In Crimson Desert, early side quests in Hernand introduce core mechanics like gathering, crafting, and cooking. Renee’s Request (part of the Hernand Commissions faction quests) teaches you how to cook by tasking you with preparing three bowls of fish porridge for Renee, the local butcher who’s out of her depth with fish.
This quest is straightforward but has a common pitfall: you must cook the basic/modest version of Fish Porridge (not upgraded variants like Filling or Satisfying), and you need to manually select the correct recipe in the cooking menu. Here’s a complete guide to completing Renee’s request, including requirements, location, ingredients, and step-by-step cooking instructions.
Quest Overview & Requirements
- Quest Name: Renee’s Request
- Faction/Category: Hernand Commissions (Tales of the Hernandian Merchants)
- Location: Hernand (Hernand Highlands/Serkis Estate area)
- Prerequisites: Complete Rhett’s Request (mining Iron Ore) and Turnali’s Request (chopping Fine Lumber) to unlock the notice board quest.
- How to Start:
- Check the Notice Board in Hernand (near the inn or central area).
- Read Renee’s poster to trigger the quest.
- Speak to Renee at her butcher shop (southern edge of Hernand, down the road from the inn—she’s manning the meat stall).
Renee gives you:
- Recipe: Fish Porridge (learn this immediately)
- Ingredients for multiple bowls: Fish Fillet x15, Wheat x5 (or equivalent grain like Oats/Barley), Salt x5, Water x15
You need to cook exactly 3 basic fish porridges and hand them back to her. Rewards include:
- Recipe: Fish Porridge (permanent unlock)
- Medium Bag (inventory expansion)
- Barley x2
- +50 Trust with Renee
- +30 Hernandian Contribution
How to Cook Fish Porridge: Step-by-Step
- Learn the Recipe
Open your inventory → Go to Crafting Manuals (or Recipes section) → Find Recipe: Fish Porridge → Examine/read it (hold the interact button, e.g., CTRL on PC or LB on controller) to add it to your cooking list and unlock the tutorial. - Find a Cooking Location
Head to the nearby cooking pot/bonfire (Renee points it out—it’s right next to her shop or along the nearby wall/northwest of her stall). Interact with it (E on PC, or the equivalent button) to open the cooking menu. - Select the Correct Cooking Tab
Switch to Field Pot Cooking (not Grilled or other tabs).
- On PC: Use the Z/C keys to cycle tabs.
- On the controller: Use bumpers or menu navigation.
- Choose the Right Fish Porridge Variant
Look for Fish Porridge (Fish Fillet) or Modest Fish Porridge (the basic tier—not filling/satisfying or upgraded versions).
Renee specifically wants the plain one. Ingredients for 1 Basic Fish Porridge (varies slightly by source but consistent for quest):
- 1 Grain (Wheat, Oats, Barley, Lentils, etc.—Renee provides Wheat/Oats equivalent)
- 2 Fish Fillets
- 1 Salt
- 3 Water With her provided ingredients, you can make up to 5 bowls—plenty for the 3 required.
- Cook the Dish
Select the recipe → Set quantity to x3 (or cook one by one) → Confirm and make (Spacebar/R on PC/controller). - Hand Over the Porridge
Return to Renee and deliver the 3 Fish Porridge to complete the quest.
Tip: Avoid “Improvise” or auto-select if possible—stick to the learned recipe to ensure it’s the basic version. If you mess up and make the wrong variant, you may need to source extra ingredients from nearby vendors (e.g., Delkin’s Grocer Shop for water/salt or fishing for more fish fillet).
Common Issues & Tips
- Wrong Variant Cooked? Upgraded porridges use extra ingredients and give better buffs (e.g., more Health/Spirit/Ice Resistance), but Renee wants basic.
- Missing Ingredients? Buy extras at local grocers or fish in nearby waters (though quest supplies are sufficient).
- Why This Quest Matters: It unlocks permanent cooking access, teaches Field Pot recipes, and boosts Contribution for the shop in Hernand Castle.
Renee’s Request is one of the easiest early faction quests but a great intro to cooking in Crimson Desert. Complete it early for that inventory boost! Stuck on other Hernand quests like Rhett’s or Turnali’s? Check our guides.
What’s your favorite early recipe in Crimson Desert? Drop it in the comments, adventurers! 🍲✨
