SC - Getting the general populace to eat "period dishes"

[Sue Clemenger]

Our group, as a whole, is known for several cooks who produce _largely_ period
feasts.  We get the same sorts of comments on period vs non-period in our Kingdom
as does everyone elsewhere, it seems.
I've tried to address this over the years by making my feasts a combination of
familiar foods that are period with more unusual touches (roast beast with
unusual sauces, or familiar vegetables with unusual spices, etc).  I betcha a lot
of people who say they don't like period food are saying that because they really
haven't tried it, or don't want to.  There are folks who really, really don't
like trying new culinary things--they want the tried and true.  They don't know
just how period some of their favorites are, and feasts are a good way to
introduce them, and let them get acquainted.  You can end up with some great no
s**t there I was stories, too...
Maire

RichSCA at aol.com wrote:

> I KNOW that I mentioned this in the middle of another Thread, but I can't
> find it and if I can't, I figure you'all can't either.  So... I am going to
> try again.
>
> A recent past discussion centered around people (no names or titles, please)
> that are of the opinion that period dishes are: (1) not for modern tastes
> (2)  Do not taste good (3) are not prepared well  (4) just plain suck.
>
> My question was how does the general populace at a feast even know that they
> are eating period dishes?  Now, I have seen this part of the question
> answered in basically two ways... (1) The Cook is known for preparing only
> period feast s and/or (2)  A menu stating such is posted before the feast.
>
> Now both of these work for _some_  of the populace, but not the person who is
> of the opinions above (especially number 4) if they avoid eating at period
> feasts (and I know of people that do this - they go to a local restuarant or
> bring their own food, rather than eat the feast) OR they skip the dishes that
> they KNOW are period without even trying them.
>
> Now some may think... "so what? It's their loss".  BUT if we care to educate
> them.  If we want the populace to appreciate period dishes.  If we desire
> those in "authority" to support our endevors, we need to get them to try the
> stuff.
>
> Again.. the question.  The best way that I can see to handle this is (at some
> feasts) in some areas where this is a problem - Prepare all feast with period
> foods and introduce period dishes WITHOUT announcing in advance that they are
> period.  Just cook and serve the food.  Let the people eat unaware of the
> history of the dish(es).  Then, went all is said and done... let the populace
> know what was period. That way they have at least tried it.
>
> Rayne
> Meridies
> (Hey, I had to be tricked into eating all sorts of things growing up)
>
>
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