King Louis XIV, father of the Fork & Coursed Meals.

In the year 1643, Louis XIV, famously known as the 'Sun King,' was born. Widely recognized as both a gourmet and a gourmand—and often described as a glutton—he possessed a deep passion for food and dining that had a profound and lasting influence on French culinary customs throughout his lengthy and influential reign. It was during the time of Louis XIV that the innovative practice of serving food in distinct, sequential courses, rather than presenting all dishes simultaneously, became firmly established, marking a significant and enduring shift in formal dining etiquette and presentation. Interestingly, the introduction and use of forks became increasingly widespread during this era, although the speed and extent of their adoption varied considerably across different European countries. For instance, Spain and Italy were relatively early adopters of forks at the meal table, whereas France, despite being a leading cultural hub, took nearly an entire century longer to fully embrace their regular and widespread use. This gradual but pivotal transformation played a crucial role in laying the essential foundation for the sophisticated, structured, and refined dining practices that continue to characterize modern Western cuisine today.