# A Meal for Captain Aubrey and friends **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 17, 2011, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-meal-for-captain-aubrey-and-friends/567913 "2011-01-17T06:08:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kevlaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kevlaw/32/2281_2.png) [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-meal-for-captain-aubrey-and-friends/567913/1 "2011-01-17T06:08:46Z")
I’m planning to cook a meal for some friends - fans of the Aubrey & Maturin books - this Saturday. I have the quite wonderful Lobscouse and Spotted Dog recipe book as my guide. I have my pound of suet and I have typed up a recipe but I have some questions and a hope that someone else has done this before me and can advise me. Here’s my tentative recipe. I welcome advice! Kickshaws: I am interpreting this liberally to mean: whatever finger foods I can think of. Olives, anchovies, salami, pastizzi…the kind of things that the not-yet-captain and the doctor may have eaten in Port Mahon at their first meeting. Strasbourg Pie: The recipe calls for a pound of Foie Gras and serves 20 (!). I have a hunch that my guests may object to torturing geese (I think it might even be banned in California) so I plan to substitute a regular pate. Maybe duck or something equally rich. Travesty? Spotted Dog with Custard Sauce: The recipe book has 5 or 6 recipes for suet pudding and this one sounds the most appealing. It also takes me back to my childhood - my mum used to make spotted dick (she even had some advice for me about the appropriate flour to suet ratio). I would have liked to make figgy-dowdy or drowned baby as they sound more exotic but the recipes sound really bland. It’s also Jack’s most favourite pudding - high recommendation indeed. Syllabub: I am really looking forward to this. It’s the only thing on my menu that sounds genuinely delicious (as opposed to “interesting”). My wife has a cream maker and everythign tastes good with freshly-made cream. Marchepane: Jack and Stephen had this in Malta. My wife is Maltese. It just so happens that she has a bunch of leftover (homemade!) marzipan from her christmas cake. I plan to make little anchors and dolphins and bake them. The menu that I am cribbing from has a few additional courses - sea pie, lobscouse, frumenty - but it feels like I already have a TON of food. This brings me to my first question… Am I going to kill my guests? Between suet in the pudding and lard in the pastizzis and half a pound of pate and cream in the syllabub… my heart already wants to dial 911 to reserve a bed in the cardio ward. Next question… where the hell are the vegetables??? I understand they were on a ship and vegetables were hard to come by - but didn’t they at least eat vegetables close to home? Would I be violating Aubrey’s memory if I served vegetables? What would I serve? Anyone had lobscouse? The recipe looks tasty, but I think I could already feed a whole ship without the lobscouse. Mistake? I am I missing out? Has anyone done something like this before? Any tips for me to make it special? I have a fancy menu typed up on fancy paper. I have my iPod loaded up with Hearts of Oak and Spanish Ladies and the like. What else can I do to make it nautical? Last question. Where can I get some weevils? No Master and Commander meal would be complete without a the “lesser of two weevils” joke. Ideas for simulated weevils? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-meal-for-captain-aubrey-and-friends/567913/2 "2011-01-17T07:16:53Z")
> [@kevlaw](#): > > Strasbourg Pie: The recipe calls for a pound of Foie Gras and serves 20 (!). I have a hunch that my guests may object to torturing geese (I think it might even be banned in California) so I plan to substitute a regular pate. Maybe duck or something equally rich. Travesty? I think you can still get foie gras. The ban doesn’t start until 2012, IIRC. > [@kevlaw](#): > > Next question… where the hell are the vegetables?? Make boiled peas, from dried field peas if you can find them. If you can get/beg/borrow a copy of [The Jane Austen Cookbook](http://www.amazon.com/Jane-Austen-Cookbook-Maggie-Black/dp/0771014171) it has some excellent recipes from the right time period in a modern format. > [@kevlaw](#): > > Last question. Where can I get some weevils? No Master and Commander meal would be complete without a the “lesser of two weevils” joke. Ideas for simulated weevils? Make marzipan weevils, if you’re really feeling creative. ---
