sf wrote:
> "Mr. Joseph Littleshoes Esq." wrote:
>
>>
>>Louis XIV of France once commented that the only time he got hot food
>>was when he was in camp and with his army. The kitchens at Versailles
>>were, counting all the twists and turns of the palace about a mile away
>>from where Louis dined.
>
> I had no idea palace kitchens were so far away, JL. Live and learn.
>

In Louis XIV's (1600's) case they were in a separate building from the
palace of Versailles in the "grand commune" a big building to the east
of Versailles. And the food was often delayed by the courtiers having to
ceremonially 'salute the kings meat' if they met it on its elaborately
choreographed progress to him from the kitchens, and that's not even
counting the elaborate ceremony of serving the king. Even Queen Victoria
complained about it at Buckingham palace in the late 1800's.

When the present Queen of England came to the throne in 1952 one of the
first things Prince Philip (her husband) did was to have "kitchenettes"
installed in the private quarters of both Buckingham palace and Windsor
castle. The Queen don't cook but Philip does and according to gossip
has a fascination with kitchen 'gadgets'. But supposedly it irked him
to have to call a footman, order a sandwich and coffee and have to waite
an hour or more for it, but then he also likes to cook family breakfasts
and is an avid BBQ'er.

--

Mr. Joseph Littleshoes Esq.

Domine, dirige nos.
Let the games begin!
http://fredeeky.typepad.com/fredeeky.../sf_anthem.mp3