Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 July 1886 — Barnum and Pig’s Feet [ARTICLE]

Barnum and Pig’s Feet

The late Harrison Phoebus was an epicure about everything else. The creator of a new dish was to him a greater man than he who won many battles. Among the guests at his hotel, at old Point Comfort, a few years ago, was the veteran showman, P. T. Barnum. He, too, loves the good things of this life. One afternoon the two were sitting together on the hotel veranda. Barnum was spinning one of the yarns for which he is famous. He broke off suddenly in the middle of his story with the remark: “Say, Phoebus, why don’t you ever serve pigs’ feet for breakfast?” “Because they’re not fit to eat,” laconically replied Mr. Phcebus. “They’re not, eh? I’ll cure you of that belief. Got a cook you can trust?” “Several of them,” responded the astonished Phcebus. “Send the best one up to me,” said Barnum. The cook came. “Now,” said Mr. Barnum to the astonished chief, “get some pigs’ feet—fat ones; wash them clean—very clean; then wrap each one separately in a piece of clean muslin that hasn’t got any starch in it. Then boil ’em. Boil ’em hard and boil ’em long; not less than seven hours. Do you understand—seven hours? Then take them out and put them in a cool place. When they’re cool unwrap ’em and split ’em. Understand? Split ’em right in the center. Next day noil ’em and serve ’em hot—the hotter the better, but for heaven’s sake don’t fry ’em.” The cook followed instructions, and the next‘day Mr. Phcebus took breakfast with Mr. and Mrs. Barnum and the friend who tells the story. Mr. Phcebus ate of them, and ate heartily. They just touched his taste, and “supplied a long-felt want.” When the pigs’ feet hhd disappeared, Mr. Phoebus’ comment was, “Say, Barnum, that’s food for a king. ” And that is how it came about that the visitor to the various first-class hotels finds on the breakfast bill of fare set before him, “Pigs’ feet boiled ala Barnum.” Mr. Phoebus had introduced the dish to his brother caterers in various parts pf the world,— Hartford Post.