Regency Gothic banquet testing
The end of all the recipe tests is in sight. From 4,000 pages of recipes, to 250 recipes to be tested, to devising a period menu from the successful tests (and testing a few more recipes to fill in gaps). We have one more big test and then we’re past all of that and can give the draft menu and tested recipes to Rydges. After that it’s up to the chef - he may not want to make everything. He may want to make substitutions. He may have questions. And it all happens in five months.
We tested the full array of sweet dishes a little while ago, if you can remember back that far. If you can, you’re doing better than me. It feels like a lifetime ago.
Today six of us sat down to a meal that comprised just one tableful of food from the banquet. The first third, in fact.
I can’t tell you what was on it, because we were happy with the selection and it will go as is straight to the chef for the on-high decisions.
I can say that anyone thinking of costumes should not be planning anything that is slim fitting. And you should absolutely not eat afternoon tea and maybe not lunch that day. We’re doing a ‘maigre’ version of the food of the time (correct, but somewhat lower fat) and it’s still just amazingly rich compared with normal Australian cuisine.
What’s really cool was that the vegetarian was just as full as the rest of us. He fitted in some fondue and a hot chocolate (made of Callebaut chocolate with spices and cream) afterwards, but then, so did I. It is just so important to have good hot chocolate and nibbles while watching Heroes on one’s birthday, after all.
It was a lovely evening all round. For anyone with birthday nerves, 46 is one you can look forward to with pleasure.
I do admit, I may not eat for two days. If ever you get to taste the richness of early nineteenth century southern English cooking, remember this. Don’t plan on meals the day after.
April 25th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
Happy Birthday!
April 26th, 2007 at 7:17 am
Thank you!
September 29th, 2007 at 6:00 am
[...] remember some of the recipes from the testing. Maybe I should link back to a couple of the tests, so you can see where this came [...]