Gentleman's Relish

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An opened can of Gentleman's Relish
Sandwiches: Toasted white bread coated with Gentleman's Relish
Scotch Woodcock , typically presented

Gentleman's Relish [ ˈdʒentəlmənz ˈrelɪʃ ] ( listening ? / I ), alternatively known in Latin as Patum Peperium ( listening ? / I ), is an anchovy paste invented in 1828 and commercially available since 1860 , traditionally used in English cuisine as a relish thin on rimless, toasted White bread is spread , is used as a condiment for the dish Scotch woodcock or to refine scrambled eggs . Audio file / audio sample Audio file / audio sample

Origin, composition and history

The paste was developed in 1828 by the Englishman John Osborn in Paris , who presented it for the first time in 1849 at the local food fair, presented it again in 1855 and was then awarded a prize for it (in the original "Citation Favorable" , in German analogously "remarkable product"). After his return in 1860, Osborn sold the paste in Great Britain as Patum Peperium (Latin for “pepper paste ”), although it neither contains pepper nor tastes peppery. The name has been used as an alternative name for the product to this day and is printed on the lid of the packaging. Gentleman's Relish immediately became an integral part of the Victorian era .

The very salty paste consists of at least 60% cooked and pureed anchovies , which gives it a strong fishy smell , various herbs , spices and butter . The exact recipe is a company secret .

Until 1949 Gentleman's Relish was a standard food condiment in the British Parliament ; From the 1950s, a change in taste set in and the paste was no longer used for preparations there. The relish is still the standard condiment of the gentlemen's clubs at the universities of Cambridge and Oxford for the preparation of hearty sandwiches .

use

The brief instruction for use on the lid of the can has been unchanged since 1860: “Delicious on hot toast” (in German “Delicious on toasted white bread”).

The paste can also be added to the beaten eggs as a seasoning ingredient for scrambled eggs. It is used in a similar way for the dish Scotch woodcock , which consists of scrambled eggs with parsley on toasted toast that has previously been coated with Gentleman's Relish and on which anchovies are also placed.

Gentleman's Relish is also suitable as a seasoning ingredient in the production of a farce , as an addition to the pan when frying minced meat to emphasize the meat taste , together with butter on jacket potatos and on pizza as an anchovy substitute. Some British cookbooks recommend coating steaks with a little gentleman's relish , also to emphasize the beef flavor.

The paste is also spread on crackers in the UK and eaten as a snack .

Manufacturers and variants

In 1971 the recipe was sold by a descendant of John Osborne to the food manufacturer Elsenham Quality Foods . He developed the recipe further and, in addition to the traditional gentleman's relish, also offered a mixture with French mustard .

Today the brand belongs to G. Costa & Co. Ltd., founded in 1879 . , which in turn is part of the Associated British Foods Plc group . In addition to the anchovy paste, there is a similar paste made from salmon and one made from mackerel from the same manufacturer.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d Article on "Gentleman's Relish", accessed on February 2, 2017.
  2. ↑ Isabella Beeton: Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management. Oxford University Press , 2000. ISBN 0192833456 .
  3. ↑ a b J. H. Wilcox: The kitchen and refreshment rooms of the House of Commons. Journal of Parliamentary Affairs. Volume III (2), London 1949, pp. 316-320.
  4. ↑ Ursula Aylmer, Carolyn McCrum: Oxford Food: An Anthology. Ashmolean Museum, 2005. page 26. ISBN 1854440586 .
  5. ^ National Trust: Gentleman's Relish: And Other English Culinary Oddities. A gourmet's guide. Anova Books, 2007. page 12f. ISBN 1905400551 .
  6. ^ Tonia George: The Ginger & White Cookbook . Mitchell Beazley, 2014. ISBN 9781845338756 .
  7. ↑ Recommended consumption by Sainsbury's for Gentleman's Relish , accessed on February 2, 2017.
  8. ↑ Extract from the company register, accessed on February 2, 2017.