[Bryn-gwlad] The Golden Spatula

[Tim McDaniel]

On Mon, 1 Oct 2007, Goldweard <goldweard at yahoo.com> wrote:
> Myself and a couple of the ladies were discussing the
> idea of a dessert cook off tiny tourney.  I would like
> to propose a iron chef tiny tourney sometime early
> next month.  especially with the holidays coming up we
> could share some of our favorite dessert recipes
>
> The rules would be the presentation of a single
> dessert.  with enough to share with populace   (About
> 5-10 servings).  Along with multiple copies of the
> recipe as part of the documentation.  This would allow
> the populace to grab recipes for our own future use.

Perhaps you could explain the details of what you were thinking of?
My understanding of "Iron Chef" contests (based on the TV show) is
that several cooks show up and are given an ingredient that has been
kept secret, and then they must think up (or remember) a recipe for a
dish that uses that ingredient, and then make the dish on the spot.
On the TV show, they're provided a battle kitchen, assistants, and a
variety of other ingredients.  I don't know what SCA Iron Chef
competitions usually provide; I only saw the end of one.

How could the contestants have "multiple copies of the recipe" if
there's a secret ingredient that they're not told about until the
start of the competition?

There is no kitchen or easily accessable running water, and I'm not
sure that there's a power plug anywhere.  What sorts of things were
you thinking of them preparing, and how would they make them?  That
raises the question: how has that been handled at previous SCA Iron
Chef competitions?  For the one I saw the end of (it was in a park,
I think in Round Rock, that we've used for Candlemasses), they were
near the building and could presumably send someone in for a pot of
water, but I don't know how they handled all the processes of
cooking (not just the heat (Sterno stoves?), but other equipment and
water).

The competition I know of was an entire afternoon and maybe some
morning, but I think it had multiple dishes per contestant.  A
competition at PitP would have to be set up (any table coverings,
cookware, utensils, ingredients), prepared, tasted, and torn down in
two hours at night in iffy lighting conditions.

I hope those with more experience can chime in.

> I would propose either Tuesday Nov, 6  or Tuesday Nov. 13

Bryn Gwlad's Yule celebration usually has a pot luck, though I don't
see anything on the Web site under Events about this year's Yule.
So a dessert competition then would be roughly a month before people
bring a lot of desserts to a BG get-together.

> Come and eat Bryn Gwlad.

Grammar nit: I hope Godzilla isn't on the list.  That's
"Come and eat, Bryn Gwlad."

I doubt that you meant to command everyone; a better wording might be
like "Anyone think this is a good idea?  If so, let's see if we can
work out details so I can present a solid scheme at Business Meeting
next week".

Daniel de Lincolnia
-- 
Tim McDaniel, tmcd at panix.com