[Ansteorra-announce] OVERHEARD IN A KITCHEN

[Carolle]

"Mistress Goodcook, I need help.  My household wants me to cook period
meals for our encampment.  Many of us will be fighting during the day.
What did soldiers eat in period?  Can I use pepper, salt or other
spices?  I would like to make rye bread.  I heard that ergotism was some
kind of dancing disease associated with rye.  Since we're planning a
ball later during the event, should I encourage ergotism?  What do you
suggest for table settings?"

"Well, Lord Enthusiastic-Cook, it may depend on what culture or time
period you want to represent.  Are you Roman, Celtic, Viking, Polish,
Elizabethan or German?  Is your household noble or baseborn?  What time
during the liturgical calendar will you be camping?  Will it be Lent or
Advent?  There is great information out there on all kinds of foods from
olives to cheeses to venison.  You will probably want to know food
preservation techniques as no one likes food pisoning.  These are all
good questions, and I know just where to send you."

The answers to these and other culinary and/or festival questions can be
found at:

THE ALEXANDRIAN SYMPOSIUM 4: FOOD AND FESTIVAL,
sponsored by The Alexandrian Company and held in the Barony of
Bjornsborg,
Saturday, August 25, 2001CE

Class Schedule:

10:00a-11:15a      Cooking with Venison -- Genevieve/ Roman Dining –
Meadhbh/
                             Climate & Ergotism - Emrys
11:15a-12:30p      History of the Olive - Beatrice/ Celtic Festival –
Mari/
                             Medieval Glass Tableware - Aelfwyn
12:30p-1:45p        Cheese in History - Catherine/ Viking Food –
Gunnora/
                             Period Dining Rooms - Kayleigh
1:45p-3:00p          Salt & Pepper – Radegund/ Food on Campaign –
Cynric/
                             When Food Goes Bad – Isobel
3:00p-4:15p          Spices – Jovian/ Polish Food & Festival -
Seraphina/ Lent – Ihon
4:15p-5:30p          Peasant v Noble Food - Tabitha/ On Progress with
Elizabeth - Kate/
                             Christmas/Advent -Signy


As this is a scholarly lecture and presentation symposium, classes will
NOT include cooking workshops.  Instructors are allowed to bring
appropriate samples of period food for their classes -- as long as they
bring enough for everyone!  Dress for the symposium is mundane or
costume.  Online registration and class schedule now available on the
Alexandrian website.

The site is the American Red Cross Center, 3642 E. Houston St., San
Antonio, TX 78219
The site will be open from 8:00 AM until evening. Gate opens and
registration begins at 8:30 AM. There will be a brief, required meeting
for all instructors at 9:00 AM. Classes are scheduled to run from 10:00
AM to 6:00 PM.  There will be a costumed revel after classes finish.

The site does not allow alcohol or weapons.  There will be a room for
children that has a TV/VCR and adult supervision, so you can bring the
kids and their favorite “Pokemon in King Arthur’s Court” video.

Event Steward
Radegund of Tours (Carolle Ternus)
210-826-7002
cternus at texas.net

Class Coordinator
Mari ferch Rathyen (Karen Moon)
210-824-2860
karenmoon at msn.com

For a map and more information look in August's Black Star and at
the Alexandrian Company's website:
http://www.vikinganswerlady.org/alexandrians/