Now I know that we associate Hasenpfeffer as a German stew of marinated rabbit that is heavily seasoned with pepper.
However, I once read that the dish was "discovered" by an Italian gourmand (who also has some claim to discovering foie gras). The "original" dish was prepared using hare (and please, do not try to tell me that rabbit and hare and for that matter, pika are the same because they are not .. same family but different critters).
This Italian version was considered an aphrodisiac and as such was frequently consumed; however, the Pope banned the dish.
The dish migrated to Germany and rabbit was substituted for hare ... and the rest is history.
I know this is not a figment of my imagination but I cannot for the life of me re-located the authority citing this history.
Can anyone aid me in finding an authenticating source? Thanks
However, I once read that the dish was "discovered" by an Italian gourmand (who also has some claim to discovering foie gras). The "original" dish was prepared using hare (and please, do not try to tell me that rabbit and hare and for that matter, pika are the same because they are not .. same family but different critters).
This Italian version was considered an aphrodisiac and as such was frequently consumed; however, the Pope banned the dish.
The dish migrated to Germany and rabbit was substituted for hare ... and the rest is history.
I know this is not a figment of my imagination but I cannot for the life of me re-located the authority citing this history.
Can anyone aid me in finding an authenticating source? Thanks
