American Writing Awards Finalist 2023 - Author Shout Reader Ready Awards Top Pick 2024
Hello there, traveler! Welcome to The Lucky Gryphon, the most magical tavern in the Crossroads. We've been expecting you. Your quest is simple: keep this book safe. What you're holding is a journal unlike any other. This book will reveal some of the tavern's history, as well as scraps of insight on mine and Minthie's origins. There are even some personal notes from the others that call The Lucky Gryphon home. -Quincy
Over the centuries, this collection of tales has become a bit much for Quincy and me to remember. So, we're sharing with you a few of our secrets, and inviting you to learn some of our famous recipes. -Minthie
"A Traveler's Guide to The Lucky Gryphon: Recipes & Regalings" is a cross between a fantasy storybook and cookbook. Accompanying each recipe is a short story detailing the recipe's origin, lore about the tavern, or a personal tale from one of the tavern keepers, Quincy and Minthie. With over 60 illustrations depicting everything from savory meals to sweet desserts, delicious drinks and easy snacks, there's something in here for every foodie. From the archives of Minthie's Library to you, this book is perfect for any fan of magic, fantasy, and food.
McKenzie is a wheelchair-bound, autistic, twenty-one-time award-winning YA fantasy author of the "Numina Parable" series, co-author of "A Traveler's Guide to The Lucky Gryphon: Recipes & Regalings," and children's book writer specializing in Own Voices stories featuring disability, chronic illness, neurodivergence, and service dog representation.
She's a new Michigan resident who lives with her husband and her service dog, Grimm.
McKenzie is also a full-time creative makeup artist and alternative model fighting against disability stigmas one creation at a time. When she's not spending her anxious days writing novels or taking photos in her studio, you can find her over on Instagram sharing her art as @mckenziecatron.
Sometimes things are just perfectly timed to come right when you need them. This book helped me get out of my reading funk. This book is a warm hug and good food all wrapped into one. I enjoyed each tale and learning about some of the characters that make up Quincy's Tavern. The illustrations are charming and I can' wait to try out some of the recipes.
The craftsmanship of this First Edition book was absolutely phenomenal! Even the tiniest details were given love and care, the storytelling is enamouring, and the recipes all look delicious! I can't wait to try them for myself! The bookmark and Adventurer's Card were also designed beautifully.
This is the cutest recipe book I've ever laid my hands on. I love the art and the stories woven into it. The cleverness of the recipes having a fantasy twist, honestly made me giggle ( one example being a spinach and artichoke dip being called kelpie dip). There is so much heart put into the creation of this book, it fills me with joy. I was already a fan of Quincy's tavern, so my expectations for the book were high and it was so much more than I thought it would be. I can't wait to make all these recipes.
In an attempt to encourage myself to cook more often I have purchased a couple nerdy cookbooks this year and this is by far my favorite. The ingredients it calls for are things I usually have in hand, so I'm not having to run to the store every time I want to make something. The illustrations are amazing and I love the notes in the margins. Unlike my other nerdy cookbooks this book encourages alternatives and experimentation and I have loved every recipe I've tried. The stories that go with each recipe are wonderful. Some are funny, some touching and some I've gone back to reread multiple times they're so good.
Never before have I sat down and read a cookbook for fun, cover to cover, like I did with this one. I was a Kickstarter backer of this project from the minds behind Quincy's Tavern, and I am so glad I did. The stories are a deeper look into the characters and lore of the tavern, and make me wish it was a real place. The art is beautiful and the names of the recipes are really clever and in-universe. I've already tried some of the tavern recipes and look forward to making more out of this book!
As a fan of Qunicy's Tavern on Tiktok, I was as excited as everyone else about this book when it was announced to be launching on kickstarter. Having just finished reading it....there's so much lore and backstory in this book! Bring your tissues, this is the first time a cookbook has been an emotional roller coaster 💙
So lovely! I've read through all the recipes and stories already since I got the book and I love it all! I can't wait to see what happens next from these authors!
I love the art work it so beautiful and creative. The recipes have creative titles. The story part of it is amazing. If they made another cookbook I would definitely buy it.
So I got this book, "Traveler's Guide to the Lucky Gryphon," penned by Stephen Warren and McKenzie Catron (more commonly known as "Quincy" and "Minthie" from Quincy's Tavern [@quincystavern on instagram]), because I am a really big fan of theirs; and quite honestly, I was just expecting a humble cookbook with little, fantasticaly themed blurbs, that if nothing else-- would be amusing to read...
