1) “Taco” is not a name known on Toril, but fried hardcrust roundbreads (what some real-worlders might call pitas, but fried crispy-hard) that have been stuffed with a hot cooked mix of minced-meat, spices, … #Realmslore

2) …vegetables (diced and fried onions and/or potatoes, and/or Brussels sprouts, and/or asparagus, and/or leeks, and/or artichoke hearts, and/or radishes, and/or mushrooms) and sauces ARE known and devoured eagerly in many… #Realmslore

3) …eateries, especially in the Vilhon, the lands south of there to the Shaar and beyond (so, places like Innarlith and south to include Luiren and Var the Golden), and are slowly spreading along the trade routes in all… #Realmslore

4) …directions, to Chessenta and eastern Tethyr and Amn, to Calimshan and the Lake of Steam cities, and to Scornubel. You can even order them in some inns and taverns (yes, they’re becoming “the new thing” in tavern fare) in… #Realmslore

5) …Secomber. The meat tends to be whatever’s plentiful and cheap locally, from lamb to rabbit and all manner of small scurrying things, from “tree-cats” [squirrels] to rats, and the flavor profile varies from merely savory to… #Realmslore

6) …hot-spiced; most establishments will ask “hot” or “warming” (= fiery or mild) when you order. So, a folded-over, exposed-spilling-edge taco is a rare thing indeed, and cheese-drenched tacos are a special variant version… #Realmslore

7) …anywhere they can be had, but the same sort of ingredients in essentially the same combination (so, a flat, closed taco, which varies from a “handpie” in that it was never full of gravy, and its outer pastry is thin and fried… #Realmslore

8) …crispy-hard) can now be had in many places. What it’s called varies from place to place; along the Sword Coast it tends to be called a “fryhard,” in the Vilhon, a “crunchtart,” in the South, a “hotbite,” and along the… #Realmslore

9) …trade-routes, any of these three or even something else. Elminster and the Seven all like “handfry pies” made with six or seven sorts of mushrooms, parsnips, leeks or spring onions (all diced), and strong cheeses (no meat). #Realmslore

Okay so I’m 4 years late to this discussion, but now I have a pressing question : Did Elminster go vegetarian after speaking with one sentient animal too many, or does he just really like strong cheese?

El's no vegetarian, but loves certain strong cheeses. Old Cheddars (but NOT chemically smoked!) and Stiltons (eaten with pears, of course) rather than Limburgers and their ilk. NEVER Swiss. At least, judging by what he devours from my larder, and what he leaves alone. #realmslore

No Camembert then? *scribbles notes* I do love the idea of Elminster being a picky eater, for some reason - maybe because in a book I don’t have to deal with the fallout XD

El likes fresh, creamy Brie, as a spread on rusks and crackers. He rummages my extensive larder (well, extensive before he gets there) and makes his own picks, these days. Did you know those flaring sleeves have inside wrist-pockets for material components and food? #realmslore

I did not, but it makes sense - he could not only hide tacos and pies in there, a little bat’s dung and sulphur (preferably in the *other* sleeve) and he could cook them on the fly with a little empty air bursting into flame…