Sixteenth-century banquet. The Christmas dinner of 1557 in Russia at the court of Tsar Ivan the Terrible remained memorable
The Christmas dinner of 1557 to the court of Russia remained memorable for its glitz and mind-blowing menu.
Power was in the hands of the Tsar Ivan the Terrible , at the time married to Anastasja Zacharina ; they both loved giving receptions and banquets.
On that festive occasion, the more than 1700 guests were amazed to say the least by the sumptuousness of the atmosphere in which they found themselves pleasantly immersed.
The tables were set with gold plates, finely decorated tableware, jugs embellished with semi-precious stones and carnelian goblets.
A real treat for the eyes, but there was also a way to fully satisfy the throat.
Number of courses aside, leave you astonished by the complexity of many of them.
A few examples?
In addition to gnocchi, soups, caviar, cheeses and roast meats, guests were able to taste decidedly more elaborate preparations such as storks seasoned with spices and faithful reproductions of cities made entirely of sugar.
At one point, even a miniature Kremlin appeared at the table.
No one, of course, ever managed to forget this Christmas dinner at the court.