Many dishes have become famous not only for their taste, but also for their names. The story about dishes named after people should start with two legendary salads – Russian salad and Caesar…
The first was invented in 1860 by the founder of the Moscow restaurant “Hermitage”, the French chef Lucien Olivier. After leaving Russia, it received the name “Russian salad”.
The history of the creation of the second is more interesting, although it has nothing to do with “the same” Caesar. An Italian named Caesar Cardini ran an inn in Mexico on the border with the United States, where prohibition was at that time. On Independence Day, 1924, Caesar had so many celebrating Americans that there was simply not enough snacks for everyone.
Then Cardini hastily collected from the leftover food in the kitchen – crackers, green salad, eggs and olive oil – a new dish that was immediately named after him. In 1953, Caesar salad was named one of the best recipes invented in the last half century.
Sandwich called a closed sandwich in honor of John Montague, 4th Earl of Sandwich. The count lived in the 18th century and was distinguished by his addiction to cards, and, not wanting to be interrupted for a meal, he ordered himself to be served a piece of meat between two slices of bread during the game. By this he killed two birds with one stone: he ate without interrupting the game, and continued the game without getting his hands dirty.
Beef stroganoff in translation means “Stroganoff beef”. The cook of the aged Count Stroganov invented this dish. According to legend, the count completely lost his teeth by old age, so the meat for him was cut into small pieces, which were beaten to a thickness of 5 mm and prepared in traditional Russian gravy. The recipe entered the world cookbooks.
Carpaccio was first cooked in the middle of the last century from raw beef, cut into the finest slices with a sharp knife. The Italian restaurateur, who prepared it for a local anemic aristocrat, named the new dish after the Renaissance artist Vittore Carpaccio, whose paintings were dominated by red tones. Served carpaccio with parmesan, tomato or sauce.
Rockefeller oysters are baked under a green mass, the color of which was supposed to symbolize dollar bills. The family recipe has been kept secret for a century and a half by the owners of New Orleans’ restaurant Antoine’s. It is curious that Rockefeller himself never ate this dish, and in general, he was an adherent of simple food, preferring milk and bread to everything.
On January 10, the United States celebrates National Rockefeller Oyster Day, but you can still taste them at the only restaurant in the world.
Wellington beef in England got its name on a wave of patriotism, in honor of the hero of the victory at Waterloo, the Duke of Wellington. The dish is prepared from a piece of meat and mushroom filling, baked in puff pastry.
Rice Casimir… It is not entirely clear why rice received a Polish name, because the dish was invented by the Movenpick chain of Swiss restaurants, from where it entered homes and became a traditional Swiss dish, especially loved by children. After all, snow-white rice is served not only with pieces of veal, which in modern versions are replaced with chicken stewed in curry sauce, but also with canned fruits.
Anna potatoes… Uncomplicated old French dish, which contains only 3 ingredients: butter, potatoes and salt. The potatoes are cut into thin circles and beautifully, laid out in a circle in a pan, which is placed in the oven or on the stove. Bake the dish until golden brown.
Pizza Margarita… According to one version, it was baked by the Neapolitans especially for the wife of King Umberto II when the monarch’s couple visited their city. According to the idea of the chefs, white mozzarella, green basil and red tomatoes were supposed to symbolize the colors of the Italian flag.
In conclusion, it is impossible to ignore the desserts, of which there are a great many.
Peach Melba was invented by the great Paul Escoffier in honor of the opera diva Nelly Melba from peach halves, ice cream and raspberry puree. On January 13, the United States celebrates the Melba national peach holiday.
Crepe Suzette… Thin pancakes with orange sauce were invented by a chef in love with Suzanne Reichenberg, actress of the famous Comedie Francaise theater. According to one version, she had to eat pancakes every time during one of the plays.
Authorship of the recipe Pavlova cakeconsisting of meringues, whipped cream and berries and reminiscent of the snow-white tutu of the great Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, confectioners from Australia and New Zealand are still disputed.
The recipe for the Sacher cake is still kept secret. It is known for certain only about chocolate and apricot jam that make up its composition. The recipe was invented by 16-year-old Austrian pastry chef Franz Sacher.
Walnut Esterhazy cake was named after Pala Antala Esterhazy, a prominent diplomat of Hungarian descent.
What about Charlotte and Napoleon?
An open pie with apples and cinnamon was named after Charlotte, the wife of King Henry II of England.
As for the puff pastry and custard cake, in European countries this recipe has been known for a long time, in particular, in Italy and France it was called “a thousand layers”. In 1912, a hundred years after the victory in the Patriotic War, this cake was served at the imperial table in the form of a cocked hat worn by the French commander-in-chief, and since then in Russia he has been called Napoleon.