There are three roles that need to be covered in The Gorge. One person must be the Chef, one must be the Gatherer and the other will be the Farmer. In my experience, the best characters for each role (ordered from my preferred to preferred a little less) are:

Chef:
Wilson: The main station in this guide is the cookpot, so Wilson is always a benefit.
WX or Winona: The Head Chef may end up doing a fair few odd jobs so either character helps.

Gatherer:
Woodie or Max.
WX.

Farmer:
Webber: Is amazing at farming.
Wicker: Book is powerful but only having only two uses makes her perk very limited (Use book if
BREAD is called for Round 2, then use it some other time if there's a lot of crops planted
or no fertilizer. Also don't forget the range is much smaller than in normal DST).

SNACK:

• Chef:
  
  • Grab 6 coins.
    
  • Buy Cookpot (Mumsy).
    
  • Grab a foliage (fern) from outside the park gate.
    
  • Grab a stone from the salt flats.
    
  • Wait for Gatherer to bring ingredients.
    
  • Cook Stone Soup (Stone|Potato|Foliage:Pot).
    
  • Take all coins (10).
  
  
• Gatherer:
  
  • Grab axe.
    
  • IMMEDIATELY collect the potatoes from the boar village.
    
  • IMMEDIATELY take potatoes to base for Chef.
    
  • Spend the rest of the game collecting wood, turning half into poop (Elder).
    
  • Depot at base whenever asked for more wood or poop.
    
  • Do salt runs when necessary.
  
  
• Farmer:
  
  • Grab 4 coins.
    
  • Buy 3 blue seeds and 1 oblong seed (Sammy).
    
  • Plant them all.
    
  • Till extra soil until the Chef donates you money.
    
  • Spend the rest of the game farming 50% wheat and 50% mixed seeds.
    
  • Grind wheat whenever necessary (The Chef should always have at least 3 flour available for use).

VEGE:

• Chef:
  
  • Donate Farmer 2 coins.
    
  • Cook Potato Soup (Potato|Potato|Potato:Pot).
    
  • While waiting for the soup to cook, quickly buy a Salt Rack (Billy) and place it in the pond nearest the grinder. It's safer to leave the pot on 3/4 heat while you do this.
    
  • Take all coins (12).
  
  
• Gatherer:
  
  • Work as normal.
  
  
• Farmer:
  
  • Buy seeds.
    
  • Work as normal.

BREAD:

• Chef:
  
  • Buy Oven.
    
  • Donate Farmer 1 Coin.
    
  • Help Farmer grow wheat with manure, rot, or poop.
    
  • Wait for Farmer to make flour.
    
  • Cook Bread (Flour|Flour|Flour:Oven).
    
  • Take all coins (8).
  
  
• Gatherer:
  
  • IMMEDIATELY buy a bucket of poop (Elder).
    
  • Make sure there is 5 wood at the oven.
    
  • Work as normal.
  
  
• Farmer:
  
  • Grow 6 wheat asap.
    
  • Make 3 flour for Chef.
    
  • Work as normal.

FISH/MEAT:

• Chef:
  
  • If FISH, purchase a Rod (Billy); if MEAT, purchase a Trap (Billy).
    
  • If FISH, catch a fish.
    
  • If MEAT catch a rabbit for a SmallMeat.
    
  • If last round was VEGE, Cook Meatballs/Fish Stew
    (SmallMeat/Fish|Vege(Carrot)|Vege(Carrot):Pot).
    
  • If last round was BREAD, Cook Meat Pie/Fish Pie
    (SmallMeat/Fish|Flour|Vege(Potato):Oven).
    
  • If last round was BREAD, take all coins and buy a salt rack (Billy).
    Put the salt rack in the pond closest to the grinder.
  
  
• Gatherer:
  
  • Work as normal.
  
  
• Farmer:
  
  • Work as normal.

After this point the regular coins should not be an issue. Just take them as you need them, but don't use them all because you'll need up to 8 for Round 6. Seeing as you get 2 coins from Round 5, just make sure you save 6 coins at the end of Round 4 (And honestly not that many crops are needed in total).

