What do famous people eat? Nowadays, we can easily answer that question with a scroll through Instagram or an episode on TV. But how about the famous legends from the past? If they lived in the present, what food or meals would they frequently post in their story? I’m not sure about the others, but these 15 historic figures will definitely post these.
Emperor Augustus – Asparagus
It was well-known during Roman times that Emperor Augustus was passionate about asparagus. He preferred it to be cooked al dente, crispy, and simple. His love for this vegetable gave birth to the Latin phrase, “Velocius quam asparagi conquantur,” which translates to “faster than you can cook asparagus.” He also named a fleet of ships as the Asparagus Fleet, a vehicle whose only purpose was to transport fresh asparagus.
Mark Twain – Oyster
The great American humorist and author Mark Twain was often away from home, which made him homesick. To cope, he wrote a list of foods from home that he would eat as soon as he got back. In this 60-item list, he included the usual American delicacies such as American toast, Southern-style fried chicken, and Thanksgiving roasted turkey. But the highlight was the five variations of oysters—be it in soup, in half shells, roasted, fried, or stewed, he wanted it all!
Frederick II — Candied Violets
The formidable Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick II, was revered for being a philosopher, military general, and most of all, a patron of the arts. He was a man of culture who indulged himself with exquisite things such as candied violets, an aristocratic luxury at the time. He always had these decadent, sweet delicacies wherever he went and whatever he did, which heavily juxtaposed his seemingly cold and bitter reputation. It just goes to show that behind all that hard armor, Frederick II may also have had a soft and affectionate side.
Abraham Lincoln — Apples
Abraham Lincoln, despite his grand status as the 16th American president, enjoyed the simplicity of apples. His lunch would usually consist of apples and milk, although he also savored this sweet and tart fruit in pies and other American desserts. His plain palate indeed reflected how he stayed true to his modest upbringing in spite of his heightened reputation.
Princess Diana — Baked Potatoes and Stuffed Vegetables
Princess Diana favored homely and wholesome dishes such as baked potatoes and stuffed vegetables, especially eggplants filled with peppers, zucchini, onions, mushrooms, mozzarella, and bacon. Her simple tastes extended from anything with dough to beef and goose liver. Indeed, even through her meals, the beloved royal was simple and humble.
Napoleon Bonaparte — Chicken Marengo
The famous military leader Napoleon Bonaparte discovered his favorite meal after the Battle of Marengo back in the 1800s. To celebrate his victory, he asked for a meal, and his chef was able to collect chicken, tomatoes, olives, herbs, and olive oil. These ingredients soon made up the French classic chicken Marengo.
John F. Kennedy — New England Fish Chowder
John F. Kennedy, the youngest elected president of the United States, was a ‘soup, sandwich, and fruit’ man. He liked a lot of foods, but when Lynn Jennings, a young girl in 1961, asked him about his favorite food, he told her it was New England Fish Chowder, even going as far as to share the recipe.
George Washington — Mushroom Ketchup
Before tomatoes, ketchups were made from mushrooms. And George Washington loved them! The whole thing may sound odd now, but it was a staple condiment back in the 18th century because, at the time, many people believed tomatoes were poisonous. In the modern day, this is more similar to Worcestershire sauce than ketchup.
Jane Austen — Toasted Cheese
Jane Austen understandably wrote novels that melt our hearts because she, herself, was fond of cheese—sandwiched between lightly buttered bread, to be exact. She shared this with her sister through a letter when she told the story of how her friend ordered toasted cheese solely for her sake.
Franklin Roosevelt — Grilled Cheese
Just like Jane Austen, grilled cheese was the way to get to then-President Franklin Roosevelt’s heart. His fondness for them was so well-known that restaurants and diners now serve grilled cheese sandwiches after him—FDR. Furthermore, a White House housekeeper shared that Roosevelt favored foods that “he could dig into.” As a result, these creamy yet crispy sandwiches were followed by hot dogs and scrambled eggs during his meal.
Winston Churchill — Turtle Soup
Winston Churchill was known to be particularly fond of non-creamy soups. He liked them so much that every meal had to include a soup or a consommé that preceded his main entrée. During World War I, he developed a particular preference for clear turtle soups, which made it a popular meal during his time. However, the buzz around it waned over time. At present, the dish is even illegal in the United States.
Thomas Jefferson — Macaroni and Cheese
Thomas Jefferson is credited with popularizing macaroni and cheese in the United States after tasting it in Europe. He liked it so much that he brought the recipes home and even purchased a machine that makes macaroni pasta. He also modified the recipe by not adding flour when making the cheese sauce.
Queen Victoria — Victoria Sponge Cake
This British monarch loved to pair the light and dainty sponge cake with her afternoon tea. This decadent and sweet delicacy soon became a crucial part of teatime traditions because of Queen Victoria. Her connection with the dessert was so prominent that the sponge cake itself was named after her—Victoria sponge cake.
Queen Elizabeth II — Chocolate Biscuit Cake
This member of British royalty also had a sweet tooth like Queen Victoria. Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite was chocolate biscuit cake, a no-bake, crispy, and sweet dessert cake that was served during royal events and her journeys. Its rich, dark chocolate taste paired perfectly with her afternoon teas, which made it a staple during her teatime.
Charles Darwin — Roasted Armadillo
As the father of evolution, Darwin was especially interested in animals’ fossils and makeup. His fascination with this concept implored him to voyage on the Beagle, where he tried exotic foods. One of these was roasted armadillo, a local delicacy in South America, which soon became his favorite. He claimed that it tasted and looked like duck meat, offering an exotic yet familiar flavor.
