Theo Holtz

Photo
Theo Holtz
Information
Resides: Hartshorn Dale
Status: Active
Awards: Order of Precedence
Heraldry
Heraldry Needed

Award & Office Badges

Introduction

Theo Holtz is a cook, and a lover of history who began his journey in 2018 spending his time in the kitchen as an assistant to the chef at the Investiture of the Barony of Buckland Cross c. 2018. From there, he has accumulated many friends, colleagues and lovers of food such as himself throughout the community. He is now a member of the House of Carpathia under Klaus Winterhalter von Walachey. He has accepted as a student under Elizabet Marshall posthumously for John Marshall To better understand the world of food in the East Kingdom.

John Marshall Memorial Competition at the Harts & Horns~ East Kingdom Rapier Champions Top prize for "Embodying John" with a Roman Cheesecake c. 160 bc

In November of 2023, I became a student under Elizabet Marshall with a focus on period cooking as well as cooking for the kingdom of the East.

Persona

Theo Holtz the name derived from two sources.

Theo, a gender neutral name meaning "God's Gift" derived from the ancient Greek Theodōros, which comes from the word theos meaning “God” and dōron translating to “gift.”

The name Holz has been associated with the noble cantons of Kocher and Ottenwald, where the family was connected to the great ruling dynasty of the Hohenstaufens. It is believed that the Holz family possessed feudal forest rights, and the oldest traced descendant of this branch is Siegfried von Holtz.

Theo Holtz is a descendant of Siegfried von Holtz, who lived in Wuerttemberg around 1120. It later became more prominent as many branches of the same house acquired distant estates and branches, some in foreign countries, always elevating their social status by their great contributions to society. Theo's contribution to society is his work in cooking, combining his expertise with ingredients with his kindness, selfless acts and empathy to others and his allies in a growing world. His family is his friends, and his growing values within himself and to the ones he spends time with.

Offices & Positions

Bannerman of House Carpathia at Pennsic L AS 58, 2023.
Inducted into the Order of the Silver Brooch at Southern Region War Camp AS 59, 2024.
Inducted into the Order of the Silver Wheel at Pennsic War 51 AS 59, 2024.
Current reigning champion of the Barony of Iron Bog for Arts & Sciences at Ghosts, Ghouls & Goblins, 2024.

Event Staff & Vigils for Cooking-Related or Aid within the SCA

In addition to helping with planning and meals throughout the kingdom:

Investiture of the Barony of Buckland Cross (2018, assisted in kitchen, and helped prepare food)
Barony of Bhakail Yule (2021, assisted in kitchen and helped prepare food)
Yule Revel (2022, Barony of Bhakail, assisted in kitchen, and helped prepare food)

Mudthaw (2023, Barony of Settmour Swamp, assisted in kitchen with all preparation)
Vigil for Pádraig Ó Brádaigh (2023, at Pennsic Wars helped with preparation, event staff and serving as well as chef for Spiced Bourbon commonly drank by Knights in the 1300's)
Barony of Buckland Cross Rattan & Rapier Championship (2023, helped with preparation & assisted in kitchen)
100 Minute Wars (2023, Shire of Rusted Woodlands, assisting in preparation, assisting in kitchen)
Barony of Bhakail Yule (2023, assisting in preparation, assisting in kitchen)

East Kingdom Buckland Cross 12th Night (2024, Feastocrat, Ran Dayboard Irish 16th century Themed & Helped with Feast through preparation & assisted in kitchen for feast afterwards)
Bellringer's 40th: Beauty, Bells & Brawn Barony of Carillion (2024, assisting in preparation, assisting in kitchen)
East Kingdom Arts & Sciences Competition Shire of Quintavia (2024, assisting in kitchen with all food items and preparations)
Mudthaw Barony of Settmour Swamp (2024, Feastocrat, Ran kitchen and in charge of Dayboard Chinese century themed with special "Boxed Lunch" requirements)
Southern Region War Camp Barony of Carillion (2024, Feastocrat, Running and in charge of Dayboard for 400+ SCA'dians)
Novice Day of the Shire of Rusted Woodlands (2024, Feastocrat, ran a boxed lunch charity for the Black Boot Company with permission from Autocrat to feed those at Novice Day as they did not have a dayboard.)
Vigil for Guillaume Du Chantier (2024, at Pennsic Wars helped with preparation, event staff and serving as well as chef for Spiced Bourbon commonly drank by Knights in the 1300's)
Pennsic Wars State Dinner (2024, was assistant Feastocrat and bonafide expert onsite for Vigils, Feasts, and how to shape the event live. Helped with preparation, and other assistance in the kitchen.)
Hippocleides Luncheon (2024, Feastocrat, at Pennsic Wars ran at Settmour Swamp camp. A prize for bidding for donations towards Tindal & Emerson's reign, fed fifty people.)
Harper's Retreat (2024, Barony of Stonemarche, Assistant Feastocrat, helped with preparation, overseeing the kitchen and directed the staff during serving and cleaning.)
Tyger Family Schola (2024, Barony of Concordia of the Snows, Head Vigil chef for Vika Grigina z Prahy & Sima Cordovero using 14th-16th century Indian recipes through help of other members of the Scarlet Ibis.)
Ducal Challenges (2024, Barony of Settmour Swamp, Helped make Mushroom Hand Pies for a Vigil for Tysha z Kieva and submitted an A&S Project for the main event.)
Harts & Horns (2024, Shire of Hartshorn-Dale, Made an elaborate Farmer's Cheese/Ricotta cheese Roman display for the 2nd annual John Marshall Memorial Competition and won a top prize)
100 Minutes War (2024, Shire of Rusted Woodlands, Roleplayed as a traveling merchant giving out water and food for the fighters during the day.)
Bhakail Yule Revel (2024, Barony of Bhakail, Created my first scroll for a Silver Wheel handed out during the event as well as created my own quest for SCA members to enjoy.)

