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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.
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An even better deal can be had, presuming you can convince a friend to accompany you:
http://www.lakecounty.org/coupons_view.cfm?coupon_id=144
Oh, and with that turkey drumstick, it looks like you forgot the BBQ sauce...
Mmmmm...Beef pasties (with gravy) and a side of butterfly chips. Plus, scantily-clad women who EXPECT you to ogle them! What's not to love?
Mmmm.... "Ye Olde Nachos".
Please tell me the "monkey tails" = deep-fried Twinkies
Sadly, no. They're chocolate covered frozen bananas.
a Ren Fair, who goes to those!
I'm going to have to think of something snarky to say here. I'll get back to you
Dress up in period costume, spook, and you could be a Moor.
The mushrooms dying an ignominious death in garlic are the most joyous joy in all of creation.
And Mead. Fuck yeah to MEAD. At 15 I got SMASHED on Mead while on a school tour in England. Do you know how much mead you have to drink to get drunk? I felt like a fucking viking.
So where does Bristole stack up in the rankings of best Ren Faire in the Chicago area?
Is this as good as it gets or is there another one to keep an eye out for?
As far as i know, RalphW, Bristol is the only large, permanent ren faire in Chicagoland. By that, I mean it has real buildings and is open all summer. There may be some small, travelling shows, but this one is the one to go to.
Screw that Sudo, I don't think the Moors drank!