This section is from the book "The Epicurean", by Charles Ranhofer. Also available from Amazon: The Epicurean, a Complete Treatise of Analytical and Practical Studies on the Culinary Art.
Have a good, tender rack of lamb; remove the chine bone, cut the ribs very short, and pare the fillets to the bone without taking any meat from the ribs; separate all these ribs by giving sharp blows with the dull edge of a knife on the chine bone, to break the bones, but without cutting through the meats; pass a skewer between the middle of the rack, and the rib bones in such a way as to uphold the rack in its original shape; dip it into melted butter, season with salt and pepper, and roll it in white bread-crumbs, then broil over a slow fire for twenty-five to thirty minutes. Dress, withdraw the skewer, and serve with a separate Castillane sauce (No. 443), or any other suitable one, such as bordelaise (No. 436), or Perigueux (No. 517).
Cut short the breasts of two racks of lamb; take out the chine bones and put the meats into a sauteing-pan with melted fat pork and a bunch of parsley containing aromatics and a clove of garlic, season and fry over a brisk fire. Aside from this cut eight small, slightly pared, tender and raw artichoke bottoms in two; lay them in another saute pan with some oil, then season and fry them over a moderate fire. As soon as the lamb is nicely done, drain off the fat, pour over half a bottleful of white wine and let reduce to a glaze; baste the meats with a little half-glaze sauce, (No. 413) and take them from the fire to lay on a hot dish; suppress the garnished parsley and surround the meats with the artichokes.
Select a good tender rack of land: suppress the chine bone, cut the rib bones short and straight and pare the fillet meats without taking any from the ribs; lard the meat lengthwise with medium .sized lardons (No. 8, Fig. 52), then wrap the rack in a sheet of oiled paper and attach it on the spit fastening it with a skewer; let it roast for twenty or thirty-five minutes while basting frequently; a few moments before serving unwrap to brown it nicely, then salt it over, withdraw the skewers and serve with a little clear gravy (No. 404) poured over, and some more in a sauce-boat to be served at the same time. The above dish is to be served with a garnishing of puree of split peas (No. 724) in a vegetable dish.
 
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