The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1921-04-15
Chef of Great
Smith Street
BY GERALD Brennan

in mute establishment. Could this
seedy, starved-loOking specimen of hui
mainly be indeed Gouvin?-Gouvin,
the famous chef whose cookery had
been the talk Of Paris?
"But the duke Of Montmirail? You
were his prize Chef"
Gouvin lifted both hands in slo-
Quent protest. "Ah, m'sieu'," he
cried, ut is a sad story. Will m'sieu'
care to hear?"
Installed at a table in a modest res
taurant, GOuvin opened his heart.
ut was at the Hotel de Month";
rail-" he explained. II was at the ze-
NTH of my glory. All Paris spoke Of
my dinners. His grace loaded me with
honors. I lost my head, to such dizzy
heights did I seem to soar.
"The duke worshiped at the shrine
of Mile. Mimi Martigues Of the Vari-
cites. In an evil moment I allowed
myself to fall in love with that fair
est Of mortals. She invited me to
call and wheedled out of me the recipe
for the famous Sauce de MOntmirail-
the joint invention of the duke and
myself.
las we sat together the duke him
self entered unexpectedly. Then the
false Mimi denounced me as an up
start mental who had dared to pose
as his masters rival.
Il was kicked out of Minis house
and the next day dismissed from the
Hotel de Montmirail.
Suddenly there came to Wandesford
an inspiration.
"By Jove, Gouvin," he exclaimed, II
have 1t. You shall start a restaurant
Of your own in my house in Great
Smith street.
Reggie Van Hooper rushed into the
smoking-room Of the Tepee club, sim
mering with excitement.
"Hullo, Reggie" sang out one of
the youthful loungers, you have got a
secret-1 can tell by your manner"
II say" Reggie exclaimed, "does any
n here know where Great Smith
street is?"
There was a general head-shaking.
"Then let me tell you" continued
Reggie. II was there last night. l
had dinner there. And such a dinner!
1t was the best, the very best, l have
ever INDUCED in.
swell, my friend Wandesford," con-
tinued Van Hooper, asked me to din
ner last night. I was simply pining
for a little excitement and when he
suggested a voyage into the unknown
regions of the lower East side, l
Jumped at the proposition. OF course
l did not intend to eat anything there.
1 merely wanted to see a little low
life and have a little adventure.
Il assure you that l was well re-
paid. Out of a cellar came an old
chap in genuine cooks rig and Wandes-
ford and he had a talk. l pride my
self on my French; but I really
couldn't keep pace with those two.
"By and by dinner began to come in.
The first sight of the soup set me
thinking. Just to please Wandesford,
triumph! Never in all New York can
you beat that 'potage a la Central
Park Thereafter I capitulated and
from soup to dessert, I did not miss
a course. There were some 'c%octellettes
u Monseigneur lie Duel suppose
the chef took me for a duke-that
haunt my palate STILL"
For some minutes there was silence
In the smOking-rOom. Then the dean
of the loungers said solemnly:
Reggie, is this a practical joke? If
1t is"
"Good heavens, MOI" cried Mr.. Van
Hooper. Everything happened Just
as | told you. The dinner was superb.
h chef IS a treasure. Tell you
what, let us go Over there in a body
tonight. I'll notify Wandesford, and
he can act as guide. If the Great
Smith street cellar is not just as l say,
1 promise to pay the entire reckoning"
III.
: WandesfOrd strolled down the cell
lar steps in Great Smith street, a tele-
gram In his hands. At the Kitchen
table sat Gouvin, connecting a vision.
airy MENU.
"Hullo, Gouvin, victory is ours!
Tonight you must prepare dinner for
% persons"
A smile Of Joy o~yerspread the chefs
features.
1t was Thanksgiving evening, n
murky, misty Thanksgiving, when the
delegation from the Tepee club stole
stealthily along Great Smith street
and disappeared into the Gouvin Gel
lar.
The dinner at the Restaurant
Gouvin' was all that Reggie Van
Hooper had painted 1t. At the close
of h feast Gouvin was sent for.
Wandesford, In the name of the
guests, complimented him heartily on
the dinner and Gouvin was induced to
give an account Of the events which
led to his downfall and exile. The