The Hungry Meeple

Ramon Mercado
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Games
  • Updated Biweekly

The Hungry Meeple is all about making connections with friends and family through food, drinks and games. Every episode we pick a game and create a drink inspired by the game, and have a discussion about our experience with the featured game, the drinks (and sometimes food) this game inspired us to make.

  1. 3d ago

    The Druids of Edora | Review & Discussion

    The Druids of Edora is the newest board game from legendary designer Stefan Feld, and in this episode of The Hungry Meeple we explore our experience playing this mystical forest strategy game.In The Druids of Edora, players take on the role of druids traveling through an enchanted forest, gathering herbs, tending ritual fires, and brewing powerful potions. Using clever dice management and strategic decision-making, players activate sacred locations, collect resources, and unlock magical abilities in a race to become the most respected druid in the land.In this video we discuss our *ameplay experience, the strategic puzzle of managing your dice and actions, and how the game feels at the table after several plays. If you enjoy eurogames, Stefan Feld designs, or thoughtful strategy games, this one should definitely be on your radar.And there’s a special story behind our copy of the game. The box featured in the video is signed by Stefan Feld, whom we had the pleasure of meeting at SPIEL Essen in Germany, the largest board game convention in the world.Of course, no Hungry Meeple episode is complete without a drink pairing. For a game about druids and ancient forests, we chose something warm and fitting: Mulled Mead.---## Drink Pairing: Mulled MeadIngredients* 1 bottle of mead* 3 cinnamon sticks* 5 star anise* A pinch of coriander seedsInstructions1. Combine the mead and spices in a pot.2. Heat on medium-high until it almost reaches a simmer.3. Reduce heat to low, cover, and allow it to **barely simmer for at least 15 minutes (or up to 3 hours).4. Do not bring to a boil.5. Strain using a fine mesh strainer to remove the spices.6. Serve warm in heatproof mugs and garnish with fresh cinnamon sticks.Perfect for a cozy game night in the forest of Edora.---🎲 Game: The Druids of Edora🎨 Designer: Stefan Feld🍽️🎲 The Hungry Meeple explores the intersection of great board games and great food & drinks.#BoardGames#TabletopGames#StefanFeld#TheDruidsOfEdora#Eurogames#BoardGamePodcast#TheHungryMeeple#SPIELEssen#BoardGameDiscussion#DiceGames#BoardGameNight#BoardGameCommunity

  2. Sep 24

    Galactic Cruise 🚀 | Luxury Space Cruise… or Dinghy in Orbit?

    Is Galactic Cruise the next must-play heavy euro? In this episode of The Hungry Meeple, we review this worker placement / engine-building game where you compete to become CEO of a luxury space cruise company.We break down gameplay, strategy, player interaction, and whether the ship-building and launch system actually delivers a satisfying payoff.And of course—we pair it with a cocktail worthy of first-class space travel.⸻🍸 Fernet Fizz Cocktail RecipeIngredients* 1 oz bourbon* ¾ oz simple syrup* ½ oz egg white* ½ oz Fernet-Branca* ¼ oz lemon juice* 1½ oz chilled seltzer* Lemon twist (garnish)Instructions1. Add bourbon, simple syrup, egg white, Fernet-Branca, and lemon juice to a shaker.2. Shake vigorously until foamy (about 45 seconds).3. Pour into a chilled flute glass.4. Slowly top with seltzer.5. Garnish with a lemon twist.⸻🎲 What We Cover* Galactic Cruise gameplay overview* Worker placement & action selection* Ship building & launch timing strategy* Engine building & resource management* Player interaction & replayability* Final review & verdict⸻🧠 Who Should Play This?Fans of heavy euro board games, optimization puzzles, and strategic engine-building games.⸻💬 Join the ConversationHave you played Galactic Cruise? Drop your thoughts below!⸻🏷️ Tags#BoardGames #GalacticCruise #TabletopGames #WorkerPlacement #Eurogames #BoardGameReview #TheHungryMeeple #StrategyGames #BoardGameCommunity #GameNight #HeavyEuro #EngineBuilding⸻🍽️ Stay Hungry For…Luxury in low orbit.

  3. Sep 17

    Steeped in Strategy: Is Formosa Tea Worth Your Time?

