[Sca-cooks] Cooking contest

[Terry Decker]

> I used to think that cooking couldn't win an A&S because people
> would be impressed by a hand made lute or gorgeous Tudor
> gown or finely crafted helm, but everyone knew how to cook.
>

This was less true when I was competing because cooking entries were often 
seperated to be part of the feast and were judged then.  A general 
competition was more difficult to win with a cooking entry, but it was 
possible due to the limited number of people turning out top notch work. 
Winning a general competition has definitely become less viable.

>  For the period cook, mastery was
>>the preparation of meals to please the palate of one's patron and
>>competition between cooks would be in dishes prepared for the table.  To
>>master the feast requires many more skills than than the ability to 
>>prepare
>>a few recipes.
>
> Ah, but then we see folk like Mistress Clara von Ulm, Master Adamantius
> with his Pilgrim's Picnic Basket and Mistress Gwynneth Blackrose prove
> what a real master's touch in A&S can be and I dare anyone not to
> consider them worthy of the term "Cookery Laurel".
>
>>Bear
>
> Gunthar

It seems to me that all of these Laurels prepare feasts, which does not 
invalidate my observations.

Bear