We’re incredibly privileged to have had no community transmission of Covid19 here in New Zealand, so we can safely hold social events.
While we were in lockdown my friend Priscilla asked if we could have a dinner party at her house to celebrate once it was safe to get together again.
We all have, or have been working on, 14th century dresses, so we chose a midwinter Medieval feast.
Nina applied her amazing food skills to developing a menu. We all cooked, decorated, and lent a hand.
Thanks to everyone’s work and collaboration, we had the most fabulous evening: complete with an entire haunch of wild venison, a gingerbread castle, sugared apples, and Medieval disco dancing.
Sending out lots of love to the rest of the world, and hopes for a time when we can all gather in safety and joy ❤️
Hmmm…what’s under her dress?
Jenni had the privilege/misfortune of sitting across from me, and having great lighting:
The Menu
Pear & Parsnip Soup in Bread Trenchers
I made the bread bowls. 5 kilos of dough!
The soup was so good I forgot to take a photo before eating it all, so thanks to Nina for lending me the one above!
Mushrooms in Broth
Sweet & Sour Onions
Spiced Cabbage with Apples
This turned out surprisingly delicious considering I volunteered to make it, realised it involved alcohol, crossed my fingers, and subbed out all the alcoholic ingredients!
Pickled salmon
Roast Venison
And salat for those of us with peasant tastes…
Candied Apples
Marzipan Fancies
Rysshews of Fruit
And the famous…
Gingerbread castle!
Fabulous times!
This is absolutely delightful! Thank you so very much for sharing.
Wonderful! I’m so glad you are all able to get together (that meal looks fantastic). I hope your parents/US family/friends are healthy and safe.
It looks lovely! x
Just what we need in this country: a cheerful celebration to keep the spirits up in winter!
It looks to have been so much fun! You all look beautiful and the food looks so tempting. I am impressed by your bread bowls – not easy in a small modern oven. We are so very lucky.
So perfect! What a feast! I can’t say that I’m not envious of your lovely dinner and all of you in your beautiful costumes. â¤ï¸
That looks lovely. My mum made red cabbage with cooking apples, cloves and l think a bit of sugar too, for a sweet /sour flavour. Tasted lovely, needed long slow cooking , as l have found when l tried it
14th century is one of my favourite eras , so graceful and alllows you to enjoy that lovely food in comfort
wow, looks wonderful! and wonderful too, that you can have meetings like that. is there a possibility to maybe get a recipe for the pickled salmon? this looks so delicious!!!!!!
What a wonderful celebration of your country’s hard work getting to zero community spread! Like Christina says, 14th century has many beautiful things–and looks like wonderful food. (I generally have a weakness for medieval cooking)
I hope that everyone here is safe and well–and most importantly–feeling supported during this pandemic. Thank you for letting us enjoy the time vicariously, Lady Dreamstress!
everything from the dresses to the table setting to the delightful gingerbread castle is so beautiful! the food sounds scrumptious, too. so happy that you shared it in photos with us here.
Thank you for sharing your celebration with us. It is truly wonderful that a nation can and did band together for the good of all. You and your countrymen are an inspiration for us all!
How incredibly wonderful!! NZ has been a leading light in addressing COVID-19. Thank you for sharing your gathering, which was absolutely full of beauty!