A Market Day at Birka (2025, Barony of Stonemarche, ran the only water-bearing station for the Heavy competition to help all fighters stay hydrated.)

Upcoming Cooking/assisting in kitchen events

Royal Arts & Science Competition ran by the Barony of Settmour Swamp (Running Dayboard)

Projects & Publications

I have a Youtube channel documenting my SCA cooking experiences: "Theo Holtz & His Journey as a Medieval Chef"

Every project that I take on always is an act of re-creating the personification of history of the food and the lore throughout. I attempt to make an experience for the people participating and for those who are able to look from the outside, in.

The Act of Squiring, a project based on the life of a squire in Rhodes in the 13th century and his journey to appease a Knight and his nobles with his actions and a meal. Taking place during Pennsic War 50 2023, this involved marching with fighters on Tuesday during war week to the battlefield, acting as a water bearer, bringing the flag back, taking care of the acting Knights armor and other gear, and finally making him meals for both lunch and dinner. Acts of feeding Settmour Swamp resembled the feeding of commoners and hired help who had worked for the Knight. Dinner was placated with speaking to nobility in order to appease and gain power from the act of the meal and his words. (This has currently not been submitted for an A&S Competition)

Documentation for "The Act of Squiring"

A Phoenician Captain on the Mediterranean, this project explored the hardships and lives of the Phoenician merchant captains of the middle ages and allowed you to sample Braggot Ale, Hard Tack, and cheeses while hearing the ocean waves and smelling them as if you were on a ship. This was submitted to River Wars XII for their Baronial A&S Competition in 2023.

Documentation for "A Phoenician Captain on the Mediterranean"

Savillum, the Original "Pie", This project was based on a Traditional Cheesecake from 160BC from a book named "Concerning Agriculture" by Cato the Elder, a man noted for his devotion to simplicity and love of country life. This was submitted to The Magister John Marshall atte Forde Memorial Cooking Competition at Harts & Horns 2023 and won a top prize for it's creation and history.

Documentation for "Savillum, the Original "Pie"

"Trotula De Ruggiero & The Muscle Tincture" A study of Tincture practicality from the Middle ages, Trotula was a woman in the 1000-1100's who pioneered the studies of Cosmetology which included well-being as well as Gynecology. She made her home in Italy and worked in a world renown hospital known as the Salerna Medical School. The Salerno Medical School published a book in the 1200's which was translated into Old English publishing Trotula's findings and logic regarding the combination of different remedies, which included my Tincture presented to the court, making it a period specific recipe for the malady of topical pain. I created the tincture in front of the judges with the help of nobility, and allowed them to try samples along with anyone who had seen the table.

This was submitted to Bhakail Yule for their Baronial A&S Competition in 2023 & for the East Kingdom Arts & Sciences Competition to be on Display in 2024 for feedback.

Documentation for "Trotula De Ruggiero & The Muscle Tincture"

"Hippocras and the Roman Empire: Aphrodisiac, Medicine, and Social Symbolism", This project was based on making a drinkable Aphrodisiac and creating poetry that matched the bravado of the drink. I plan on possibly expanding this paperwork and submitting it to a competition, but for now it has just been on display for people to partake and enjoy, most recently at Harper's Retreat 2024.

Documentation for "Hippocras and the Roman Empire: Aphrodisiac, Medicine, and Social Symbolism"

"Reynard the Fox: Medieval History and Artistic Interpretation in the 16th Century by Allart van Everdingen", This project was based on the famous story of Reynard the fox, the reversing of a woodcutting to re-create a piece of art in the Met, and I was awarded with being the Iron Bog A&S Champion for the 2024-2025 season because of it.

Documentation for "Reynard the Fox: Medieval History and Artistic Interpretation in the 16th Century by Allart van Everdingen"

"The Northumberland Bestiary: A Window into Medieval Thought and Art", This project was based on re-creating the cover of the Northumberland Beastiary and giving SCA'dians a fun activity to do during Bhakail Yule.

Documentation for "The Northumberland Bestiary: A Window into Medieval Thought and Art"

In Case of Court

You may notify Klaus Winterhalter von Walachey or any other member of the House of Carpathia. Also please notify Elizabet Marshall. I prefer to be surprised in the long run about such events. My preferred pronouns are He/Him.

How to speak to Theo Holtz about a Food Event

You may send him a message directly via e-mail at TheoHoltzSCA@gmail.com or contact him directly via Facebook or speak to him at an SCA event! He is always interested in hearing about a project and "Talking Shop" about it.