From Digital Delights to Real-Life Feasts: Exploring the Culinary World of Final Fantasy 14

Final Fantasy 14 has consistently demonstrated its limitless creativity, as seen through various activities such as museum construction, theatrical performances, and grand festivals. Eorzea, the game's virtual world, is a testament to the passion and enthusiasm of its dedicated players, who continuously express their love for Final Fantasy 14 and its community.

Among the numerous annual celebrations hosted in-game, A Feast Reborn stands out as a major event. Spearheaded by the owner of the restaurant free company called Abbiocco Fine Dining, known by the in-game name Nyte Snow, this food festival brings together culinary roleplayers, real-world chefs, performers, artists, and streamers. The purpose is to honor the delectable cuisine featured in Square-Enix's critically acclaimed MMO. In an interview with Game Rant, Snow discusses the upcoming event, scheduled for October 7-8, 2023, commencing at 3PM Eastern Time on the Crystal Datacenter's Diabolos server. The festival will take place at Goblet's 14th ward, plot 35. Please note that the interview has been condensed for conciseness and clarity.

A: Initially, I got into Final Fantasy 14 because my boyfriend suggested it. We first met while playing Elder Scrolls Online, but I grew tired of that game due to the toxic community. Seeking a change, I was considering World of Warcraft's latest expansion when he recommended trying Final Fantasy 14 together, assuring me that I would enjoy it. I initially hesitated, assuming it was turn-based, which I usually don't prefer. However, he clarified that it was an online game and not turn-based. Curiosity piqued, I decided to give it a try, and to my surprise, I instantly fell in love with it.

A: A Feast Reborn originated from my restaurant venture in Final Fantasy 14. Initially, it was established by me and a friend named Maes as Intangible Dreams. We believed it was a creative choice, but it turned out to be quite conventional. It didn't possess the desired uniqueness and purpose we had anticipated, resulting in Maes' player losing interest swiftly.

So I took charge and now we're approaching our one-year anniversary, right? And I'm thinking, "Alright, let's throw a one-year celebration." But then someone questioned, what's the significance of a party, right? The only reason we flourished is because our loyal friends stood by us, right? Our friends not only patronized our establishment instead of doing something else, but they also spread the word about our place and convinced their acquaintances to visit. Our friends went above and beyond by offering us a decent-sized venue to use, free of charge, for an entire year. They selflessly helped us without expecting anything in return. So instead of just celebrating ourselves, we wanted to show gratitude to the community that made our restaurant's operations possible.

A: I got into roleplaying when I discovered the internet in 1996. I started with dial up chat room RP, which I must admit, I was pretty terrible at. At that time, I had already read the Dragonlance books and knew that they were based on D&D. I also had some familiarity with the Forgotten Realms books. However, being in a Catholic school meant I wasn't allowed to play that game. When I switched to the public school system, there was already a group established and they didn't need any more members, so I couldn't join them. Discovering roleplay on the internet was truly amazing for me.

I portrayed myself as an incredibly attractive vampire due to my personal insecurities about my body and appearance. Being an ancient and powerful vampire, my wounds healed rapidly, and I possessed immense physical strength. I shamelessly indulged in every overused and cliché portrayal of a Mary Sue character.

This experience significantly influences my approach to roleplaying today, as I am willing to engage with players, regardless of their skill level. We all had our awkward beginnings when we first started roleplaying, and if you reflect on those moments, you probably cringe as well. When roleplayers become snobbish and judgmental towards others, refusing to interact with them, they only contribute to the decline of the roleplay community. Instead, we should strive to help it grow and improve.

Many exceptional roleplayers, just like myself, began their journey in less than ideal circumstances. They have the potential to improve with proper guidance and support. Offering constructive feedback and suggesting alternative approaches can make a significant difference. Engaging in one-on-one discussions to assist others in refining their skills is crucial.

It's all because I was a horrendous vampire, yet people still accepted me and aided in my improvement.

