[MR] Re: Please reply your views

[Karen]

Jeanne asked whether it would be appropriate to serve beignets and
coffee and/or hot chocolate at Holiday Faire.  (I am guessing that this
is as part of Sudentur's bake sale fundraiser at the Faire.)

Beignets are highly similar to a pastry referred to as "acaravias
reales" in the 16th century "Manual de mugeres en el qual se contienen
muchas y diversas reçeutas muy buenas," the only serious difference
being that (as I recall) beignets are not fried in butter (as are the
acaravias in the recipe).

A hot chocolate beverage may have been included in an early 17th
century cookbook by Melchor de Lara.  Coffee (as discussed in Aidan
Stonepillar's "Coffee: The Wine of Islam" in the autumn 1998 issue of
Tournaments Illuminated) was served in the Near East in period; he
mentions a coffee house opened in mid-16th century Istanbul, described
by an early 17th century visitor from England, and that coffee is "said
to have been imported into Italy as early as 1580" through Venice and
Genoa.

In short ... Jeanne, it's entirely possible that such items as a
beignet-like pastry, a hot chocolate beverage, and coffee might have
been served in Spain in the late 16th to early 17th centuries.  Many on
the list have already spoken up on the general positivity of having
such tasty comestibles at the event, and I think they would make for a
wonderful addition to your canton's bake sale.  And having happy
memories of enjoying hot chocolate and beignets at Cafe du Monde with a
Girl Scout trip ... I would add my name to those saying "Yes, yum!" :)

Sugar, despite what has been written, is *not* a solely New World
ingredient; in fact, in the acaravias recipe I'd mentioned, the author
writes, "Y como las saquen, poner la una encima de la otra echándoles
azúcar molido por encima." (my translation: "And as you remove them,
stack them on top of each other and cast ground sugar on top."  I'll be
posting a full translation of this cookbook Real Soon Now.)  Much
research has been done by SCAdians already to reaffirm the fact that
sugar was used in the SCA's period; I would recommend reading the
article "Of Sugar and Confections"
(http://www.florilegium.org/files/FOOD-SWEETS/Sgr-a-Cnftns-art.html).

And I would question the propriety of publicly haranguing a relative
newcomer to Atlantia for not doing research, and for conceivably
distracting from the period atmosphere at the event.  Much is bought
and sold at Holiday Faires that is not purely authentic to pre-17th
century western Europe.  If one can turn a blind eye to such items, or
conversations about modern concerns (such as computers or mundane
employment), and indeed the modern edifice in which the event will take
place, surely one could somehow dig within oneself to seek out the
capability to enjoy hot chocolate and beignets without having to
consider whether or not it is period.

And surely making such a public display of "snarkage" will not be
helpful to those who are considering participating in activities even
on this scale.  It's one thing if a person is seeking to participate in
a bake sale, and another if a person is seeking to participate in an
arts competition.  I see no part of her question where she asked
whether it would be period, or authentic; only whether it would be a
good idea.


Yours in Service,

Karen Larsdatter
  combining the "Compleat Anachronist Editor" hat
  and the "Baronial Chatelaine" hat
  for a "don't snark away the newcomers" ensemble

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