NOTE: Most people simply wrote “YES” or “75% of the time”.
Below are comments from those that elaborated. (and I really appreciate
the comments)
I eat feast usually; especially if I know what will be served well in advance
of paying. I do not enjoy 'period' redaction always. I am a meat
and potato man. Give me roast beast and boiled tubers or yams!
Whatever the choice, I want to see a printed menu!
I used to. Now I try and avoid it, but I've yet to talk my household
into going off-board very often. Why? I just don’t like what
they serve.
I always eat feast.
About 1/3 to 1/2 of the time
Honestly, it depends on who's cooking. If I have made no contingency
plans, I will usually scout the kitchen to see if it will be edible and
or palatable. Usually I have a can of sandwich spread and such for
emergencies.
I usually *attend* feast. Eating is entirely another matter.
NO, I got tired of paying extra for feast to be crammed in like sardines
and be served food (usually period recipes) that I could either not identify
or could not stomach and then to have to go offboard to get something to
eat after feast was over.
I always attend feast (unless daytripping - and even then sometimes).
I am not a picky eater. I will try almost any food.
Depends. Who's cooking what's being served. Really makes a
difference.
If it is offered, I usually do. The only one that I missed on purpose
was because the feastcrat hadn't planned on enough food for everyone that
had paid for the event. Actually my whole Household skipped that
feast. We had food in camp, and that way more could eat.
I try to. The cooks put a lot of time and effort into the feast,
I think I should at least try it. Actually, I've only had one or
two feasts where I went away hungry. Most I can barely waddle away from
the table.
Every chance I get.
I scope out the Feast Hall first. If it looks like it will be really
crowded or there is poor ventilation or it is REALLY HOT out, then I skip
it. Crowded is bad enough, but cramped and hot is just too much.
In One Kingdom I lived in, I _always_ ate feast. Here in the (Kingdom
name omitted), where it's apparently acceptable to serve sheet cake, Caesar
salad, and fried chicken at Crown (no lie - it was my first event here),
I usually skip it.
I try to eat it when practical. I've ducked out when local to afford
seats to travelers.
I like to see what others have for ideas and what they are cooking.
It's professional curiosity as well as looking for a good time in
the candlelight.
No, but that's because it hasn't worked out often for a lot of reasons.
I wish I could more often, it's important to me.
Most of the time, unless I've heard unfortunate things.
If there is one, almost always.
I eat and/or serve, as needed and as my duties and honor require.
Yes, unless I have good reason not to. Good reasons include prior
feasts done by that cook which did not turn out well, or knowing, either
through the announcement or calling ahead, that the feast menu makes no
attempt
at period food. In that case I'd rather cook my own period stuff.
Yes. Rarely sideboard, it is usually a function of two things, expense
(very rare) and how well the group has done on average (if the food arrived
cold, there wasn't enough for everyone, didn't have much variety etc.)
Depends on who's cooking!
If I am not day tripping and its available. Also provided there are
no Peanuts in the menu as M'Lady is allergic to Peanut Oil.
Yes, unless I know from experience that I don't want to eat the meal prepared
by the particular cook.
When I can afford it, and have time.
Depends on the location. Some areas have a proven track record of bad cooks
and bad organization.
Extremely important -- it is a vital part of the background atmosphere.
Yes. Even though I'm a vegetarian and some feasts aren't very veggie friendly,
I'll still buy a seat.
Now that I am a landed Baroness, I eat feast at every event that we attend
- three weekends a month.
I frequently eat feast. It depends on whether I'm retaining (working for
someone at the event) or have driven a long way, or the pricing.
I think the feast should reflect the event, in that it should fit with
the overall theme and the circumstances of the site. Most of the time I
skip the feast because I have traveled a distance to get to the event and
I don't want to be driving late on a Saturday night. But if it is
a royal event (such as Coronation or a Royal Progress) and the cooks have
a good reputation, I will stay. I refuse to eat feasts prepared in some
shires or baronies, no matter who cooks.
Pretty much everyone here (where I live) usually eats feast (including
cases where the feast is part of another event rather than an event in
its own right)
About half of the time, I guess. If we're day-tripping the event,
we need to get home to walk the dogs, and if we don't know (based on the
cook's reputation and so forth) that it'll be a rewarding experience, we
may choose to eat at a restaurant on the way home instead.
No. (But that's because I usually leave events early to get home to relieve
the baby-sitter.)
Yes, unless it is held at a different site in an area I am not familiar
with.
When I can. Depends on whether I'm cooking the feast, or if I'm cooking
for my encampment, or if I got the event off. If I'm not cooking
somewhere, I'll eat feast.
Usually, unless I feel that it is excessively overpriced. I have
only run across this a few times.
It has been over a year since I have missed a feast at an event.
I rarely miss them if I am attending the rest of the event.
Less than half the time. The number has gotten much smaller (1 in 5 events
maybe) since my marriage and growing family.
Recently, I haven't been, but that's only because our group has been making
other arrangements. However, if the group has a reputation for having
great food, or if someone I know is onboard and I want to talk to them,
I'll do my best to get on.
Used to, Now I'm gluten/casein intolerant- major problem.
Depends on several factors. Unless it feels too expensive and getting other
food in the area is problematic, I'd rather stay on site and socialize
:-). Also, my lord and I both being somewhat fussy eaters,
if the menu has been published and we know we'd not eat much, we'll
go elsewhere. It's not fair to expect every feast steward to accommodate
our personal food quirks.
No. I find them too formal, generally, and prefer a more laid back
atmosphere.
About 50/50. Depends on how far I have to drive home, who the feastocrat
is, how many of my friends are going.
Depends on who's cooking and how far from home (or the nearest restaurant)
Only if it seems that there is something planned that is safe.
When I first joined the SCA I ate feasts, but now I am married with two
small children. No matter what people say I do not feel that the SCA is
very child-friendly. Especially Feasts. It takes too long after
sitting down for any food to come out. Many times the first remove
is on the table and there are still empty glasses on the table - nothing
to drink. If I have to bring my own food and drink I might
as well eat elsewhere.
I will eat feast if I recognize the dishes or trust the Cook, otherwise
I skip out.
I eat feast if I can get my fighter husband to stay. He checks the
menu for meat. If itis not plentiful, we end up at a steakhouse.
What a good question! Can I vote “half the time”? Meaning,
I stay until the end of most feasts half the time. I usually leave
after the second remove unless a sweet or desert will appear at the very
end. I am full by that time and need some air.
Question
3: Do you usually eat feast?