War Fare Paperback – August 26, 2010

As the 40th anniversary of the Pennsic War rapidly approaches, there has appeared on the market, this marvelous compilation of recipes and anecdotes from the earlier days of Pennsic. Long ago two cookshops, namely The Sated Tyger Inn and Battlefield Bakery made it their business to feed people at the War. This is a true account of those endeavors written by the two ladies that made it all happen and how it all came about.The book also captures that elusive magic of the War, that magic of gathering, those two weeks in August, and of friends, and of the community. So much of what makes the war an experience that draws people back and back yet again can be found in the volume. It preserves and celebrates the War in a warm fashion in a volume with distinctive style. As such it would make a grand gift for those that once attended Pennsic but cannot now participate due to age or infirmity. It's a wonderful volume for provoking memories.And almost as a bonus, it includes the recipes for the foods once served through those cookshops. These tried and tested recipes been reworked for the home cook and make amounts now suitable for families and not for armies! For the bakers among us, there's a valuable chapter titled "Medieval Breads and How to Make Them With Some Degree of Authenticity."As Food History News' Sandy Oliver noted, "It is a fun read, full of terrific illustrations of field ovens, food in the past, dishes made, and baked goods, and full of accessible recipes for all kinds of medieval dishes for modern people."I can think of no better way to celebrate Pennsic XXXX than to acquire one's own copy of War Fare.