Space Cadet Cuisine

More differences are seen with regard to cuisine based on planet than on culture. An agriworlder would eat what he grew, often wheat, corn, or potatoes. A cityworlder, if he is poor, would eat fungi and algae scraped from vats and reprocessed into something edible, but his diet can be supplemented with food shipped in from agri worlds. A spacer normally eats dried or preserved rations, but the largest ships will have their own hydroponic farms where a diet similar to that of a cityworlder is available.

The rich in any civilization have access to whatever food they please, often from the least technologically enhanced and genetically modified plants and animals there are in the galaxy. The rarest foods - beef, cow's milk, goose, whale, tuna, chocolate, coffee, watermelon, mangos, honey - originate from species that are almost extinct, each living in perhaps several thousand planets in the entire galaxy. These are considered delicacies throughout the Milky Way, and reserved only for the leadership of entire sectors; in the Empire, these foods are reserved for the Royal Family and the Sector Houses by law. While cheap substitutes, either from genetically engineered analogues or culture-vats, exist, no self-respecting aristocrat would be caught eating a hamburger made with vat beef. On the galactic market, a ten-ounce t-bone steak costs as much as a two-man hyperspace-capable spacecraft.

Some general trends do exist among galactic cuisines, a remnant of mankind's colonial and imperial past. The standard human eats a vegetable and grain-heavy diet. Staple foods include corn, potatoes, wheat, soy, algae and fungi. Countless varieties exist, although most can grow without soil and with minimal gravity. Apart from the latter two, these staple foods are grown primarily on agri worlds, where conditions are more amenable to produce large yields. These plants have more complex needs, so dedicated farming environments are necessary. Nonetheless, they are staples throughout the galaxy, and most of any given agri world's yield will be shipped to other worlds, where demand for "proper" food is always high.

Algae is by far the most common foodstuff in the Milky Way, grown everywhere from the roofs of cityworlds, to orbital habitats, to newly-established colonies, to warships on campaign. There are countless varieties of algae, designed to grow in different conditions and produce different properties. There is an algae for just about every nutrient there is, but those grown for mass consumption always taste bland. Thus, algae is often cooked or prepared with other foods and spices, at least if that can be afforded. Fortunately, while most algaes are flavorless, some algaes are genetically engineered to act as spices. Algae is often eaten as part of a soup, or as sheets or chips of dried algae.

Colonial mushrooms, so named for their use in early man's expansion through the stars, are a famously hardy fungus that can grow in virgin environments. Colonial mushrooms only need water and minimal atmosphere to grow, and some variants can grow in hard vacuum. As they supply protein, this fungus quickly became a staple. Colonial mushrooms are by far the most common food in the Galaxy, and just about every world has integrated it into its cuisine.

Meat is expensive, as meat has always been more resource-intensive than fruits and vegetables. Thus, meat-intensive meals are reserved for special occasions, such as holidays and birthdays. The staple meat of most galactic worlds is rabbit, as rabbits were the most efficient source of meat during mankind's colonial past. Chicken is a close second, as chickens are useful for egg production and have always been a part of human colonization efforts. Goat is much rarer, and pork and lamb rarer still. Fish is also a common food, although saltwater fish are far rarer than freshwater fish - more freshwater fish were transported in colony ships, as saltwater would need to be reprocessed and would cause more corrosion in case of a leak.

Meat is much more difficult to ship outside of agri worlds, due to greater requirements in shipping. Most meat in city worlds are vat-grown, which can either be indistinguishable from actual meat or indistinguishable from soylent goop. Demand for agri world meat remains high on these planets, and people are always willing to pay a premium for genuine meat for that special occasion.

The most common fruits in the galaxy are berries. Fruits that grow on trees, such as apples and oranges, were far more difficult to transport and grow on ships and thus are rarer. As they are small and are difficult to preserve, berries are normally processed into other products, such as jams and juices.

Milk from the mammary glands of actual mammals is a rare commodity.Most milk is grown by lactating bacteria, a special genetically engineered bacteria that converts water and sugar into milk. Yogurt and cheese can be made from this milk, although the former is easier to make than the latter. As yogurt can be infused with friendly bacteria, it is a common nutritional supplement.

Spices are, of course, a necessary ingredient, as nobody wants to eat bland food. Many artificial spices are used as nutritional supplements and are grown from algae or synthesized chemically. These are distinguished from algae for mass consumption, because try eating a mouthful of strong flavor is actually disgusting. Spices are also useful preservatives, and many foods designed for spacers are heavily spiced. Actual spices are rare, and are reserved for the upper classes. These command a hefty sum in the galactic market. Different cultures prefer different spices. Imperials like cumin and cilantro, while Federals prefer their various curry mixtures.