Included in the l904 Adelaide farewell luncheon by South Australian politicians for Australia's second Governor-General , Hallam Lord Tennyson , whose father was the poet laureate Alfred Tennyson , who wrote the Charge of the Light Brigade , was Beche de Mer soup .
Also known as trepang , and sea cucumber , the marine slug was regarded as a culinary delight and an aphrodisiac by the Chinese .
Tennyson had been the South Australian Governor from 1899-1902 and had only served as the GG for one year and 12 days .
Hallam had written a children's book , Jack and the Beanstalk, in 1886 and a two volume Alfred Lord Tennyson : A Memoir by His Son , London , 1897. He later edited a collection of his father's poems and published Tennyson and His Friends ,1911.
In addition, he was president of the Royal Literary Fund and the Folklore Society .
The farewell luncheon was prepared by the parliamentary caterer , C.W. Lester, who received praise over the years for the many great beanos he arranged for important gatherings , including for delegates at a conference on the future of forestry .
The gravy stained menu shown here is from the Little Darwin Collection.
