Let’s cook History: Enlightenment Dining

Scenes

18th and 19th century in France

In France, 18th century’s absolutism made room for the 19th century’s age of enlightenment. This clip gives a short summary of this part of history.

Changes in cooking during enlightenment

During the age of enlightenment, cooking practices changed. For example, foreign spices were discarded. A major Influence was famous chef Francois Pierre de la Varenne.

Dining at Versailles

Louis XIV took up residence in the palace of Versailles after altering and expanding the building. The king took great pride in his ceremonial dinners, and the Service a la Francaise became an example for dinner parties throughout France.

Vegetable gardens of Versailles

Louis XVI has had a team of gardners, horticulturalists and biologists working in the Versailles vegetable gardens and orchards in order to provide the court with food. The gardens are characterized by their size and symmetry. The improvements made in horticulture and arboriculture resulted in cultivating new varieties of vegetables and fruits.

18th century dinner parties

In contrast to earlier era, 18th century dinner parties were more personal and intimate. The habit of organizing dinner parties A la Francaise was abandoned.

Potato: fighting European famine

The population growth during the 17th and 18th century and the ongoing wars caused food shortages throughout rural France. When the potato was introduced in Europe, it became a main ingredient. Later, the potato was cultivated in France thanks to pharmacist Parmentier

Invention of the sandwich

This clip tells the bizarre story that, while playing Faro, Lord Sandwich invented the ham sandwich.

First drinking houses for Coffee and Chocolate

The first drinking house where coffee was served was established in Marseilles. This idea soon spread to other locations in Europe. The houses were especially popular with enlightenment thinkers, like Voltaire. Apart from coffee, hot chocolate became very popular.

Maitre d’ in the kitchen

In this clip, the activities of the first Maitre d’ are being shown. This is the main butler and director of the cooking operations.

Helene Darroze inflluenced by enlightenment

This clip consists of an interview with 2 star masterchef Helene Darroze about her job as a chef, gender and recipes influence by the age of Enlightenment.