But oh boy-- I was so not ready for what I got. It may sound strange to hear a cookbook being described in this fashion, but I must tell the truth; this book was filled to the brim with humor, personality, intrigue, depth, and a whole lot of love. I actually almost cried. Twice. And the characters were all so real and vibrant that I am absolutely in shock over how these two people managed to pull this off.
So... if you're on the fence about whether this book should be on your shelf, I would advise you to take the plunge, and pick up a copy of this book. It's a combination of good reading and great food-- what's not to like?
I cannot wait for the Goblin version of this book, which is rumored to come out soon, and I am sitting on pins and needles for the sequel (with the ladder's release date having yet to be announced).
I love it - love it - love it! 🤩 This book has been carefully designed to entice (to start cooking immediately) and to please (the eyes and the mind) - and it perpetuates what Quincy and Minthie have started with their virtual tavern and podcasts: creating a calm, cozy, pleasant atmosphere where everyone is welcome, enhanced by recipes and regalings, and spiced with fun. I read the Kindle version - on my tablet, mind you: it's incompatible with Kindle Paperwhite! - and I shall buy the hardcopy from their website as soon as they are shipping to Europe!
This book was amaaaazing. I’ve been dying to read it ever since it was announced and I’m proud to say I backed it on Kickstarter within the first two minutes of it being launched 🤗 it went on to be the number one most backed cookbook in kickstarter history, and it made it to the top of the website!
I’ve been a fan of both @quincystavern and @mckenziecatron for a while now. Interestingly enough, I discovered them both separately and had no idea they were friends until much later!
Quincy’s videos changed my life and were always there for me when I was having a bad day and needed the comfort and a friend offering advice or a new recipe to enjoy.
And McKenzie wrote A Daughter of the Trolls, a book which I love dearly. I saw a bit of myself in her character Sparrow, and seeing anxiety and mental health as well as disability represented in the fantasy genre was something that this world really needed!
So when they announced that they were planning on writing a cook book together, I was bouncing off the walls!
But this is no ordinary cookbook, no my friends, this is a cookbook full of fantasy inspired recipes for all diets, from meat eaters to vegans, full of short stories to accompany each recipe, stunning illustrations, and a peek inside the fantastical world of the Lucky Gryphon Tavern and the characters that inhabit it.
I cannot recommend this book enough and I cannot wait to make some delicious food from it!
Well done to both of the authors and all of the illustrators; this book was amazing and I will be returning to it again and again!
I LOVE this book SO MUCH! It's my favorite recipe book AND fantasy book! the stories are fantastic, the recipes are delicious and the gorgeous illustrations tie the whole book together! I remember having a little difficulty with a few of the recipes, but I'm convinced it was just typos, which are to be expected in a rushed first edition. One recipe's ingredients lists 2 Tbls. of butter and it's never mentioned in the recipe. However, all in all, the recipes are generally easy to follow, even the hard ones. I don't think I'm especially skilled at cooking, but this recipe book makes difficult things easy! I've fried donut things for the first time (Jaymee Cakes), I've made the best gnocchi soup I've ever tried (The Lucky Gryphon special), I made tomato soup that my dad loves (he hates tomato soup) and grilled cheese that my sisters can't get enough of (The Usual), I've even made my own spice blends and butter (Harvest Spice, Witch's Closet, Monster Butter). And there's so much more to do! I can't wait! Thank you, McKenzie and Stephen, for creating your own amazing, great big world and setting it right in my hands!
Honestly, I am really happy with this cookbook! The art is very, very cool, a bit dark in some of the shadowing with the whole crew at the Lucky Gryphon but not a big deal. As a fantasy cookbook goes, it has some fairly unique offerings in the recipes that set it apart from larger game/movie/show cookbooks. That being some unique recipes that aren't modern day spin offs re-named for the setting, the book occasionally suffers from this but not as badly as others.
However, what I love is the story telling in this cookbook, I mean I know what each dish is used for, who eats it, where it originated, who loves it, and even modifications the characters use. There are notes from Minthie and others as well that just adds so much flavor to the world. Truly, a unique and fun read.
