The Epigram

Even though I know what an epigram is, to be surer, I consulted the dictionary, which defines the word as: A brief, pointed, often antithetical saying, or a short poem, usually satirical, the last line of which often contains an unexpected change of thought or biting comment.

The reason of my taking all that trouble to find out the meaning (I nearly never look at a dictionary; too lazy) is that I saw the publicity of a typical Spanish restaurant advertising a dish called 'Epigrama' and I couldn't figure out why this word should have anything to do with food. Reading further I saw that this is something like the famous British dish roasted 'Crown of lamb' - the whole rack of ribs of lamb, bent to form into the shape of a crown, with the end of each rib bone wrapped in foil then capped with a frilly paper hat of a chef. A classy dish usually served on special occasions.

Presumably the Spanish do it the same or similar way according to the picture they show. I just wonder how many people know the origin of the unusual name given to this dish.

Apparently, in the middle of the 18 century a young, beautiful but ignorant Marchioness heard how one of her guests relate how the night before he had dined in Count Baudreuil's, and enjoyed tremendously some epigrams. So she ordered her chef Michelet to serve this delightful dish the following evening.

The chef Michelet moved sky and earth trying to find out what it was and how to cook it but finally discovered that it was actually an error the Marchioness had made. Her guest was not talking about food but poetry. Clever as he was not to shame the mistress, he served the Crown of lamb the following evening. All Guest were delighted and inquired about the name of this dish. Without blinking an eye he answered: 'Epigrames d'agneau a la Michelet'.

Everyone laughed. The very happy Marchioness remained ignorant of the fact that she had inadvertently created a memorable gastronomic triumph.

Tags:epigram.lamb

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