Thursday, February 18, 2021

Vinaigrettes

The word vinegar derives from the French “vin aigre,” or sour wine. It has been traced back to 5000 B.C.E. in Babylon, not just for cooking but as a medicine, a preservative, and a drink to boost strength and promote wellness.
~Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health


You've probably heard of smelling salts, but have you heard of vinaigrettes? Back in the day, they were used to "shock" someone who was about to faint by having them get a whiff of vinegar (on a sponge). They could also be filled with something sweet-smelling.

Silver vinaigrette in the shape of a harp, France, 1701-1800

Acid-etched blown-molded glass, painted with enamel, enhanced with gold
photo by Caroline Léna Becker

Musée des Arts décoratifs de la Faïence et de la Mode au château Borély à Marseille
photo by Rvalette

Vinaigrette, Switzerland
circa 1805

Vinaigrette, probably German
Wellcome Images


1 comment:

  1. Beautiful containers! Had no idea about the origin of the word "vinaigrette," how long it has been around, or that it could be used as a restorative for someone about to faint. Lots of good info in this post.

    ReplyDelete