[Sca-cooks] lethal drinks

[Antonia Calvo]

Dragon wrote:

> Antonia Calvo wrote:
>
>> Dragon wrote:
>>
>>> I've had people categorically tell me that I should NEVER use 
>>> ingredient X (usually nuts or mushrooms) in anything served at an 
>>> SCA feast because somebody might be allergic to them.
>>
>>
>> <snip>
>>
>>> My response when I am told such things is very reasonable I think 
>>> and it is thus:
>>>
>>> - Not more than one dish per course in a feast will contain a 
>>> potentially problematic ingredient. For example, almonds would not 
>>> appear in more than one dish per course but may appear more than 
>>> once in different dishes in different courses (though usually I 
>>> don't do that in a given feast). My list of such things includes the 
>>> most common allergens all types of nuts, shellfish (which I almost 
>>> never use due to cost), and mushrooms. A number of potential 
>>> allergens are not even used in anything I cook for an SCA event as 
>>> they are non-period.
>>>
>>> - A COMPLETE list of ALL ingredients used in each dish is made 
>>> available BEFORE the feast is served.
>>>
>>> - Strict control is maintained in the kitchen to prevent 
>>> cross-contamination. For example, each pot has it's own spoon to 
>>> stir it to prevent the almond milk from getting into another sauce 
>>> for example. All cutting boards, knives and other prep gear are 
>>> washed with hot water and soap before being used for the next 
>>> ingredient, etc.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Which I think is an extraordinary effort to go to.  My approach: 
>> *tell me when booking* whether you have allergies or intolerances and 
>> I will make sure, by one method or several, that you either get a 
>> good and varied meal or I don't take your money.  I will not try to 
>> anticipate what people might be allergic to or limit my use of 
>> ingredients without an actual indication that there's a problem. I do 
>> provide ingredient lists and I may issue warnings, adjust menus, 
>> provide alternates, etc., etc., when there *is* an issue.
>
> ---------------- End original message. ---------------------
>
> Unfortunately, things here in Caid don't work that way. Many of our 
> feasts don't have reservations and those that do may not sell out in 
> advance. We have a rather large and varied populace and I have dealt 
> with a number of people trying to tell me what I can and can't do for 
> a feast.

They worked that way in Caid when we were part of Caid :-)

And, actually, booking isn't something that just happens.  We went to 
quite a bit of effort a few years ago to get people into the habit.


> So... I have to do some planning to accommodate allergies and by 
> limiting the main problem foods to just a few dishes it ensures that 
> there is something almost everyone can eat. The policy I have come up 
> with is workable.


Fair enough :-)

>
> Now if I could just not have to worry about the vegetarians... oh how 
> they vex me...


Oh, don't get me started... and definitely don't get me started on vegans...


-- 
Antonia di Benedetto Calvo

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Habeo metrum - musicamque,
hominem meam. Expectat alium quid?
-Georgeus Gershwinus
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