See the result of a battle between the Austrians and a Franco-Italian army in the north of what is now Italy. Scroll down for the photographic essay. The game was fought by the Gourmet Wargaming Club with 25mm figures, using the Age of Eagles rule set, at the Santa Rosa Prefecture.

As the battle begins in the war room, our kitchen warriors--chef (left) and sous chef--prepare for battle.	The battlefield seen from the south. French forces are arrayed along the left (west) side of the table across the Livenza River that runs along that edge. The city of Sacile can be seen in the center of the French starting positions, just on the other side of the Livenza, with a church tower and bridge.	Now Austrian forces have appeared from the east (left) and the battle begins in earnest.	The Austrian left wing.	The Austrian center. Note the preponderance of artillery in this army.
The very small Austrian right. The French rightly saw weakness here, and pursued an all-out assault to crush it.	Meanwhile, our chef prepares strudel dough. The cameraman's mouth was watering.	French commanders more their forces aggressively forward. Note that the French right flank (bottom left) is mired in a swampy area crossed with streams. The division in this terrain spent most of the game traversing it.	Archduke John of Austria and his son seem remarkably cheerful and relaxed. At first, the Austrian commanders thought he might have bribed the French, hence his show of confidence. The French came to believe loaded dice stoked his bravado. Whatever the case, he kept the initiative throughout most of the battle.	The French left wing, the "schwerpunkt" of the French attack.
The French center, in front of the city of Sacile. Most of their artillery ended up here.	The French right flank begins its journey through the swamp.	Elements of the Austrian advance guard hold a town near the center. This would prove to be a formidable obstacle for the French.	The Austrian left flank moves quickly to threaten the center.	The Austrian center advances, keeping in mind the mass of French about to hit the Austrian right up to the north.
And the Austrian right flank begins to form a defensive line.	The French right flank prepares to attack an Austrian "speed bump" unit in a town.	A bird's-eye-view from the north. The swiftness of French maneuver is obvious; note the mass of infantry coming at the Austrians at bottom center.	A closer view of the Austrian right. A regiment of Austrian lancers slams into infantry of the French left.	The Austrian center forms a formidable defensive zone.
More Austrians enter to bolster the center.	The Austrian left flank forms a gun line, and elite light cavalry move quickly behind the town (upper left).	The French center masses infantry for an assault on the Austrian-held town (lower right).	An Austrian cavalry regiment charged the enemy guns and lost three stands in the process. This sacrifice effectively screened Austrian maneuvers.	Austrians in the swamp have halted the enemy advance. But the French guns will blast the blockage soon enough.
Our sous-chef prepares cucumbers for the salad to come. Again, the photographer must not allow himself to linger in the kitchen for too long...	The Austrian right flank is hit by French infantry, but extracts its pound of flesh.	A huge Austrian regiment (foreground, in white) clashes with equal numbers of French infantry in the center.	Austrian cannon keep the French light cavalry in the center under constant harassing fire.	A French cavalry regiment hits the Austrian horse in the flank with a daring charge; but the price is a lot of casualties from overwatching artillery.
The French right has just about cleared the speed bump, and now moves northeast to threaten the Austrian left.	The French left flank takes a breather as both sides work their artillery.	The French attack on the center has similarly halted.	Austrian guns quickly move to the center to threaten the French left, screened by two cavalry regiments.	Austrian Grenzers, reinforced with artillery, prepare a defense against the French right flank.
Four regiments of Austrian infantry move into the center, and the cannon deploy.	An epic battle in the center--all cavalry. It's a stalemate.	A quick overview. The French right flank (bottom) is not moving quickly enough to outflank the enemy because of the difficult swamp and streams.	Pots simmer on the stove. Lunch is nigh!	Apple studels in progress.
The French left makes another attack. Note the damaged Austrian artillery battery (marked with black plastic cap).	A couple of French infantry regiments make a concerted attack on the Austrians in the town on the Austrian left. This was not to be a successful attempt.	We sit down to the first viand: a delicious broth with noodles and green peas.	Our hosts pause for a photo. These folks put the G in gourmet!	The main course: dumplings served with chicken in a creamy paprika sauce. Wow. The photographer felt it necessary to have seconds.
Late in the battle, the French left makes a final attack to bust the Austrian right.	A wider view of the Austrian center facing the French left. The French assault has effectively ended here.	The Austrian center, with massed artillery.	Masses of cavalry continue their melees in the center. Newly-arrived French heavy cavalry (center right) prepare to massacre a depleted enemy regiment.	Austrians push into the town across from Sacile, and the French gamely counter-attack. French artillery takes a fearful toll of the enemy infantry.
The Autrian left flank shifts back a bit, and is not seriously threatened by the French at this point.	Austrian heavy cavalry on the left flank.	The French far right flank is just clearing the swamp, but the battle is just about over.	A blurry action-shot of the Austrian center making a counter-strike against the French left.	The Austrian are squashed back in the center by the enemy heavy cavalry. Yet they maintain a depleted infantry regiment in the town. Sneaky Austrian infantry see their chance and charge and capture a couple of French artillery batteries (far right).
Stalemate in the center. A newly-arrived French division is bolstering the line of guns, and the Austrians don't have the strength (or the stomach) to take on this formidable position. Similarly, the French dare not advance.	A final shot of the whole battle seen from the south. The Austrians won the day, as they did historically. French losses in the north were devasting at game's end. Well played, all!	We ate well, we played hard. Surely this is the life well lived? The answer to this rhetorical question is a resounding HELL YEAH! Thanks again to our chef and sous chef for all their wonderful skill and efforts.