Wine Devils, Biscuits for Drinkers and other tavern fare

Superbowl Sunday means chicken wings and snacks. This year try some tasty tidbits from the past: Wine-devils (broiled gizzards and chicken legs), Anchovy Toast, Deviled Biscuit, Woodcocks underroasted, or the aptly named Biscuit for Drinkers, but not boiled mutton or stewed beef.

Listed under wines and desserts - 1831:

"Wine-devils, when wanted, consist of the broiled legs and gizzards of poultry... 

Anchovy Toast consists of anchovies beat in a mortar, with fresh butter, to a paste, and highly seasoned with Cayenne, currie powder, mustard, &c. 

Deviled Biscuit is the above paste spread on a biscuit, seasoned, and warmed in a Dutch-oven.

A brace [2] of woodcocks rather underroasted, and dished up very highly over a spirit-lamp, make a very fine devil."

The Servants’ Guide and Family Manual.  London: 1831 2d ed 

From a health book - 1824:

"Never touch boiled mutton nor stewed beef, if you intend to honour the bottle. But your braised turkey, or your deviled wood-cock, is excellent; and nothing is more so than

Dr. Gastaldy's Biscuit for Drinkers.

This is neither more nor less than an exquisite slice of cheese, fitted nicely to one of Le Mann's biscuits, previously buttered with the best Epping. The best cheese for this purpose is Gruyere, or old ripe Stilton, (taking care that it be not greened with poisonous verdigrise.) Those who are novices in cheese-tasting, will find Dutch the best, but no scientific amateur can bear the sight of it. Mr. Wallace says he prefers old Dunlop, provided it be well salted, and "hotchin' wi' mites." A still better is Dr. Kitchener’s Pandemonian Biscuit"

Crell, A.F.  The Family Oracle of Health.  London: 1824 6^th ed

From Kitchiner's Cook's Oracle - 1823, 1836, 1843 editions:

Crusts of Bread for Cheese, &c.
It is not uncommon to see both in private families and at Taverns a loaf entirely spoiled—by furious Epicures paring off the crust to eat with cheese :—to supply this and to eat with Soups, &c. -pull lightly into small pieces the crumb of a new loaf; put them on a tin plate, or in a baking dish; set it in a tolerably brisk oven till they are crisp, and nicely browned --or do them in a Dutch oven.
Kitchiner, William.  Cook’s Oracle.  London: 1843

Scotch Woodcock  - [later term for anchovy toast]

Three or four slices of Bread, Toast and Butter well on both sides—nine or ten Anchovies washed, scraped, and chopped fine)—put them between the slices of Toast,—have ready the yolks of four Eggs well beaten, and half a pint of Cream which set over the Fire to thicken, but not boil—then pour it over the Toast, and serve it to Table as hot as possible.

Kitchiner, William.  Cook’s Oracle.  London: 1836

Anchovy Toast

Bone and wash the anchovies, pound them in a mortar with a little fresh butter; rub them through a sieve, and spread them on a toast.

Obs. —You may add, while pounding the Anchovies, a little made Mustard and Curry Powder (No. 455), or a few grains of Cayenne, or a little Mace or other spice.- It may be made still more savoury, by frying the toast in clarified butter.—“Good, to make a cup of good drinke rellish well, and may well be called the Drunkard’s Delight,” saith Dr. Harte—See his Book on Diet, folio, 1633.

Devilled Biscuit

Is the above composition, spread on a biscuit warmed before the fire in a Dutch oven, with a sufficient quantity of salt and savoury Spice (No. 457), Zest (No. 255), Curry Powder (No. 455), or Cayenne Pepper sprinkled over it.

Obs.-—This ne plus ultra of high spiced relishes, and frequently makes its appearance at a tavern dinner, when the votaries of Bacchus are determined to vie with each other in sacrificing to the Jolly God.

Kitchiner, William.  Cook’s Oracle.  London: 1823

©2015 Patricia Bixler Reber
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