The Sulzberger anecdote was merely an amuse-bouche, as it turned out.

WSJ: The Historian's Stories

With top notes of mandarin, grapefruit and neroli, it awakens the senses like an amuse-bouche, before revealing lingering notes of Iris pallida (a sweetly scented variety native to Italy).

WSJ: Purple Reign: Iris Fragrances

There are no amuse bouche or sorbet intermezzos.

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But the gravel was merely the amuse-bouche.

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