**Author:** ![MarcusF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/67e7ee/32.png) [@MarcusF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MarcusF)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-meal-for-captain-aubrey-and-friends/567913/3 "2011-01-17T09:45:52Z")
Sounds good! Just remember to provide two bottle of claret and one of port per person… Oh, and a seaman servant to carry them home 😃 ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-meal-for-captain-aubrey-and-friends/567913/4 "2011-01-17T13:17:50Z")
Congratulations and good luck for doing this. I’ve done some individual recipes, but haven’t had the courage to try an entire dinner. God and Mary and Patrick be with you. > [@kevlaw](#): > > Spotted Dog with Custard Sauce: The recipe book has 5 or 6 recipes for suet pudding and this one sounds the most appealing. It also takes me back to my childhood - my mum used to make spotted dick (she even had some advice for me about the appropriate flour to suet ratio). I would have liked to make figgy-dowdy or drowned baby as they sound more exotic but the recipes sound really bland. It’s also Jack’s most favourite pudding - high recommendation indeed. Trim meat scraps off the suet, then put in the freezer for 30-60 minutes before trying to grate it. Much easier than grating room temperature suet. > [@](#): > > Has anyone done something like this before? Any tips for me to make it special? I have a fancy menu typed up on fancy paper. I have my iPod loaded up with Hearts of Oak and Spanish Ladies and the like. What else can I do to make it nautical? Lots of wine, and a servant (preferably drunk) for each diner. Don’t forget to yell out “The bottle stands by you sir!” frequently. > [@](#): > > Last question. Where can I get some weevils? No Master and Commander meal would be complete without a the “lesser of two weevils” joke. Ideas for simulated weevils? You’re about a year too late. You’ve got to make and store the hardtack well ahead of time to get a good crop of bargemen. ---
**Author:** ![2Fiona](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/5f8ce5/32.png) [@2Fiona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2Fiona)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-meal-for-captain-aubrey-and-friends/567913/5 "2011-01-17T13:44:52Z")
Grog. That is all I have to say 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-meal-for-captain-aubrey-and-friends/567913/6 "2011-01-17T14:27:26Z")
> [@kevlaw](#): > > Next question… where the hell are the vegetables??? I recall that Jack liked parsnips cooked in butter. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-meal-for-captain-aubrey-and-friends/567913/7 "2011-01-17T14:41:14Z")
Wish I could be there. I’d love to help with the menu, as well as eat it. I’m a fan of the series as well! Themed dinners for fans are fun. I once had one based on foods mentioned in the TV series Babylon 5. I still have a fondness for bagna cauda, which I’d never heard of until Mr. Garibaldi was making it. It sounds as if it would go well with your menu, because when Dr. Franklin eyed it he said “I can feel my arteries hardening just being in the same room with it.” ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-meal-for-captain-aubrey-and-friends/567913/8 "2011-01-17T14:49:10Z")
Remember they were always having toasted cheese brought in while they were playing music. ---
**Author:** ![kevlaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kevlaw/32/2281_2.png) [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-meal-for-captain-aubrey-and-friends/567913/9 "2011-01-17T17:12:06Z")
> [@2Fiona](#): > > Grog. > > That is all I have to say 🙂 Well we have grog every time we get together so that wouldn’t be special now, would it? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kevlaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kevlaw/32/2281_2.png) [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-meal-for-captain-aubrey-and-friends/567913/10 "2011-01-17T17:13:41Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I recall that Jack liked parsnips cooked in butter. Ooh! That’s a good one. I actually have some parsnips in the fridge. ---
