Zelda Wiki

Want to contribute to this wiki?
Sign up for an account, and get started!

Come join the Zelda Wiki community Discord server!

READ MORE

Zelda Wiki
Advertisement

The Old Man's Diary is a personal journal belonging to the Old Man in Breath of the Wild.[1]

Location and Uses[]

The Old Man's Diary is located inside the Old Man's Cabin, resting upon the table. It chronicles the Old Man's culinary pursuits as he concocts a recipe composed of Raw Meat cooked with Spicy Peppers and Fish.[2] He rejoices that with this recipe, he no longer needs to wear his itchy Warm Doublet while traversing the cold regions of the Great Plateau.[3] However, in his excitement, the Old Man forgot to transcribe the ingredients for the Food he made.[4] In the Diary, he begrudges his mistake and wishes for someone to come along and help him complete the recipe, promising to beget his Warm Doublet to the person who helped him.[5]

If Link speaks to the Old Man outside of the Woodcutter's House afterwards, he will tell Link that he knows about his intrusion into his personal diary, but reiterates his offer to give away his Warm Doublet to him if he should be able to replicate the recipe.[6]

Transcription[]

Pages 4 and 5 of the diary are only available if Link gives the Old Man some Spicy Meat and Seafood Fry. Otherwise the diary will stop on page 3. The last page appears once Link has completed the Main Quest "The Isolated Plateau".

Page 1Page 2Page 3Page 4Page 5Last Page
Quote1 On this desolate plateau, the only pleasure that brings me comfort is cooking.

And today, I outdid myself! Truly, I created the perfect dish. I call it... spicy meat and seafood fry.

This recipe not only restores health, but it also keeps me warm, even when traveling in the snowy mountains.

With this dish on my side, I no longer have need of that itchy warm doublet.
Quote2
— The Old Man's Diary
Quote1 I do not know how I allowed this to happen, but it seems I forgot to write down a very important recipe.

I know it contained raw meat and spicy pepper. However...

I simply cannot remember what else I used! My age is catching up to me.
Quote2
— The Old Man's Diary
Quote1 Sadly, on this lonely plateau, I have only my own knowledge and memory to rely on. Still...

If I did find someone who knew the missing ingredient, I would happily reward them with my warm doublet.

However, it seems unlikely that such a miraculous wish will ever be fulfilled.
Quote2
— The Old Man's Diary
Quote1 To my surprise and delight, I did happen upon someone who was able to re-create my spicy meat and seafood fry.

I gave him my warm doublet, and I was happy to do so. He is a fine young man with great potential, that one.

Ah, and I will now write down this perfect recipe so that I will never forget it.

Place some raw meat, spicy pepper, and hyrule bass in a pot, and then turn up the heat. Voilà!
Quote2
— The Old Man's Diary
Quote1 Eating this dish allows you to walk the snowy mountains with ease, though I did forget there's a time limit on the effect.

It is too bad I already gave away that warm doublet, which keeps you warm no matter how long you wear it.
Quote2
— The Old Man's Diary
Quote1 Link...

Bit by bit, you may come to realize who I am. I am sorry for not revealing my true identity to you sooner.

The truth is, after you awoke from your longer Slumber of Restoration, I did not know how to tell you all there was to say.

Perhaps deceiving you was not the right thing to do. Still...you must admit I put on a great performance!

But all joking aside...what I ask of you is of the utmost important, dear hero.

I implore you, with all my heart... defeat Calamity Ganon and save my precious daughter, Zelda.

I understand this is no simple task I am asking of you, but I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you can do it.

I do not doubt it for a moment. I see courage in your eyes, just as I did 100 years ago. I believe in you, Link.
Quote2
— The Old Man's Diary

Nomenclature[]

TMC Forest Minish Artwork Names in Other Regions TMC Jabber Nut Sprite
Language Name Meaning
Japan Japanese 老人の日記 (Rōjin no Nikki) Old Man's Journal

See Also[]

References

  1. "The Old Man's Diary" — N/A (Breath of the Wild)
  2. "On this desolate plateau, the only pleasure that brings me comfort is cooking. And today, I outdid myself! Truly, I created the perfect dish. I call it...spicy meat and seafood fry." — The Old Man's Diary (Breath of the Wild)
  3. "This recipe not only restores health, but it also keeps me warm, even when traveling in the snowy mountains. With this dish on my side, I no longer have need of that itchy warm doublet." — The Old Man's Diary (Breath of the Wild)
  4. "I do not know how I allowed this to happen, but it seems I forgot to write down a very important recipe. I know it contained raw meat and spicy pepper. However... I simply cannot remember what else I used! My age is catching up to me." — The Old Man's Diary (Breath of the Wild)
  5. "Sadly, on this lonely plateau, I have only my own knowledge and memory to rely on. Still... If I did find someone who knew the missing ingredient, I would happily reward them with my warm doublet." — The Old Man's Diary (Breath of the Wild)
  6. "In case you were wondering, I know you were poking around in my diary. That said, if you do end up figuring out how to create that dish I wrote about, my warm doublet is all yours." — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
Advertisement