Friday, July 19, 2024

CHARGE OF THE SEA SLUG BRIGADE AT GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S FEAST

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.