Medieval Times

Excited as I was for a trip to a New Jersey castle, I wasn't expecting much of the food itself at this dinner experience.  The menu was presented on napkins at our dining places around the horse arena, and we settled into the stadium seating for the show- a wildly lit and deliberately acted medieval jousting tournament.  There was drama.  There was intrigue.  There was eating with our hands.

I generally enjoy menus that double as functional items, but this one I had to struggle to keep clean for my records.  Not an easy feat, since there were bbq-slathered plasti-ribs to enjoy.  The highlight for me was the tomato bisque, served in a heavy pewter-esque bowl with a single handle for medieval-style lifting and sipping.  After that, it was what you'd expect with potatoes and meats, supplemented with all the Coke one could pour down one's gullet.  Instead of soda, though, we sipped cocktails from our oversized novelty mugs.  After much jeering pageantry and waving our Green Knight flaglets at the actors, we were released to take dress-up photos and get autographs from our heroes.  Kitch factor: 10, Food: 4, Fun: 8.  Sadly, our knight didn't win, but have you read Game of Thrones?  I guess Medieval Times is just trying to be true to reality.  Mission accomplished.    

Note autograph of Green Knight