Louis de Béchamel facts for kids
Louis de Béchamel (1630–1703) was a rich French businessman and a supporter of the arts. He was also known as the Marquis de Nointel. He is most famous for the creamy white sauce that carries his name, Béchamel sauce.
Louis de Béchamel's Life
Louis de Béchamel was the son of Jean-Baptiste Béchamel. Louis became a wealthy tax collector for the French government. He also managed the household of Philippe II, Duke of Orléans.
In 1697, Béchamel bought the area known as the marquisat of Nointel. This made him a marquis. Later, he became the head steward for King Louis XIV. This was a very important job, overseeing the king's household.
Louis Béchamel and his wife, Marie Colbert, had two children. Their names were Marie Louise Béchamel de Nointel (1661–1740) and Louis Béchamel de Nointel (1649–1718).
The Famous Béchamel Sauce
The creamy béchamel sauce is named after Louis de Béchamel. He helped to improve an older sauce recipe. This original sauce was made with cream by a chef named François Pierre de la Varenne (1615–1678). He worked for the Marquis d'Uxelles.
The sauce was named after Béchamel to make him feel special. Another nobleman, the Duke of Escars, joked about it. He said that Béchamel was very lucky to have a sauce named after him. The Duke said he had been making similar dishes for years without getting any credit!
See also
In Spanish: Louis de Béchameil para niños
