A Toast to the French Trivia Quiz

Answer: Napoleon

Napoleon brandy is a term used for a brandy that is aged for at least five years, although it isn't an official designation. Napoleon Bonaparte, the Emperor of France, was an aficionado of brandy, particularly that from the Cognac region. Napoleon had visited the region in 1811 and had been given a barrel of Cognac. The vintage from that year is considered one of the top vintages of all time.

PDAZ declines a glass of brandy, and sticks with champagne instead.

Answer: Charles Plumier

It was Charles Plumier, in 1703, who named the Magnolia genus thus, in honour of his fellow countryman and botanist Pierre Magnol. Magnol held the post of Professor of Botany and Director of the Royal Botanic Garden of Montpellier for several years, and was instrumental in compiling the system used to classify plant species.

Taking a drink from a passing tray, Rowena8482 catches another whiff of the flower as the lady passes again.

Answer: Coco Chanel

Born Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel in 1883, Coco Chanel had a big impact on the fashion industry during her lifetime, and was considered a pioneer in the field. Amongst her most famous contributions to haute couture was the Little Black Dress, a sleek, elegant garment, and her first perfume, 'Chanel No. 5', which to this day remains as one of the best-selling and popular perfumes in the world.

As eburge sips his champagne, he gets another waft of 'Chanel No. 5'. It seems like more than one person is wearing it tonight.

Answer: Chandeliers

Michel Lotito became famous for his ability and willingness to eat all sorts of things, such as televisions and beds, and is recorded as eating six chandeliers and eighteen bicycles. Despite this extreme diet, Lotito died of natural causes in 2007.

Thankfully, Monsieur Mangetout refrains from eating part of the house's great chandelier, and doublemm lets out a sigh of relief.

Answer: Claude Debussy

'Claire de Lune' is the third movement of the suite bergamasque. Debussy composed this piece in 1890 and it was played over an animated crane in a deleted scene in the 1940 film 'Fantasia'.

Recognising the familiar tune, doublemm quietly hums along as he mingles with the other guests.

Answer: Arthur Rimbaud

The decadent movement of the late 19th century dealt with 'taboo' subjects and mainly included French poets and authors, such as Arthur Rimbaud and his lover Paul Verlaine. Verlaine and Rimbaud had a volatile relationship that ended when Verlaine shot at Rimbaud during a drunken rage, hitting Rimbaud in the left wrist, and sending Verlaine to prison for two years. The drink, 'Rimbaud's Left Hand', was invented by a Chicago bartender and includes absinthe, Benedictine, orange liqueur, fruit juices, rose water and an egg.

PDAZ again sticks with her champagne. She prefers her cocktails without egg in them.

Answer: Auguste Escoffier

Escoffier was responsible for improving the French cooking techniques in restaurants across the country during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Revered in the culinary circle, Escoffier introduced the concept of 'brigade de cuisine' - a hierarchy in kitchens where staff have their own individual role, from head chef, fish cook and pastry cook to dishwasher, pantry supervisor and entrée preparer. Escoffier famously worked at the Savoy Hotel in London, and created the dish known as Peach Melba, for Australian operatic singer Dame Nellie Melba.

eburge helps himself to a canapé as a tray went past, wondering what is happening in the kitchen.

Answer: Emile Cohl

Emile Cohl began his media career as an assistant to the (in)famous cartoonist Andre Gill, until in 1879, his caricature of the 1st Duke of Magenta landed him in prison. He began making animated films, in 1907, when he was 50, and then moved into live action. Sadly almost all of his work was lost in a studio fire during WWI, so very little survives.

Rowena8482 also politely declines the absinthe.

Answer: Claude Monet

Monet was a pioneer of impressionism, known for such works as 'Lavacourt: Sunshine and Snow', 'Woman with a Parasol', and 'Impression, Sunrise' (from which the movement gets its name). The French painter died in 1926 of lung cancer, with a vast number of paintings to his name.

Adjusting his bowtie, eburge walks over and joins the group in admiring the painting.

Answer: Dom Perignon

Dom Pierre Perignon didn't invent champagne, but he did work to improve the quality and the processing of the regular wines of the Champagne region of France. He also was credited with using thicker bottles and Spanish corks to protect the wine. The champagne, Dom Perignon, was named in honor of him and was first sold in 1936 (the vintage was 1921).

PDAZ raises her glass aloft with the others, and toasts the guest of honor.