"Just go and cook something!" "Because I'm a woman?" "No, because I'm hungry"
It was by much cajoling, bribery and threats that the cooking roster was implemented in the camp.
Much is by far the best cook. On a good day (when they have the supplies, when it isn't raining, when they aren't in the cave, when they haven't escaped death by a hair's breadth etc) he'll conjure delicacies that are heaven to consume. Much creates sishkababs from lamb, onion, celery, carrot and arrows; he concocts eastern flavoured rabbit – so well cooked that the meat falls from the bone; Much's porridge is so well crafted it is like cream.
Robin is the practical cooker – as one who learnt just enough to get on and nothing more. His knowledge of the plants in Sherwood mean that his meals are always less…colourful than Alan's (and nothing more will be said about those mushrooms, ever). But his skill with a bow ensures that there is always meat on the menu when Robin is cooking: pheasant, wildfowl, pigeon, carp, deer, rabbit and cooked till no trace of red is visible.
Will cooks fish. His is the patience to stand knee deep in the freezing stream and scoop unsuspecting trout from within. White flesh, sometimes slightly charred, sometimes slightly tasteless, sometimes extremely bony, is always expected when Will cooks.
Djaq burns everything (and one time, nearly the camp and the outlaws). Her meals are always flavoured strongly with charcoal and herbs. She insists the outlaws need the herbs to – balance their humours – as her father said. The Englishmen suspect she just wants her meals to taste of something other than charred.
Alan is the reluctant cook. He complains ceaselessly as he chops venison, fungi, and potatoes. He moans about the unfairness of it all as the stew boils. He pouts when the outlaws make no comment as to his hard work. It is always better when there is ale when Alan cooks. It is less painful (for everyone) and he always flavours the meal strongly with it.
John grew up on pottage and seems to believe everyone should do likewise. Djaq hates it when John cooks because the pottage is always too thick and heavy for her. Much dislikes John's cooking because the oatmeal is always overcooked and sticks to their one saucepan. Alan is affronted when John cooks because he refuses to put mushrooms in the pottage. Will objects to John's cooking purely because sometimes he throws fish in there (always well deboned unlike Will's).
Robin just eats anything which is put in front of him.