I can't think of many individuals who effortlessly aced roleplay from the start. The excitement is overwhelming at the beginning, fully engrossed in your own character and simply seeking enjoyment. However, due to being completely absorbed in your own persona, the realization of interacting with the world in a foolish manner is often overlooked. Only experience can enhance or worsen this, and my aim is to ensure improvement rather than regression. I'll never exclude someone solely because they're new. Exclusion would only transpire for individuals exhibiting racist or harassing behavior, as well as those who are hurtful, mean, and cruel beyond their character. Merely being new or lacking proficiency in roleplay is not a reason for me to exclude someone because they aren't inherently bad at it. They are simply inexperienced, you know?

Q: What’s the roleplaying scene in Final Fantasy 14 like at the moment?

It's amazing how many diverse options there are for venues nowadays. While DJ clubs dominate the party scene, platforms like Final Fantasy 14 Venues offer a fantastic way to search for different types of venues. You can easily narrow down your search based on specific criteria, whether you're looking for a restaurant or a fight club. It's an invaluable resource for finding out what's currently available.

What's even more impressive is the support and solidarity within the community. During last year's A Feast Reborn event, we experienced a major disruption - a DDoS attack that caused around half of the attendees to suddenly disconnect. It was like a Thanos Snap moment. Vendors and fairgoers vanished before our eyes, leaving empty booths. However, instead of giving up, people stepped in to fill the gaps. Vendors with multiple participants at their booths graciously took on extra responsibilities, ensuring the roleplay could continue. Even the vanished band was replaced by a quick-thinking Bard who kept the music playing. I found myself running the Taco2Go takeaway when the taco wagon disappeared. It was truly heartwarming to witness everyone come together and support each other in keeping the event going strong.

And we have individuals approaching us, expressing that although it may not perfectly align with A Feast Reborn, they have a suggestion to try something different. I am open to testing it out and giving it a go. Our cooking show was a fresh addition, and although the craft market unfortunately did not receive enough sign-ups this year, it was still a unique concept. It's akin to a craft market for two. Every year, we strive to introduce something new.

This year, we're venturing into pudding wrestling, as some of our vendors are also members of fight clubs. They wanted to incorporate fight clubs into A Feast Reborn. Instead of mud wrestling, we transformed it into pudding wrestling, making it food-related. Fortunately, we were able to secure a neighboring property, allowing us to have a second building within the same square. The pudding wrestling will take place in the basement of this smaller building, with a designated pudding pit. I anticipate it being incredibly enjoyable and entertaining.

Perhaps it may not be successful. It could even end up being a failure. However, that's alright, as we will explore new avenues. If our attempts do not yield results, they will join the collection of things that did not work. Yet, we will continue to experiment and innovate.

This community is incredibly friendly and welcoming. While this may not directly pertain to the topic of whether adult roleplay or erotic roleplay is appropriate in gaming or roleplaying in general, I have observed that this community does not pass judgment on such matters. If individuals choose to engage in it and are consenting adults, they are free to pursue their desires. They may even collaborate with venues that have a secondary function as a brothel or something similar. The community accepts this without any judgment, recognizing that roleplay is roleplay, and there is no space for criticism.

The game provides a safe and inclusive environment for individuals who identify as trans or LGBTQ. Similar to any place where people feel comfortable expressing their true selves, there may still be risks associated with it. Unfortunately, there are still individuals who may pass judgment or exhibit ignorance due to a lack of understanding. However, the game fosters a warm and accepting atmosphere, where it is encouraged to embrace one's authentic self.

Q: What are some highlights of this year's A Feast Reborn?

A: Apart from the pudding wrestling, one of the highlights is the housing contest. To participate, you must already be running a venue, preferably in a small house or an apartment. You will need to create a menu and submit it through our form. The judging will involve a panel of judges as well as a public vote. Currently, we have only received one entry, so there is a possibility that it will automatically win. However, I won't be disappointed if that happens because the main objective is to assist someone, and as long as someone has signed up, we are fulfilling that goal. It would be exciting to see more individuals taking advantage of this opportunity.

