La Ligue des Gourmands was a dining club founded by
Auguste Escoffier
Georges Auguste Escoffier (; 28 October 1846 – 12 February 1935) was a French chef, restaurateur and culinary writer who popularized and updated traditional French cooking methods. Much of Escoffier's technique was based on that of Marie-Antoi ...
and his friends in February 1912. This club spread throughout Europe and attracted thousands of members. It is notable for the ''Dîners d'Epicure''—menus that were served simultaneously in many restaurants. The first was served to over 4000 members in 37 European cities; the last, held in July 1914, was served to over 10,000 diners in 140 different cities.
The first menu included ''Dodine de Canard au Chambertin'', a duck casserole cooked in a
dodine.
Nathaniel Newnham-Davis, in _Gourmet's Guide to London_ (1914) devotes a full chapter to the Ligue des Gourmands, noting that in 1914, the branch in London takes the lead in the number of members (60 members), followed by Paris (43 members). "Marseilles, New York and Montreal tie for third place with twelve members each" (p. 326). Other cities with members included Brussels, Delhi, Yokohama, and Zurich. Davis notes that members of the Ligue are French cooks or chefs.
See also
*
Gourmand
A gourmand is a person who takes great pleasure and interest in consuming good food and drink. ''Gourmand'' originally referred to a person who was "a glutton for food and drink", a person who eats and drinks excessively; this usage is now rare. ...
References
* Escoffier, Auguste. ''Memories of my Life''.
'Mondialisation de la cuisine française', ''Fondation A. Escoffier (vie)'' Retrieved April 21, 2005.
* Newnham-Davis, Gourmet's Guide to London. London: Grant Richards, 1914.
Gastronomical societies
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