The Ottoman Empire: a Historical Encyclopedia [2 Volumes] by Kia Mehrdad;

Author:Kia, Mehrdad;
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 4869906
Publisher: ABC-CLIO, LLC

DINING AT THE OTTOMAN COURT

In the following excerpt from one of her letters, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689–1762), the wife of England’s ambassador to the Ottoman court, describes a meal that was served to her during her visit to the wife of a vizier:

She entertained me with all kind of civility, till dinner came in, which was served, one dish at a time, to a vast number, all finely dressed after their manner, which I do not think so bad as you have perhaps heard it represented. I am a very good judge of their eating, having lived three weeks in the house of an effendi at Belgrade, who gave us very magnificent dinners, dressed by his own cooks which the first week pleased me extremely but,…I then began to grow weary of it and desired our own cook might add a dish or two after our manner. But I attribute this to custom. I am very much inclined to believe an Indian that had never tasted of either, would prefer their cookery to ours. Their sauces are very high [strongly flavored], all the roast very much done. They use a great deal of rich spice. The soup is served for the last dish and they have at least as great variety of ragouts as we have. I was very sorry I could not eat of as many as the good lady would have had me, who was very earnest in serving me of everything. The treat concluded with coffee and perfumes.

Source: Letters of the Right Honourable Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (London: Printed for Thomas Martin, 1790), Letter XXXIII. Available at Project Gutenberg, http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/17520/pg17520-images.html.

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