I finally managed to get my kitchen after all this time and it was all thanks to my using all my mithril for an Armored Direwolf. Now I just have to save up all the mithril and perhaps I'll be ready to get another AD by the next hunt. Overall, I'm quite happy with this event. Kudos to S8 for giving us a new and interesting energy animal.
My only real complaint is that I've officially run out of room and will have to pack some things away to make room for these new larger animals.