Summer 11. It’s the day every Pelican Town newcomer dreads just a little bit. You’ve probably spent the morning frantically checking your chests, wondering if that soggy newspaper you fished up counts as a "soup ingredient." It doesn't. Please, for the love of Yoba, don't put the newspaper in the pot.
The Luau is easily one of the most high-stakes social events in Stardew Valley. You have the entire town gathered around a massive communal pot, a visiting Governor with a very sensitive palate, and Mayor Lewis sweating bullets because he wants the town to look good. If you mess up the soup, you lose friendship points with literally everyone in the village. If you nail it? You’re the local hero. Determining what to bring to the luau stardew valley depends entirely on how much effort you’ve put into your farm during those first few weeks of summer.
The Soup Mechanics: Quality Over Everything
Most people think the item type is the only thing that matters. That’s a mistake. The game actually calculates the soup outcome based on a hidden points system. Every item in the game has a "tasty" value, but that value gets a massive multiplier based on the item's quality—silver, gold, or iridium.
If you toss in a base-level Truffle, you might get a "Good" response. If you toss in a Gold-quality Purple Mushroom, you're hitting that "Best" response. It’s all about the math under the hood. Specifically, the Governor is looking for high-value, edible items. Don't even think about items that aren't edible. Actually, don't think about anything that has a negative healing effect, like Holly or a Pufferfish. You’ll literally poison the Governor. Mayor Lewis will be mortified, and you'll lose 50 friendship points with every single neighbor. It's a disaster.
Best Items to Bring to the Luau
If you want the "Best" reaction—the one that nets you 120 friendship points with the townspeople—you need to bring the heavy hitters. You aren't just looking for "edible." You're looking for high-sell-value items at high quality.
The Heavy Hitters (Iridium and Gold Quality)
If you’ve been grinding the Mines or have a solid coop going, you have options. An Iridium-quality Large Goat Milk is basically a cheat code. It's almost guaranteed to trigger the best response. Same goes for an Iridium-quality Sturgeon. If you’re a fan of foraging, keep an eye out for a Gold-quality Magma Cap from the Volcano Dungeon (though if it's your first year, you won't have access to that yet).
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For Year 1 players, the Gold-quality Cauliflower is the gold standard. You should have grown this in Spring. If you were smart enough to save one in a chest, bring it. It’s a reliable way to win over the Governor without needing late-game items. Another great Year 1 option is a Gold-quality Super Cucumber. You can catch these in the ocean during Summer evenings. They’re purple, spikey, and apparently delicious in a soup.
Items That Get the "Good" Response
Maybe you don't have the fancy stuff. That's fine. You can still get a "Good" response, which grants 60 friendship points. It’s not the jackpot, but it’s a solid win. Most "Large" animal products at normal quality fall here. A regular Large Milk or a Large Egg will do the trick. Most high-value fish like Catfish or Halibut (at least Silver quality) work too.
The Hall of Shame: What to Avoid
Honestly, some items are just plain insulting. If you put in a Common Mushroom, a Salmonberry, or a Small Milk, the Governor will basically say the soup is "fine" but "missing something." You get zero friendship points. It’s a waste of a day.
Then there’s the "Bad" tier. Putting in an Anchovy, a Sunfish, or a Spring Onion will actually make the Governor recoil. This results in a loss of 25 friendship points. You’re better off putting nothing in the pot than putting in a Sunfish.
And then... the "Poisonous" tier. Do not, under any circumstances, put these in:
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- Holly (It looks like a garnish, but it’s toxic)
- Pufferfish (Unless you want to see the Governor turn green)
- Red Mushroom (Classic mistake for new players)
- Sap (Why would you do this?)
- Scorpion Carp (Too hardcore for the Governor)
If you poison the soup, the Governor will pass out, Lewis will scream at you, and the party ends immediately. It's funny once just to see the animation, but it's terrible for your save file progress.
The Mayor's Shorts Incident
We have to talk about it. It’s the open secret of the Stardew community. If you have managed to retrieve Mayor Lewis's "lucky" purple shorts from Marnie's bedroom, you can actually put them in the soup.
Is it a good idea? Mechanically, no. You won't get friendship points. But you will get a unique "Secret" reaction. The Governor will find them in his bowl, Lewis will have a meltdown, and Marnie will be visibly confused (and a bit embarrassed). It’s the ultimate prank, but it’s purely for the memes. You don't get the social benefits of the Luau if you go this route. Use it wisely.
Strategy for Year 1 vs. Year 2
In Year 1, your options are limited. You’re likely still figuring out the fishing mechanics or waiting for your first melons to grow. If you haven't saved a Gold Cauliflower, your best bet is a Gold-quality Kale or a Gold-quality Melon (if it finishes growing by the 11th). Even a Silver-quality Sturgeon or Super Cucumber can carry you.
By Year 2, you should be aiming for the "Best" response every time. By now, you likely have the Cellar or at least high-level farming skills that produce Iridium-quality forage. An Iridium-quality Chanterelle or Purple Mushroom is an easy win. If you’ve been doing some wine aging, a Gold or Iridium-quality Ancient Fruit Wine is overkill, but it definitely works.
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Understanding the Governor's Tastes
The Governor is a bit of a mystery, but his tastes reflect high-value artisanal goods. He likes things that feel "expensive." This is why items like Truffles, Fairie Rose, and Goat Cheese (at high qualities) rank so well. He isn't looking for a home-cooked hearty meal; he's looking for a gourmet experience in a giant wooden tub on a beach.
Nuance matters here. For example, a regular Cucumber is "Neutral," but a Super Cucumber is "Best." A regular Egg is "Neutral," but a Large Egg (Gold) is "Good." The size and the quality stars are the invisible levers moving your friendship bars.
Actionable Steps for Your Luau Prep
To ensure you get the absolute most out of the event, follow this checklist before you head to the beach:
- Check your chests for Spring leftovers. Look specifically for that Gold Cauliflower. It is the most efficient Year 1 item.
- Fish on Summer 1-10 evenings. Aim for the Super Cucumber. It’s a purple fish found in the ocean. Getting a Gold-quality version of this is your backup plan if your crops fail.
- Don't forget the quality star. A common mistake is bringing a high-value item like a Diamond. Do not put a Diamond in the soup. The Governor can't eat a rock. He wants food.
- Check the calendar. The Luau is on Summer 11. The beach is closed for the entire day before the festival starts (around 9:00 AM), so don't plan on doing any beach foraging or fishing that morning.
- Talk to everyone first. Before you trigger the soup-tasting by talking to Lewis, walk around and talk to every villager. You get a bit of dialogue that adds flavor to the world, and it's a good way to ensure you've "checked in" with everyone before the friendship boost hits.
The Luau is a rare opportunity to boost your standing with the entire town at once. In a game where friendship is often a slow grind of handing out two parsnips a week, 120 points is a massive jump. It’s worth the "loss" of a high-value item just to see those hearts go up across the board.
Once the Governor takes his sip and gives his verdict, the festival ends and you're warped back home at 10:00 PM. Make sure your farm chores are done before you head to the beach at 9:00 AM, because you won't have much time for anything other than a quick walk to bed once you're back.