicious.

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2024-11-23 01:42

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