>In the 1600s, Marie de' Medici shows up and, (allegedly) appalled by the local cuisine, sends for her Italian cook. Since her son was Louis XIII, that set the

>In the 1600s, Marie de' Medici shows up and, (allegedly) appalled by the local cuisine, sends for her Italian cook. Since her son was Louis XIII, that set the standard. Which makes it mystifying that Italian haute cuisine has been pretty much absent on the stage. It's not like you can't get a great meal there! Caterina. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_de'_Medici https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_de'_Medici https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_de'_Medici#Culinary_legend https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_de'_Medici#Culinary_... And it was earlier, in the 1500's, but is largely a myth, the reality is that there was a continuous exchange between Italy and France in that period.