When I’m building a fantasy world, I love discovering all the various cultural details that can bring a story to life. One of my absolute favorites is food. There’s something magical about how a simple meal can reveal so much about characters, cultures, and the world they inhabit.

In Light Weaver, I wove Armenian culinary traditions throughout the entire tale. When characters share lavash flatbread, it’s not just a meal, it’s a symbol of community bonds. Those pomegranate seeds scattered through scenes? They’re subtle nods to ancient Armenian beliefs about fertility and rebirth.

There’s something powerful about a humble meal scene. Imagine characters tearing pieces of warm lavash flatbread to dip in herb-infused olive oil. Suddenly, readers aren’t just reading, they’re experiencing the texture of the bread, breathing in the aroma of the herbs, and feeling the intimacy of breaking bread together. Authors like George R.R. Martin know this magic well, creating those elaborate Westerosi feasts that make your mouth water while revealing political alliances. Or think about Tolkien’s lembas bread, a simple food that carries the essence of elvish culture in every bite.

The Armenian feast traditions I grew up with make perfect fantasy set pieces: khorovats (grilled meats) sizzling over open flames, dolma (stuffed vegetables) arranged like little gifts wrapped in grape leaves, and sweet pastries dripping with rose and orange blossom syrup and crushed pistachio nuts.

I love using food to reveal character. Does my heroine reach first for the spiced wine or the salted yogurt drink? Does the villain insist on eating alone, or do they monopolize the most expensive delicacies at the table? These tiny choices speak volumes about personality, background, and hidden motives, sometimes more than pages of description ever could.

When we think deeply about how food works in our fictional societies, we’re not just feeding our characters. We’re creating a feast for our readers’ imaginations, inviting them to taste, smell, and experience our worlds in the most intimate way possible.