SC - Re: Theme Menus

[Mark Calderwood]

>   Has anyone tried a menu based on travels?
>An example would be to trace the foods a crusader or pilgrim would have
>encountered on a trip from western Europe to the Holy Land.

My old shire (Dismal Fogs; Blue Mountains NSW Australia) did this several 
years ago as part of the annual Manzikert Feast. The theme was "Caravan to 
the East". Each member of the group was responsible for preparing a course 
from their persona's homeland, so the food reflected a journey East, 
starting with lunch in England (recipes from Fettiplace and Good 
Housewife's Jewell), then moving through France (le Menagier), Italy, 
Greece/Constantinople and finally Turkey.

In addition to the food the event featured "the bazaar", where attendees 
could buy and sell various trade goods, different goods being introduced 
with different courses as we "travelled" in that country, which inspired 
much lively haggling and was a lot of fun. Appropriate music, games, 
pasttimes and cultural trappings accompanied each course (for example the 
final course in Turkey was done as a segregated Islamic feast, seated on 
cushions and carpets and with a curtain dividing male and female diners).

Despite being a very long "feast" (starting at 2pm, ending around 
midnight), we had a lot of guests, learned a lot, had some great food and 
had a huge amount of fun. This event remains a standout as one of the most 
successful I can remember, I hope yours goes equally well.

Giles de Laval
Lochac