The Medieval Meal: An Overview
Las Vegas. The city of dazzling lights, high-stakes gambling, and over-the-top entertainment. Nestled within the Excalibur Hotel & Casino lies a unique spectacle, a show that transports you back to a time of valiant knights, majestic steeds, and epic battles: Tournament of Kings. While the jousting matches and daring displays of horsemanship often take center stage, a crucial component of the experience is often overlooked: the food at Tournament of Kings. This article dives deep into the culinary offerings, providing a comprehensive guide for potential attendees wondering what exactly awaits them beyond the thrilling arena. We’ll uncover whether the medieval-themed feast truly lives up to its royal billing or if it’s merely a side dish to the main event. For foodies, those with dietary restrictions, and anyone curious about the eating experience, this is your guide to the sustenance side of Tournament of Kings.
Forget your forks and knives; this is a hands-on, down-and-dirty dining experience that truly embodies the spirit of a medieval banquet. At Tournament of Kings, you become a participant in a royal feast, and that means embracing a utensil-free approach. That’s right, you’re encouraged to eat with your hands, just as they did in the days of yore (albeit with a bit more hygiene, hopefully!). The standard meal is a curated selection of dishes designed to be enjoyed without the need for silverware, creating an immersive and unique atmosphere.
The cornerstone of the Tournament of Kings dining experience is the roasted chicken, typically a Cornish hen. Accompanying the chicken is a hearty tomato soup, often served in a rustic tin bowl, alongside roasted potatoes and sometimes other roasted vegetables. A simple dinner roll rounds out the savory portion of the meal, and to complete the royal banquet, a dessert is also included, which generally consists of an apple turnover, puff pastry or a similar sweet treat. Each serving is a piece of the overall atmosphere, meant to blend seamlessly with the performance happening around you.
The concept is rooted in historical context, albeit a romanticized version. While medieval banquets certainly didn’t always involve perfectly roasted chickens and tomato soup, the notion of communal eating and using one’s hands to consume food is a nod to historical practices.
A Closer Look at Each Food Item
Let’s examine each dish on the Tournament of Kings menu in more detail:
Roasted Chicken
The star of the show, culinarily speaking, is undoubtedly the roasted chicken. Typically, this isn’t a full-sized chicken but rather a Cornish hen, a smaller, more manageable portion for eating with your hands. The preparation typically involves roasting the bird whole, hopefully until the skin is crispy and golden brown. The flavor is generally straightforward – roasted chicken with basic seasonings like salt, pepper, and perhaps some herbs. However, opinions on the chicken vary. Some patrons rave about the juicy tenderness, while others find it dry or under-seasoned. This is partly due to the mass-produced nature of the meal, with hundreds of chickens being cooked simultaneously. Getting the consistently optimal cooking time can be a challenge, and depending on the batch, the experience can differ.
Tomato Soup
Next up is the tomato soup, a surprisingly comforting offering in the midst of the medieval mayhem. Served hot in a simple tin bowl, the soup provides a welcome warmth, especially during colder Las Vegas evenings. The taste is usually a classic tomato soup flavor – slightly sweet, slightly acidic, and generally mild. It’s not a gourmet bisque, but rather a simple and satisfying broth. One common critique is that the soup can be overly salty, but this is likely to accommodate a wide range of palates. The tin bowl adds to the rustic ambiance, but it can also get quite hot, so caution is advised.
Potatoes and Vegetables
Roasted potatoes are a common accompaniment, and other roasted root vegetables sometimes appear, such as carrots or parsnips. The cooking method typically involves roasting the potatoes (and other vegetables) until they are tender and slightly caramelized. As with the chicken, the seasoning is usually kept simple, relying on salt, pepper, and maybe a touch of herbs to bring out the natural flavors. The quality of the potatoes/vegetables can vary depending on the season, and sometimes they can be a little undercooked or overcooked, but generally they provide a filling and savory side dish.
Dinner Roll
The humble dinner roll serves a crucial purpose: soaking up the tomato soup! This is usually a soft roll, not particularly crusty or artisanal. It provides a simple carbohydrate element to the meal and can be used to mop up any remaining juices from the chicken or soup. Some patrons complain about the roll being dry or lacking flavor, but its primary function is utilitarian, and it serves that purpose well. It’s a basic complement to the other items, an easy way to stave off hunger.
Dessert
To finish off the meal, you’ll receive a dessert, commonly an apple turnover, but sometimes other similar pastries are offered. An apple turnover, with its flaky crust and sweet apple filling, offers a satisfying end to the medieval feast. The dessert is usually served warm, adding to its appeal. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s a crowd-pleasing sweet treat to cap off the experience.
