SC - Religious dietary restrictions

[Siegfried Heydrich]

First let me state that I am peering over the shoulder of a friend and that 
my return address is <de Sevyngy at aol.com>

My name is HL Isabeau de Sevyngy and in addition to being an active member of 
the Society for 16 years, I also live in Utah.  Because of the high 
population of LDS church members (Mormons) in the area, alcohol is always an 
issue at local events.  My response is based on years of experience on both 
sides of the "Feast Steward" door.

In a message dated 3/2/00 5:04:49 AM Mountain Standard Time, kerelsen at ptd.net 
writes:

<<
 In the past, when I have informed a Cook prior to a feast of my
 mushroom allergy, in general, I receive a cheerful, "Okay, I'll
 keep that in mind and make sure you don't have any mushroom
 contaminated food served to you."  No problem, it's a medical
 issue.>>

Good, this indicates that my suggestions to follow will work nicely.
 
<< Yet, when I request that food be available with no added alcohol
 because of my religious beliefs, or that they adapt a portion of
 the preparation with no added wine, beer or spirits, my request
 is treated as if it were spurious and ridiculous, apparently
 because there is no medical grounds for it--because it it
 "merely" on religious grounds.>>

Religious grounds set aside just for a moment.>>>  An effective, 
non-confrontational method of achieving your end goal here would be to state 
that, in addition to mushrooms, you are allergic to the yeasts and cultures 
found in alcoholic beverages.  It is well known that yeasts and cultures stay 
allergenic even after high heat.

Now, to address religious grounds. You are in no way obligated to explain the 
systems of your religious protocol to anyone that you do not wish too. I 
suggest that if you would rather broach the subject as the reasoning to your 
request, that you word it in a closed fashion.  Such as, 'I an unable to 
partake in foods prepared with alchohol. Will there be portions that have had 
no alcohol in their preparation available?'    This method does not invite 
other to make judgments about you, it is a yes or no question.

However, should you prefer to invite the arguments that alcohol breaks down 
with heat and that the finished product is non-alcoholic, then by all means, 
be prepared to argue the point.  If you try either of my two suggestions, I 
believe that you'll have success and not feel separated from the feasting 
whole.
 

 <<Tired of feeling like nothing she does is right,
 Bernadette Crumb >>

Understandable.

HL Isabeau de Sevyngy
Squired to Sir Sakura kita no Maikeru
Shire of Gryphons Lair
Artemesia
(Previously of Barony of Loch Salaan and CAID)
deSevyngy at aol.com