"The French connection — Napoleon's influence on food" Topic

… is still being felt today

"History doesn't forget a man like Napoleon Bonaparte. And neither does the culinary world, which still feels his influence 200 years later.

Napoleon I (1769—1821) was a general during the French Revolution who rose to become emperor of the French (empereur des Francais). He conquered most of Europe while opponents in Britain, Russia, Austria and Prussia declared him "an enemy of humanity."

But he apparently ate well.

His reign at the turn of the 18th century saw the rise of French haute cuisine — what Americans usually think of as "gourmet cooking" — and the first celebrity chef. He's credited with the saying, "An army marches on its stomach" and for fostering the idea of canning as a way to preserve food…"

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Armand

By the way…

Napoleon's Kitchen: Recipes from the French Emperor's Culinary Legacy

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Armand

Love the scene from the Waterloo movie of the 1970s in which he samples several dishes the morning of Waterloo before decided on which one his chef should serve he and his staff. Unfortunately, whatever he picked made him sick and he had to leave the table in a hurry, a scene designed to show that his health was a factor in the conduct of the battle.

(smile)

Armand