3 / 92
TIPPLE AND SNACK
THE ARTISTRY OF EATING
"Mais oui
!
But you Americans don't know any–
thing about eating," said M. Morisot who had
reported to my company the day before as Liaison
Officer. As I had not known what to do with him,
I
gave him a tin hat, a mess-kit, and
a
horse, and
treated him like a pal.
His remark that the Americans did not know any–
thing about eating had been prompted by a cup of
bilge-water coffee from the company kitchen in the
little
farm
house where we were billeted close by the
Marne.
"You must let me cook you a meal," continued
Morisot. "Lieutenant Elkins has told me that to–
morrrow is your birthday. Why not have a little
fete, and I will be the chef?"
"I doubt if you can do much in the way of a fete
with the army rations," I laughed.
"Possibly I surprise you. What do you say?"
"I'm on. Elkins, tell the mess sergeant to issue
Lieutenant Morisot raw rations, and send the orderly
to Viffort for some good wine."
The next evening we sat down around our
packing-case table in the court-yard of the
farm–
house to sample Morisot's creations. I have eaten
fi!,et de barbue
a
la M
onwy
at Prunier's, and a
[ 3 ]