268. Pollo alla Marengo

The evening of the Battle of Marengo, after the turmoil of the day, the cook to the First Consul and to the Generals was unable to find the kitchen wagons; and so he had some chickens stolen and improvised a dish that, prepared more or less as I will describe it to you, was called “Chicken Marengo.” They say it was always a favorite of Napoleon, not so much for its intrinsic merit, but because it reminded him of that glorious victory.