SC - First Feasts & changing traditions

[Elaine Koogler]

To be honest, I don't remember the last time I served cheese chunks at a feast.
I have done herbed butter, but that's about it.  What I usually do is a sort of
appetizer platter with things like pickled veggies, pommes d'or or other
finger-type foods.  then where  I often do serve cheeses is as part of a desert
table, along with fresh fruit.  I'm not sure it's period, but it does fulfill
the need for cheese that seems to exist!

Kiri

Bonne of Traquair wrote:

> > >I also have to keep in mind what folks like to eat around here. "I don't
> >care if honeybutter isn't period! It's not a feast if there's not fresh
> >bread with honey butter to start!"<
> >
> The banquet tables were set with
> >hardboiled eggs & sausage  with the bread,  and once people were seated,
> >feast was served  -- I didn't give the assembly a chance to wonder where
> >the
> >honey butter was . . . . .
>
> I always thought that allowing the guests to stuff themselves with bread,
> honeybutter and chunks of cheese before the feast was counter-productive to
> the goal of giving them a good meal.   So when the autocrat said her only
> stipulation about the feast was no damned cheap cheese chunks, I knew my
> road would be easy.
>
> I have heard from many feast cooks that they want the bread/butter/cheese
> available in case the kitchen is running slowly and feast is delayed.  But,
> in my experience, people immediately report to the hall after court and seat
> themselves even if feast isn't meant to begin for an hour.  If nibbles are
> there, nibbles will be eaten, and then people are too full for feast.   And
> if feast is late, the nibbles are already gone, so people are sitting there
> foodless anyway.
>
> If the cook is worried that something will delay feast, then have in mind
> some part of feast that can be sent out earlier to fill this niche, rather
> than wasting money and tummy space on cheap filler.  If the cook  really
> does want the filler item, buy and prep a minimal amount, but keep it in the
> kitchen until that situation develops.  Serve for breakfast if the situation
> didn't develop.
>
> Lady Bonne
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