SC - Re: Rude/Stupid

[Michael F. Gunter]

>
>This is called the "Stupid/Rude Cook Syndrome".  I would hope the Cook or
Steward was 
>told about the situation and you were granted a refund.  Although I have
found some who
>just didn't care about the people they hosted.  There have been several
feasts where I've
>paid full price, helped in the kitchen, served feasts and not gotten
anything to eat.  I
>was informed that I could help myself to whatever came back.  Let's stamp
out stupidity in
>our time.  Remember, that nobody you P.O. today could be Royalty tommorrow.
>
>Gunthar

This topic hits rather close to home for me, as I just had a VERY unpleasant
situation over this debate: For Aethelmearc Crown I published that I would
be unable to cater to individual dietary needs, but ingredients lists and
menus would be available ahead of time. Exactly ONE person contacted me with
a request for ingredients lists and a menu. This fact did not stop an
internationally known SCA Personage from writing a letter to the
Reservationist stating that she would not attend with her husband because
she had life threatening allergies, and couldn't risk eating food that
wasn't custom-cooked. She went on to state that she had cooked for up to
400, still accomodating for other's allergies. She then ended the letter
stating that she sent a copy of the letter of complaint to the King and
Queen, Prince and Princess of Aethelmearc , and Seneschals of both
Aethelmearc and the East. She Never, Ever contacted me, nor the Autocrat, my
husband. And yet, apparently she felt strongly enough to ensure that my SCA
future was impeded by her discomfiture.

Obviously, there are some quit strong feelings out there on this issue.

Regardless of her "take" on the situation, I still feel that I did the right
thing. I was publicly honest about how far I was willing to go, and provided
my contact information in the event announcement. I am not a short-order
cook nor am I a professional cook, and I do not have the luxury of working
in a kitchen where I can just hand the reigns over to someone else while I
stop to "custom cook" food for one person. I always publish a recipe
leaflet, and a menu. I will happily send ingredients lists, and will even
include alternate dish choices, in case something happens while cooking. I
always ensure that vegetarians will come away with enough food including
protein to make a healthy meal. That is as far as I am willing to go. That
is as far as anyone should have to go for a feast with over a certain level
of attendees or with a certain level of complexity. 

So, tell me, am I wrong?



Aoife




 

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