[Sca-cooks] spoiled meat

[Terry Decker]

>I received the latest issue of Renaissance Magazine. In the past few issues
> they have added "the Castle Kitchen" by Alice the Cook. So far, the 
> recipes
> don't seem to have documentation but being in the magazine seems to imply
> some sort of documentation.
>

"Renaissance" is the general magazine for the RenFaire crowd.  The articles 
are generally written in broad strokes, so nuances and conflicting 
information often are overlooked.  It can be a fun read, but I wouldn't 
trust it as accurate.  Being published in "Renaissance" doesn't imply 
documentation, merely that the editor liked what he read and didn't spot any 
glaring errors.  Peer reviewed, no.

> Her recent recipe is Apricot Brandy Stuffed Pork.
> Here are my questions.
> 1. I had come to understand brandy was post 1630s, am I incorrect in this
> understanding?
>

Roughly 1300, attributed to Arnaldus Villanova at Monpellier.  Brandy in 
cooking, who knows.

> 2. She states: "In renaissance dishes from many cultures, meats and fruits
> were often combined. Originally, the sweetness of the fruits was used to
> hide the acrid smells of spoiled meat and/or to remove the saltiness of
> preserved (salted) meat. The fruits...."
> Now I know that the use of spices to cover rancid meat is a myth but what 
> of
> her statement of fruit to cover spoiled meat?
>

Opinion, bull.  Fruit would likely be used to offset sour and salt, meld 
flavors, and provide some mild acidity, but it won't handle rancid.

> She has written 2 cookbooks "Renaissance cooking" and "Renaissance Cooking
> II: Visiting the Silk Road". Her bio says that she recreates recipes that
> have been in the family since 1400s as well as exploring French, Spanish,
> Italian, Middle Eastern, and Indian cuisine. Plus she specializes in
> British, Irish, Scottish and Welsh cuisine. This does not help me figure 
> out
> whether I should just enjoy the recipes and take her statement with a cup 
> of
> salt or a bucket of salt.
>
>
> Thank you,
> De

Enjoy it, but unless you can verfiy a source, don't trust the historical 
claims.  Think Aresty, probably without the scholarly background.

Bear