[Sca-cooks] serving unusual foods

[Antonia Calvo]

Patricia Dunham wrote:
>> Eastern Isles of Lochac.  We usually go with 100% pre-bookings, and 
>> feasters see the menu (and possibly an ingredients sheet) when they 
>> turn up.
>
> I was wondering about that...  There must be a segment of your 
> populace that just doesn't do feasts???

Not at all.  We ask people to state any dietary restrictions when 
booking, so that we can make sure that everyone gets a good, safe, and 
varied meal.  *Very* occasionally, we have to tell someone we just can't 
cater for them, but a typical solution is to suggest that they attend at 
half price, eat what they can and bring something extra for themselves. 

I have encountered one or two people who just don't *do* feasts, but in 
their case, the issue is *extreme* fussy eating-- essentially, no feast 
menu would make them happy, so they're on their own.


> Here in AnTir, publishing the menu in advance is pretty standard. 
> We're generally really high-radar about food allergies and 
> sensitivities, as well as vegan/vegetarian, here in Ecotopia.

I'm pretty willing to make adjustments to menu so that everyone can eat, 
so it's not such a big deal-- in general, I'd rather people came than 
didn't. 


> Somehow I'm not surprised though, Antipodeans are tough, <G>, I 
> guess.  My best friend for the last 30 yrs is a Kiwi who always said 
> there was absolutely no cultural allowance made for delicacy of 
> constitution AT ALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE -- any sign of weakness 
> was taken for malingering!  Of course, she grew up in New Zealand 50 
> years ago...

Oh, gods, that has changed... we're in the grip of the latest trendy 
food restriction, gluten free-- picking up where lactose intolerance 
left off, basically.  I wish they'd just do us all a favour and decide 
they were Brussels-sprout intolerant or pheasant-intolerant or something 
else that's nicely non-disruptive.

Speaking in general, though, NZers generally and NZ SCAdians especially 
tend to be robust and enthusiastic eaters who appreciate good cooking  
and are not afraid to try unfamiliar things.  Excessive fussiness tends 
to be viewed quite negatively. 

-- 
Antonia di Benedetto Calvo

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