Mithril Chef Contest!

Nobles and Subjects of Travance! It is with great pleasure that I announce Travance’s first annual Mithril Chef competition. Who shall be named our beloved Barony’s first Mithril Chef? This event, sponsored by the Merchant’s Guild of Travance, shall take place during the month of September on the weekend of the Baronial Feast. It shall take place during Market Faire in the Main Feasting Hall. The event will be broken down into two phases.

Phase One is open to all competitors. The requirements for Phase One are to present a savory dish in pie form to the Merchant's Guildmaster at the beginning of Market Faire. The dish need not have a crust, but must be presented in a pie tin. Examples might include beef and mushroom, vegetable medley, quiche, or shepherd’s pie. No desserts will be accepted.

From each pie, some small portions will be set aside for the judges. The rest of the pie shall be made available for sale to the assembled nobles and subjects of Travance. At approximately half past eleven bells, the judges shall convene to begin tasting. From the various entries, four winners shall be announced by twelve bells. If there are less than four entries into the contest, all entries shall advance to the next phase.

Phase Two shall consist of these winners being provided ingredients to create a specific dish which will be announced at that time. A secret ingredient shall also be announced which must somehow be included in the dish.  These contestants shall have until one bell in the afternoon to create the dish and present it to the judges.

At half past one bell, the votes shall be tallied and Travance’s first Mithril Chef shall be announced.  Each of the Phase Two contestants shall receive prizes depending upon how they placed in the voting and the Grand Prize Winner shall be awarded the Apron of the Mithril Chef and a bounty of mithril.

So, join us at the September Baronial Feast for food and fun as we determine who shall be named…Mithril Chef!

By my hand on this day, the 7th of July, 1211,

I do have a question regarding the second phase of the competition.  Will competitors be allowed use of the Dragon's Claw kitchen, or must they provide their own utensils & cooking fires should they decide to prepare the surprise ingredients in a form that requires cooking?  I do not know how expansive is the kitchen within Jonas' generous establishment.

What should those of us who wish to compete do to let you know? Should we send a messenger your way, simply add a note here, or are competitors simply permitted to present a dish to you at Market Faire?

Also, since meat pies are the qualifying dish, will there be a means of storing and reheating all of the first phase entries?

As the Guildmaster, I eagerly await the presentation of the dishes to me for my tasting pleasure.  Thank you including me Rudolf.

Ardin Silverbow
Guildmaster

(OOG-Norm B)

My Dear Guildmaster Silverbow,

While the intention of the notice was to have these dishes presented to the Merchant's Guildmaster, I would be delighted to have your refined palate join the other judges during Phase One of the Mithril Chef contest.

Sincerely,

Rudolf, I am looking forward to this, but would like to know more about the Logistics of how phase two will work before I plan my dish for Phase 1.

Dear Rudolf,

I would like to know what catergory that 2nd phase is.  Thank You!



In Joy, Love and Peace,

Subjects of Travance,

Changes have been made to the Mitrhil Chef contest (it has been moved from August to September so as to coincide with the Tournament de Travancia).

Sincerely,

As the date has changed to a time when would be able to compete, I would also like to request more information about the logistics of the second phase.

Guildmaster Rudolf,

May I inquire as to what this Tournament de Travancia is?

Thank you,
Lucas R. Brand

Rudolf,

I am growing concerned with the fact that you have been asked by multiple people about the logistics of phase two and we have not heard an answer since the first request was made in early July. Where will the Phase 2 Contestants be allowed to cook?  Will it be on open flame or will we have 4 cooks in a very small kitchen in the inn or guards barracks?

And if we will not be using the Inn's main kitchen, and I assume we will not be with feast preparations going on, what sort of tools / ingredients will be available for our use, and how much will we need to provide for ourselves?

Phase Two of the Mithril Chef contest will begin at midday once the four winners of Phase One have been announced by the judges.

At that time, the dish will be announced (and the ingredients necessary to make it will be provided including the "secret" ingedient).

Owing to the fact that the cooking portion of the contest will be concluded by one bell past midday, I do not feel this is an imposition on the people preparing the feast on Saturday night.  After all, anyone who enters the Mithril Chef contest is of such exemplary character that they would automatically know to clean up after themselves. To leave the kitchen in a state of uncleanliness after they were finished would make a contestant unworthy of the title of Mithril Chef.

At this time, I am awaiting confirmation from Quan Liu about use of the kitchen in the Dragon's Claw Inn.  If the Mithril Chef contestants are permitted to use the kitchen in the Dragon's Claw Inn, then that location, along with the kitchen in the Guard's barracks will be used.

With only four contestants, I do not feel that the contestants will be "tripping over each other" as it were.  The judges are also Travancians of high moral character and understanding.  If a contestant happens to finish their Phase Two entry first, I am sure the judges will be happy to sample the entry when it is ready.  The only constraint is that all entries must be presented to the judges prior to one bell past midday.

If you have any additional questions, I shall be more than delighted to answer them.

Sincerely,