Renaissance Faire Food, What do you look for?

[DonaCatalina]

First I look for something non-greasy and non-drippy. Court garb and drippy do get along well together..

Believe it or not, the fish and chips at Scarborough are not greasy, or at least they haven't been for me.

(so much for the sarcasm, I guess it doesn't come over in print. LOL )

[Merlin the Elder]

The Castle had — I'm not even sure what they called them — fried potatoes like potato chips. I LOVE home-built potato chips.  I will get some more of those when I return to the Castle. Not messy at all (unless you want to drench them in ketchup, which I don't).

The Doña is right (I think she meant "court garb and drippy do not get along well together") about the food being messy. It's hard enough on garb, but when your persona has as much facial hair as I do, it can be problematic!  Finger food is good for me. I can be gross at home where I can hose off my face....

[Rani Zemirah]

Peasant potatoes... curl-cut and deep fried.  Mmmmm...

And they can be found at many Faires, Merlin, because they are inexpensive to make, and they can make lots of money with them!

[maeven]

If I am at Sherwood, I go for the hummus, pitas and falaffel. There's also the roasted almonds, but that's not really unusual.

If I am at TRF, I go nuts with the noms. For me it's the empanadas, the fried mushrooms, the pretzels (the parmesean pretzel for me, thank you!), again the roasted almonds (I always bring a big bag back for my dad because he loves the heck out of them), the gyros and of course, the turkey legs.

[Ser Niall]

My usual staples at TRF are a scotch egg in the morning, chili in a bread bowl for lunch, and a turkey leg for dinner before I leave for the day.  Yes, not the healthiest choices, but I only go a couple days a year, so its a treat.  If I find anything truly unusual or different, I'll almost always try that in place of some of the above.

And of course, plenty of beer throughout the day 

BTW, I watched a Ren Fest special on Food Network a couple years ago, and they showed how they make the turkey legs.  They roasted them over a special rotisserie with a spice blend, and then steamed them in a cooler for a half hour so the meat stays moist and falls off the bone.  I tried this method at home using my grill (slow roasted using indirect heat), and they came out very faire-like.  I wonder if my neighbors will freak out if I'm out on the patio with my friends feasting on turkey while wearing our garb 

[BLAKDUKE]

yes scotch eggs, I have made these.  It's not to difficult but expensive for only a dozen or so.  Bread bowls with Brocolli/cheese  soup or beef stew.  If there is a fullt functional bakery at the faire... the cinnamon nut rolls, to die for 

[Dinobabe]

BTW, I watched a Ren Fest special on Food Network a couple years ago, and they showed how they make the turkey legs.  They roasted them over a special rotisserie with a spice blend, and then steamed them in a cooler for a half hour so the meat stays moist and falls off the bone.  I tried this method at home using my grill (slow roasted using indirect heat), and they came out very faire-like.  I wonder if my neighbors will freak out if I'm out on the patio with my friends feasting on turkey while wearing our garb 

Grandma's booth at Bristol was right next to the turkey leg vendor.  They had this H U G E stainless steal rotisserie out back and would hose it down every day.  It was fun to watch them go round and round and round.....  Always smelled great and we could have free legs if any were left over after the day.

[BLAKDUKE]

omigod,  free food?   are they insane???

don't they know not to get between a rennie and free food.............................

[Cofeeguru]

Oh lordy, now you have me thinking about Fest food!  My faves at MNRF are definitely the banger roll (with ranch, H/A be darned!), the spinach pie, and now those tasty cupcakes they've added.  Other than that. . .I can leave most of it. Though Italian Ices are good on a hot day.  I was a HUGE (read multiple trips a day) fan of Tillie's Magic Bean coffee shop, and specifically their "pixie punch" in lavender, but they're not in business anymore, and I just sigh longingly when I pass the spot they used to be.

Usually it's just too darn hot to do more than drink water (and beer) when I'm out there.  Which is most weekends.  Plus it gets spendy.

The barbecue competition food was good last year, though. . .I'll definitely visit that again.

[lys1022]

BTW, I watched a Ren Fest special on Food Network a couple years ago, and they showed how they make the turkey legs.  They roasted them over a special rotisserie with a spice blend, and then steamed them in a cooler for a half hour so the meat stays moist and falls off the bone.  I tried this method at home using my grill (slow roasted using indirect heat), and they came out very faire-like.  I wonder if my neighbors will freak out if I'm out on the patio with my friends feasting on turkey while wearing our garb 

That was actually shot at Scarborough and is specifically how Scarby does their turkey legs.  I'm told that we're the only ones in the country who do them that way.

[Ser Niall]

That was actually shot at Scarborough and is specifically how Scarby does their turkey legs.  I'm told that we're the only ones in the country who do them that way.

I guess I'll have to make a trip to this faire and give them a try!

[Dinobabe]

Do you happen to remember the name of the show?  I tried searching but to no avail....

[Captain Teague]

I found this press release, but not much more.

www.scarboroughrenfest.com/press/releases/05Turkeyleg.doc

Also found a site with some unwrapped videos. Not sure if it's on there, the search box is not all that good.

http://wn.com/Food_Network_Unwrapped

[Ser Niall]

I found this press release, but not much more.

www.scarboroughrenfest.com/press/releases/05Turkeyleg.doc

Also found a site with some unwrapped videos. Not sure if it's on there, the search box is not all that good.

http://wn.com/Food_Network_Unwrapped

Yes, I do believe that's the show.  Although I thought they had more than just the turkey legs on.  Its been a while since I've seen it, so the memory is hazy.

[Captain Teague]

Was there Ale involved? 


(if so, I can totally relate.   )