Take Me Out to the Ren Faire!
This weekend, we took a trip out to the Bristol Renaissance Faire, just over the state line in Kenosha, WI. Full disclosure: we love Ren Faires (Ed. Note: Hellz Yeah!). While they might not be everyone’s cup of tea, we love the costumes, the shopping and the beautiful handcrafted goods. And, of course, the food! The food at a Renaissance Faire is definitely a cut above the food at a standard amusement park or county fair.
We started the day off at the bakery, checking out the breads and cakes. In addition to food stands and kiosks, the Faire has several places where you can buy things to take home, including breads, pastries, homemade candies, fudge and chocolate dipped fruits. Devil Dogs ($4) are especially enticing, with two fudge brownies sandwiching vanilla butter cream frosting and covered in chocolate shavings.
Next, at the Tuscany Tavern, one of the many pubs scattered throughout the grounds, we got a glass of Mead ($3.50). This was just the first of many glasses of the refreshing, fermented-honey drink that we would consume throughout the day. After a quick stop for a “Steak on a Stake,” we wandered over to our favorite faire offering – garlic sautéed mushrooms. Cooking throughout the day in giant cauldrons, these mushrooms are juicy, covered with garlic and spices, and a steal at $4.50 for a large bowl. The same stand sells Sassafras soda for only $1. We also sampled a turkey leg ($6.50), an excellent green salad on a pita, and an ear of grilled corn dripping with butter ($2.50). Crispy pickles, freshly fried butterflied potatoes, fish and chips in a newspaper cone, cheesecake on a stick – we could go on and on. We ended the day with a large piece of home-smoked teriyaki-flavored beef jerky.
Ren Faire is open for one more weekend, so buy your tickets now! There's a slight discount for buying them online in advance - it's $17/person. This weekend, it is open Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Food stands are scattered throughout the grounds and all have different offerings, so be prepared to explore.
