[M&D p. 22] Spoiler -- Question

[Paul M]

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> > On page 22, the L.E.D. says:
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> >  "[...] we go on as tail-wagging Scheherezades, ever a step away from
> >   the dread Palm Leaf, nightly delaying the Blades of our Masters by
> >   telling back to them tales of their humanity."
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> > What does the Palm Leaf mean?  What is it?  I am guessing that
> > Scheherezade must be the wife in "1001 Nights", am I correct?
> > (Right after that a sailor says: "Oh I say, Dog in Palm Leaf, what 
> > nonsense")
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> S is indeed the Sultan's wife, who postpones her execution by telling a
> helluva lot of great stories.  When I read this section, it seemed that Dog
> in Palm Leaf referred to a (theoretical?) dish, like Bass Wrapped in Banana
> Leaf--or Macaroni Italian Style and Fop Fricasee, which the LED goes on to
> mention.  Looking at it again, I feel the same way, but maybe there's
> another usage too.  
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> Hmmm...the more I look at this, the less I'd be surprised if meats weren't
> cooked in palm leaves at this time.  And then there's....

I think this refers to the nethod of Pit Barbequeing(spelling?)  
as practised in various places in the Pacific ( re Fender-Belly 
Bodine's reference to "a likely Island,-") Meat and other foodstuff's 
are wrapped in large leaves then buried in a pit with glowing embers 
to slowly cook. 
> palmier (pahlm-YAY)  Also called *palm leaves*, this crispy delicacy is
> PUFF PASTRY dough that is sprinkled with granulated sugar, folded and
> rolled several times, then cut into thin strips.  After baking, these
> golden brown, caramelized pastries are served with coffee or tea or as a
> dessert accompaniment.
> (Barron's Food Lover's Companion)
Someone recently opened a French Patisserie just down the road from 
me that sells these - delicious( the cakes in there are worthy of 
Pynchonesque rhapsody - is your mouth watering yet dave( just thought 
I'd extract revenge for the jealousy pangs I 've started to get for 
the NYPList meets - hope you all enjoyed you pizza)) 
> Maybe they can be stuffed with dog meat as a kind of hors d'oeuvre?
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nah theyre a little on the thin side - you could try making a 
sandwich though.
> davemarc
> 
Paul M.                 tallpaul at hiatus.demon.co.uk
"You have no expectations until you come face to face
with what you're looking at, and then everything about you
says 'I wasn't expecting this' "
Ann E Imbre Spoken In Darkness"