In The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Hateno Village serves as the backdrop for a tense political rivalry between Mayor Reede and the eccentric fashion designer Cece. To secure support during the election campaign, Reede seeks to revitalize the local community by recreating an iconic culinary item from his past. This initiative leads to the side adventure titled "A New Signature Food," where Link must solve a historical mystery to revive a classic local delicacy.
Starting the Side Adventure in Hateno Village
To begin this quest, players must navigate to Hateno Village, located in the Necluda region. Head directly to Mayor Reede's house, a prominent multi-story building situated near the village center. Speaking with Reede reveals his plan to win over voters by introducing a unique local treat, though he cannot recall the exact ingredient.
Reede offers vague hints, describing the item as having a distinctively pungent aroma and a creamy texture. He notes that the recipe was originally created by his grandfather alongside a local farm family. To progress further, Link must assist the pasture owners in recovering this forgotten recipe.
Unlocking the Prerequisite Quest with Koyin
Before completing Reede's request, players must travel to Hateno Pasture on the eastern side of the village. Here, a young woman named Koyin can be found standing near a lake. She explains that a message bottle containing her great-grandfather's secret recipe is trapped in the center of the pond.
Using Link's Ultrahand ability, players can construct a wooden raft or manipulate objects to reach and extract the bottle. Bringing the bottle safely to Koyin completes the quest "A Letter to Koyin" and unlocks the ability to obtain Hateno Cheese. Koyin then opens up shop, rewarding Link with a fresh sample for his efforts.
Completing A New Signature Food
With the fresh ingredient in hand, return to Mayor Reede's residence in Hateno Village. Presenting the cheese triggers a scene where Reede immediately recognizes the pungent scent of his grandfather's creation. Grateful for Link's help, Reede rewards the player with 100 Rupees and incorporates the item into his mayoral campaign strategy.
Completing this objective fulfills an essential step in resolving the village election narrative. Additionally, players permanently unlock access to buying Hateno Cheese throughout Hyrule for future cooking recipes.
Cooking Recipes with Hateno Cheese
Once unlocked, Hateno Cheese can be used in various culinary combinations to craft dishes that restore Link's health. Players can combine the cheese with Hylian Rice and Rock Salt to prepare a standard Cheesy Risotto. Mixing it with Hylian Tomato allows players to bake a Hylian Tomato Pizza, which offers moderate heart recovery.
For players focused on heart restoration, combining Hateno Cheese with Raw Meat, Hylian Rice, and Rock Salt results in a hearty Cheesy Meat Bowl. Experiencing these culinary options adds great value to completing village side quests while adventuring across Hyrule.
