An article lists out the greatest banquets ever laid out in the course of history. The top ten banquets are as follows:
1. Banquet organized by Tigellinus for Nero Rome, AD 64 – This banquet organized by Roman minister Gaius Ophonius Tigellinus in honor of the Roman emperor Nero, is reported to have taken place in a golden raft on Marcus Agrippa’s lake. The historian Tacitus however, briefs the readers that the shipboard banquet comprised of more than 50 Roman delicacies like baked dormice, hare cooked in a pungent sauce and representing Pegasus, boiled whole calf, sow’s udders, so on and so forth. In a nutshell the biggest banquet in history, as per the Roman tradition, was thrown to assert Nero’s power and licentiousness.
2. THE MEDICI WEDDING Florence, 1600 – History records that this banquet at Florence on the wedding of Marie de Medici with Henry IV, the King of France, had over 50 courses and lasted for many days after the wedding. Apart from intermezzi of sculptures made of ice and sugar, the nitty-gritty of banquet setting amused the guests. The beverage which claims to have dominated the 50 course banquet was apparently made from milk and honey.
3. THE FIELD OF THE CLOTH OF GOLD Balinghem, 1520 – The Field of Cloth of Gold is the name given to a place in Balinghem, between Guines and Ardres, in France, near Calais. Apparently named after site of a treaty that took place from June 7 to June 24, 1520, between King Henry VIII of England and King Francis I of France, this place witnessed pompous feasts and rare talents. It is reported that 2200 sheep, red wine and other grub were eaten in similar proportions in one month of feasting.
4. NICOLAS FOUQUET’S FÊTE at Vaux-le-Vicomte, 17 August 1661 – This banquet thrown by the youngest finance minister of France till date claims to be a model to many royal fetes. History reports the fact that on August 17, 1661, Fouquet threw the most lavish banquet to inaugurate his grand chateau developed in his estate at Vaux-le-Vicomte. Doubtless of the wine that Fouquet might have served, the courses at the sumptuous feast created by chef Vatel however remains a mystery.
5. THE REGENT’S BANQUET Brighton, 18 January 1817 – Recorded to be one of the most lavish feasts in Britain. This feast was organized by Prince Regent, in the “Regent’s Banquet” at the Royal Pavilion in Brighton in the honor of visiting Grand Duke Nicholas of Russia. Regent’s French masterchef, Antonin Careme is reported to have concocted 127 recipes, comprising 8 soups, 8 different servings of spicy fishes, 40 different entrees of fishes, 8 different varieties of roasts of pigeons, chicken, fishes, game birds, lambs; 32 entrees of desserts and roasts and 12 different assortments of desserts.
6. THE FEAST OF BEASTS Paris, 31 December 1870 – As the name denotes this carnivorous party was one of its kind, thrown by Monsieur Bonvalet, the mayor of the third arrondissement, at Noel Peter’s restaurant in Paris. The Monsieur is reported to have conducted an unusual party, extracting meat from the animals at the zoo, showing a novel way of solving food shortage in Paris at the outset of the siege in Paris.
7. St. PATRICK’S DAY FOR THE PRESIDENTS Washington, 17 March 1959 – President Eisenhower at the White House, Washington, was reported to have thrown a grand dinner to visiting President of Ireland, O’Kelly on the St. Patrick’s Day, celebrated on 17 March, 1959. The feast that started with prosciutto ham and melon unfurled a 5-long course comprising soups with Melba toast, appetizer made of lobster and followed by cucumber sandwiches and a main course of stuffed Long Island duckling with apple sauce, a casserole of aubergine, French string beans almandine and a green salad with anchovy and cheese crusts. The feast summed-up with ice-cream sundae and Pol Roger 1952.
8. THE CRITIC’S REVENGE Paris, 10 November 1975 – Former food editor Craig Claiborne’s $300 winning bid at a charity auction gave him the option to pick-up a no-price limit meal for two at any restaurant. Apparently, the celebrated food editor and his friend Pierre Franey are reported to splurge on a $4000, five-hour, and 31-course meal of foie gras, truffles, lobster, caviar and rare wines.
9. FRANÇOIS MITTERRAND’S LAST MEAL – Former French President Francois Mitterrand’s last meal on New Year’s Eve 1995 at Landes, supposedly eight days before his death from prostate cancer comprised of a traditional feasting on the forbidden ortolan bird, foie gras, oysters and capon.
10. THE EPICUREAN MASTERS OF THE WORLD Bangkok, 10 February 2007 – Organized in Bangkok for the promotion of Thai tourism apparently comprised of 10-course gourmet dinner. Concocted by six three-star Michelin chefs the 10-course dinner rolled out with Beluga caviar, Perigord truffles, Kobe Beef, Brittany lobster, Belon oysters, crayfish with morel mushrooms and rare red wines all racking-up a bill of $25,000 for the diners.
Via: Independent
