In Louis XIV’s court, luxury wasn’t always about gold: it was being the first to taste spring.
ASPARAGUS
Asparagus was one of the greatest stories of the Potager because it perfectly illustrates how the potager bent the seasons to the King’s will - to grow them in winter. Louis XIV especially enjoyed asparagus dipped into a soft-boiled egg (“en mouillette”), prompting the potager to invent improved forcing methods to satisfy his appetite year-round.
LETTUCE
A lettuce isn’t dramatic on its own, but in Louis XIV’s time, a perfectly fresh head of lettuce served in January was a subtle declaration that the impossible had become possible.
ARTICHOKE
In the 17th century, the artichoke was considered one of the noblest vegetables. It was expensive, difficult to cultivate well, and required patience.
PEA
Madame de Sévigné’s legendary quote about green peas may be the most famous sentence ever written about a vegetable: “L’impatience d’en manger, le plaisir d’en avoir mangé, et la joie d’en manger encore…” (The impatience of eating them, the pleasure of having eaten them, and the joy of eating them again…).
She concludes that peas are the only subjects the princes have discussed for four days. Peas were declared a fashion and a frenzy!
