[Sca-cooks] 1926: an Ecuadorian medieval meal

[Terry Decker]

Just historical inaccuracy based on someone's misunderstanding of medieval 
French culture.  I suspect the food was more accurate than the table 
manners.

Also, the feast was not organized by Ecuador's minister to France, but by a 
Peruvian Marquis to honor the minister's arrival in Paris.

The event was off enough interest to be reported in the Chicago Tribune 
http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1926/10/05/page/2/article/twenty-millionaires-stage-medieval-banquet-in-paris 
.

Bear


-----Original Message----- 
From: Susan Lord


>  JIMCHEVAL wrote:
>
>
>
> Why ever did the Minister of Ecuador want to organize a medieval meal in
> Paris in 1926?
>
> Whatever the reason, . . . guests wiping their hands on the tablecloth.

How disgusting. If there was a problem between pouring water over the eaters 
hands, the Spanish used bread to wipe their hands, certainly not the 
tablecloth!

Ziyab introduced the tablecloth to Cordoba in the 9th century. At that time 
it was fitted leather, hardy a place to wipe ones hands.

Traditionally, through the times of Isabel I,  a pitcher filled with water 
was poured over the hands of each eater. A basin was underneath to catch the 
water and a towel was provided for the eater to dry his hands.This was 
preformed before, during and after the meal.
See my blog: Medieval Spanish Chef: AGUAMANIL 
<http://www.medievalspanishchef.com/2010/11/aguamaniles.html>
www.medievalspanishchef.com/2010/11/aguamaniles.html
Nov 2, 2010
>