<P> Food is such a central element in the Ice and Fire series that some critics have accused Martin of "gratuitous feasting". By fans' count, the first four novels name more than 160 dishes, ranging from peasant meals to royal feasts featuring camel, crocodile, singing squid, seagulls, lacquered ducks and spiny grubs . Adam Bruski of The Huffington Post said the vivid descriptions of food do not just lend color and flavor to the fictional world but almost appear as a supporting character . Some dishes have a foreshadowing nature or are particularly appropriate to the mood and temperament of their diners . Much of the realism of Martin's cultures comes through their unique foods and tastes . The meals signal everything from a character's disposition to plot developments, but also forebode the last profitable harvest before the coming winter . Inedible - sounding food was eaten at the Red Wedding in A Storm of Swords, preparing readers for the nauseating circumstances to come . </P> <P> The books have inspired fans to create recipes based on the dishes mentioned in the books . Chelsea Monroe - Cassel and Sariann Lehrer's culinary fan blog "Inn at the Crossroads" received over a million hits . Martin, who is "very good at eating (but) not too much of a cook", declined repeated requests to write a cookbook, but arranged for Monroe - Cassel and Lehrer to speak to his editor at Bantam Books, who offered them a cookbook deal . </P>

A song of ice and fire based on war of the roses