Cooking is used to farm food from fields and to cook items with an oven or fire. Without food characters will starve to the point of having near -30 strength and dexterity. Despite this, cooking is not the most lucrative of businesses though certainly is one of the most fun. Many cooks look to open up their own taverns and food shops, competing with one another to get player attention.

There are two ways to gather the resources necessary for cooking; hunting and farming. When you kill most natural animals (deers, bears, etc.) you can carve them by double-clicking a knife and then targeting the corpse. A certain number of ribs and bones will be placed on the corpse. In the case of birds or pigs, this will result in a breast or a ham.

In most cities there are ‘public farms’ where players can plant and gather vegetables, fruits, and straws. To know what items are necessary in a recipe, use .craftinfo cooking. To farm, double-click an item on a farm plot or a tree trunk (it wont work if you click the leaves). You will begin to gather as much of the plant as possible until it runs out. Plants naturally re-grow after a certain period of time so you can always return later to gather more.

If you want to plant your own farm you will need to be the owner or co-owner of a ‘tilled dirt’ plot of land. Farms cannot be started on grass or any other type of terrain. The seeds for plants can be bought from an NPC farmer for a nominal price (though straw, wheat, and trees are more expensive). Certain seeds are more difficult to plant than others. You’ll have to find out the hard way in game.

To plant an item, go to your farm plot and stand where you want the plant placed. Double-click the seed and you will attempt to plant it. If you are successful a growing plant will be placed at your feet, otherwise the seed is wasted. Items can be planted fairly close to one another, but use your farm space wisely.

Trees are planted in the same manner except not on farm land and instead on grass. Trees cannot be placed close together. Be tasteful when planting trees. Dont make a rainforest otherwise you may find your farm being visited by a large number of rats and animals looking for a treat.

If a plant isn’t tended to over two weeks it will decay. This means, if you dont ever harvest the items you plant they will disappear from your farm. Make sure to log in every now and then to keep your plants alive, or have a friend look after them.

Milk is gathered from cows. Double-click a cow with an empty pitcher (crafted with Mining) and you will fill up a pitcher. For eggs, double-click a chikcen and you will attempt to gather up some of their eggs. Several of the sweeter foods require honey to create. Honey is gathered using the Cooking/Farming skill from beehives. Beehives can be made using the Carpentry skill. Like fruit trees, beehives must be placed outside of town and will decay if left unharvested too long.

To gather fish you’ll need to go to a fisherman or take the Fishing skill.

Once you have the materials for a recipe you can use .craft <itemname> or .cooking. For most recipes you will need an oven. One is often located in most cities craft halls. Other tools required to cook an item will be listed in the .craftinfo of that item. There are plenty of items to cook. The more resources used the more filling the item and thus the more strength/dexterity it restores once eaten.

New items are being added all the time. If you have suggestions for recipes not yet in game, throw them up on the suggestions board. Be tasteful, be creative.

If you’re starting out as a cook you may find it hard to open up a traditional vendor stall in the streets. Most people go to taverns or inns to eat. Buying one of these will take some time. Instead, try to work as a cook for an already established inn. Make some friends, get aquainted with the city. Everybody loves someone to talk to, so a charasmatic chef will win over many peoples stomachs. Once you have a bit of name you can try and open up your own tavern or even try to inherit one already running.

Cooking is a very fun skill, but often not the most lucrative. People eat for fun, not to survive. If you can offer entertainment at a tavern at a small fee, you’ll make more money. Otherwise, look into taking a second or third craft skill. Farming goes somewhat hand in hand with tailoring because you can gather flax, cotton, and other resources used for tailoring. Pick a skill that fits your character. You can always just be a cook! There’s no shame in it.