The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-04-26
aQrifulturnI nn0 Domsstif.
Gastronomy.-More About Prof Blot's
Cooking Academy.


MIGHT Indicate. an imposing edlnce, but Oc-
cupies q floor in q plain house al No. 30
Fonrfh avenne. It's conductor Is an educa-
ted Frenchman. who was for many years q
,vri,er for the Paris diDIHHdch GUsfrOHO-
,ai0,le. and was particularly distinguished
for his thorough knowledge Of the art he Is
now teaching. He came 20 this country
ten wears ago 70 establish an academy; but
his pronunciation Of English was imper-
feet. and he made no attempt % accom-
plish his design till 1851, when tie eXecu-
ton OF the plan was again postponed on
account OF the war; and he met with little
encouragement till recently
TIE KITCHES-cLAss-RO0N.
The classroom is kitchen. The most
prominent object in IL j. q large range, SIM
lar 10 those used in other kitchens.
Around the range are pots, kettles and
pans in the usual variety. with every arti-
Gle ordinarily used in the art and mystery
OF cooking. The "culiender' oil ancient
days IS missing; and i mortar and pestle
are employed, though for a different kind Of
refining. There Is a large table ia front Oh
the range.
In other respects the kitchen j. fitted up
ike a lecture room. There are benches
for the class. In a day or tw0 these bench
es are 20 be placed on a staging, 80 that
the occupants can see the operations 81 the
Professor without inconvenience. There IS
70 De a " blackboard" on which the bills Of
fare will be written.
GIVING LESSONS.
The Professor illustrates his lessons by
cooking dinners IN tie presence Oi hls pu-
pills There j. a brisk fire "a the range; The
provisions are at hand; be- has Il female a.
sistant who promptly does his bidding;
and while she cooks he delivers CONVERSE
tiOual lectures. The preparations are made
On the table IN full view; though the soup
il necessarily cooked before the assembling
OF the class. since the time occupied ia tins
process Is five hours and u j. not designed
that the lesson shall be more tnan three
hours long. The other dishes. including
the meats, relishes and desserts, are pre-
pared from the beginning on the table
cooked, and finally served 10 the class, or
presented 10 the members for careful III
spectOn.
There have. so far. been two bills Of fare
both short, so as 10 permit thorough illus
tratiOn. but sufficiently varied Tor The pur-
pose Of instruction. These bills are APP
pended with brief descriptions for the in
formation OF that numerous class. princi-
pally Of men, whose knowledge AMI skill Iu
the culinary are not worthy Of praise
"sELF-BAsTISC" OPERATION.
Among the numerous expedients by
which cooking Is accomplished az the acad-
envy, Is one by which the Blasting Of fowls
-aiten tedious operations performed
without labor. The fowl Is prepared aud
placed in pan. which is then set into
pau UI larger size CUHLIInu- sUuur water.
Buttered paper spread over the fowl and be-
yOnd the edges Of the pau, protects the top
Of the fowl from too intense heat. and al
the same time catches the steam and holds
il, SO that the meat is continually dampened
or blasted" and cooks beautifully almost
without care.
TEN THOUSAND DISHES.
The number Of ordinary dishes which can
be prepared in the course Of a year is STA
ted at about ten thousand. They include
everything that the market affords in the
different seasons, and every variety of cook /
ing by which dishes OF gwen class can be
so prepared as TO make them distinct from i
all other dishes. It is supposed that the :
variations Of fancy cooking would more
than double this Lumber OF ten thousand. /
For instance, many different kinds OF cake .
are made from the same paste. without any ,
navOrinS except that which comes from the 4
various fruits pounded in the mortar From
a foundation of broth, milk and Juice of .
nsh. at least twenty-five good sauces are .
made.
TIE COURSE OF INSTRUCTION.
Only one class - YET organized; ana ,uls
is composed Of ladies, who meet every Mon
day and Thursday. Fifty can beinstructed .
at once. Another class of Ilues will be
formed Immediately. The course of in
structiOn comprises twenty lessons and I
will be given in ten weeks