Translating The Witcher Official Cookbook: Behind the Scenes

The highly anticipated Witcher Official Cookbook is coming soon from Mytago, taking fans into the culinary world of this iconic fantasy series. This book offers more than just recipes inspired by Central European and Polish cuisine; it provides a deep dive into the world of Geralt of Rivia through gastronomy. To mark its release, we caught up with Eva Lassler, the book's translator, who shared her translation experience, her personal connection to The Witcher universe, and the challenges she faced along the way.

Since you volunteered to translate The Witcher cookbook, you must be a fan, right? When did you first encounter Geralt?

It might be heresy, but I’m not as big a fan as you’d expect. I’m a lover of stories—especially those told through video games. My first encounter with Geralt was only a few years ago when we picked up The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. I didn't have the context, but I enjoyed the story. I enjoyed Geralt. I also recognized voice actors in the game that I know from other titles. For example, Ciri is voiced in English by Jo Wyatt, whom I know from Star Wars: The Old Republic as the Imperial Agent.

Regardless, the game inspired me to learn a bit more about Sapkowski's world. Thanks to this interest, we visited Con Morhen, which is one of the most enjoyable events in the Czech Republic for me. I recently became a member of the Gwent Fellowship (though I haven't played it yet 😄, I'm working on it!). I enjoy exploring Sapkowski's legacy through the community, which is very friendly (as long as you don't touch certain sensitive topics). Personally, I consider myself more of a fan of The Witcher gaming universe than the books.

I also took on the translation because I wanted to try my hand at being a translator. I secured the translation and publishing rights for Mytago; it took several weeks of intense emailing. Sometimes they passed me around like a hot potato—it was a struggle. But I succeeded! And then, once the contract was signed, I thought, why not offer myself as the translator too?

I received a level of trust I hadn't even hoped for. My work was then checked by a very skilled proofreader who also provided some interesting tips and her own kitchen experiences. It was a pleasant process. Next time, I’d love to try translating an RPG that I’m close to. 😄

Michal Zebrowski or Henry Cavill?

Doug Cockle! But if I have to choose, then Henry. I didn't like him until his role as Geralt. I found him too “American.” Which is a paradox, since he’s British. I watched the Netflix series purely from the perspective of what I call “general geek overview.” I hadn't read the books, so it didn't make much sense to me. However, I remember exactly when I realized that Henry is more than just a puffed-up bag of muscles—he’s a great actor.

The first episode of the second season, when Geralt learns that Yennefer is dead. He walks away from Tissaia, and his face says it all. Sadness, despair, regret… and it all bubbles to the surface just enough so you don't realize how deeply it touches him. As soon as he approaches Ciri, the emotions are gone.

I’m really sorry Henry left the show; I’m going to miss him.

How would you describe The Witcher cookbook to someone who doesn't know what to expect?

It’s a cookbook of Central European recipes, often inspired by traditional Polish cuisine. Lots of bigos, goulash-style dishes, and stews. Using ingredients that are commonly available in stores. And if not, you can find them online even more easily. All the recipes are set within The Witcher world. I have to pay a compliment to the authors and their team for noticing even the most trivial details in the game and being able to build entire short stories and recipes around them.

I remember reading a comment on social media that it has nothing to do with The Witcher and they’re just riding the brand. Well, I think Anita Sarna and Karolina Krupecka might be riding a popular name, but there is a great respect for Sapkowski's work and the world built by the creators at CD Projekt Red in their work, along with a dignified execution.

I’ve had a few thematic cookbooks in my hands, and often it’s just a style where you name a goulash “Gotham Goulash” and—puff!—you have a Batman cookbook. This is not the case here. There is actual thought behind it.

What was the biggest challenge during the translation?

Unpopular opinion—the authors did a great job writing just like Sapkowski. However, his writing style doesn't suit me at all. The sentences are long, full of details and tangents. I prefer writing in shorter sentences. So, the first challenge was getting used to writing a sentence with seven commas that describes events that were, are, and will be, all in one complex sentence.

And then, adapting the cookbook for the Czech fan. The authors naturally kept in mind that the book would also be on the American market, and many terms (like meat butchery) differ. Fortunately, my friend Tomáš helped me with this; he is not only a passionate amateur cook but also someone who has a diagram of a pig butchery tattooed on his leg. Where else would a translator go for advice, right?

Maintaining consistent terminology is also important, and a translator has to keep an eye on it. I also remember struggling a lot with the difference between a casserole dish and a saucepan. In the end, looking at other thematic cookbooks, I realized I was overthinking it. :D

How long does a translation like this take?

The recipes, in terms of the actual instructions, went quickly. The most time-consuming part was processing the introductory texts, where I had to function not just as a translator, but also as a writer. In 8 hours of work, I translated between 5 and 7 recipes. It depended on their length and how much Googling was required. Or if I had to turn on the game to walk around the map. You can find almost anything in English, but I was translating into Czech and wanted it to match the game (only in two cases is it my own translation, where I couldn't find the in-game variant).

I found a thesis on the internet by a certain Kateřina P., which dealt specifically with the translation of proper names in The Witcher 3. Without it, everything would have taken much longer. If the author of that thesis happens to be reading this interview, she has my deep thanks and boundless admiration!

Have you tried cooking anything from the book? How did it turn out?

Yes! I tried the easier recipes, especially those that don't require much time at the stove. Pork belly from the Alchemy Inn roasted in Redanian Lager became a star at imago. I’ll have to make it again for more guests. Also, Chicken sandwiches with Kaedweni Stout marinade and Groats with bacon from the White Orchard inn. I’m definitely planning to try recipes like liver with pears or something even weirder—bacon-topped plum jam donuts. It sounds so strange that I have to try it!

Which dish were you craving the most while working on the book?

Probably anything from Beauclair, Kaer Morhen, and Oxenfurt. I love fish, so something like Salmon en Croûte à la Louis will surely be a delicacy. And then those bacon-topped plum jam donuts. That combination just fascinates me!

What do you generally think about all these thematic cookbooks?

I mentioned it above—these cookbooks must be made with heart. They need to have some connection and not just be food with a fluffy name. And they should also make sense in some way. Harry Potter cookbooks or Lord of the Rings definitely make more sense in my eyes than a God of War cookbook. I’m not sure how skilled Kratos is in the kitchen. Or a Fallout cookbook? What exactly am I supposed to cook in a post-apocalyptic world? And more importantly, with what?!

I hope an unofficial The Last of Us cookbook might appear under my tree. Not only am I a big TLOU fan, but I’m quite curious about what ingredients and methods will be used for “survivor recipes.”

author Karel Krajča