Unfortunately, we won't have a dance troupe this year. Last year's troupe was incredibly popular, but they couldn't join us again. At this point, it's difficult to find a replacement on such short notice, especially considering our already busy schedule. We did manage to shorten the hours from four to three each day, but we will still have an hour and a half of after-party following the festival.

On Saturday, we have an exciting exhibition game by the Etheirys Blitzball League featuring the Ul'dah High Rollers, who I proudly sponsor. DJ YAMS will also be providing the music during the game. This event will take place at the Brimming Heart in the pool, as Blitzball is played in the water.

On Sunday, it's gonna be DJ Limit Break. he'll be spinning tunes while we play Lalaball, which requires two teams of blue mages, and a lalafell.

Q: I saw that Mogstock!

A: Yes, and that's where I found it too. It's coming. It's going to be a blast and is going to be hilarious.

We will have photographers and caricature artists at the event. My goal is to find two Lalafell volunteers who can dress up as our choco friends. They will dress up as chocobos and one will be dyed red while the other will be turquoise, representing the chocos in our logo. This way, attendees can take photos with the Chocos. We will have a total of 15 booths each day, which means we will have a total of 30 different vendors. This is a significant increase from last year. In addition to that, we have other activities such as pudding wrestling, hourly band performances, giveaways, and a silent picnic auction.

Another important aspect of our event is giving back to society. We were inspired by the success of Menphina Madness, a blitzball league that raised over $12,000 USD for charity over the years. This year, we have partnered with Action Against Hunger, a non-profit organization that addresses food insecurity worldwide. They allocate 91 cents of every dollar towards solving the food insecurity problem. Their approach focuses not only on delivering food but also on creating infrastructure to support food production. It is culturally and ethnically responsible, meaning they consider the dietary preferences and restrictions of different regions. For example, they would not build a dairy farm in a region where dairy is not traditionally consumed or where lactose intolerance is common. Similarly, they would not establish a pig farm in an area with a significant Muslim or Jewish population, as these communities do not consume pork. Their actions are environmentally responsible as well, ensuring sustainability.

One of the advantages is that we have an online platform for accepting donations, ensuring that we never handle the money ourselves. On our website, you will find a link where you can contribute and if you choose to donate, you can indicate that it was inspired by your character name. By doing so, you will have the chance to win a prize in a draw, even with a donation as small as $5. The best part is that this opportunity extends worldwide, regardless of whether you are playing in Australia, Canada, South America, or any other location. This means that Action Against Hunger can potentially benefit your local community no matter where you play. The global appeal of Final Fantasy 14 is what motivated us to make this a reality.

Q: Are you indeed giving away a medium house at A Feast Reborn this year, as a way of paying it forward?

Yes, we have successfully secured a medium on another server thanks to the dedicated efforts of one of our organizers, Key. Key was able to establish a free company on another server and initiate the bidding process, ultimately achieving success. Our objective is to reciprocate the support we have received by assisting a venue that operates from a small scale, such as an apartment, to transition into a medium-sized establishment.

We are aware that there may be challenges associated with this endeavor. Currently, we only have a medium on one server. Despite our hopes to acquire more, luck has not been on our side in the lotteries. Therefore, whoever manages to win the medium must be willing to relocate to another server. We understand that relocating servers can present difficulties, as we recently experienced when we upgraded our restaurant to a larger size. The new location was not on Mateus, where our previous medium and small establishments were situated. To mitigate this, I created an alternate character on Diablos, enabling us to operate the house there. However, it is important to note that there are expenses involved in searching for suitable servers. For the time being, we are keeping the identity of the server the house is located on confidential.

Q: You actually had to close sponsorships early because you were getting too many.

A: I could still accept more sponsorships, but I had to close it down because I want to avoid giving the impression that sponsorship is necessary to have a booth at A Feast Reborn. It is not. The people who sign up for A Feast Reborn believe in it and choose to sponsor as well, which makes me feel guilty that they are paying and participating. That's why I decided to close it early.

