Renaissance Picnic

Renaissance Picnic was my way of turning shyness into connection. I attended my first Renaissance Faire with handmade scroll invitations and a costumed wheelchair—plus just enough courage to approach the most magical strangers I saw.

The next day, I hosted a gilded picnic for those I’d invited. We feasted on handmade plates and goblets glazed with plants, animals, and a dull bronze glaze, accented by real gold luster. Every dish was based on a historical Italian recipe by esteemed chef Bartomello Scappi, updated and dressed in edible sparkle. Guests arrived in spectacular finery, painted their own keepsake canvases, and shared in a day that blended fantasy, food history, and joyful creativity.