    🍵 Formosa Tea Review | Strategy, Theme, and Tea Pairing | The Hungry MeepleCan you build the most prestigious tea empire in Taiwan?In this episode of The Hungry Meeple, we take a deep dive into Formosa Tea, the acclaimed economic board game by Kao Chu-Lan and Soso Studio. Set during the rise of Taiwan’s world-famous tea industry, Formosa Tea challenges players to harvest tea leaves, process Oolong, Black, Green, and Scented teas, improve production technology, fulfill export contracts, and dominate domestic markets.To fully immerse ourselves in the theme, we paired the game with authentic Formosa Oolong Tea and a custom cocktail created specifically for this episode: the VP Tea. We discuss the inspiration behind the drink, taste the tea that inspired the game, and explore how effectively Formosa Tea captures the history and culture of Taiwanese tea production.We also examine the game’s unique worker placement and worker advancement system, tea-processing mechanics, strategic depth, replayability, character powers, player interaction, and whether Formosa Tea deserves a place among the best modern economic eurogames.Whether you’re a fan of heavy strategy board games, economic simulations, worker placement games, or tea-themed board games, this episode has something for you.⸻🍸 VP Tea Cocktail RecipeIngredients• 1 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice• 1 oz simple syrup• 3 oz freshly brewed and chilled green tea (Formosa tea if possible)• 2 oz gin• ½ oz elderflower liqueur• ½ cup iceInstructions1. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker.2. Shake vigorously until chilled and thoroughly mixed.3. Strain into a glass and serve.⸻☕ Featured TeaFormosa Oolong TeaKnown for its floral aroma, smooth finish, and complex flavor profile, Formosa Oolong is one of Taiwan’s most celebrated teas and the perfect pairing for a game centered on the island’s tea industry.⸻🎲 Topics Covered• Formosa Tea board game review• Formosa Tea strategy discussion• How to teach Formosa Tea• Worker placement and worker advancement mechanics• Tea processing and quality management• Export contracts and domestic markets• Character card balance• Scented tea strategies• Best player counts• Historical theme and educational value• Formosa Oolong tea tasting• VP Tea cocktail recipe⸻About Formosa TeaDesigner: Kao Chu-LanPublisher: Soso StudioPlayers: 2–4Play Time: 45–120 Minutes⸻If you enjoy board game reviews, strategy discussions, eurogames, economic board games, and food-and-drink pairings inspired by tabletop gaming, be sure to subscribe to The Hungry Meeple and join us for future episodes.What is your favorite tea-themed game? Have you played Formosa Tea? Let us know in the comments!#FormosaTea #BoardGameReview #BoardGames #Eurogames #StrategyGames #EconomicBoardGames #WorkerPlacement #TabletopGames #TheHungryMeeple #TeaBoardGame #TaiwanTea #OolongTea #TeaCulture #BoardGamePodcast #BoardGameGeek #BGG #SosoStudio #KaoChuLan #GinCocktail #CocktailRecipe

  4. Sep 10

    Are We Even Playing the Same Game? Hegemony Review

    In this episode of The Hungry Meeple, we take on Hegemony: Lead Your Class to Victory, a deeply asymmetric political and economic board game where the Working Class, Middle Class, Capitalist Class, and State all play by very different rules—but are constantly affected by one another. After multiple plays, every one of them running 4+ hours, we had a lot to unpack. Does Hegemony earn that kind of time commitment? Does the extreme asymmetry make the game feel brilliantly interconnected—or like four separate games happening at the same table? And how long does it take before you really understand how wages, employment, taxation, public services, elections, trade, and policy changes connect everyone together? We also talk about how differently each Class approaches the game, whether the political system actually feels political, and whether Hegemony’s enormous rules overhead ultimately pays off once the larger economic system begins to reveal itself. And, as always, we paired the game with a drink inspired by the theme. A layered, non-alcoholic coffee drink inspired by Hegemony’s competing social classes. 2½ oz strong brewed coffee, chilled ½ oz demerara or brown-sugar syrup Very small pinch of salt 1½ oz tonic water 1½ oz plain sparkling water 1–1¼ oz vanilla sweet cream Ice Combine equal parts brown sugar and hot water by weight. Stir until completely dissolved and chill. ⅔ oz heavy cream ⅓ oz whole milk ¼ oz powdered sugar by weight 2 drops vanilla extract Froth lightly until thick enough to float but still pourable. Combine the chilled coffee, brown-sugar syrup, and a very small pinch of salt. Pour over ice. Gently combine the tonic water and sparkling water, then slowly pour the mixture over the back of a spoon to help preserve the layers. Finish by carefully floating the vanilla sweet cream over the top. The result is a drink where the layers may look separate at first—but eventually everything starts interacting. Which, as it turns out, is a pretty good description of Hegemony. 🎲 Have you played Hegemony?Which Class do you enjoy most, and do you think the game earns its 4+ hour playtime? Let us know in the comments. #Hegemony #BoardGames #BoardGameReview #TabletopGames #HeavyGames #EuroGames #AsymmetricGames #TheHungryMeeple ☕ The Class DivideIngredients — One DrinkBrown-Sugar SyrupVanilla Sweet CreamAssembly

