Food diverts Seoraj's attention-- he doesn't peer so much as dive right into, spearing a few things with his fork and tasting, rolling the unfamiliar textures over his tongue and trying, despite knowing the pointlessness, to identify some of the tastes. The spices are alien, but he likes the effect, and he's wondering if the crispness of the cooked vegetables (contrast with tender meat that almost falls apart) is about the method or the plant structure.

The portions are generous enough he'll probably end up taking some of this home with him in a box, which suits him fine. Leftovers are perfectly good, and his own cooking skills are a little more basic. (He does make good bread.)

"That's the one downside of all Baedal's variety," he says, reflectively, after swallowing. "Can't try everything." ...some of it is poisonous to humans.