09 Dec Do you know the story behind Beef Wellington?

At Eat2Gather, we love dishes with a story. And Beef Wellington is one of those classics that effortlessly combines history, craftsmanship and culinary refinement. The story goes that Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington, organised a festive banquet every year after his victory over Napoleon in 1815. The menus from that time show how rich and elaborate those dinners were, full of grandeur.
Remarkably, the very dish that would bear his name is missing: Beef Wellington. There is therefore no proof that he ever served it or even ate it. What we do know is that this dish radiates everything the Duke was known for: elegance, British tradition, craftsmanship and prestige.
Beef Wellington — or boeuf en croûte, as the French say — consists of a perfectly cooked beef tenderloin, wrapped in duxelles (a rich mixture of finely chopped mushrooms and shallots), often combined with a layer of goose or duck liver pâté, encased in puff pastry. A dish that not only looks impressive, but also brings a sense of tradition, luxury and festivity to the table.
Whether the Duke had anything to do with it? That remains a mystery. But that the dish symbolises classic, festive and timeless culinary enjoyment, that we know for sure.
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