SC - Competition entry

[Elaine Koogler]

I know that cooking with allergies in mind can really put serious limitations on a
feast.  Usually I cook what I want, given the theme of a feast, publishing the list
of ingredients and posting it at the "Troll" and on the kitchen door.  However,
special events do happen.  Last fall, I had the honor cooking the Coronation Feast
for Their Atlantian Majesties.  Her Majesty is very allergic to nuts, so I got to
do a 14th century feast (at Their request) without nuts of any sort.  I did break
down at put some honeyed walnuts on the desert table, but it was kind of obvious
that that's what they were!  I think cooking to an individual's allergy is
warranted in a case like this where the guests of honor have a known allergy.

Kiri

Holly Youngquist wrote:

> <<I say good luck on her endeavour.  I believe in inculding all who want
> to be a part of the dream, but I believe that it is unreasonable for one
> person to claim a right to demand that a
> feast be changed just beacuse they are allergic to something.  If they
> are
> allergic to something, it is their responisbility to avoid that
> substance.>>
>
>         In the normal course of things, it wouldn't make sense to alter an
> entire feast for one or two people.  HOWEVER, if my shire had the honor
> to host Their Majesties of Calontir (whoever that might be at any given
> time) and one or both had specific dietary needs, allergy to mushrooms or
> raspberries or was diabetic, you can BET that I would alter the feast so
> The Crown could eat the food I prepared.  I can't imagine anything more
> horrible than to have mushrooms in multiple dishes in several courses
> only to find that the dishes served to my King and Queen couldn't be
> eaten by one or both.  :shudder:
>
>         Also on this thread people have spoken about looking for another recipe
> from another source to serve that didn't have the ingredient to which
> someone might be allergic. What if you wanted That Specific Recipe
> because it fit the theme (or other reason)?  I would agree that you
> wouldn't want to present that as the original recipe - but wouldn't it be
> acceptable to say that this is an Adaption of a recipe from (name of
> source).  One could specify that the original called for X ingredient and
> you substituted Y because of a dietary restriction.  For example if I
> could get my mother to a feast, I  wouldn't want to feed her a pie
> sweetened with sugar - she is a diabetic.  Could I not say this was an
> adaption from (name of source) and note that this pie was sweetened with
> fructose, or honey and orange juice or aspartame to accomodate those
> unable to eat refined sugar?
>
>         I think this is an admirable task and if a recipe book, formal or
> informal, does become available, please let me know.  I would be
> interested in obtaining a copy.
>
> Francesca
>
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