“What woman does not long to be carried like a lamb in the arms of the man she loves.”
Published in 1984, The Romance of Food by Barbara Cartland features over 170 pages full of cream-laden “aphrodisiacs for the young lovers”, all beautifully photographed in the kitsch-est 1980’s style imaginable.
Each dish has a little quote underneath the photograph. My favourite by far is found with the cakes:
“An English tea; how many men have been beguiled and captivated by a soft voice offering them a meringue?”
How many indeed.
I can’t even guess as to what went through the poor photographers mind when Miss Cartland told him she wanted each dish surrounded by a selection of her own knick-knacks on brightly coloured backdrops.
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- Beef Wellington ~ “England’s greatest General who defeated Napoleon and a plate worthy of his name in the Battle of Love.”
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- Chicken Marengo ~ “The most famous chicken dish made for Napoleon Bonaparte at the famous Battle of Marengo.”
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- Chicken with Orange Surprise ~ “Pull a wishbone and wish for a wedding!”
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- Chicken with Peaches ~ “Sincere romantic with the softness and the fragrance of love.”
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- Coulibiac of Salmon ~ “No other Russian dish is so alluring. It makes me think of handsome, extravagant Princes, grand Palaces and the throbbing enchantment of gypsy violins.”
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- Duck with Orange and Grand Marnier Sauce ~ “A plate of Chinese magic in whose life the duck has always had a very special place.”
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- Filet Mignon Rossini ~ “Beef . . . giving varility and strength . . . with seductive paté enflaming the senses.”
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- Filets de Sole Veronique and Summer Splendour ~ “Cupid watches over the subtle flavours of grape and sole and strengthens a lover with the richness of salmon and the iron of watercress.”
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- Fleur-de-Lis d’Amour ~ “This should be eaten with a man who, like a Frenchman, can charm a bird off the tree with his words of love.”
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- Gypsy Magic and Imperial Splendor ~ “The gypsies wandering romantically through the Countryside make watercress soup but the Russians with fire and passion prefer Borsch.”
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- Honeyed Lamb Chops ~ “Honey is the food of Love. Give the man you love Honeyed Chops and with the scent of honeysuckle dream of a honeymoon.”
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- Ice Cream in a Brandy Snap Basket ~ “Flowers, candlelight and a meringue heart in raspberry puree decorated with arrow-pierced hearts. What could go with them better than a diamond and a wedding ring?”
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- Jugged Hare ~ “One of the fastest wild animals in England, a menace to the farmers but a spur and a stimulant to the languid lover.”
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- Lemon Shortcake and Mille Feuille aux Fruits Rouge ~ “Nostalgia and ‘Stands the Church clock at ten to three and is there honey stfll for tea?’ “
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- “Lilies for purity, Roses for romance, Cupid for love and a white Rolls Royce; what more could any Bride want?”
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- Lobster Amourette ~ “An exotic creature from the deep, the colour of two red lips, which can invite, provoke and surrender.”
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- Mocha Chocolate Cake, Black Currant Gateau and Meringues ~ “An English tea; how many men have been beguiled and captivated by a soft voice offering them a meringue?”
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- Noisette of Lamb with Baby Vegetables ~ “What woman does not long to be carried like a lamb in the arms of the man she loves.”
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- Normandy Pheasant ~ “The leaves of Autumn fall from the trees but the beautiful exotic pheasant, who comes from China, delights the sportsman and surprisingly the sportswoman.”
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- Pink Chicken ~ “Chicken with pink sauce, chicken in pink quartz and the pink flush of your cheeks when he says ‘I love you’.”
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- Salmon with Green Mayonnaise, Flower of the Heart and Golden Baskets ~ “Three appetizers: each as inviting and provocative as a kiss. Salmon with asparagus and green rnayonnaise, salmon and caviar in the shape of a flower, and salmon in an orange basket.”
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- San Francisco Tomatoes and Avocado Mousse ~ “To bring the sunshine to a rainy day Tomato filled with shrimp in a cream sauce or Avocado Mousse with a red rose.”
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- Seafood in a Melon Basket ~ “The hidden wonders of the deep evoke the mystic wonders of Love.”
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- Sole Confetti and Trout in a Pink Coat ~ “Venus and Cupid: sole confetti, and trout in a pink coat. Both very delectable!”
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- Spanish Rhapsody ~ The sensuous swaying bodies of the dancers, the tap of their feet, the clatter of the castanets are all in this exotic exciting dish.”
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- Special Strawberry Ice Cream, Champagne Sherbet and Creme de Menthe Ice Cream ~ “As Eve found in the Garden of Eden, fruit is an exciting temptation.”
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- Terrine of Fish ~ Fish from Japan, Bali, Mexico, Hong Kong, China and Peru create this succulent seductive dish.”
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- The Duc’s Fantasy ~ “Grapes, purple and white, giving us the wine which brings a sparkle to our eyes and a smile to our lips.”
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- True Love ~ “For a night to remember, a heart topped with delicious raspberry puree, another with orange mousse and the third with passion fruit.”
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- Wid Duck with Cherries ~ “Only a strong man, whom women admire, can brave the dark and cold to wait for the dawn flight.”
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