In the first year, it cost us around 40 million to organize A Feast Reborn, and we did not break even. Last year, it cost us approximately 150 million gil, and we managed to break even with a small profit. It's important to note that last year, we had to rebuild everything because we moved to a different server in a large estate. We couldn't transfer our booths and props. This year, we are hoping to break even and have enough funds to plan for next year.

Regarding culinary roleplay, we aim to go beyond simply benefiting financially. We believe in giving back to our community by supporting and collaborating with other venues, as well as organizing events and contests. Our annual Starlight Celebration event, featuring Santa photos, has become a cherished tradition where attendees can enjoy sitting on a Roegadyn's knee using our clever stool setup. Additionally, we are exploring the idea of introducing a springtime event, although the specifics are yet to be determined. Personally, I am considering a grand Naadam festival, possibly incorporating a fight club night, weekend, or tournament. The community offers ample space for hosting such remarkable events, and I am enthusiastic about bringing this vision to life.

Fun fact, in real life, I am able to set pots of water on fire. But what truly brings me joy is creating an immersive experience for another player, allowing them to fully imagine the taste and smell of the food, and hear the sounds of chopping on the cutting board or the bubbling of boiling water. The ability to provide this vivid experience for someone, especially when enjoyed with a close friend or loved one, is incredibly fulfilling. Of course, not everyone has the desire to serve others constantly, and I am no exception. However, there is a great sense of reward in being able to provide for others, which is a significant aspect of culinary roleplay.

Q: What makes Final Fantasy 14 a good medium and for talking about food?

There is a vast range of players and roleplay in this game, unlike any I have seen before. Throughout my 10-year experience of running a roleplay guild in World of Warcraft, I encountered a few venues that incorporated food roleplay, but none have compared to what this game offers.

I am uncertain whether the increase in this type of experience is a result of the pandemic, where going out as we used to has become limited, or if it simply reflects the evolving preferences of players. However, it is evident that there is ample support and acceptance for this form of social engagement within the game community. There seems to be a widespread desire for people to spend time with their friends in social settings, and the stigma surrounding online interaction has diminished significantly due to the pandemic.

Q: Have you tried any Meals inspired by Final Fantasy 14 in real life?

A: Have you ever heard of A Recipe Reborn? I've experimented with some of her dishes. She generously promoted us for free on her channel and even cooked a recipe for one of our vendors during our first year. Unfortunately, in the second year, her stream coincided with Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, so she had prior commitments. This year, she's in the process of moving, so it's not feasible. However, she has always been a strong supporter of A Feast Reborn, and we continue to showcase her on our website because her work is truly remarkable. Watching her culinary skills has greatly enhanced my own cooking abilities and influenced some of my techniques.

But when it comes to experimenting with new things, there's a notorious joke about my lack of preferences. Nonetheless, I've had the opportunity to sample some of J'kara's culinary creations featured on our menu. J'kara is a talented chef who no longer engages in gaming, as they channel their passion into their profession and are not keen on bringing work home. However, they did lend their expertise in menu development, and during a challenging period, J'kara helped me organize a special meal for my family. Although it may not be directly related to the game, this particular soup came into existence because of it. Apparently, it was an exceptional soup, but I cannot personally vouch for it as I don't have many reference points for comparison.

Q: Have you ever done the Culinarian job in game?

A: Yes, I have it at max level currently.

Q: How is the experience of playing as a Culinarian? Any tips for beginners?

A: My top recommendation is to prioritize leveling up your botany skill as it will be essential. Fishing becomes less significant for culinarians once you progress beyond the initial stages, so don't feel obligated to focus on it excessively. It's truly unfortunate that fishing doesn't strongly support the culinarian profession, considering you catch food but cannot utilize it in cooking.

Leves are highly beneficial for leveling, but an even better suggestion would be to have a playlist of exceptional music to keep you company while you engage in crafting. Scrips are quite useful as they simplify tasks. Once you establish a set sequence of skills, you can create a macro that allows you to simply press a button which will notify you when the task is complete. This saves considerable time and doesn't alter the overall process. These skills are essential regardless, it just means you don't have to tediously click through each one individually – simply press the button, relax for a moment, sip your drink, or even indulge in reading an article about adorable kittens on another tab.

