Au Cochon d'Or, Paris 1934

Au Cochon d'or - The Golden Pig - was a restaurant in Paris in the 1930s, run by proprietor Rene Ayral. The menu cover shows a fat little piggy making a dash for it as the chef and maitre d' chase after it. Stylish customers - including a bowler-hatted man with a monocle and glamorous mesdames - look on. Paris in 1934 - the date of this menu is written on the interior - was roiled by financial and political scandals. An embezzler Alexandre Stavisky, with ties to the government,had been found dead earlier that year and there were claims that he had been assassinated. There were street demonstrations by far-right leagues and anti-fascist groups. But no Frenchman or lady would let all of this get in the way of a good lunch or dinner. The dishes on this menu included leek soup, follets of sole, partridge in chartreuse and potato souffle. The wine list was from the 1920s and 30s. Using Google street maps, we see that there is now a Chinese restaurant (Wok 192) at the address of the Cochon D'Or in the 19th arrondissement. Courtesy Private Collection. Gallery quality Giclée print on natural white, matte, 100% cotton rag, acid and lignin free archival paper using Epson archival inks. Custom printed with border for matting and framing. All printed in USA. Each product is accompanied by a copy of the interior menu where available.