Our Next Dinner

In the winter of 1870-71 Parisians endured a four-month siege during the Franco-Prussian War. The French capital was surrounded in an attempt to starve the citizens into surrender.

Those with meagre funds were reduced to eating dogs, cats & rats however the wealthy fared far better. Famously, there was not enough food to feed the animals in the Jardin des Plantes zoo. These unfortunate creatures were dispatched to the capital’s most prestigious restaurants for Christmas feasting. Many infamous menus survive, see below.

The Club will be exploring this most bizarre period of French cuisine. Whilst members may be disappointed to only hear about Elephant Soup, Fried Camel and Bear Chops with Pepper Sauce there will be other equally tasty dishes.

Our sponsor for the evening will be author Alysa Salzberg. “Hearts at Dawn”  is her Beauty & the Beast retelling set during the 1870 Siege of Paris. A native of the USA, Alysa now lives in Paris and is a fanatical enthusiast of all things connected with the siege. Expect a passionate portrayal of gastronomes struggling to keep up standards during wartime austerity.