The Tarot Room – Georgianna

I’m not much of a cook, but I do enjoy a good cooking show competition. I’ve been watching a lot of them lately.

Recently, after an exciting rerun of Alex Vs. America, I got to thinking – how might one create a delicious Tarot themed feast?

As I just mentioned, I’m not much of a cook … so I decided let’s check in with ChatGPT and see what it has to say.

My prompt was: If, as a master Tarot reader, you were to prepare a delicious vegetarian Tarot-themed luncheon, what would you serve for lunch?

The Answer: A vegetarian Tarot-themed luncheon would be a delightful exploration of Tarot’s archetypes through fresh, plant-based dishes. Each course would reflect the symbolism and essence of certain Tarot cards, while also delivering a satisfying and nourishing vegetarian meal. Here’s how I’d design it:

Starter: The Hermit’s Roasted Garlic & Potato Soup

• A comforting, hearty soup with a velvety texture made from roasted garlic and creamy potatoes, symbolizing introspection and wisdom, much like The Hermit. The deep, earthy flavors bring warmth, perfect for contemplation. Served with a drizzle of olive oil and crispy shallots on top for added depth.

Main Course: The Emperor’s Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

• Large portobello mushrooms stuffed with quinoa, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and pine nuts, topped with vegan parmesan. This dish reflects the stability, authority, and grounded nature of The Emperor. The mushrooms symbolize strong foundations, while the rich stuffing offers layers of flavor and nourishment.

Accompaniment: The Lovers’ Beetroot & Goat Cheese Salad

• A visually stunning salad with roasted beets, creamy goat cheese, walnuts, and arugula dressed in a balsamic glaze. The colors of red and white, representing passion and purity, echo The Lovers’ card, symbolizing harmony, balance, and choices made from the heart.

Side Dish: The World’s Spiralized Vegetable Medley

• A beautiful spiral of zucchini, carrots, and sweet potatoes sautéed lightly with garlic, herbs, and olive oil, symbolizing completion and harmony, like The World card. The variety of colors and textures represents the unity of different elements coming together to create something complete and whole.

Dessert: The Star’s Vegan Lemon Poppy Seed Cake

• A light, zesty lemon poppy seed cake, drizzled with a vegan glaze made from coconut milk and lemon zest, symbolizing hope, inspiration, and renewal. This dessert would feel fresh, bright, and full of promise, much like The Star, offering a sweet end to the meal with an uplifting tone.

Drink: The Temperance’s Herbal Elixir

• A cooling herbal infusion made with chamomile, mint, and lavender, representing balance, moderation, and calm. The soft flavors of the tea embody Temperance’s message of harmony and equilibrium, offering a soothing drink that cleanses the palate between courses.

Final Treat: The Magician’s Chocolate-Dipped Almonds

• Simple yet delightful, these chocolate-covered almonds would represent The Magician’s mastery of alchemy and transformation. The almonds represent groundedness, while the dark chocolate adds a sense of indulgence and magic, balancing the meal with a little touch of sweetness and wisdom.

This vegetarian luncheon would incorporate Tarot symbolism into every dish while ensuring a nourishing and flavorful experience for guests. Each course would offer a unique reflection of the archetypes, bringing together plant-based cuisine and mystical energies for an inspired meal.

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Wow Wow!! That sounds delicious!! I wish ChatGPT could cook it up for me.

Regarding the picture, the prompt I used was: Draw a picture of a vegetarian Tarot themed luncheon prepared by The Tarot Room

Not sure what’s going on with the food in the mid left of the page … like a spiral of something actually served on a card … and then there’s the cards themselves . . . very interesting. Strange layout for lunch, but I like it.

Take a look at this … a Tarot cookbook!

Debbie Chapnick, creator of the Tarot Tip Sheet and owner of Datura Press, is putting together a cookbook based on the 78 cards of Tarot’s Major Arcana.

Though she’s been reading cards for over 25 years and cooking all of her life, Chapnick says that it was a dream that first prompted her to write the Journey of the Food.

One night, she heard a voice say “the 8 of Swords … that’s a Mississippi Mud Cake” over and over and when she woke up in the morning she knew that she was going to write a cookbook.

And not only did she continue dreaming about recipes and cards, eventually she started dreaming about cards themselves and came up with 78 cards to accompany her 78 (+1 for the dog) recipes.

You can learn more about the project at Chapnick’s IndieGoGo Project page, and maybe even get a copy of the deck and book for yourself.

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While browsing around the wonderful Monkey’s Paw second-hand bookstore, I came across this 1955 Queen of Hearts Cook Book from Peter Pauper Press, illustrated by Josephine Irwin.

As you likely know, the playing card Suit of Hearts is equivalent to Tarot’s Suit of Cups, so for me, this little tome is like a cookbook for the Cup family.

Since the Cups are known for their fine hospitality, it seemed especially appropriate.

Not only does the book include delicious recipes for things like Ham Cornucopia, Potato Puffs, and Lemon Ice Box Cake, the pictures are fantastic.

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Unfortunately, I missed it, but the Psychic Cooking Show by David Frankovich, part of the One on One series at Toronto’s Rhubarb Festival last month, sounds like it was fantastic!

I’ve written before about divination with food. There was the tortilla reading with Jorge Rojas, and more recently Jemima Packington reading asparagus.

But Frankovich has his own technique, and it’s directly connected to the Tarot. He creates his deck out of canned goods, selecting each item for its correspondence to a Major Arcana card.

For instance, in one performance, he chose baked beans to represent Death, a nod I’m guessing to the putrification process inherent in transformation.

After making all his selections, he removes the labels from the 22 cans so that no one knows what’s inside.

Then as in any Tarot reading, he asks his querant to choose their cans. He opens them up, reads them as you might cards, then cooks up a meal using those particular ingredients.

It’s a brilliant idea, combining the rituals of reading with eating.

By ingesting your reading, you’re literally taking it in, making it physically part of you, not just something you see or hear.

All the senses are involved. You see it, hear it be described and can listen to it cook. You smell it, touch it with you mouth, and taste it. It’s like the Empress herself is reading for you.

I know Frankovich meant this as a performance piece, but I wish he’d offer his readings to the general public. I’d love to get one. And it’s always a pleasure to have someone cook for me.

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