**Author:** ![kevlaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kevlaw/32/2281_2.png) [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-meal-for-captain-aubrey-and-friends/567913/11 "2011-01-17T17:15:29Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Remember they were always having toasted cheese brought in while they were playing music. I considered that. But then considered that some one might call the artery police on me during dinner.:eek: ---
**Author:** ![kevlaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kevlaw/32/2281_2.png) [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-meal-for-captain-aubrey-and-friends/567913/12 "2011-01-17T17:20:51Z")
> [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](#): > > I think you can still get foie gras. My friends are from Santa Cruz. If their neighbours found that they had eaten foie gras (thanks for helping me spell it), they’d never be allowed to return to their homes. > [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](#): > > Make marzipan weevils, if you’re really feeling creative. Of course! I was going to do anchors and dolphins and such but … Weevils! That’s perfect! ---
**Author:** ![kevlaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kevlaw/32/2281_2.png) [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-meal-for-captain-aubrey-and-friends/567913/13 "2011-01-17T17:25:59Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Trim meat scraps off the suet, then put in the freezer for 30-60 minutes before trying to grate it. Much easier than grating room temperature suet. When I went to the butcher’s and asked for suet, the lady at the counter said she didn’t think they had any but the butcher was right behind her carving up a cow. “Here you go!” he shouted as he carved off a pound of glistening fat from the carcass. I might not tell my friends that story. My wife thinks it should be illegal to make puddings from pieces of cow. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-meal-for-captain-aubrey-and-friends/567913/14 "2011-01-17T17:43:38Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Remember they were always having toasted cheese brought in while they were playing music. [Digby’s Savory Cheese](http://www.autumnalwind.com/joan/scatoastedcheese.htm) [aka cheesy spoo] would be a good recipe for that. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-meal-for-captain-aubrey-and-friends/567913/15 "2011-01-17T18:59:35Z")
> [@kevlaw](#): > > Last question. Where can I get some weevils? No Master and Commander meal would be complete without a the “lesser of two weevils” joke. Ideas for simulated weevils? I’d substitute some rice. Cook the rice then mix it into some biscuit batter. Bake and serve. Don’t warn your guests. Hope they have a really good sense of humor. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-meal-for-captain-aubrey-and-friends/567913/16 "2011-01-17T19:17:35Z")
Weevils? From this site: [http://www.hollowtop.com/finl\_html/mealworms.htm](http://www.hollowtop.com/finl_html/mealworms.htm) > [@](#): > > Start the Ovens > Dried mealworm larvae can be used in place of nuts, raisins, and chocolate chips in many cookies, bread, and dessert recipes. In powdered form, mealworm larvae can also replace part of the flour in cakes or pie crusts. If they are just barely thawed, whole, or ground, they can be added to sauces or used to make delicious spreads. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-meal-for-captain-aubrey-and-friends/567913/17 "2011-01-17T19:17:55Z")
For real authenticity, don’t forget the weevils! 😃 Edit: gahhh, ninja’d. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-meal-for-captain-aubrey-and-friends/567913/18 "2011-01-17T22:23:50Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I’d substitute some rice. Brown rice. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-meal-for-captain-aubrey-and-friends/567913/19 "2011-01-18T18:39:37Z")
What a brilliant idea ! You could wear period costume and also douse the electric lights and eat by lamp/candle light. And how about having the music loved by Jack and Steven playing in the background. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-meal-for-captain-aubrey-and-friends/567913/20 "2011-01-18T19:18:02Z")
> [@kevlaw](#): > > When I went to the butcher’s and asked for suet, the lady at the counter said she didn’t think they had any but the butcher was right behind her carving up a cow. “Here you go!” he shouted as he carved off a pound of glistening fat from the carcass. Perfect! Probably just what Killick did to get some suet for the Captain’s cook. > [@](#): > > I might not tell my friends that story. My wife thinks it should be illegal to make puddings from pieces of cow. Just refer to it as _sebi confectio discolor_ when you bring it to the table. Nothing like some Latin to plug her capers. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-meal-for-captain-aubrey-and-friends/567913.md?page=2)