“He set before them that day a dinner than which a better no prince commanded, unless it were the Pope. There were ortolans, shot in the valley, done with truffles, that made the epicurean Gonzaga roll his eyes, translated through the medium of his palate into a very paradise of sensual delight. There was a hare, trapped on the hillside, and stewed in Malmsey, of a flavour so delicate that Gonzaga was regretting him his heavy indulgence in the ortolans; there was trout, fresh caught in the stream below, and a wondrous pasty that turned liquid in the mouth. To wash down these good things there was stout red wine of Puglia and more delicate Malvasia, for in his provisioning of the fortress Gonzaga had contrived that, at least, they should not go thirsty.”
A cook of roughly the same moment, setting down the same dish.
Soak a penny French roll in raisin wine till it will hold no more: put it in the dish, and pour round it a custard, or cream, sugar, and lemonjuice. Just before it is served, sprinkle over it some nonpareil comfits; or stick a few blanched and slit almonds into it. Sponge biscuit may be used instead of the roll.
Sources: The passage is from Rafael Sabatini, Love-at-arms : $b being a narrative excerpted from the chronicles of U, free to read in full at Project Gutenberg. The recipe is from Rundell, New system of domestic cookery, formed upon principles of of 1806, also free in full. Both are in the public domain in the United States. The binding above is ours — oxblood cloth, grapes stamp.