Also note: I literally never worry about doing the pies instead of the meatballs/stew if last round was BREAD so don't feel the need to stick to it if it's slowing you down.

DESSERT:

• Chef:
  
  • Buy an Oven if Round 2 was VEGE.
    
  • Cook Carrot Cake (Carrot|Flour|Flour:Oven).
    
  • Take Sapphire coin, 3 normal coins.
  
  
• Gatherer:
  
  • Work as normal.
    
  • If Round 2 was VEGE then you'll be able to do the salt run from Round 5 in this round, then each of the following runs one round earlier.
  
  
• Farmer:
  
  • Work as normal.

VEGGIE/SNACK/SOUP:

• Chef:
  
  • Buy an Iron Key (Sammy).
    
  • Open up the Park using the key.
    
  • Buy 2 spiky seed packs and 1 of [the other seed packs] (the garlic ones) (Pipton).
    
  • Give seeds to Farmer to plant.
    
  • Wait for farmer to grow three tomatoes (they should each be fertilized immediately).
    
  • Cook Tomato Soup (Tomato|Tomato|Tomato:Pot-SILVER BOWL).
    
  • (Before offering it, wait for Gatherer to bring you a silver bowl)
  
  
• Gatherer:
  
  • Do a salt run (See Notes section).
    
  • Set a timer for 2 minutes and 30 seconds THE MOMENT you take the salt off the rack.
  
  
• Farmer:
  
  • Ready 9 spaces for crops.
    
  • Wait for the Chef to bring you the three seed packs.
    
  • Plant and fertilise three spiky seeds (tomatoes) right away.
    
  • Plant the rest of the seeds.
    
  • Work as normal.

Note: In my early runs, a smooth, fast Round 5 tended to make or break the win. To ensure a smooth Round 5, try to make sure that the Gatherer starts their first salt run at the very latest as you unlock the park gate. Their highest priority should be to get the Silver Bowl in the base asap.

FISH:

• Chef:
  
  • If you don't own a Rod yet then grab an extra 3 coins.
    
  • If you don't own the Casserole Dish (LargeOven dish) yet then grab an extra 4 coins and purchase it from Pipton.
    
  • Grab three spotty leaves from the Park.
    
  • Grind the spotty leaves into spice.
    
  • Purchase a Rod (Billy) if you need to.
    
  • Catch a fish.
    
  • Purchase Milk (Mumsy).
    
  • Cook Creamy Fish (Fish|Spice|Milk|Garlic:LargeOven- SILVER PLATE).
  
  
• Gatherer:
  
  • Work as normal UNTIL the timer goes off, then do a salt run.
  
  
• Farmer:
  
  • Work as normal.

MEAT/BREAD:

• Chef:
  
  • Grab 8 coins and buy a LargeGrill (Pipton).
    
  • Buy a Slaughtering Tool (Billy).
    
  • Slaughter a beefalo and grab the two LargeMeat.
    
  • Cook a Shooter Sandwhich (LargeMeat|LargeMeat|Flour|Garlic:LargeGrill- SILVER PLATE.
  
  
• Gatherer:
  
  • Work as normal UNTIL the timer goes off, then do a salt run.
  
  
• Farmer:
  
  • Work as normal.

PASTA:

• Chef:
  
  • Buy Milk (Mumsy) if you have no Milk.
    
  • Cook Mac'Ncheese (Flour|Flour|Milk:Pot- SILVER BOWL).
  
  
• Gatherer:
  
  • Do the last salt run when the time comes (not actually necessary for winning anymore, so technically optional).
    
  • Work as normal.
  
  
• Farmer:
  
  • Work as normal.

DESSERT:

• Cook Trifle (Berry|Milk|Flour|Flour:LargeOven- SILVER PLATE).
  (Alternatively cook Cheesecake (Berry|Milk|Milk|Flour:LargeOven- SILVER PLATE) if you happen to run out of flour and can afford the milk)

You should have 3 favour by now. Trade it with Mumsy to get the Ancient Key, and use that on the altar to win.

