Un repas de fête.

In 1870, France went to war with Prussia (a German state). The war went very badly for the French and by December 1870, the Prussian armies had arrived at Paris. The Parisians were determined not to surrendur and so began the Siege of Paris. No supplies of any kind were allowed to enter the city.

The menu opposite was offered for Christmas Day by a Parisian restaurant during the seige of Paris during the Franco-Prussian war of 1870. There was no meat and no fresh vegetables left in the city. So the enterprising restaurant ended up offering its customers the animals from the Paris Zoo since obviously, they could no longer be fed.
Check the menu out and you will see that the chef had a wicked sense of humour!
(Look at the wine list and you will see that they certainly hadn't run out of good wines!)

Le menu à gauche a été proposé par un restaurant pour le jour de Noël pendant le siège de Paris pendant la guerre franco-prusse de 1870. C’était un menu spécial pour Noël.  On n’avait plus de viande, ni de légumes frais.  On est arrivé à manger les animaux du zoo.  (On ne pouvait plus les alimenter). 
C’est évident que le chef avait un sens de l’humour !

Find out more about the Siege of Paris.