Menu from Boulanger, or what was served to visitors of the first French restaurants

The menu of the first restaurant in Paris did not differ in a wide selection of dishes. It was possible to order only broth or soup. And these dishes had a therapeutic purpose – to “restore the life” of visitors.

People from ancient times believed that soup is an excellent remedy. Recent studies have shown that chicken soup has soothing and anti-inflammatory properties. But already at the beginning of the XII century, doctors recommended chicken soup to fight colds. And even the world’s first restaurant served only liquid dishes, in particular broths.
In the 1700s, the French catering system was quite developed. At that time, most city dwellers did not have full kitchens in their homes. And so most Parisians ate from common boilers of street vendors or in local hotels. Continue reading →