"I wish to erect a monument to myself, inscribed with
golden letters: 'M. Grunter Corocotta Porker lived
nine-hundred-and-ninety-nine years, and had he lived
another half year, a thousand years would have been
nearly completed.'
"I ask of you who love me best, you who live like me, I
ask you: will not my name remain to be eulogized in all
eternity? if you only will prepare my body properly and
flavor it well with good condiments, nuts, pepper and
honey!
"My master and my relatives, all of you who have
witnessed this execution of my last will and testament,
you are requested to sign.
"(Signed) Hard Sausage
Match Maker
Fat Bacon
Bacon Rind
Celsinus
Meat Ball
Sprout Cabbage."
* * * * *
Thus far the story by Petrus Lambecius. The fifth of the signatories of
the Porker's Testament is Celsinus; and since the other names are
fictitious it is quite possible that Lambecius had a special purpose in
pointing out the man for whom the dish, Porcellus Celsinianus,--Suckling
Pig à la Celsinus--was named.
Celsinus was counsellor for Aurelianus, the emperor.
[377] ROAST PIG
_PORCELLUM ASSUM_
CRUSH PEPPER, RUE, SATURY, ONIONS, HARD YOLKS OF EGG, BROTH, WINE,
OIL, SPICES; BOIL THESE INGREDIENTS, POUR OVER THE [roast] PIG IN THE
SAUCE PAN AND SERVE.
[378] PIG À LA JARDINIÈRE
_PORCELLUM HORTOLANUM_ [1]
THE PIG IS BONED THROUGH THE THROAT AND FILLED WITH QUENELLES OF
CHICKEN FORCEMEAT, FINELY CUT [roast] THRUSHES, FIG-PECKERS, LITTLE
SAUSAGE CAKES, MADE OF THE PIG'S MEAT, LUCANIAN SAUSAGE, STONED DATES,
EDIBLE BULBS [glazed onions] SNAILS TAKEN OUT OF THE SHELL [and
poached] MALLOWS, LEEKS, BEETS, CELERY, COOKED SPROUTS, CORIANDER,
WHOLE PEPPER, NUTS, 15 EGGS POURED OVER, BROTH, WHICH IS SPICED WITH
PEPPER, AND DILUTED WITH 3 EGGS; THEREUPON SEW IT TIGHT, STIFFEN, AND
ROAST IN THE OVEN. WHEN DONE, OPEN THE BACK [of the pig] AND POUR OVER
THE FOLLOWING SAUCE: CRUSHED PEPPER, RUE, BROTH, RAISIN WINE, HONEY
AND A LITTLE OIL, WHICH WHEN BOILING IS TIED WITH ROUX [2].
[1] Tor. _Hortulanus_; Gardener's style, the French
equivalent _Jardinière_, a very common name for all
dishes containing young vegetables. However, in the
above rich formula there is very little to remind us of
the gardener's style, excepting the last part of the
formula, enumerating a number of fresh vegetables. It is
unthinkable for any gourmet to incorporate these with
the rich dressing. The vegetables should be used as a
garnish for the finished roast. This leads us to believe
that the above is really two distinct formulæ, or that
the vegetables were intended for garniture.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account