Marie Antoinette's Culinary Passions
While many may not be fully familiar with French history, it's highly likely that some have at least heard the name of Marie Antoinette, the last Queen of France. Her luxurious lifestyle and distinctive tastes have made her story memorable and have been recounted for a long time.
Marie Antoinette was not only famous for her extravagant fashion but also possessed intriguing eating habits that reflected her unique personality during her time as Queen of France. Stories about her culinary preferences were brought to light again after her death in the book The Marie Antoinette Diet: Eat Cake and Still Lose Weight written by Karen Wheeler.
The Queen's Favorite Dishes and Her Slender Figure
In this book, it's stated that Marie Antoinette often started her day with pastries and coffee or rich hot chocolate. For lunch, she typically enjoyed a multi-course meal, beginning with appetizers such as pâté, oysters, and lobster, followed by main courses like scallops, duck, salmon, breaded foie gras, or rabbit stew. Desserts would then be served, including cheese, macaroni (a sweet pastry), candied fruits, and wafers. For supper, Wheeler notes that she usually consumed only a simple broth.
From the above, many might think that Marie Antoinettes diet appeared to be very high in calories. However, despite regularly consuming such meals, she maintained a perfect figure, reportedly with a waist as small as 23 inches. Wheeler suggests this might be because she ate very little for dinner, opting for light broths instead of calorie-dense foods. It was also mentioned that she would not eat anything after 8:00 PM.
Portrayed in Film and Culinary Influence
Furthermore, the story of Marie Antoinette wasn't only featured in Wheeler's book but also adapted into the film Marie Antoinette, directed by Sofia Coppola. The movie vividly portrays her luxurious and extravagant lifestyle, from her fashion sense to her eating habits, emphasizing her favorite sweets, including cakes, macarons, pastries, fondants, and many others. Additionally, she spent a significant portion of her time drinking expensive champagne.
Diverse Tastes and Contributions to French Cuisine
Evidently, Marie Antoinettes love for exquisite food extended far beyond France's borders. She cherished exotic foods and ingredients from various parts of the world. Her culinary preferences introduced a diverse range of cooking traditions to French society, such as dishes from Italy and her native Austria. This is why the dining tables in the French court were consistently varied and innovative.
One of Marie Antoinette's most well-known culinary habits was her fondness for sweets and pastries. As mentioned earlier, she took great pleasure in indulging in various desserts. Her food history also provides a glimpse into the culinary diversity of that era, which has been passed down to the present daya truly fascinating piece of history.
For those who have read this article and are inspired to try dining like Marie Antoinette, you can find a wide variety of ingredients to prepare delicious meals at all Rimping branches!
