(from La Revue du Vin de France, train reading)

During the Prussian siege of Paris at Christmas 1870, things were
pretty tough. The Commune government made things easier
by providing free wine for all, but even the Bourgeoisie was hungry,
and the various zoos were raided to provide meat. This menu
survives from the Café Voisin, rue St. Honoré (my translation):

Hors-d'oeuvres:

Butter, with radishes
Stuffed Donkey's head
Sardines

Soups:

Purée of red beans with croutons
Elephant Consommé

Starters:

Fried Bait Fish
Roasted Camel in the English fashion
Kangaroo stew thickened with blood
Roasted Bear chops with Pepper Sauce

Main Corps:

Little thigh of Wolf with Roe Buck sauce
The Cat, flanked by Rats
Watercress Salad
Terrine of Antelope with Truffles
Cèpes in the Bordeaux fashion
Buttered Peas

Sweet:

Rice Pudding with Jams

Dessert:

Gruyere cheese

A menu fit for a king, considering that Elephant trunk was selling for 80 FF/kg,
or even a rat of 50 cm for 3 FF, not to mention 8 francs for the cat.

Interesting that the cheese was served after the sweet.

A tough menu to match, you say? Mais, pas de tout! The wines:

First service:

Sherry
Ch. La Tour Blanche 1861
Chateau Palmer 1864

Second service:

Ch. Mouton Rothschild 1846
Romanée Conti 1858
Bollinger on ice

Great port from 1827 (no producer given)

and of course coffee and liqueurs.

Life is easy with a good cellar. My only question is, did the English eat much camel?

-E


--
Emery Davis
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