The Physiology of Taste; Or, Transcendental GastronomyBrillat-Savarin
Philosophy
The Physiology of Taste; Or, Transcendental Gastronomy
Brillat-Savarin
Gastronomy
"Sir, I do not sell drugs--"
"What then do you sell?"
"Remedies."
The general at once became ashamed at having committed so many
solicisms in a few moments, and paid the bill.
IV.
THE SNARE.
The chevalier de Langeac was rich, but his fortune was dispensed
as is the fortune of all rich men.
He funded the remnants, and aided by a little pension from the
government, he contrived to lead a very pleasant life.
Though naturally very gallant, he had nothing to do with women.
As his other powers passed away, his gourmandise increased. He
became a professor and received more invitations than he could
accept.
Lyons is a pleasant city, for there one can get vin de Bourdeaux,
Hermitage and Burgundy. The game of the neighborhood is very good,
and unexceptionable fish is taken from the lakes in the vicinity.
Every body loves Bresse chickens.
Langeac was therefore welcome at all the best tables of the city,
but took especial delight in that of a certain M. A.
In the winter of 1780, the chevalier received a letter, inviting
him to sup ten days after date, (at that time I know there were
suppers) and the chevalier quivered with emotion at the idea.
He, at the appointed time, made his appearance, and found ten
guests. There was at that time no such A grand dinner was soon
served, consisting of fish, flesh, and fowl.
All was very good, but the chevalier was not satisfied with the
hopes he had entertained.
Another thing amazed him. His guests did not seem to eat. The
chevalier was amazed to see that so many anti-convivial persons
had been collected, and thinking that he had to do justice to all
these fasting people set to work at once.
The second service was solid as the first. A huge turkey was
dressed plain, flavored by salads and macaroni au parmesan.
When he saw this, the chevalier felt his strength revive; all the
other guests were overpowered, excited by the changes of wines, he
triumphed over their impotence, and drank their health again and
again. Every time he drank their health, he took a slice from the
turkey.
Due attention was paid to the side-dishes, and the chevalier stuck
to business longer than any one would have thought possible. He
only revived when the becfigues appeared, and became fully aroused
when truffles were put on the table.
THE TURBOT.
Discord one day sought to effect an entrance into one of the most
harmonious houses of Paris. A turbot was to be cooked.
The fish was on the next day to be served to a company of which I
was one; it was fresh, fat, and glorious, but was so large that no
dish in the house could hold it.
"Let us cut it in half," said the husband.
"Would you thus dishonor it?" said the wife.
"We must, my dear."
"Well, bring the knife, we will soon do it."
"Wait though, our cousin, who is a professor, will soon be here.
He will relieve us from the dilemma."
The gordian knot was about to be released, when I came in hungry,
as a man always is at seven P. M.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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