The legend of a Talleyrand going to the Congress of Vienna
The legend of a Talleyrand going to the Congress of Vienna to settle the consequences of the Napoleonic epic, accompanied by Antonin Carême, the most famous cook of the time, has long maintained the feeling of invulnerability of French cuisine. .
A fine diplomat and wise gourmet, Talleyrand wrote to King Louis XVIII on the eve of his departure:
"Sire, I need saucepans more than written instructions."
At the Questenberg-Kaunitz Palace, where the Lenten Brigade was based, from September 1814 to June 1815, the “Congress enjoys itself”.
The magnificence of the banquets captivated the Highnesses, Metternich and all the plenipotentiaries of the Quadruple Alliance. Gastronomy put at the service of diplomacy sealed the destiny of Europe for a century.
Nowadays, most countries consider gastronomy as a usual component of international relations. Hillary Clinton herself launched the Diplomatic Culinary Partnership in 2012, which aimed to bring dozens of chefs from across the country to recognize the role of cuisine in American diplomacy.
