I'm one of several preferred caterers listed by the NYS Renaissance Festival.    Every season, I receive 6 or 7 calls from people interested in quotes, with a few of those maturing to actual jobs.     This page is specifically about events at the Renaissance Faire..    So far, every event that I've done here has been at "The Queen's Grove", which is a little rustic nook set aside specifically for private catered parties.   (There's been talk of the existence of other "fields", but I've yet to work on anything but the Queens' Grove).   Most of my jobs have been for headcounts of around 80, usually serving to Weddings or occasionally to a Corporate Picnic or family gathering.  

Firstly, let me start off by saying that it's a logistical nightmare to do jobs here.    The Faire requires that the trucks & trailer are hidden by 9:30am.   After equipment is delivered to the Grove, the vehicles are parked about 1/4 mile away in a staff/Faire Support Equipment lot.     Because the park is in full operation at the end of the catering, the park will not allow us to drive back to the grove.   All equipment must be hand carried or rolled back to the trucks!!   The entire contents of Two pickup trucks and one 16' trailer!    I assess a $475 "Unusual Logistics" fee to all events here, which allows me to "overstaff" with "lifters & runners".   I typically come to jobs with 5 people, unless the headcount demands more.

Normally BBQs featuring grilled foods/Salads/Sides are the only type of job that's feasible here.   (Things that I can cook reasonably quickly).    Pig Roasts can be performed, but due to the excessive roasting time, it would take some heroics to make it happen.   NOT IMPOSSIBLE, but it would require special coordination with the Park to have access before it's normally open.    I only have one towing vehicle, so typically, it's either the pigroaster trailer or the BBQ trailer.  The BBQ unit usually wins.    I live about 1 hours' drive away, so the job has to be pretty big and damned well paying for me to get both trailers up there.

Ballpark estimate only:  For a party of about 80 people, expect to pay something like $1800 for a basic spread, plussed up with a few "period food" niceties and (soft) beverage service.   Throw another $200-$300 at it, and we kick the basic menu up a few notches.      If the canopies are put into play, add another $250.00, minimum.     Give me more money, and the menu gets even cooler!

Here's a pictorial guide.   (Click on any image for a larger image).

A Front view of the Truck with the 16' BBQ trailer.  Both are packed to the roof, along with usually a second full sized pickup truck.   We leave Denville around 7am, arrive at the Queens Grove around 8am, unload and try to abide by the park rule of being out of sight by 9:30am.

Here's the cooking area.  We had a drizzly day, so the cooking area is draped with a tarp.  There's no running water directly at the grove, so we have to haul water in from one of the foodservice huts nearby.

Here's a pretty good shot of the Queen's Grove in full play at the Bickerstaffe Wedding.   We were expecting rain, so out came all my tarps and canopies.  Note the stage and the harp players.  (Contact the park directly for entertainment contacts who fit the theme).    The cooking area (shown above) is located on the other side of the fence, behind the white EZ-up canopies.   The serving area is under the white EZ-Up canopies.   The guests and drink service are under the 20x20 canopy.       $250 is the rate I charge for the red/white stripped  20' x 20' internal frame canopy, if it's pre-arranged.    If it's a last minute call, then my rates *may* go up to as much as $400, depending on what hoops I have to jump through.  This is cost-incentive to plan properly. 

Here's the serve-yourself drink area under the red/white 20x20 canopy..   In this case, Wine and beer were arranged thru the Faire, but I provided the soft drinks.   I DO NOT provide hard beverage service, but will facilitate the serving of it.  As I understand it, the host cannot provide their own hard beverages and must arrange for the Faire to provide it, however costly it may be.

Here's another view of the drink serving area.   The 20x20 canopy is primarily for the comfort of the guests.   The tables are provided by the park.  Be forewarned, the tables normally sit out unprotected.   You'd be wise to bring a roll of paper towels, a bucket, some detergent, and a scrub brush to clean off these tables before the event.

A view of the serving tables.   A fine example of the level of fanciness that I offer.    Plastic tablecloths, wireframe steamtables. Adequate for up there. Not fancy, but gets the job done.

We like to select menu items that fit with the theme.   Here's some Pork Ribs that are ready, but haven't been slathered with BBQ sauce yet..  These rusted drum grills are no longer part of the operation.    I've upgraded to more professional equipment. 

Another period food favorite is smoked turkey legs.  Note the hand trucks in the background for moving stuff.     Some other menu items that may work:  Bratwurst, Corn on the Cob, Warm German Potato Salad, London Broil, Chicken Breasts.      Once again, this shot shows older equipment, that is no longer part of the operation. 

My Pig Roaster!  Professional quality, Stainless Steel grates and additional grill racks (not shown here)....   Capable of doing a 125lb pig (but that would take forever).     Be advised though, it's a logistic difficulty to get both the pig roaster support trailer and the BBQ Trailer (for grilled foods).      Check out the pigroast pages for more info.   

Here it is again, loaded with Pork Shoulders, Turkeys, A Top Round, and some Beer Can Chickens.  I call this the "MultiMeat Fest".