Siege Cook-off 2008 Scenario

The year is 1142. England is in the grips of a savage civil war. Two claimants, Empress Matilda and Count Stephen of Blois, are locked in a struggle for the English crown. Matilda is the last surviving child of the late King; Henry I. Stephen of Blois is the last surviving male descendent of William the Conqueror. The ensuing civil war will bring fourteen years of misery and horror to the beautiful green fields and woods of England.

You and a stalwart band are defending the Empress Matilda. Her brother, Robert of Gloucester, has gone over to France to fetch Matilda's son, Henry of Anjou. Matilda's advisors feel that the presence of Henry will inject new enthusiasm into the Matilda's waning cause.

Matilda is waiting for their return at Oxford Castle. Stephen, hearing of Matilda's presence in the castle, lays siege. Things are becoming desperate with the arrival of winter. Few supplies are entering the castle and Matilda's plight looks very grave. Somehow Matilda must escape to fight another day.

You have conceived a brilliant idea. You and your loyal band of cooks will prepare a feast. Under the cover of preparations and serving of the lavish feast made with the last of the provisions in the castle, Matilda will slip away. No one in the castle will know that she and a few attendants have fled. How to keep the besiegers from knowing that Matilda has fled?

Mother Nature comes to Matilda's rescue. A blinding blizzard has slammed down on Oxford from the north. The wind howls and the snow swirls around the besieged castle. The poor, frozen sentries posted outside the castle will not see the intrepid band as they slip out of the castle wrapped in white cloaks. When the blizzard ends and Matilda has been found missing, no one but you and your clever cooks will know where she has gone.

Your charge is to take these pitiful stores and create a feast that will distract the inhabitants of the castle and drive the besiegers to mad with the enticing aromas of your feast. Remember you can only add water to the meager rations that you have been given. Good Luck.

Return to main Siege Cook-Off page

	Since 1996, Historic Enterprises has been dedicated to bringing an unparalleled collection of the highest quality reproduction items to historic sites and historical enthusiasts worldwide. With wares ranging from armor to pottery, clothing, leather, horn and woodware, cutlery and more, our goal is to be the "one-stop shop" for all your reenactment needs.
	Founded in 1978, Bob's Red Mill Natural Foods is a distinctive stone grinding miller of whole grain natural foods. They offer the widest selection of natural, organic and gluten free flours, cereals, mixes and baking aids. Over 400 products are marketed in natural food and grocery stores. To view the Bob's Red Mill product line, meet the people, see the whole grain store, bakery, cooking school and restaurant, and tour the plant visit www.bobsredmill.com.
	Trader Joe's travels the world in search of interesting, unique, great-tasting foods and beverages. They buy direct from the producer whenever possible and then strip away all the fancy stuff and focus on the important things like natural ingredients and inspiring flavors.
	At Old Town Spice Merchants, we carry the freshest products available. Our spices come directly from the importers' warehouses located across the U.S. We carry over 100 individual spices & dried-herbs in stock, as well as access to dozens more, through our network of suppliers. The concept behind our store has never wavered; offer the freshest spices & herbs available. We also have your health in mind as all of our blends are hand mixed from our own recipes; we never use artificial additives, fillers, or preservatives. Pleas visit Anthony Delbono and his staff at 41925 5th Street, Temecula, CA 92590. Or call them at 951-587-2223.
	For six decades, Henry's Farmers Markets has been devoted to serving the communities in which it does business by supporting local growers and suppliers, partnering with nonprofit organizations and promoting sustainability. It has been named the "Best Health Food Store" by readers of the San Diego Union-Tribune and the "Best Place to Buy Produce" by readers of the Orange County Register. The Henry's family includes 28 stores in San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Los Angeles Counties.
	"You've got to give the customer the merchandise they want, at a price they can afford, complete with lots of tender, loving care." - Joe Albertson. His care and vision also reach into the communities served by Albertsons stores through its generous support of local programs and services. In 2004 alone, Albertsons provided nearly $82 million in cash and in-kind donations with support focused on hunger relief, education and the development of youth, and health and nutrition.