  5. Sep 3

    Endeavor Deep Sea - Mapping the sea, managing the discs, mixing something bold.

    🌊🍹 We’re diving deep… and bringing drinks! 🍹🌊In this episode of The Hungry Meeple, we plunge into Endeavor: Deep Sea — a gorgeous, brainy, ocean-exploration game where you’re not conquering the sea… you’re trying to save it.We build teams of specialists.We uncover mysterious new ocean zones.We debate the Impact board like it personally offended us.And yes — we absolutely overthink our disc economy.Does this sequel chart bold new waters?Is the scenario system as compelling as it looks?And can a board game about marine conservation deliver tension AND immersion?Let’s find out.---## 🧪 Featured Cocktail: The Depths BelowBecause if we’re going underwater, we’re doing it in style.This tropical, ocean-blue beauty is bright, smooth, and just a little salty — like a sea breeze in cocktail form.Ingredients:* 1 oz Blue Curaçao (layer it for that deep-sea effect if you’re feeling fancy)* 1 oz White Rum* ½ oz Elderflower Liqueur* ¾ oz Fresh lime juice* 1.5 oz Coconut Cream (well stirred!)* Dash of saline solution (or pinch of sea salt)* Crushed iceShake, strain, layer if you dare — and prepare to descend.---🎲 In this episode we chat about:* Building your specialist dream team* The delicious tension of disc management* Exploring deeper and deeper into the ocean* Competitive vs. co-op vibes* Whether the theme truly makes wavesIf you love strategy games with heart, stunning production, and cocktails inspired by cardboard… you’re in the right place.👍 Like, subscribe, and tell us in the comments:If *Endeavor: Deep Sea* were a drink, what would it taste like?#TheHungryMeeple #BoardGames #EndeavorDeepSea #BoardGameNight #TabletopGaming #GameAndDrink

    Endeavor Deep Sea - Mapping the sea, managing the discs, mixing something bold.

  6. Sep 3

    Is Saltfjord the Dice-Drafting Euro We’ve Been Waiting For?

