SC - Open/Closed Kitchens

[James F. Johnson]

Elaine Koogler wrote:
> 
> I guess it all comes down to your definition of "open".  I usually welcome any
> who want to help with preparing the feast...up to the point where I just don't
> need any more help.  What I do not allow are those who just want to "hang out" in
> the kitchen to chat with someone in there...or who want to find out what we're
> cooking...or who want to use the facilities that one finds often times in
> kitchens.
> 
> Kiri

LrdRas at aol.com wrote:

> This is also what I do. If you come through the kitchen door you are put to
> work or you leave, period. Usually, I also assign a person as a guard who
> meets people at the door, fends off well wishers or the curious, points out
> the location of ingredients lists and menus to those who have 'forgotten' and
> otherwise frees me from being a 'host' for the day. Certainly exceptions are
> made depending on the mood of the guard and the business of the Kitchen
> Steward but choosing the right person for guard duty usually eliminates any
> problem with the idle or those who just want to use the facilities for
> whatever reason.
> 
> Ras

Typically, in South An Tir/Summits, there seems to be the common
understanding that one stays out of the kitchen unless they are part of
the kitchen steward's staff. Generally, with the occasional exception.
This includes on-site volunteers, who become part of the staff at that
time, hence the kitchen remains 'closed', with some exceptions. But
then, again, our feasts tend to be very small, from 30-100 most of the
time. And finding a dishwasher tends not to be a problem down here. It'd
be harder to keep Mistress Alys _out_ of the dish sink (she's our
notorious dishwashing Pelican - she looks forward to washing dishes)

I personally am _very_ proprietary about _MY_ kitchen and _MY_ staff.
People just wandering in like it was any other room in the hall will
tend to be directed to their work station with instructions and thanks
for 'volunteering'. I may not need the help, but I have no reason to
encourage hanging out in my kitchen. Or maybe I'll just stare through
them while fingering the edge of my 12' chef knife, then smile happily.
This last Investiture feast was attended by the King, who at one point
entered the kitchen (I think he was after the coffee in the back....). I
_almost_ handed him a paring knife and a bowl of vegetables, but gave
him benefit of the doubt because he was from out of the area......true,
his kingdom, but my kitchen, my feast. Same goes for my people. The may
have murdered someone out in the hall, but you don't mess with them.
They are _mine_. (these being the ones that I invited to help cook, not
the hapless souls that wandered in unwittingly)

Playing croquet with radishes has been known to draw me out of the
kitchen, big spoon in hand.....:)

Seumas