In the modern, illegal consumption of ortolan, what added meaning might the head covering conceal?
Answer
The evidence of a criminal act
When the practice of consuming ortolan persists illegally today, the significance of draping the napkin over the head gains an additional layer beyond hiding messiness or aroma. Since hunting and serving the protected birds are criminal acts, the physical act of consuming the bird becomes evidence of law-breaking. The cloth, therefore, serves the practical purpose of concealing the consumption itself—the visual proof that someone is engaging in the illegal hunting and serving of a protected species. This imbues the secretive ritual with an added element of risk and exclusivity that was not present when it was merely a high-society indulgence.
Related Questions
What is the diminutive songbird central to the controversial French dining ritual?What process parallels the fattening regimen applied to the ortolan before consumption?Which spirits are typically used to poach the ortolan before it is roasted quickly?How is the entire ortolan, including bones and beak, meant to be consumed?What experiential purpose does draping the white linen cloth serve regarding the dish's aroma?Beyond aroma, what social necessity does the cloth fulfill when consuming the ortolan whole?Why is the act of eating the ortolan now severely restricted across the European Union?What cultural paradox is highlighted by the visual isolation required for eating the ortolan?In the modern, illegal consumption of ortolan, what added meaning might the head covering conceal?Which former French President reportedly requested the ortolan dish on his deathbed?