Soyer's Culinary Campaign: Being Historical Reminiscences of the Late War.: With The Plain Art of Cookery for Military and Civil Institutions

at Crockford’s store at Donnybrook, which I ransacked and despoiled of condiments of every description. Instead of going direct to head-quarters, I changed my mind and went home to prepare, having decided, as the time was so short, to produce one good dish only, instead of several small and insignificant ones. This was, however, to be worthy of the occasion. I was well aware that General Codrington’s cook, under the liberal management and command of Captain Ponsonby, would turn out something worthy of the event. Upon arriving at my hut, I sent two of my cooks to assist him, despatched my groom on horseback to Kamiesch for various things, and then began the construction of my _Lüdersienne_ upon the lid of my new field-stoves, the dish I had brought from the _Alar_ being too small. My novel dish was completed, and carried to head-quarters by two soldiers; and at a quarter to two I personally placed my culinary wonder upon the table. It was called SOYER’S CULINARY EMBLEM OF PEACE, _The Macédoine Lüdersienne à l’Alexandre II._ This monster dish was composed of-- 12 boxes of preserved lobsters 2 cases “ lampreys 2 cases “ sardines 2 bottles “ anchovies 1 case “ caviar 1 case “ sturgeon 1 case “ thunny 2 cases “ oysters 1 pound of fresh prawns 4 pounds turbot clouté 12 Russian pickled cucumbers 4 bottles “ olives 1 bottle mixed pickles 1 bottle Indian ditto 1 bottle pickled French beans 2 bottles “ mushrooms ⅓ bottle “ mangoes 2 bottles of pickled French truffles 2 cases of preserved peas 2 cases “ mixed vegetables 4 dozen cabbage lettuces 100 eggs 2 bottles of preserved cockscombs. The sauce was composed of six bottles of salad oil, one of Tarragon vinegar, half a bottle of Chili vinegar, two boxes of preserved cream (whipped), four ounces of sugar, six eschalots, salt, cayenne pepper, mustard, and a quarter of an ounce of Oriental herbs which are quite unknown in England. The dining-room, decorated under the artistic superintendence of Captain Ponsonby, presented a ravishing _ensemble_ well adapted to the occasion.