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ClancyDay-fst-art – 6/10/05

 

"Clancy Day Feast" by Dame Hauviette d'Anjou. A copy of the handout for the feast.

 

NOTE: See also the files: feasts-msg, headcooks-msg, p-feasts-msg, Run-a-Feast-art, feast-menus-msg, feast-serving-msg. child-kitchen-msg, Fst-Menus-art.

 

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NOTICE -

 

This article was submitted to me by the author for inclusion in this set of files, called Stefan's Florilegium.

 

These files are available on the Internet at: http://www.florilegium.org

 

Copyright to the contents of this file remains with the author or translator.

 

While the author will likely give permission for this work to be reprinted in SCA type publications, please check with the author first or check for any permissions granted at the end of this file.

 

Thank you,

Mark S. Harris...AKA:..Stefan li Rous

stefan at florilegium.org

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Clancy Day Feast

The Field of the Cloth of Gold, A.S. XXXI

by Dame Hauviette d'Anjou

 

The First Service at Supper

 

Manchet and assorted butters

specially baked light wheat loaf served with cinnamon, chive, and sweet butters

 

A Sallet

Assorted herbs, lettuces and fruit seasoned and tossed with a red wine vinaigrette dressing

 

Salmon Baked in Pastry after the French Fashion

A mild salmon and cheese filling baked in puff pastry spiced delicately with saffron, cloves and white pepper.

 

Arboulastre or Herbolace

Spinach, herbs and cheese compliment this simple baked egg omelette.

 

Alunder of Beef

Roast of Beef  stuffed with parsley, thyme, sweet raisins and butter gently spiced and baked in a red wine and cinnamon sauce.

 

Wardens in Conserve

Pears preserved in a honey and white wine syrup spiced with fresh ginger and whole cinnamon.

 

Comfits and Orengat

Aniseed and Coriander candies accompanying bitter-sweet candied Orange peel

 

 

The Second Service at Supper

 

Vegetables, Preserved and Fresh

Carrots and Cauliflower  pickled in a tangy vinegar brine accompanied by fresh Cucumber and Radish salad.

 

Roasted New World Bird with Sauce Orangers

Roasted Turkey served with orange wine sauce.

 

Macrows

Egg noodles and three cheeses are combined in a buttery sauce and baked to perfection

 

Venison Pasty

Flaky handmade crust encloses a rich venison, mushroom and  smoked bacon filling.

 

Fried Beans

Sweet butter and fresh garlic enliven this simple dish  of  fried onions and garbanzo beans.

 

A Dish of Snow with French Wafers

An incredibly light  and refreshing whipped cream and meringue subtlety, served with fresh apple slices and lace like hand pressed wafers

 

Comfits and Candied Ginger

Caraway candies and a potent Candied Ginger (beware, one or two will clean your palette, several may clear your mind)

 

This menu is not conclusive of ingredients, please see your server for details

 

 

In 1520, a summit meeting between Henry the VIII of England and Francis I of France was arranged in an attempt to improve relations between the two countries.  The grandeur of the gathering was beyond anything known in Europe at that time.  A number of structures were built for the event including a reproduction castle, an enormous banquet hall, exquisite pavilions and a tournament field to accomodate the thousands of jousters, courtiers, and attendants.  

 

Our feast will not be as long nor contain as many dishes as was served to the two monarchs.  I will strive, however, to provide a feast that is as true to the form and substance of the Tudor period as possible.

 

The main source of recipes and sample menu was "A proper newe boke of cokerye 16 C." Catherine Frances Frere Ed. (1913). which is part of A collection of medieval and renaissance cookbooks compiled by Duke Cariadoc of the Bow and Duchess Diana Alena 4th edition.

 

Thanks to all those who helped make this feast possible.

 

 

Celebration of the Ages

 

For those of you who are interested, I have written this brief synopsis of the method behind my madness. You may wonder why I have prepared a feast of such vast differences in age and style.  Overall, the three removes of this feast span a total of 1400 years. Explored is the height of the Roman Empire (40 A.D.) through the establishment of Jorvick Viking and Celtic communities (900 A.D.) into the riches of the Late Middle Ages(1350-1450) of Western Europe. Each remove has been fashioned for the high table, which would be served to the most noble of persons

 

In my studies of these periods, I formed an impression of each age with regard to its prominent flavours and its character as a reflection of its trade practices.  It is in this light that I have prepared this feast.

 

The luxuries enjoyed by the citizens of the Roman Empire were evident in its adapted Greek gastronomy. From  Apicius, I found that the prominent flavours involved the employment of salt (even in the use of extremely salty sauces derived from the garum fish), all manner of peppers, honey, wine, unleavened bread and pork as the meat of choice . The character of the meal was that it was taken while reclining and this dictated that foods be eaten easily by hand. The appetite of the Roman Empire was carried along with its soldiers, and influenced the culinary practices of the cultures they encountered.  

The Jorvick Viking and Celtic communities were limited by the endeavors of viking and an isolated environment. The result was the prominent flavours of cereals and grains, white dairy products, woodland fruit and nuts, honey, and in addition to the use of salt and pepper was the occasion of an imported spice such as cinnamon. The meal was characterized by the "pottage" or stew which afforded the source of protein to be extended by grains such as barley or oats.  

 

Finally, again we see the rich augmentation of foods as a result of the trade routes of the late Middle Ages. The influence on the prominent flavours includes the extensive use of combined spices such as nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, saffron and cloves employed in all manner of sauce. The import of sugar resulted in a new genre of confection and flavour was altered likewise. In a time of ostentation, the character of the 14th & 15th Century table was one of illusion: not only in the use of heraldic display, but the making of food into that which it was not.

 

In this short synopsis, I have not provided you with any documentation but would be pleased to discuss these matters another time. You see, I have a few people to feed.

 

In Service to the Dream,  

by Dame Hauviette d'Anjou

 

Please indulge me  while a take a moment to acknowledge the individuals who have helped to make this day possible;

 

Baronesa Maestra Dulcinea Maria Magdalena von Muhlberg y Aguilar (whew!)...my teacher, friend and source of continuous support.

 

Catrina Morand... my student and helper and reminder that giggling madly while making stew is what it's all about.

 

Dame Cadfan...    my  sister in photocopy, confident and gentle reminder to keep my tongue in cheek.

 

Lady Ailikn Olafsdattir..an endless source of valuable insight, friendship, and great resource in the area of Viking and Anglo-Saxon gastronomy.

 

Ilya Scott...     for her efforts and hilarity while concocting confections

 

The House Darkyard...   a tribute to the members of this house for their guidance and friendship.

 

The House Argus...      for the inspiration and encouragement and most of all for being my test victims.

 

The many helpers in the kitchen this day (without whom this feast could not be done)

 

Finally and most importantly, my sweet husband Raymond D'Anjou...without his support, love and understanding (and hours peeling, chopping etc.) I could not have enjoyed this task so much!!!!

 

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Copyright 1997 by Channon Mondoux, 6924 Angling Road, Portage Mi  49024. <channonmondoux at yahoo.com>. Permission is granted for republication in SCA-related publications, provided the author is credited and receives a copy.

 

To view more of Channon Mondoux’s work go to her website: www.rencuisine.com or email her at: info at rencuisine.com

 

If this article is reprinted in a publication, I would appreciate a notice in

the publication that you found this article in the Florilegium. I would also

appreciate an email to myself, so that I can track which articles are being

reprinted. Thanks. -Stefan.

 

<the end>



Formatting copyright © Mark S. Harris (THLord Stefan li Rous).
All other copyrights are property of the original article and message authors.

Comments to the Editor: stefan at florilegium.org