Voyages du Roy au Chateau de Choisy

The Palace of Versailles has conserved one of the four collections of “Choisy menus”, dating from 1751. With the copies held by other institutions, there are 412 menus served to the King between 1744 and 1759.
Dainty suppers were served at Choisy to around 30 guests, very different to the etiquette that accompanied public meals. Meals were served “à la française”, i.e. there were between three and five courses at each of which several dozen different dishes were offered. Each menu is colourful and richly-decorated, sometimes depicting amusing details such as hunting scenes. The document is signed Brain de Sainte-Marie, one of the servants of the Royal Furniture Treasury.