Soyer's Culinary Campaign: Being Historical Reminiscences of the Late War.: With The Plain Art of Cookery for Military and Civil InstitutionsSoyer, Alexis
History
Soyer's Culinary Campaign: Being Historical Reminiscences of the Late War.: With The Plain Art of Cookery for Military and Civil Institutions
Soyer, Alexis
Cooking for military personnel; Crimean War, 1853-1856
MR. EDITOR,--It is an incontestable truism that “It is an ill wind
that blows nobody good;” but in this case it will be found the
reverse. Owing to most terribly rough weather, in fourteen hours
from our departure from Marseilles, _en route_ to Constantinople,
we are brought up here by our prudent Captain, sheltering us in the
bosom of the harbour of Ajaccio, the birthplace of the alliance now
existing between the two great nations of France and England. Such
reminiscences of the first of the great Napoleon’s family caused
the shore to be invaded in a few minutes by the numerous
passengers, particularly the distinguished military men of both
nations. Many visited the Hôtel de Ville, full of objects of
interest, reminding one of the late empire; others, the Letitia
House; and some inquired, with great coolness, if it were possible
to see either of the Corsican Brothers now in existence. In a very
few minutes my curiosity was gratified by a cursory examination of
the above-mentioned interesting subjects; and by a great deal of
courtesy and perseverance, I obtained from La Signora Grossetti
(who had been in the late Emperor’s family from her infancy) the
rusted key of the kitchen-door of that interesting and now deserted
domicile--such a request having never before been made by the
numerous travellers who daily visit it.
And it is, Mr. Editor, while writing upon the stove in this
celebrated kitchen--which first alimented the brain of that great
hero--that I beg to address you the following few lines at random,
as the weather bids fair and our departure is immediate. On my left
hand is a well-constructed charcoal stove, containing six nine-inch
square cooking-places, covered with glazed red tiles (a piece of
which I have procured, and intend placing in my kitchen at
Scutari); an oval one, about eighteen inches long by about six
inches wide, on which the most delicious fish, game, meat, and
poultry, were no doubt submitted to the highest perfection of the
culinary art. At the spot at which I am now writing, the roasting
by wood fire, and the broiling by red ashes, were carried on, as I
perceive, by the remains of the hearth. There is also the old Jack,
with the pulley that supported the rope and weights. On my right is
an old semi-circular oven, partly in ruins, with an old-fashioned
wrought-iron door, in which no doubt the cakes and choice pastry
were prepared to gratify the imperial infant’s palate. Larders,
confectionery, and all the requisite appointments of a kitchen are
not wanting; which, though in a most dilapidated state, still left
an appearance of grandeur which none but a family of distinction
could afford--very different from what has been often reported and
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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