SC - Public Consumption [Was Distress in Trimaris]

[LrdRas at aol.com]

In a message dated 2/27/00 12:36:57 AM Eastern Standard Time, seumas at mind.net 
writes:

<< I
 never said other arts were 'free,' I said they could be "appreciated for
 free."
 
 Seumas >>

Correct. However, a meal is analogous to a completed costume or whatever. A 
feaster pays to participate in that experience. Anyone in the SCA can enjoy 
the art of cookery for free. All they need to do is read the menu, read the 
ingredients list, read the recipes. The can even enjoy watching others 
participate in the feast and see the dishes in all their splendor, and smell 
the smells for free.  If they want to 'participate' fully, they pay. 

When a person comes to one of my feasts and pays for the PRIVILEGE of 
participating in it fully, he/she does so with the full knowledge that he/she 
is paying for full participation in my art form. They know in advance that 
they are going to receive food which closely resembles medieval cookery so 
far as I perceive it. And they know that if they don't want that experience 
they should bring their own food. That goes for Queens, kings, princesses and 
paupers. (Well, not paupers. I always feed any beggars that show up at the 
back door and, well, beg.)

Anyway, no event is 'required' to serve a feast. If it is served it should be 
done according to the same standards demanded of any other artisan in SCA. 
Fighters eat my feasts and don't go away hungry. I don't prepare them for 
fighters, I try to prepare them so they are fit for a King without exception. 
I haven't achieved this theoretical perfection yet but the results of the 
trying are encouraging and very edible.

There are many people on this list who have attended my feasts and I can 
emphatically state that none of them, no matter what their preconceived 
expectations were, went away hungry nor were they disappointed in the minimal 
cost. A bargain is a bargain and it doesn't take a trained palette to realize 
a bargain when they see one. 

If it happens that someone expects cheeseburgers from Mc Slop then that is 
where they should spend their money because they certainly will never find 
anything remotely resembling that at one of my feasts...ever. Neither will 
they find any sympathy from me because they have chosen to be food bores. And 
that includes the Princess of Trimaris or any other royal who may gift me 
with their presence.

BTW, I do make period food at demos and such occasionally available to the 
public freely and out of my own pocket. I see nothing wrong with your 
suggestion regarding samples, etc., although the logistics might be a 
nightmare in itself.

No matter what way the art of cookery is presented in the SCA, it is a valid 
occupation and any attempt to water it down or kowtow to the less informed or 
selfish fussy minority of members is treachery to the craft, IMO.

Others may have a different viewpoint. The world would be a dull place if we 
all agreed on everything. 

Ras