The first thing I noticed upon entering the fairgrounds was the abundance of wenches all around me. It probably had the highest concentration of gravity-defying cleavage per square foot anywhere I've seen in quite some time. There was an interesting mix of cute families and costumed fanatics, and even a few hipsters who seemed to be wearing chain mail ironically.
This was a much larger ordeal than I originally assumed it would be. We quite easily spent 7 hours wandering around and enjoying the somewhat historically-inaccurate festivities, including: mermaid lagoon, jousting, turtle races, belly dancers, carnival games, axe throwing, monster museum, and much much more.
While there was certainly a lot to do and see, there was also a lot to eat. For lunch, we stopped at the Royal Kitchens. My wife had a hankering for a giant turkey leg, while I naturally gravitated toward beef ribs. I wasn't expecting just one rib and some Ruffles chips for $6.00. It took significant effort to bite off the meat, which was extremely tough. There were bone fragments jutting out everywhere. The fat was already solidified into a chewy mass. I found only minimal seasoning, though not nearly enough to salvage the leathery meat.
After a few more hours of walking about, we stopped for a late afternoon snack. By this point, we were near the Crown Kitchens. I had worked up a decent appetite, so I ordered a Rogue Sandwich. This was basically just a sliced brisket sandwich. I'm guessing it had been smoked a day or two earlier, judging by the general taste. The brisket was fairly dry, while the bread was greasy and soggy.
I certainly didn't anticipate world-class barbecue at the Renaissance festival. That being said, I did expect better food for the price. If we go again next year, I'll have to rethink my meal choices.
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