Beverages
Beyond the food itself, a range of beverage options are available. The standard meal includes unlimited refills of non-alcoholic beverages, such as soda and water. For those seeking a more spirited experience, a selection of alcoholic beverages are available for purchase. These often include themed cocktails, such as “The King’s Elixir” or “Merlin’s Magic Potion,” designed to enhance the medieval atmosphere. Prices for alcoholic beverages are typical of Las Vegas establishments, so be prepared to budget accordingly.
Dietary Restrictions and Alternatives
Understanding that not everyone can partake in the standard medieval feast, Tournament of Kings offers alternative meals to accommodate dietary restrictions. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are generally available upon request.
The vegetarian option typically substitutes the roasted chicken with a vegetable-based dish, such as a hearty vegetable stew or a grilled portobello mushroom. The vegan option takes it a step further, ensuring that all ingredients are plant-based. The gluten-free option replaces the dinner roll with a gluten-free alternative and ensures that all other dishes are prepared without gluten-containing ingredients.
It is crucial to request these alternative meals in advance, either when booking your tickets or upon arrival at the venue. While Tournament of Kings makes an effort to accommodate dietary needs, it is always best to be proactive. The quality and satisfaction levels of the alternative meals can vary, with some patrons finding them to be just as enjoyable as the standard meal, while others feel that they lack the same level of flavor or substance.
The Ambiance and Presentation
The food at Tournament of Kings is not just about taste; it’s about the overall experience. The way the food is served and presented is an integral part of the medieval theme. Eating with your hands in the semi-darkness of the arena while watching knights clash and horses gallop creates a unique and immersive atmosphere. The roar of the crowd, the clanging of swords, and the spectacle of the performance all contribute to the overall dining experience.
The food becomes almost secondary to the entertainment, but that doesn’t necessarily diminish its importance. The act of tearing into a roasted chicken with your bare hands while cheering on your chosen knight is a truly memorable experience. The presentation is simple and rustic, fitting the medieval theme perfectly. The tin bowls, the wooden platters, and the lack of utensils all contribute to the overall ambiance.
Value for Money
The cost of a Tournament of Kings ticket includes both the show and the meal. Therefore, it’s important to consider how the food contributes to the overall value proposition. While the food might not be Michelin-star quality, it’s a decent, filling meal that adds to the entertainment experience.
Compared to other dinner shows or restaurants in Las Vegas, Tournament of Kings offers a unique combination of entertainment and sustenance at a relatively affordable price point. It’s not just about the food at Tournament of Kings, it’s about the spectacle, the atmosphere, and the memories created. For families, groups, or anyone seeking a fun and immersive experience, Tournament of Kings can be a good value. If you are a hardcore foodie who solely prioritizes culinary excellence, then you might be disappointed, but if you are looking for a fun night out with a decent meal included, then it can be a worthwhile option.
Tips for Enjoying the Meal
To make the most of your Tournament of Kings dining experience, here are a few helpful tips:
- Embrace the utensil-free dining: Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty! It’s part of the fun.
- Order alternative meals in advance: If you have dietary restrictions, be sure to request your alternative meal when booking your tickets or upon arrival.
- Pace yourself: The meal is served throughout the show, so don’t feel pressured to eat everything at once.
- Arrive early: Arriving early will allow you to secure a good seat and have time to settle in before the show begins.
- Engage with the atmosphere: Cheer on your knight, interact with your fellow diners, and fully immerse yourself in the medieval theme. This is what makes the experience!
Conclusion
The food at Tournament of Kings is not the sole reason to attend the show, but it is an important aspect of the overall experience. It provides a decent and filling meal that complements the medieval theme and adds to the immersive atmosphere. Whether you’re a foodie seeking culinary excellence or simply looking for a fun night out, Tournament of Kings offers a unique and memorable dining experience.
Ultimately, the success of your meal experience at Tournament of Kings depends on your expectations. If you go in expecting a gourmet feast, you may be disappointed. But if you approach it as a fun and immersive dining experience that complements the entertainment, you are likely to have a good time. Embrace the utensil-free dining, cheer on your knight, and enjoy the spectacle. And who knows, you might just discover that eating a roasted chicken with your bare hands while watching a jousting match is a surprisingly satisfying experience. As the lights dimmed and the battle cries echoed through the arena, I watched a small child, face smeared with tomato soup and chicken grease, cheer wildly for his knight. In that moment, I understood: the food was not just sustenance, but a part of a truly unforgettable adventure.
