Kettner's Book of the Table

Every food on the Victorian table gets its history, its etymology and a strong opinion — the wittiest cookery book of 1877, written in secret by a Times leader-writer and named for London's most fashionable restaurant.

M

18 entries in this part of Kettner's Book of the Table.

Macedon

or in French MACÉDOINE, is a name which is supposed to have been used in the first instance to signify a medley of vegetables, but which…

Mackerel

A great authority, Grimod de la Reynière, says: "The mackerel has this in common with good women-he is loved by all the world. He is…

Madeira

If one thing could more decidedly than another prove the low estate to which cookery has descended in Paris, and expose the hollowness of…

Maids of Honour

It surely redeems the act of eating from its grossness that imagination can so work upon us as to transform a simple cheesecake into a maid…

Maintenon

The widow Scarron, afterwards Madame de Maintenon, was married to Louis XIV. in his old age, nursed him well, made him say his prayers, and…

Maraschino

A bitter-sweet liqueur made at Zara from the kernel of the Marasca cherry or gean of Dalmatia. The word implies bitterness; but the liqueur…

Melon

Try a slice of melon as an adjunct to any fish eaten with a cruet sauce. MELTED BUTTER is a correct name for that which has been described…

Menu

Why will Englishmen always describe the minute of a dinner as the menu? Why do they not speak of a receipt as a reçu? Surely it is…

Milk

The greatest discovery in the way of food which has been made in this century is the half-discovery which has been made about milk. When…

Mincemeat

Two pounds of unsalted bullock's tongue ; two pounds of ox-kidney fat; two pounds of stoned raisins; three pounds of currants; two pounds…

Mince Pies

Line some pattypans with a rich puffpaste, No. 4 or 5. Fill them with mincemeat; roof them over, making a small hole in the centre with a…

Mincing Knife

In most English kitchens there is used a chopper with a single blade, which does its work with a great expenditure of labour and loss of…

Mint Sauce

Two tablespoonfuls of green mint, chopped fine; a tablespoonful of brown sugar (or more, according to taste); and not far from a tumblerful…

Mirepoix

It is probable that one of these days the common sense of mankind will rise in rebellion against Mirepoix this word and abolish it. What is…

Moisten

A mild word to be understood in the sense of Mrs. Gamp, who wished to have the gin-bottle near her on the chimneypiece in order that she…

Mullet

See Red and Grey. MUSHROOMS require a volume to themselves. It is not possible here to give them more than a few lines. Their varieties are…

Mustard

in the form which at present prevails in England, was not known before 1729. Its old English name was senvy, from sinapis. The seeds…

Mutton

I hope it will not be found very inconvenient, but there has been so much to say about mutton under special and interesting names, that…

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