THE POPE'S COOK.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2902, 17 January 1911, Page 7

THE POPE'S COOK.

Stefano Inchiostro is the name of the Pope's cook. He has recently been relating his experiences in the 'Veneto,' from which it is seen that his post is a veritable sinecure. For twenty-seven years he was the cook in the seminary of the Patriarch of Venice, the dignity held by the Pope before his call to the chair of St . Peter, and consequently was well known to His Holiness. On June 22nd, 1903, Stefano received a summons from his old master to repair to the Vatican. He went, and was conducted to the presence of the Pope, and it was only the geniality of the Pontiff that placed the -cook at his ease, for he was greatly moved. The cook enables us to have a glimpse of the daily life of his venerable master, who is an example of Horace's saying that change of place does not alter the man. After celebrating Mass the Pontiff takes a little coffee. Precisely at noon h 3 lunches in company of Mgr. Pcscini and Mgr. Bresson. They are always served by a particular 'valet de chambre.'

The repast is modest in the extreme. Some soup, a little meat from the soup, and rarely is there a roasted joint. At nine at night the Pope takes his supper, more frugal, if possible, than the midday meal. Vegetables and a little meat is the night repast. In winter the Pope takes more soup than in summer, made from dried vegetables. His Holiness is very fond of the "polentina" (soupe de masi), made as it was in the days past in Venice, and it is generally accompanied by some fish sent from Civita Vccchia or Venice.