[yankeedame]

"The Medicis were a rather ugly lot, especially after they became inter-related with the Habsburgs,"

Most certainly the Spanish branch of the Habsburgs. Alas, poor Charles II.

Oh, a piece of Medici trivia: (Anna) Maria de Medici (1573-1642), wife of the reprobate king Henry IV of France (married 1600), was from Florence. She loved spinach. Over the years, French chefs naturally created many,many dishes featuring and/or including spinach. They became known as (fill in the blank)a la Florentine.

So, from now on whenever you see an entree described as being a la Florentine you know it has spinach in it...and why.

[John Beresford Tipton]

Yes, was thinking of a Spanish Hapsburg, Phillip IV, whose jaw was so "forward looking" that Velasquez had to paint him as though the viewer were on the floor looking up.

[mlmr]

After WWII in the region of Italy my mother lived in, there was only spinach to eat for months and months. The heavy iron load hurt her health.

[blam]

"So, from now on whenever you see an entree described as being a la Florentine you know it has spinach in it...and why."

Excellent, I love knowing things like that, thanks.

[LonePalm]

Catherine de Medici is credited with introducing the fork into polite dining.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)