Napoleons

Rivalries between chefs and even countries is a longstanding tradition in cookery, and the history of the French Napoleon pastry is no exception. Some say it was created by an Italian in Naples who called it a “Napoletano” after his city, a name that was later corrupted.

Others say that greedy Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France, ate such industrial quantities of it before the Battle of Waterloo that it gave him indigestion.

Another chef who claims it is his recipe was a D