Alternatively, if you have enough time remaining (for reference, I've gotten up to here with over half a bar remaining, and anything over 1/4 of a bar is good enough to do some experimentation) then you could keep cooking meals in order to push to 15/18 for the achievements or to unlock new recipes. Remember it is still always best to cook meals the Gnaw craves so see Further Rounds for help.

(Also note make sure you explain to your group what you're looking to do if you don't socket that key right away- and definitely don't let the timer run out if you've held onto the key for ages, because it'd be very embarrassing)

Note that the Farmer should start growing lots more wheat at this point, and occasionally mixed seeds. Don't forget that you might need tomato or garlic too. The Gatherer can continue doing wood and poop as needed, but note that they could also do the spice or, if recipe hunting, work on catching a few crabs or work on making syrup.

1: SNACK: Stone, Foliage, Potato (Pot)

2:
VEGE: Potato, Potato, Potato (Pot)
BREAD: Flour, Flour, Flour (Oven)

3:
MEAT: SmallMeat, Vege, Vege (Pot)
FISH: Fish, Vege, Vege (Pot)

4: DESSERT: Carrot, Flour, Flour (Oven)

5: ALWAYS: Tomato, Tomato, Tomato (Pot) (Silver Bowl)

6:
MEAT/BREAD: LargeMeat, LargeMeat, Flour, Garlic (LargeGrill) (Silver Plate)
FISH: Fish, Spice, Milk, Garlic (LargeOven) (Silver Plate)

7: PASTA: Milk, Flour, Flour (Pot) (Silver Bowl)

8:
DESSERT: Flour, Flour, Milk, Berries (LargeOven) (Silver Plate)

When pushing for 15/18 meals, just keep banging out these meals as quickly as possible:

BREAD:

• If you need red marks, Cook Shooter Sandwich (Flour|LargeMeat|LargeMeat|Spice:LargeGrill).
  
• If you need something quick, cook Grilled Cheese (Flour|Flour|Milk:Grill).

FISH:

• If you need red marks, Cook Creamy Fish (Fish|Spice|Milk|Garlic/Spice:LargeOven).
  (Alternatively (Fish|Spice|Milk|Milk))
  
• If you need something quick, cook Fish Stew (Fish|Vege|Vege:Pot).

SNACK:

• Cook Grilled Cheese (Flour|Flour|Milk:Grill).

PASTA:

• Cook Mac n' Cheese (Flour|Flour|Milk:Pot).

CHEESE:

• Cook Mac n' Cheese (Flour|Flour|Milk:Pot).

DESSERT:

• Cook Trifle (Berry|Milk|Flour|Flour:LargeOven).
  
• Alternatively if you want a red mark, cook (Berry|Milk|Milk|Flour:LargeOven- SILVER PLATE).
  
• The fastest dessert to cook is Waffles (Syrup|Flour|Flour:Grill). (Use this if you're leet and pushing for speed records)

SOUP:

• Might be tricky if you don't have the right ingredients.
  
• Cook Mushroom Soup (Milk|Milk|Mushroom:Pot).
  
• Get Gatherer to do the mushroom.
  
• Alternatively cook Onion Soup (Milk|Flour|Onion|Onion:LargePot).
  
• Alternatively cook Tomato Soup (Tomato|Tomato|Tomato:Pot).
  
• Alternatively cook Potato Soup (Potato|Potato|Poato:Pot).
  
• Alternatively cook Stone Soup (Stone|Foliage|Berry:Pot).
  
• Alternatively cook Vege Soup, which is 3 different veges in a pot (garlic is not a vegetable).

MEAT:

• Kill a beefalo (buy the Slaughtering Tool (Billy) if you don't own one).
  
• Cook Shooter Sandwich (Flour|LargeMeat|LargeMeat|Spice:LargeGrill).
  
