SC - High Table presentation

[kat]

Greetings all.  Since this is my first post to the List, spare me a moment 
of your time:

         I am Lady Caitlin O'Byrne, resident of the Canton of Montaigne du 
Roi, Barony of Darkwood, Mists, West.  Mundanely, Kat Griffith, editor.  I 
have been actively cooking in the SCA for 4 years and have mundane catering 
experience as well.  Am still working up the nerve to enter a cooking 
competition.

         Enough about me.

Michael Macchione <ghesmiz at UDel.Edu> writes:
> the High Table, an extra dish or something special for presentation.  Now
> here comes the problem, since I hadn't planned on a High Table, I hadn't


and filip of the marche replied:

Well, not being middle eastern in persona and not having studied it to
any degree, i don't think that i am going to try my hand at that
aspect.  I will however give some personal feelings about serving high
table at *any* feast.

Provide servers for them if each table is supposed to have a server
volunteered or if it is buffet style.  If you really want to
brown... umm, err.. honor them, have the head cook (a-yup, that'd be
you) serve them. (like you don't already have enough stuff to do)

Serve them first.  (but not too far in advance)

Fixing the plates up extra nice for them (presentation) is nice.
(nice for *all*, but not always convenient.) Rather than a bowl of foo
thrown together, use a platter and garnish it nicely.

****************here is an important one****************
Do NOT serve them different dishes, unless that dish is, say something
that everyone may partake of, like a subtlety (sp?).  I've been to a
few feasts where the cook splurged on lobster for the head table to
the detriment of the rest of the feast which was...to be
kind... somewhat edible. (burnt gruel, nasty fish, etc)

The impression overall was, pun not intended, in poor taste.


I must agree with lord filip:  unless it's a standard procedure in your 
Kingdom, don't fix separate "special" dishes for the high table.  Why 
double your workload?

In our barony, where we are noted for our feasts (and Mistress Anastasia, 
correct me if I'm wrong) it is custom to simply have nicer and/or more 
period serving gear for the high table; and to garnish a little more 
effusively.  Purple kale is a great garnish (purple being the color of 
royalty; some groups use it as a head table standard).  Also, provide the 
head table with two servers instead of one, and make sure those servers are 
experienced.

Fret ye not!  You'll do just fine.

	- kat



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