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Le Potager du Roi

The King's cabbage

Jorg Zipprick's Culinary Journal - Free Lance Correspondent to the Paris Pages
Text copyright (c) June 1995 Jorg Zipprick - used with permission.

Only the birds disturb the quietness of the royal gardens in Versailles. Apples, asparagus and herbs grow in severe formation around a fountain, like in every classical "jardin a la francaise" there seems to be a kind of military discipline for nature. Louis XIV ordered a man called La Quintinie to plant this gardens in 1670 - just to have some fresh vegetables for the King's table.

The King loved figs and melons, as a real gourmet, he sometimes walked through the fields to watch his culinary pleasures grow. Nowadays, the royal cabbages are a bit more democratic. They are sold at the Versailles Market and served in restaurants such as the small Potager du Roi, a countrystyle auberge with a rustic chimney. Philippe Letourneur, a disciple of two-star-cook Gerard Vie, offers his own version of "cuisine bourgeoise": Foie Gras au topinambur, rouleau de maquereau et lard, foie de veau grille aux oignons haches, croustade de figues - and whenever it is possible, royal potatoes, asparagus and apples, which allows his guests to feel a bit like Louis XIV. for only 170 French Francs.

Le Potager du Roy: 1, rue du Marechal Joffre. 78000 Versailles, Tel: 39 50 35 34

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Updated 06/95