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

[Henry Musikar]

On  8 May 97 at 14:31, davemarc <davemarc at panix.com> wrote:

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> > From: Juan Cires Martinez <jcm at mat.upm.es>
> > To: pynchon-l at waste.org
> > Subject: [M&D p. 22] Spoiler -- Question
> > Date: Thursday, May 08, 1997 1:33 PM
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> > Spoiler-cum-question below:
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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....
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> 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)
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> Maybe they can be stuffed with dog meat as a kind of hors d'oeuvre?

There are a lotta Asian dishes wrapped in banana(!) leaves, 
sticky rice for instance. Don't see dog (rather like steak) going well
with a palmier. though. What's the deal in Romeo & Juliet about "holy
palmers?" 

AsB4,
Henry Musikar

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