Culinary Poll #52: An Invitation You Cannot Refuse

[Daniel Rogov]

Let's forgo reality for a moment or two. Suppose you had the opportunity to dine with any historical figure of your choice. Assuming that language would not be a problem, who would you choose? Why that person? And if you like, details on the place of your choice to meet and perhaps even suggestions for the menu.

[Shel T]

Intriguing thought and not an easy one to answer as except for the first I'd choose, there are many many others I'd love to dine with. So will limit this to three.
The first and if I had only a choice of one, is an easy one, Winston Churchill. To listen to him 'hold forth' on the war and his myriad adventures would be a pleasure beyond description. As for location, I think either Chequers or his home Chartwell, and whatever was served would be fine with me!
My second choice would be General George Patton, preferably with some of his staff.
Third choice is Alexandre Dumas at an eating establishment of his selection. As he was a gourmet, am sure it would be terrif, as would all his stories and adventures.

[Matilda L]

Elizabeth I, Queen of England between 1558 - 1603. A crafty, cunning politician. A survivor. A well-read and well-educated woman.
I'd love to talk to her about the music and theatre of her time, the writers and ideas of the day. I'd love to get the inside story on some of the political figures of the time, too. Which members of her Council really counted? What was behind the wars and alliances across Europe? Did she really have a long-lasting affair with Robin Dudley? (I bet she did, and I bet he was a stunner.) What was discussed when she met with Grace O'Malley, the Irish clan leader? What was her father Henry like?

Menu - a mix of the fine foods and wines of her day, and the fine foods and wines of today. We could compare notes on how tastes have changed.

If Elizabeth was too busy for dinner, I'd want to dine with Eleanor of Aquitaine - another astute woman who lived a long and colourful life.

[Karen/NoCA]

Off the top of my head I would like to dine with Princess Diana. I have always been intrigued with the British Royals... she and I could talk into the night about the stuffy folks she tried to please. I'd like to dine in her home, in front of the fire, with wine of her choice and good food brought in from wherever she chooses. She had two sons whom she adored and two of my children were boys. I'd love to know if she desired a daughter, and I could tell her about my daughter. We could talk styles of clothes, food loves, her travels, our travels in the US, why she and Fergie were friends, and her marriage to Prince Charles. What a fun evening that would be, FOR ME, because I love doing stuff like that.

[Robert Reynolds]

Four off the top of my head (in no particular order):
Thomas Jefferson;
Luther Burbank;
Charles Darwin;
John Muir.

[Tim York]

My short list -

Alexander the Great
Ludwig van Beethoven (restoring his hearing for the occasion)
Marcel Proust
Professor George Saintsbury (19th/early 20th century wine connoisseur)

[Trevor F]

Sir Tim Berners-Lee, credited with inventing and pioneering the world wide web www.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Berners-Lee

Venue - French Horn at Sonning........ classic French food, poached eggs and smoked salmon in sauce hollandaise, then sole bonne femme.

[Shlomo R]

King Solomon

[Dave R]

In no particular order...

Cleopatra
Hunter S. Thompson
Vince Lombardi
Ernest Hemmingway
Mohandas Gandhi
Jim Morrison
Albert Einstein
Arthur Herbert Fonzarelli

[JC (NC)]

Queen Elizabeth I (borrowing from Matilda.) I 'd like to invite my priest also since he greatly admires her.
Thomas Jefferson (borrowing from Robert R.)
The third would have to be a literary hero--maybe Francois Villon since I have enjoyed reading and translating some of his poetry and he probably appreciated French wine--or maybe Emily Bronte or Jane Austen, or moving into more modern times Willa Cather who is from my father's hometown of Red Cloud, Nebraska or Ernest Gann who spent part of his childhood in my hometown of Lincoln, NE. That would be a good starting point for a conversation. Oops, I left out Loren Eiseley, another Nebraskan who wrote some lovely prose combining science and poetry. He knew my uncle so that could start the conversation going and I did actually meet him once at a book signing in DC.

[Daniel Rogov]

My own choices:

Lucullus (at his home)
Anna Deslions (in the Cafe d'Anglais)
The Duke de Lyons (at the Grand Central Oyster Bar)
The Marquis de Sade (in his cell at l'Orangerie)
Kathryn or Audrey Hepburn (at The Russian Tea Room)
Odysseus (on the beach of any Aegean Island)
Marie de Medicis (in her boudoir)
Ingrid Bergman (at Cafe Flore)
Ernest Hemingway (at Brasserie Lipp)

Best
Rogov