Undeniably, like any craft, there is a certain amount of grinding involved, wouldn't you agree? Nonetheless, the sense of accomplishment is incredibly rewarding. Additionally, expert deliveries are crucial for leveling up and should not be overlooked.

A: I believe the increasing presence of food in video games is due to its ability to create a relatable connection for players. Regardless of the game genre, food offers a relatable experience. Whether it's devouring a Twinkie in a zombie-infested world or enjoying a burger alongside your favorite catboy, the mere thought of consuming these virtual delicacies can be quite captivating. It doesn't matter how bizarre the game universe may be; if someone were to present you with a tentacle burger, you could easily imagine savoring an octopus-infused patty. The ability to mentally visualize the taste, aroma, preparation, and seasoning of these virtual meals provides players with a familiar reference point, bridging the gap between the virtual worlds they immerse themselves in and reality.

Q: What are your expectations for Dawntrail?

A: I hope to experience a captivating story that is as engaging as the previous expansions, namely Shadowbringers and Endwalker. Additionally, I would appreciate seeing our hero's mental health spared from relentless turmoil. Observing him in the trailer, content and serene on a boat, gave me a sense of relief, as if the world is not on the brink of destruction and his life is no longer constantly threatened. It would be wonderful if he could have a period where he simply embarks on an adventure and returns to a simpler existence, free from the burden of saving the world. Hopefully, he can enjoy being an ordinary individual for at least one expansion, before once again facing imminent peril caused by some fantastical threat.

Q: Is there anything else about food or A Feast Reborn you want to add?

Our logo undergoes annual updates, which may go unnoticed by many. In the first year, we introduced Cinnamon, a red chocobo. The following year, Penelope, a turquoise chocobo, joined him. In a departure from traditional gender associations, I assigned the red chocobo as male and the blue chocobo as female. However, Penelope surprised us by nibbling on part of the logo, resulting in a broken portion. This year, the broken segment of the logo serves as a visual narrative. I welcome suggestions for next year's logo. Will Penelope and Cinnamon's story involve romance? Or will Penelope continue her habit of consuming the other chocobo due to her insatiable hunger? Maintaining her feeding is crucial to preventing this occurrence.

I would like to mention another important point. In school, when you are assigned to a group for a project, there is sometimes one person in that group who you know will not contribute. So, just to be safe in case they don't do their part, you have to do it yourself. I am incredibly fortunate that this person is not my partner in this situation. I want to express my gratitude to Key.

Key is officially co-organizing with me this year, and she takes care of all the prizes and contests. With her, all I have to say is, "I'm going to do this," and I don't have to worry about it. Only towards the end, when I have to start putting everything on the website, do I bother her, but I can trust her completely. Without her, I wouldn't be able to do this. It amazes me how hard she works, and sometimes I feel like I'm not doing enough. However, she reminds me that she couldn't handle gathering around 60 people for the festival. So I suppose we both have our strengths. But yes, she is a remarkable friend. She is a great friend, and I truly appreciate her. I just wanted to give her a shoutout. She was also the one who discovered our charity for this year.

The festival is greatly attended because of our sponsors, who contribute in-game financial donations and prizes. Without their generous support, we wouldn't be able to do what we do. One particular supporter, the Dueling Otters, has been with us since the beginning and is always the first to sign up. They even came up with the idea of adding wrestling to the festival. Their belief in and dedication to the event goes beyond just attending. Without groups like them, the purpose and attendance of this festival would be meaningless.

I am incredibly thankful for all the support we receive. In our first year, we had 11 vendors, with four of them being operated by individuals who work for my venue. In the second year, we expanded to 15 vendors, and this year we are proud to have 30 vendors, none of which are managed by us. This growth is a testament to the community's overwhelming support for the festival. I don't mean to sound repetitive, but I am genuinely grateful for it all.

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Final Fantasy 14 is available now for PC, PS4, and PS5, with an Xbox Series X/S version launching in Spring 2024.