[Sca-cooks] Royal authenticity

[Bronwynmgn at aol.com]

In a message dated 9/26/2003 1:02:07 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
StefanliRous at austin.rr.com writes:

> So, are there any Royalty that encourage authenticity? Or do these 
> non-authentic examples stand out more *because* they are the exception? 

We've had one set of royalty who have so many food restrictions (many of 
which I believe are voluntary, not related to allergies but to their concept of 
"healthy diet"), that it's easier to cook seperate food for them than it is to 
find period things they'll eat.  I never cooked for them, but I figured if I 
ever did, one of the things I was going to give them was chicken with Sauce for 
Pigeons (one of the few meats they eat is plain broiled chicken breast...)

The one King of the East that I particularly remember encouraging 
authenticity was Count Rhys of Harlech who, among other things, instituted an award for 
excellence in authenticity called the King's Order of Excellence (may I one day 
be worthy of it).  Of course, he's still doing it, as he's been a driving 
force behind the rise of the East Kingdom Tournament company, the use of period 
martial techniques, and is the person who taught me to eat without a fork :-)

The incoming king and queen have set certain standards which are nice, for 
instance that no sneakers are allowed in the Crown lists, but they've also given 
in to the "chocolate is period" whim (since I don't eat the stuff myself, 
even mundanely, I have a perfectly good reason for simply ignoring this one).

Brangwayna