[Sca-cooks] peacocks

[Sharron Albert]

Having lost track of who said what...
>  > >> Is that an education problem or a cultural problem? Historically,
>  > there were dishes served to the high table that weren't available to the
>>  other diners.
>>  >>
>  > > That's an "everybody paid the same to get into this feast" problem.
>
>>  Sometimes it's because there are food likes/dislikes/allergies within
>  > the Royal Entourage.
>
>  > Sometimes it's because a very special dish was
>  > done as a showpiece and there wasn't the budget to feed it to everyone.
>
>  > Sometimes it's done simply because it's *period.*
>
>Only if someone sitting at the high table is paying for the whole thing.
>
>Adele d'M


We've done it both ways up here over the years. Many, many years ago 
(long before the internet and easy communication) we occasionally 
made a special dish for the high table and they could dispense with 
it as they wished. More recently, we made sure the group did not pay 
for the extra dish, although it was usually the decision of the head 
cook to make something special.

We don't expect the high table folk to pay the special items, 
although it is tradition in Oertha that everyone pays the feast fee 
(assuming they are eating), including royalty. Our groups are small 
and can't carry too many people all the time.

We have lots of newcomers, and we always explain that (a) the 
practice was in period, and (b) it was a personal choice of the 
person footing the bill. No different in some ways to making liqueurs 
and giving them to the royalty to do with as they wish.

However, no one has ever complained about not having a variety of 
tasty dishes on which to stuff oneself at our feasts. We may be 
small, but we eat good! King Alden threatened to behead someone if 
presented with one more item from the same feast everyone else was 
getting -- he was that full and satisfied.

Sometimes it's a knowledge of a favorite food, sometimes it's for 
show, sometimes it's just for fun. I've even been known to grouse 
because now that I'm no longer territorial baroness, I don't get high 
table treats (G) -- just for fun. And last Michaelmass I was included 
in the high table special game hens, and promptly shared it with 
everyone at my table.

Morgana, Founding Baroness
Winter's Gate