• OR cook Breaded Cutlet (LargeMeat|LargeMeat|Flour|Flour:LargeOven)
  
• If large meat runs out then cook Meatballs (SmallMeat|Vege|Vege:Pot).

Honestly if you push far enough then red marks, and thus milk, becomes cheaper to use than flour. If this happens, all meals that have 2 flour and 1 milk can be done with 2 milk and 1 flour instead.
If you're trying to push really far then I'd recommend getting the farmer/gatherer to make sure there is always 1 pigeon and 1 fish in the safe at base, because otherwise meat/fish calls are incredebly slow compared to everything else.

HOW TO SALT RUN:

• Grab the raw salt from the salt rack (which should be in the pond nearest to the grinder).
  
• (Set a new 2:30 timer)
  
• Grind the raw salt into salt.
  
• Run to the elder and buy his key.
  
• Run back to the salt area and use the key on a vault.
  
• (The first key should be used on the vault that's hidden behind the carriage next to the grinder)
  
• (The next two can be used on the two vaults south. Three and only three salt runs need to be
  made every game)

I'd like to also note that I'm almost certain that salting foods does not give you extra time, and it's all a misconception. Trust me, I've tried. You will end up wasting valuable time salting foods for no return. There is no way to reset the Hangriness meter; all you can do is cook meals fast and delay the inevitable.

RECIPES:
Have this open at all times as a reference for alternative ingredients and for help unlocking new recipes: https://forums.kleientertainment.com/gorge-recipe-book/

XP HUNTING:
Once you've done all of the achievements, the best xp/min comes from just banging out the 8 Round victories over and over. Each win should get you ~6k xp. For comparison, an 8 Round win takes me an average of 15 minutes, making for 400xp/min. The 86 meal win I did took an hour and 15 minutes and was worth ~10k xp, making for 133xp/min.

DUOING:
I've also used the strategy to do a couple of duo wins with a bunch of time left at the end. My recommendation is that, if you play Chef, you need to really have the role memorised, because you also need to take on the role of Farmer and plant any seeds necessary. There's actually not that many needed tbh, and as long as the Gatherer plays well and brings wood and poop buckets as needed, and does the salt runs, a win is very much achievable.

MODS:
Gorge Extender is a great mod that gives you some very useful stats. I'd recommend turning Mumsy off and setting the hangriness meter to time only:
https://steamproxy.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1416911938

The seed labels mod is also real neat, but you do have to be careful. It can confuse a group if the chef needs the farmer to buy certain seeds but only one of them has the mod installed. That said, if everyone has it, it's very helpful:
https://steamproxy.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1410999701

WINING IN SIX MEALS:
I recently solo won in six meals using Nuwbertron's guide:
https://steamproxy.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1413742669
I would highly recommend it if you're looking for the 7 meals or less achievement because the strategy outlined has the least reliance on lucky cravings I've seen so far: Only 66% chance of failure before Round 2, and once you're past that there is no random chance of failure out of your control.
(Trust me some guides are up to 90% chance of failure, even the possibility of having to restart on the second last Round, so gg and ty to Nuwbertron)

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS:
If everyone on the team follows this guide right through then you *may* win on your first go. That said, it will probably take at least one game for everyone to actually get used playing the Gorge and their roles. Round 2 being VEGE can help a fair bit. As soon as you have your first win or two I'd recommend branching out and achievement hunting, because it's worth more than winning multiple times. Don't be afraid to switch roles, especially since Gatherer and Farmer can get really boring at times. I'd highly recommend reading everything before the recipe list in the Gorgeous Guide if you're still unsure about any game concepts after going through this and trying a run or two. (Seriously though stop before the recipe list; their recipes and meal guide are incredibly outdated).

https://steamproxy.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1410208014

Also if there are ANY mistakes in this guide then comment them ASAP because I'd hate to accidentally ruin someone's run, while simultaneously invalidating the entire point of this guide.

Give me a thumbs up too so more people can see this and so I can feel validated.

Yeet. Enjoy the Gorge.