    🎲 Saltfjord Review + Saltfjord Catch Cocktail | Is This Dice-Drafting Euro Worth Your Time?Can a shared pool of dice create meaningful player interaction without sacrificing the deep planning Euro gamers love? In this episode of The Hungry Meeple, we set sail for Saltfjord, the acclaimed strategy game from Aporta Games and designers Kristian Amundsen Østby and Eilif Svensson.Set in a 19th-century Norwegian fishing village, Saltfjord challenges players to balance expanding their settlement with activating the buildings they’ve already constructed. Every die drafted from the shared pool presents an interesting dilemma—do you take the perfect die for your own engine, or deny your opponents the opportunity they were hoping for? We dive deep into the game’s innovative row-and-column activation system, fishing, technology tracks, trade orders, and village building to determine whether Saltfjord deserves a place on your table.We also explore the game’s connection to Santa Maria, discussing how Saltfjord builds upon ideas from its predecessor while introducing its own identity. If you’ve played both games—or you’re curious about how they compare—you won’t want to miss that conversation.Of course, no Hungry Meeple episode is complete without a drink pairing! This episode features the Saltfjord Catch, a refreshing Nordic-inspired cocktail that combines aquavit, elderflower liqueur, lingonberry, ginger beer, and a hint of sea salt to capture the flavors of Norway’s rugged coastline.🍸 Saltfjord Catch CocktailIngredients* 2 oz Aquavit* 1 oz Elderflower liqueur* 1 oz Lingonberry syrup* ½ oz Fresh lemon juice* Flaky sea salt (for the rim)* 2–3 oz Ginger beer (floated on top)* IceInstructions1. Rim a pre-chilled cocktail glass with flaky sea salt.2. Fill the glass with ice.3. Add the aquavit, elderflower liqueur, lingonberry syrup, and fresh lemon juice.4. Stir gently until chilled.5. Float 2–3 oz of ginger beer on top.6. Serve immediately and enjoy!⸻In This Episode* A spoiler-free overview of Saltfjord* Shared dice drafting and player interaction* Row-and-column engine building* Fishing, technology, and trade orders* How Saltfjord compares to Santa Maria* Replayability and scaling* Strengths, weaknesses, and our final verdict⸻💬 Have you played Saltfjord?How does it compare to Santa Maria in your collection? Or, if you’ve only played one, which are you most interested in trying? Let us know in the comments!If you enjoy thoughtful board game reviews, thematic cocktail pairings, and in-depth discussions about modern tabletop games, Like, Subscribe, and ring the notification bell so you never miss a new episode from The Hungry Meeple.Stay hungry for more great games!⸻#boardgames #Saltfjord #AportaGames #BoardGameReview #Eurogames #StrategyGames #DiceDrafting #EngineBuilding #TabletopGames #BoardGaming #TheHungryMeeple #BoardGamePodcast #SantaMaria #Cocktails #Aquavit

  7. 09/19/2025

    SETI

    🚀 Board Games, Cocktails, and the Search for Alien Life! 🛸🍸 In this episode of The Hungry Meeple, we shake things up with a special cocktail — the Signal Flare: Solar Edition, a sparkling mead-and-whiskey creation that’s out of this world! 🌌✨ While sipping, we dive deep into SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, the stellar board game from Czech Games Edition. Join Ramon and friends as they:🎲 Explore the mechanics of launching probes, scanning stars, and discovering alien life.🍹 Taste and rate the cosmic cocktail crafted just for this game.👾 Debate strategies, share laughs, and reflect on the wonder of science and discovery. Whether you’re a fan of board games, creative cocktails, or just love a good interstellar adventure, this episode will keep your mind buzzing like a radio signal from deep space! 🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for more pairings of games and bites, and tell us: What drink would YOU pair with SETI? 🍹 Signal Flare: Solar Edition (Cocktail Recipe) 1 oz bourbon or rye whiskey ½ oz fresh lemon juice ½ oz honey syrup (optional, if mead is already sweet) 2–3 oz sparkling mead (chilled) Garnish: lemon twist or rosemary sprig Shake whiskey + lemon (and honey if using) with ice, strain into a flute or coupe, top with mead, garnish, and enjoy!

    SETI

  8. 01/05/2024

    Live from PAX Unplugged 2023!

    Join us for a special live episode recorded on the final day of PAX Unplugged! Hosted by Ramon, Troy, and Andrew, our dynamic trio takes you on their journey through the largest board game convention of the north east. In this episode, we dive deep into the games that stole the spotlight at PAX, and exclusive insights into upcoming releases set to hit shelves next year. But it's not just about the games! The team shares their favorite food at Philly and the must unforgettable PAXU experiences. Get ready for a lively discussion filled with anecdotes, reviews, and a contagious passion for the world of board gaming. Whether you're a seasoned gamer or a curious newcomer, this PAXU episode is your ticket to experiencing the magic of one of the year's most thrilling board game gatherings. Tune in and join the conversation! #PAXU #BoardGames #PlayMoreGames

    Live from PAX Unplugged 2023!
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

The Hungry Meeple is all about making connections with friends and family through food, drinks and games. Every episode we pick a game and create a drink inspired by the game, and have a discussion about our experience with the featured game, the drinks (and sometimes food) this game inspired us to make.

Information

  • Creator
    Ramon Mercado
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Ramon Mercado
  • Show Website
    The Hungry Meeple

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