King George II. was accustomed every other year to visit his German
dominions with the greater part of the officers of his household, and
especially those belonging to the kitchen. Once on his passage at sea,
his first cook was so ill with the sea-sickness, that he could not hold
up his head to dress his majesty’s dinner; this being told to the king,
he was exceedingly sorry for it, as he was famous for making a Rhenish
soup, which his majesty was very fond of; he therefore ordered inquiry
to be made among the assistant-cooks, if any of them could make the
above soup. One named Weston (father of Tom Weston, the player)
undertook it, and so pleased the king, that he declared it was full as
good as that made by the first cook. Soon after the king’s return to
England, the first cook died; when the king was informed of it, he said,
that his steward of the household always appointed his cooks, but that
he would now name one for himself, and therefore asking if one Weston
was still in the kitchen, and being answered that he was, “That man,”
said he, “shall be my first cook, for he makes most excellent Rhenish
soup.” This favour begot envy among all the servants, so that, when any
dish was found fault with, they used to say it was Weston’s dressing:
the king took notice of this, and said to the servants, it was very
extraordinary, that every dish he disliked should happen to be Weston’s;
“in future,” said he, “let every dish be marked with the name of the
cook that makes it.” By this means the king detected their arts, and
from that time Weston’s dishes pleased him most. The custom has
continued ever since, and is still practised at the king’s table.
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