Fantasy lovers and foodies come here! This is the book for you. The cookbook with a fantasy twist. I waited for this book for quite sometime and I was not disappointed. I am a complete nerd and a foodie so it was right up my alley. Its a beautiful book which gives you not only recipes but a little story on how they found the recipe as well as other bits that I won't spoil. But don't let the story of the recipes worry you as I too have had recipes where it has a five year story before the recipe. These are little fantasy stories which I greatly enjoyed. As soon as I got the book I began to just read it for the stories lol Even if fantasy isn't your thing the recipes in this book are definitely something you want to add to your collection. PS: I completely recommend checking out both authors IG/tiktok/podcast and other plats, they do awesome content as well as videos showcasing recipes in this book. You won't regret reading this or watching their stuff!
This was a delightful little cookbook with tons of cute, tragic and overall heartfelt stories that would appeal to every fantasy fan with a soft spot for found families. I am not a person that normally loves to cook, but the blend of storytelling and strong theming around each recipe have warmed me up to trying a few! I wish there were a few clearer instructions for one or two recipes that I've been dying to try out (mostly since I am a disaster in the kitchen with absolutely no culinary instincts), but this is otherwise a perfect introduction to cooking for those who love DnD/LOTR adjacent stories.
This book is a combination tale and recipe book that brings the characters of Quincy’s Tavern to life. There’s Quincy, Minthe, Stubby, and so many more. I love the tales of how some of the recipes came into being. And the names are as unique and fun as the tales behind them. And yet, they are simple to make and the ingredients easy to find.
If I have any reservations about this at all, it’s that this book is only available in e-book format. I really, really want to hold a print book in my hands.
Thank you to the authors for creating such a wonderful “recipe” book.
I have followed Quincy (Stephen) for a while, and instantly fell in love with the chill vibes he has. Once he started mentioning that he wanted to make a cookbook, I knew that it was one that I would need to own. after supporting it on Kickstarter, and getting my copy, I am blown away by how well it is. I love the little bits of lore in the book, as well as the comments through out the recipes that make small changes to add different varieties to them. I can't wait until I get to the point where I don't need to have the book open as I make the foods inside!
This is an amazing book! The authors have brought the universe of Quincey's Tavern to book form beautifully. I loved learning more about the characters and the world we've come to adore. The recipes sounded delicious, and they included both systems of measurement which I appreciated. I love the art, and the little additions made by other characters. It had heart and humor, and just brighten my day, especially. I also liked even the coded messages were easy for a cipher noob like me to work out. Just a great work all around.
I am a new fan of the Lucky Gryphon, or Quincy’s Tavern!
I have become enthralled by the video podcast of Quincy’s Tavern. And when I found this ebook version of the cookbook…I had to have it immediately! I am looking forward to cooking some of the recipes. I also have food sensitivities, but have become adept at adapting recipes. But the stories to go with many of the recipes are delightful and I find myself laugh out loud! This is great fun and I have just discovered Butterfly Pea Tea!!! Wow!
I just received my book and am blown away with the quality and content! The recipes (I've already tried a couple) are wonderful and the stories that go with them are amazing. I like that the recipes have both volume and weight measurements. The section with spice mixtures is wonderful as well. I am NOT a cook! (I've burnt boiled eggs.) But both recipes I tried in this book came out wonderful! Can't wait to try more.
As a long time fan of Quuncy and The Lucky Gryphon Tavern i could not wait to get the cookbook and was beyond thrilled whwn the kickstarter went live. The packaging and shipping was beyond amazing and im so happy to have my own little piece of the tavern and can’t wait to create each and every recipe. The lore along with the recipes keep you engaged. It’s a can’t put it down, must-read, in cookbook form! A perfect addition to your cookbook library!
First off, I love Quincy’s content! So when him and McKenzie announced they were coming out with a cookbook, I knew I needed to get a copy! I loved that not only was this a cookbook, but it also had fun little stories that involved food or drink item on that page. I haven’t had a chance to make anything out of it yet, but I’m planning on it for the holiday season! Highly recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy and cooking!
I own a stupid number of novelty/fantasy cookbooks. Most of them have two, maybe three recipes that are realistic.
A Travelers Guide To The Lucky Gryffon is an exception. I can say that I will be making my way through this book many times.
The recipes are easy to follow, use readily available ingredients, and sound delicious. The tales that accompany them are sweet, fun, and heart-warming. My only regret is that this book is far to nice to ever enter my kitchen.