If you get to him asking that question and have 5 each of bread, wine, and Charwood cheddar, (that's more than required) then it should work. That's strange. Want to send me your savegame so I can check into it?
I like this quest. It has the potential to make food items useful for some interesting rewards in return with additional quests involving some tasks for the old man.
The ring was ok.
Maybe few magical food items with regeneration abilities for higher rounds (similar to hannah's lunch) and some bonus effects?
Anyone played Arx Fatalis?
Rare delicacies can benefit from one of the cool features of Arx fatalis related to combining food items, and introducing benefits from consuming them