(from La Revue du Vin de France, train reading)
During the Prussian siege of Paris at Christmas 1870, things were pretty tough. The Commune government made things easier by providing free wine for all, but even the Bourgeoisie was hungry, and the various zoos were raided to provide meat. This menu survives from the Café Voisin, rue St. Honoré (my translation):
Hors-d'oeuvres:
Butter, with radishes Stuffed Donkey's head Sardines
Soups:
Purée of red beans with croutons Elephant Consommé
Starters:
Fried Bait Fish Roasted Camel in the English fashion Kangaroo stew thickened with blood Roasted Bear chops with Pepper Sauce
Main Corps:
Little thigh of Wolf with Roe Buck sauce The Cat, flanked by Rats Watercress Salad Terrine of Antelope with Truffles Cèpes in the Bordeaux fashion Buttered Peas
Sweet:
Rice Pudding with Jams
Dessert:
Gruyere cheese
A menu fit for a king, considering that Elephant trunk was selling for 80 FF/kg, or even a rat of 50 cm for 3 FF, not to mention 8 francs for the cat.
Interesting that the cheese was served after the sweet.
A tough menu to match, you say? Mais, pas de tout! The wines:
First service:
Sherry Ch. La Tour Blanche 1861 Chateau Palmer 1864
Second service:
Ch. Mouton Rothschild 1846 Romanée Conti 1858 Bollinger on ice
Great port from 1827 (no producer given)
and of course coffee and liqueurs.
Life is easy with a good cellar. My only question is, did the English eat much camel?
-E