SC - Re: upholstery

[Susan Fox-Davis]

My extreme thanks go out to roving reporter Padraig, cameraman Joan,
happy helpers Eadwynn, Jenna Silver and Elva, fly-flicker supreme Allen
Bluehood, Honourable Opponant Gwydioan and the estimable Rima and of
course Chairman Kaga-sama, Emperor of All the Japans. Thanks to experts
Huette and honored champion Jubei.  Thanks also to Baron Duryn for his
brilliant camp-kitchen set-up, Baroness Aelfwyn for making sure I was
rightly and properly hugged before the food started flying and the
raffle participants for allowing us to dump the tough job of judging
onto them. Personal thanks are owed to Damien, Sable Fret emeritus who
covered the heraldic duties for the departed Ceara and my own
over-committed self.  If I have forgotton aught, thanks be to you too
and I beg forgiveness for my poor braised brain.

Pictures and video will be available later.

In this 'alpha-test' version, the time limit was not enforced, but the
judging was full-on what you see in the show.  We knew the 'theme
ingredient' ahead of time, because none of us have Fuji-TV's grocery
budget and couldn't afford to shop for all possible themes.  Being
outdoors, we had propane stoves but no 'power tools' such as mixers,
rice cookers nor ice-cream makers, so I'd allow two hours to the TV
show's one hour time limit.  We need a new set-up for announcing;  maybe
one herald-reporter for each contestant, who take turns at the 'booth'
location set-up just outside of the kitchen proper.  This could avoid
the possibility of deafening the cooks with the announcements.

We learnt a lot this 'alpha-test' outing.  The budget will be about five
times what you think it is.  Invite twice as many helpers as you think
you need, because half of them will not show up.  Set up in the SHADE,
and make sure the shade will last at least five hours to include all
clean-up.  [When I win the lotto, I want a circus tent for this.]  Get
your rules and equipment provided/required lists printed up and sent to
both contestants so there are no misunderstandings.

The cup was brimming with honor and chivalry;  the participants all
co-operated without a snag nor argument, ingredients freely lent and
advice cheerfully given.  These wielders of live steel have truly lived
up to the chivalry of their rattan warrior counterparts in all respects.

Next time:  my honourable father suggests, how about Battle Garlic?

The Honourable Lady Selene Colfox
OLC, OHA, ODC, SR etc.
Iron Chef Altavia
Pursuivant sans portfolio, Caid
selene at earthlink.net


Lord Padraig o Connell has written a good chronicle and posted it to the
SCA-Caid list;  here it is, with his permission.

>      After a prolonged trip from Calafia to Altavia, (made worse than
> usual by the state of the roads between the two - a donkey show in
> Angels
> seems to have made the roads worse than before.), I found myself at a
> fair park on a bright and sunny Altavian day, there to see two
> talented
> chefs challenge one another at their chosen art, within an area I
> shall
> call the "Kitchen Eric".
>
>      Competing for the title of "Iron Chef Altavia", and the right to
> defend the cooking skills of that noble barony against all challengers
>
> were two notable and renown chefs, backed by a train of skilled
> assistants.      The challengers were Lord Gwydiaan am y'Gorlwyn, to
> show
> his skills at European cuisine, and THLady Selene Colfox, with a
> planned
> repast of Japanese fare
>
>      "Emperor" Kagi-san, espendant in the finest robes, after biting
> into
> a most golden bell pepper, cited the terms of the challenge, and
> revealed
> the ingredient onto which they would do culinary battle - the plum.
> Why
> the plum, I do not know.   Perhaps the plum was ment to symbolize the
> reward or honor the winner would recieve.
>
>        With the traditional cry of "Allez Cuisine", the noble
> challengers
> were off and running into the kitchen eric.
>
>      Ingredients were mixed as the two worthies did do battle within
> their chosen craft and art.   At one point, a mystery developed, as
> one
> of Lord Gwydioan's dishes went a-missing, but was found in a bag next
> to
> his worktable.   The winds at one point threatened to steal one of
> THLady
> Selene's dishes to the heavens, but was quickly covered by the
> workers.
>
>      Meanwhile, the judges assembled, to sample the results of such
> mastery and skill in the arts culinary.   Two judges were prechosen,
> based upon their skills in the cooking arts.   Four others were chosen
> by
> raffle, there to lend their tastes to this exhibition.
>
>      Both challengers showed skill and expertise in their arts, and
> when
> they were done, the results were brought to the challengers, dish by
> dish.    THLady Selene was first up, with her Japanese menu, which
> consisted of the following:
>
>      Sushi rice with plum-infused vinegar and cucumber/plum sunomono
> salad
>      Hand-made cold noodles, with plum in the kneading liquid
>      Grilled pork skewers with plum sauce, served on a bed of puffed
> rice
> noodles, with a plum rose as colour.
>      plum-leaf mochi and agar-jelly with plum
>
>      Lord Gwydiaan also did honor to his craft, with a European menu
> which consisted of:
>
>      Beef with a Cameline Sauce, Tournay-style, with plum puree
> instead
> of the wine
>      A Chicken and plum stew
>      Lamb and plum on rosemary skewers, the lamb marinated in olive
> oil,
> rosemary, and garlic, and skewered alternately with slices of plum.
>      Salad with plums.
>      Shaved ice with plum syrup.
>      Bread with plum butter
>      Plum-aid, made of under-ripe plums, sugar, and water.
>
>      All dishes were found to be quite fair and delightful by the
> judges.
>    In the end, it was a very close battle between two skilled
> challengers, both highly regarded in their art.   In the end, by the
> narrowest of margins the win was given unto THLady Selene Colfox, who
> assumes the title of "Iron Chef Altavia", with the honors thereof, and
>
> the duty to defend said title against those who wish to challenge that
>
> honor.
>
>      As for the future, already there are those considering the
> challenge, both to Altavia and to the noble cooks of Caid.   Only time
>
> can tell if and when other baronies wish to offer their own
> challenges,
> or if other kingdoms with to challenge an Iron Chef Caid, to do battle
> to
> find who is the Iron Chef of the known world.
>
>      Thus I did see, record, and only slightly exaggerate.
>
>      - Lord Padraig o Connell